Tommy Coyle wants to face Kevin Mitchell on the Carl Froch vs. George Groves blockbuster rematch this summer – but knows he has to shine against Daniel Brizuela live on Sky Sports on Saturday night to land his shot.
The Hull Lightweight defends the IBF International title he captured in the Hull Ice Arena in November against John Simpson, and faces Argentinian danger man Brizuela in the same venue.
Coyle stopped the tough Scotsman in the seventh round to dismiss the demons of his heart-breaking KO loss to Derry Mathews in the summer, and says Saturday is his toughest assignment yet as he sets out to prove he is ready for big things this year.
“Daniel is a massive step up and I think it is a fight which will provide excitement,” said Coyle. “Everybody thinks that being an Argentinian, he is going to be come-forward, tough, aggressive fighter but he is actually a bit of a mover. He is a smart technician, he boxes on the back foot and he has a fantastic jab. I have sat down with my trainer Jamie Moore and we have worked out a game plan to beat him. It is going to be a tough fight, it is a 50/50 fight.”
Froch and Groves’ rematch is set to fill a stadium this summer and Coyle is aiming to pass Saturday’s examination against the Argentine to land a juicy all-Brit clash with former World title challenger Mitchell.
“That would be a fantastic fight and one I would be very confident of winning,” said Coyle. “If I was to beat Kevin, which I am confident that I will, then I could be fighting for a World title and become Hull’s first ever World champion.
“Eddie Hearn said that the fight could be on the Froch vs. Groves bill. That is a massive, massive opportunity for me and a massive incentive to win this fight.
“It would be a massive test but I think Kevin is ready for the taking. He has got a lot of miles on the clock, he is a fantastic fighter who has proved himself at the top of the domestic level and he has touched on World level. He has been in some great fights but I think it is my time. I think I am the younger, fitter, fresher, stronger kid coming up, and I think I can get the win.
“I think Saturday’s fight is tougher than the Derry one last summer because you have the pressure there of the carrot being dangled to face Kevin Mitchell. Derry has got huge punching power, great boxing ability. This guy has great boxing ability – he went to the Olympics, and that shows he has all the skills. I don’t want to count my chickens but I don’t think he has the power that Derry possesses.”
Coyle’s clash with Brizuela is part of an exciting bill in Hull, with Olympic Gold medal hero Luke Campbell MBE stepping up to eight-round action against Scott Moises in his fifth pro contest.
Darren Hamilton aiming to secure the Lonsdale belt for keeps when he defends his British Light Welterweight title against Curtis Woodhouse, while Doncaster’s Gavin McDonnell faces Leigh Wood for the vacant British Super Bantamweight title.
A trio of local prospects are in action in the form of Zak Collins, Joel Haigh and Charlie Payton, and there are four-rounders for Manchester’s Hosea Burton and New Malden’s Lerrone Richards and Liverpool Super Middleweight Tony Dodson, who is aiming to secure a Commonwealth title shot against Rocky Fielding on March 15.
Limited tickets remain on sale priced £30, £40, £60 and £120 for VIPs and are available from Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900 and at www.matchroomboxing.com
Anthony Ogogo will face Greg O’Neill at the SECC in Glasgow on March 1, live on Sky Sports.
The Olympic Bronze medallist boxes for the fifth time as a professional on the undercard of Ricky Burns’ WBO World Lightweight title clash with Terence Crawford, with the Lowestoft star tasting action for the first time in 2014 and looking to build on his impressive start to life in the paid ranks.
“I am really excited to be fighting on the March 1 bill and can’t wait to get back in the ring for the first time this year,” said Ogogo. “It’s a huge year for Glasgow with the Commonwealth Games going there this summer so it’s going to be great to be able to fight there and experience the city – it should be a fantastic atmosphere.”
Ogogo is joined on the bill by Team GB teammate and London 2012 Gold medallist Anthony Joshua MBE, who faces Hector Avila in his fifth pro outing.
John Simpson meets John Murray in a tasty Lightweight clash, while unbeaten Lightweight contender Scotty Cardle takes on Paul Appleby in an eight-round contest.
Super Middleweight David Brophy looks to build on his 9-0-1 record on the bill, Glasgow Super Featherweight Michael Roberts can move to 14-0 with a win, former Team GB starlet Martin J. Ward is in six-round action while there is a trio of Scottish talents in four-round bouts in 20 year old Irvine Super Featherweight Ryan Collins, Wishaw’s Bantamweight Scott Allan and a debut for Glasgow’s Lightweight Ryan Smith.
MURRAY HAS TWO WORLD TITLE OPTIONS
MARTIN MURRAY will get a third shot at a world middleweight title in the next few months, he just has to decide which option is best for him.
Hatton Promotions currently has two offers on the table, with one offering the St Helens puncher a career best payday.
Both of the options have been secured outside of the United States due to Murray's past problems in obtaining a visa.
Martin was due to make his American debut in a world title fight with Julio Cesar Chaevz Jr in 2012, but was unable to enter the country.
The bout was later rescheduled for take place in Chavez's home country of Mexico, but it seemed it was not the right time for Martin.
Murray, 31, drew with Felix Sturm when challenging for the WBA 'Super' world title in December 2011 and one of the offers is a rematch with the German, who recently won the IBF crown with a second round stoppage of Barnet's Darren Barker.
The other available fight would see him pitted against reigning Kazakhstan's hard-hitting WBA titlist Gennady Golovkin in Monte Carlo for the largest purse he's ever received in his seven year professional career.
Murray and Golovkin have been on each other's radars for some time and were due to box on the same show earlier this month, but Martin unfortunately had to withdraw due to an injury sustained in training.
Time is now running out for Murray to make a decision.