CONQUEST GOES FOR COMMONWEALTH CROWN AT YORK HALL

Tony Conquest will now headline a show at the The York Hall on Saturday 22nd February when he challenges for the Vacant Commonwealth Cruiserweight Championship against Aussie Daniel Ammann, live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546).

It was announced that the Romford ace would face Ammann on the Copper Box Arena show on Saturday 15th February, but his fight has been rescheduled to take place at the home of London boxing.

Conquest has come back from his loss to Neil Dawson in December 2012 with two wins, a first round stoppage of David Vincena last September and then defeating Wadi Camacho to win on points. 

He’s looking to capture the Commonwealth belt in his first fight of the year before targeting a potential showdown against the British champion Jon Lewis Dickinson.

First he has to get past Ammann, from Stockton in New South Wales, who has won 29 out of 35 with one draw and holds the Australian title.  Ammann was due to face Nathan Cleverly at the Copper Box Arena next month, but the Welshman will now feature on the Aintree show in his cruiserweight debut, and Conquest is looking forward to facing the rough and tough brawler.

“Me against Ammann will be a cracking fight for the fans at the York Hall and for the BoxNation viewers,” Said Conquest.

“He’s big and rough, likes a tear-up, and will be coming over here to win.  He was confident enough to fly around the world to fight Cleverly and he’ll be thinking that he’s got the beating of me as well,”

“I’ve got my career back on track now and I’m looking to end the year with the British and Commonwealth belts around my waist.  That’s what’s motivating me to beat Ammann, win the Commonwealth title then it could be Dickinson for the British later this year.”

“It’s down to me do a good job on the night against Ammann and show that I’m back and mean business.”

Featuring on an action-packed undercard is fast super-featherweight talent Mitchell Smith who takes on Holyhead’s Mark Evans over eight rounds.  All-action Mitchell, who’s unbeaten in seven, holds the Southern Area title but is looking to step up this year and has targeted the English and British titles.

It’s a big year for super-middleweight prospect Tom Baker.  The undefeated Chingford talent has been named as a face to watch this year and will be looking to move towards his first title challenge.  He takes on experienced Welshman Jamie Ambler in a six-rounder.

Enfield brothers Chris and Andreas Evangelou both feature on the show, welterweight Chris taking on Trowbridge’s Dan Carr over four rounds and light-heavyweight Andreas tackles Tichford’s Sam Cozens over six.

Having his first fight for Queensberry will be Erith middleweight J.M Coyle who takes on experienced Birmingham man Max Maxwell over six rounds.

Lastly, unbeaten Dagenham super-featherweight Ediz Hussein faces Scotsman Michael Stupart in a four-rounder.

Tickets from £40 and £60 are available from Ticketmaster on 0844 844 0444.

BURNETT AND UPTON RETURN TO THE EMERALD ISLE NEXT MONTH

HATTON PROMOTIONS' young Irish sensations Ryan Burnett and Sonny Upton will look to increase their already sizable fan-bases when they return to the Emerald Isle next month.

The Belfast pair, who are trained by four-time world champion Ricky Hatton, will appear on Nowhere to Hide Promotions' stacked card at the National Stadium in Dublin on Saturday February 15.

As amateurs, both boxers represented Ireland at international level and Burnett proudly held the tricolour aloft after winning a gold medal at the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore.

Since turning over last May, Burnett has stormed to 4 – 0 (3 KOs) and has impressed all that have seen him in action.

Upton had his first taste of the paid game in October and has shown great maturity in bouncing back from a controversial debut setback to record a stunning stoppage in his second fight.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for Ryan and Sonny to box in front of their own fans, in their own country, and show people what they can do," Hatton said.

"Ryan's boxed a couple of times in Belfast since turning pro and as a proud Irishman its good for him to be able to go down to Dublin in the Republic and progress his career further.

"Sonny's had his first two fights away from home and now he's been given the chance to really get his own fights behind him and shine.

"I'd like to say thank you to Gary Hyde for putting the lads on his bill and I'm very much looking forward to getting them back in action."

Professional boxing returns to Walsall Town Hall in 2014 with EJKO Promotions’ ‘March Mayhem’.

The show, on Saturday, 1st March, is headlined by a British Masters Title fight and an International Bronze Masters showdown plus a nine-fight undercard.

Stourbridge’s International Masters Welterweight Champion, Steven Pearce, will be looking to add the vacant British Masters strap to his list of titles when he takes on Sheffield’s Ryan Hardy.

28-year old Pearce recorded a stunning victory at Walsall Town Hall last November with a fifth round knock-out of Stafford’s Rob Hunt to lift the International Masters belt. Hardy on the other hand will be looking to bounce back from a first professional defeat in his last outing. The 27 year-old had recorded six straight victories before suffering a points los at the hands of upcoming prospect, Nathan Dale, also in November.

Walsall’s Luke Paddock goes in search of Bronze Masters honours when he steps in with Stoke’s Kevin Hanks. The hometown light welterweight prospect has recorded five straight victories since turning professional in 2012. At 27, Hanks is five years Paddock’s senior. The Stoke scrapper has tasted defeat four times in his six-fight career but won on his last Town Hall outing – a points victory over Sid Razak last September.

“I’m delighted to be putting another show on in Walsall,” explained Promoter, Errol Johnson. “It’s a great venue and it’s matched with a stacked card. We’ve got nine fights, including two titles on the line, so it will be another great night of Midlands boxing.”

Coventry’s Midlands Area Super Featherweight Champion, Troy James, is chief support on the undercard as he looks to keep himself busy in 2014 following his successful British Eliminator fight at the Town Hall last November.

Dudley light middleweight, Kyle Spencer, will be looking to put a frustrating year behind him with a more active 2014. ‘The Style’, unbeaten in his opening six professional fights, started 2013 with a bang by recording a first round KO victory over Jimmy Price. However, due to a number of postponements, he was only in action once more in the whole of 2013 - a hard-fought points victory over Dee Mitchell back in May.

Three unbeaten local prospects also feature. Halesowen super middleweight prospect, Lennox Clarke, will be looking to make it a hat-trick of victories whilst West Bromwich light middleweight, Tom Stokes, and Wolverhampton super featherweight, Des Bowater, will be looking to maintain their unbeaten starts to life in the paid ranks. Stoke’s Frank Warren-signed welterweight, Josh McLaren, also features.

Coventry light middleweight, James Montgomery, Birmingham cruiserweight, Andrew Lambert, and Leicester welterweight, Ryandeep Nandha, all make their debut on the card.

Tickets, priced at £30 and £60 Ringside, are available from Walsall Town Hall Box Office on 0845 111 2900. The aftershow party takes place at the Pitch Sports Bar and Grill on Bradford Street, Walsall.