Belgian Butcher Relishes Napa Clash
London's York Hall has long been recognized as the spiritual home of British boxing and the historic venue also draws some of the most ferociously partisan fans to be found anywhere. It is into this cauldron that European bantamweight champion Carmelo "The Belgian Butcher" Ballone will place himself on Friday, October 17, 2008 when he faces local hero and British champion, Ian Napa.
But the seasoned 32 year old Continental rides a massive wave of confidence having knocked out six straight victims and Team Ballone has left no stone unturned in it's quest to prepare their man for this most difficult assignment, as the champion has been sparring the best fighters that neighboring France has to offer.
Ballone has fought the toughest bouts of his career on foreign soil and his manager Toni Buscemi has no illusions of just what dangers lie await in London.
"On October 17, Carmelo will be confronted with his clone," Buscemi told Belgian newspaper Lanouvelle Gazette. "The Englishman Ian Napa is what I describe as a joker; the king of feints and evasion who can conceal his shots until the last moment.
"My only fear of fighting Napa is losing a decision. The venue will be red-hot but I hope the judges will succeed in keeping cool heads but of course, ideally Carmelo finishes the fight without having it go to a points decision."
Ballone, 21-2-1 (10), will be making the second defense of the European title won by stopping previously undefeated Eugen Sorin Tanasie last December and has vowed to follow in the footsteps of fellow Belgian and European bantamweight champion Jean Pierre Cossemyns, who defeated future world featherweight champion Hogan "Kid" Bassey in his first trip to the UK in the autumn of 1952.
Napa, 17-6 (1), has won four straight, including three defenses of the British bantamweight title, since dropping a close contest of previous European kingpin Simone Maludrottu last March and the 30 year old Hackney man is banking on a world title shot should he succeed in ripping the belt from Ballone.
Frank Maloney Promotions presents "Dapa Napa", Ian Napa vs. Carmelo Ballone for the Bantamweight Championship of Europe at York Hall, London, England on Friday, October 17, 2008.
Tickets are priced at £75 and £35 and are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508.
Sky Sports will televise the action live on SS1 starting at 9:30pm.
Let’s Be Having You
Jon Thaxton is confident that sparring with former world champion Junior Witter will ensure he is crowned European lightweight champion on Saturday.
Thaxton goes for glory at the Norfolk Showground which will be televised live on ITV4 “Big Fight Live” show as part of a new deal with Hennessy Sports.
Thaxton faces Spaniard Juan Carlos Diaz Melero for the vacant European Lightweight Title after being stopped on a cut by world class Russian Yuri Romanov in April for the same title.
To get ready for Melero, Thaxton has been sparring with Yorkshire man Witter, the former WBC, European and British light-welterweight champion.
"This will be a lot different from the last fight against Romanov and no stone has been left unturned to make sure I am the new European lightweight champion on Saturday," said Thaxton.
"Forget about my last fight – I know I started slow. My team were right in stopping the Romanov fight when they did in the sixth, but I felt I was coming on towards the end of it.
"Melero had Romanov down before Romanov came back to stop him, but Romanov never put me down. I know Melero is a very capable boxer and he’s adaptable, but we’ve prepared for every situation.
"I’ve been sparring with Junior Witter and if I can handle him, a former world and European champion, I can handle anything. Junior pushes me and we have prepared for anything Melero is going to throw at me.
"There’s going to be a big audience on ITV4 and to be fighting in Norwich is such a big boost for me. Both those factors will give me an edge, but I will block out all the fans and the cameras on the night."
Thaxton's fellow Norwich boxer Danny McIntosh is also involved in a big fight on the same show.
Unbeaten McIntosh takes on Ipswich's Steve Spartacus in an East Anglia derby for the English Light-Heavyweight Title.
"I want to show the Norwich fans and a big TV audience on ITV4 what I can do," said McIntosh.
"The last Norwich show was a while back and I’ve improved since then, and I want to show the Norwich fans that."
Stylish London-Irish welterweight John O'Donnell, 22, prepares for an upcoming British Title Eliminator with Young Mutley in an eight-round bout with Frenchman Mihaita Mutu, who extended former British light-welterweight champion Lenny Daws to points in June and also has a win over former British champion Barry Morrison.
UNBEATEN HEAVYWEIGHT KIELSA TO FACE BURNETT ON VERSUS
TORONTO, ON – Undefeated Greg Kielsa (7-0, 3 KO's) might be knocking on the door of boxing's heavyweight penthouse, but on October 23 on Versus Fight Night Live, at the Northern Quest Casino, in Airway Heights, Washington, the 2000 Olympian plans on kicking that door off its hinges when he faces the toughest test of his career, 6' 7 " slugger Kevin Burnett (13-1-1, 8 KO's).
Despite squaring off with a man as physically imposing as Burnett, Kielsa isn't fazed by his task at hand.
"I have to win, and I have to look good doing it," Kielsa said matter-of-factly, knowing an impressive showing will vault him skyward in the world rankings.
"The only thing I'm concentrating on is knocking this guy out."
"The only point of this fight is to stop this guy. I'm going to hit him with a big shot and take him out."
The Versus Fight Night Live telecast begins at 9 PM Eastern, with all the action courtesy of Banner Promotions.
In his last fight, this past August, Kielsa gave knockout artist Jerry Butler a boxing lesson dominating over eight rounds to the tune of an 80-72 shutout on all three official scorecards.
Burnett is coming off his most significant win of his career, an eight round unanimous decision over Horace Ray Grant this past June in Las Vegas.
According to Kielsa's manager James Jardine, his charge should have his hands full with the hulking Burnett.
"This is no set up fight for Greg."
"This is a chance to see what he really has, against a guy equally motivated, powerful, and quite a bit bigger."
"This is a real test. Burnett is a monster."