UK News: Smith-Fielding, Ryder-Blackwell, More
By Terence Dooley
The BBBoC’s latest British and English title circular could help set-up some solid British matches this summer and has established a time limit for the defence of some of their belts, most notably the Super middleweight title held by Liverpool’s Paul Smith.
At light-heavyweight, Bob Ajisafe, 14-2 (5), has been ordered to defend against Travis Dickinson, 17-1 (7). ‘Following requests from both parties to postpone the opening of purse bids for one month, the Stewards decided to put out the above contest for purse bids to be submitted in accordance with the Terms and Conditions attached to the Board’s Head Office by 12.00 noon on Wednesday, 8th April 2015, the contest to take place by the end of July 2015,’ stated the Board when confirming the title’s timescale in its latest circular.
Paul Smith, 35-5 (20), and Rocky Fielding, 20-0 (11), also submitted a postponement request, which was granted by the Board. The purse bids are now due in by noon on Wednesday the 8th of April, with the title to be contested no later than July—it means it has been on the shelf since June 2013, when Smith beat Tony Dodson by sixth-round TKO to pick up the vacant belt.
‘Please note no further postponement of purse bids will be accepted and Paul Smith is obligated to defend the Championship by the end of July 2015. Failure to do so will result in the Stewards considering the status of the British Championship,’ warned the BBBoC when announcing the news.
John Ryder, 20-1 (12), and Nick Blackwell, 16-1-1 (6), will contest the middleweight title. Billy Joe Saunders has vacated the belt in order to move on to world level, so the two top-ranked contenders will square off before the end of July, with bids also due in by April 8.
Like his older brother, Liam Smith, 19-0-1 (9), has also been given a final British title defence deadline after the Board ordered him to defend against Liam Williams, 12-0-1 (7). Stating: ‘Please note no further postponement of purse bids will be accepted and Liam Smith is obligated to defend the Championship by the end of July 2015. Failure to do so will result in the Stewards considering the status of the British Championship.’
In other news, Terry Flanagan, 27-0 (10), has vacated the lightweight title, which will be contested by Scott Cardle, 17-0 (5), and Craig Evans, 14-0 (3). Liam Walsh, 18-0 (12), has been told to defend his Super featherweight belt against Troy James, 17-2-1 (5). The winner will face either Martin J. Ward or Maxi Hughes, who fight an eliminator on April 11 at Leeds Direct Arena on a Eddie Hearn-promoted show.
Frank Warren won the right to stage a fight between Ryan Walsh, 18-1-1 (8), and Samir Mouneimne, 14-1-1 (4), for the vacant featherweight belt, date and venue TBA.
The English title circular threw up two interesting contests. Heavyweight titlist John McDermott, 28-8 (18), has been ordered to defend against Dillian Whyte, 14-0 (11), by the end of July. Bids are due in by April 8. A win for Whyte would see him steal a march on domestic rival Anthony Joshua, who has not contested a domestic title yet.
At Super featherweight, Andy Townend, 11-3 (8), takes on Femi Fehintola, 27-3 (2), for the vacant belt on a Stefy Bull show at the Doncaster Dome on May 2, the same night as the superfight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
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