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THE PACKED HOUSE at the hugely atmospheric SSE Arena in Belfast were treated to something of a variety show on Saturday night. We saw a bit of history being made with a sledgehammer right hook bringing about the quickest ending to a world title fight; we had an emerging world champion with potential superstar written all over him and then the local hero opting to treat the fans to a good old fashioned tear-up.
THE ONLY PREDICTION I can make with any real certainty about our show at the Metro Arena in Newcastle this coming Saturday is that I reckon it will be edge of the seat stuff pretty much from start to finish. None more so than our headliner, which is the return tear-up between Liam Smith and Liam Williams, with the prize for the winner being a direct shot at the WBO world super welterweight title.
I WAS DELIGHTED to formally present James DeGale and Lee Selby to the media, in London this week with the prestigious pair both topping our fight roster for December 9 at the Copper Box in Stratford. For me, it is simply a continuation of what we are successfully striving to deliver – the best fights and fighters for the boxing public.
TWO OF OUR men are off on world title travels before Christmas in what should make for a thrilling end to the year. Billy Joe Saunders defends his WBO world middleweight title against the big-hitting David Lemieux in Montreal on December 16 in a clash that has all the makings of a classic. Bill defending away from home was a big decision for us. We thought about it long and hard and what swung it was the fact that it is a live primetime slot on HBO.
IF YOU ARE not able to come along to Leeds’ magnificent FD Arena in person on Saturday evening, then I urge you to tune in early to BT Sport or BoxNation because we have got a good few certs on the card. By that I don’t mean there are any guarantees over who will win the televised fights, simply that we have some banker blockbusters in the offing and you shouldn’t miss a hit.
THE BRITISH HEAVYWEIGHT title remained in English hands on Friday night but, to my mind, the residence of the belt in Norfolk could turn out to be a short stay. Norwich’s Sam Sexton outpointed Gary Cornish from Inverness in front of the BoxNation cameras to become the new champion while, at the same time, there would’ve been a few young heavies watching on at home believing the crown is there for the taking. One of the main reasons for BoxNation broadcasting the fight was due to a big interest in taking on the winner from our own heavy mob.
SIX YEARS ON and BoxNation is still going strong, having moved from strength to strength since its creation and, at the same time, confounding the sceptics in the business who predicted an early stoppage. The most recent landmark was reached over the weekend and it makes for a timely juncture to pay tribute to those involved in the continuing development of the Channel of Champions, in particular our great friend Bill Ives, who sadly passed away at the end of August.
THE JACKAL WAS let out of the bag on Sunday with the news that we will now be promoting the career of Carl Frampton and I am absolutely delighted to have him onboard. We will be hosting a press conference in Belfast on Wednesday to formally announce the union, while also revealing the date for his return to the ring and a couple of other major fights to mark the occasion.
SO RIO FERDINAND wants to be a boxer. There will be – and already has been – a lot said and written about the 38-year-old former footballer taking a punt at the noble art as part of a promotional campaign by the bookmaker Betfair. Publicity-driven stunts such as this will always arouse suspicion amongst the cynics and I agree that boxing is never a sport that should taken up lightly.
BILLY JOE SAUNDERS may have been the headliner on Saturday but, earlier in the evening, there was only one man capturing the hearts and minds of many of those in attendance at the Copper Box. Due to a few of the things he has come out with in the past, Tyson Fury doesn’t appeal to everyone, but boxing fans recognise Tyson for his achievements and certainly have a great affection for him.