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Over the weekend, Carl Froch, 26-1 (20 KOs), lost his WBC super middleweight title in Herning, Denmark after a gruelling points defeat to Mikkel Kessler. The lopsided scores of 113-115, from Guido Cavalleri, 112-116, courtesy of Daniel Van De Wiele, and 111-117, via Roger Tilleman, left Carl ruing his sluggish start to the contest.
Amir Khan’s decision to fight Paulie Malignaggi in the first of what he hopes will be many US showcase fights was met with derision in certain quarters, many asked why Khan had opted to defend his WBA title against ‘Magic Man’ rather than the tough Argentine interim champion Rene Marco Maidana, who stepped aside in order to allow the Malignaggi scrap to go ahead, with Rene now taking on Timothy Bradley for the WBO title in July. Bradley, too, was seen as a viable first option for Khan by many boxing fans; Amir, however, is using his May 15th appearance at Madison Square Garden as a reconnaissance mission, a chance to test these new waters against a name foe.
Rendall ‘Two Tone’ Munroe takes on Victor Terrazas at the Skydome, Coventry tomorrow night in a WBC super bantamweight title eliminator and the ‘Boxing Binman’, Rendall still holds down a day job on the bins, goes into the fight with the support of Sky Sports pundit, and former lightweight world champion, Jim Watt ringing in his ears.
Alicia Keys, singing about her hometown of New York in Empire State of Mind, claimed that the ‘The Big Apple’s’ ‘Big lights will inspire you’; Bolton’s Amir Khan hopes to light up the city and inspire faith in his ability amongst the US fans when defending his WBA light-welterweight title against Brooklyn’s Paulie Malignaggi at Madison Square Garden on May the 15th.
Curtis Woodhouse takes on Steve Saville at the Magna Centre, Rotherham this Sunday afternoon. Saville, 33, is a late replacement for Rick Godding, who was originally slated to challenge Woodhouse for his International Masters light-welterweight title, and despite losing his last four contests the Wolverhampton-based boxer will bring it to Woodhouse.
Collyhurst-based trainer Brian Hughes has been charged with the task of turning Tyson Fury’s raw physical potential into professional attainment. Hughes, who preaches technique over brute force, believes that, in Fury, he has the fighter to make all his dreams come true.
Manchester’s John Murray is finally set to fight for the vacant EBU lightweight title in Altrincham, Manchester on May the 7th with Cardiff’s Gary Buckland the opponent. Anthony Mezaache vacated the title earlier this year in order to move onto world honours and Andrei Kudriavtsev’s withdrawal from negotiations left Murray versus Aberdeen’s Lee McAllister as the likely match up. McAllister, though, is recovering from surgery on an elbow injury; consequently, Murray will contest the vacant title against Buckland.
Manchester’s Tyson Fury takes on London’s John McDermott for the English heavyweight title on the 22nd of May. The 6’ 7’’ fighter has caused quite a stir in his short, ten fight professional career due to his love of talking down potential opponents; the boxer also courted controversy in the first fight with McDermott when winning a hotly disputed decision, referee, and sole judge, Terry O’Connor scoring it 98-92 for Tyson. There has been a lot of online support for McDermott, who bossed the early sessions of the first encounter, and Fury, 21, will have to raise his game if he is to prove himself the real deal.
Blackpool’s Matty Askin was hoping to take his first big step as a pro by taking on Matthew Ellis in a local derby fight on the undercard of Denton Vassell’s commonwealth welterweight title fight against Lee Purdy at the Robin Park Centre, Wigan later tonight. However, Ellis has withdrawn from the contest with Matty, 5-0 (2 early), rumoured to be taking on Lee Kellett, 4-3-1 (2 KOs), instead. Askin, 21, is nonplussed by the change in opponent.
Frank Warren brings championship boxing to Upton Park, London on the 15th of May when Kevin Mitchell fights Michael Katsidis for the interim WBO lightweight title. Mitchell earned this marquee fight by defusing Breidis Prescott for the WBO Inter-Continental title back in December; Mitchell has since consolidated at the weight by knocking out Columbia’s Ignacio Mendoza in February. Warren confirmed that ticket sales are going well and the promoter believes that this type of event will be a shot in the arm for British boxing, as well as giving his own promotional outfit a boost.