Former British Middleweight Champion and recent world title challenger, Jason Welborn, is donning his Santa Claus costume to spread a bit of Festive Cheer.
The 32 year-old will be joined by wife Rachel and daughter Demi giving out presents to local children in and around Rowley Regis, where the Welborn’s reside.
Using one of the vehicles from Welborn Skip Hire, Jason, Rachel and Demi are hoping to give a little back after a wonderful year for the local boxing hero.
“It’s been a great year for my family and I,” Welborn explained. “I won the British Title, defended it successfully, won Fight of the Year and fought in America for a World Title.
“Without the help of the people around me and the support of all my family, friends and supporters; I couldn’t have done it so we want to give something back.”
Jason and family will be giving out gifts on Wednesday, 19th December from 4.30pm starting on Martley Road and finishing off by St James Church at around 6.00pm.
Greg Cohen, of Greg Cohen Promotions, proudly announces the signing of a pair of Brooklyn-based prospects, super lightweight Zachary “Zungry” Ochoa and super bantamweight Oscar “Filoso” Moreno to promotional contracts.
Boxing since age 13, the talented Ochoa (20-1, 7 KOs) is a Puerto Rican from Brooklyn. Despite having just seven career knockouts, the 26-year-old scored a spectacular 15-second KO over Engelberto Valenzuela and, in 2016, was nominated for Knockout of the Year for his one-punch KO 8 of Luis Joel Gonzalez.
“I can adapt to anything. I’m very unpredictable,” said Ochoa. “I can box and win easily, or I can hit you with one shot and take you out.”
Ochoa says he’s happy to have his career back on track and looking forward to the future with Cohen.
“It’s a blessing. I’m very focused and determined. I stay in the gym because I love boxing. I saw Greg Cohen’s resume and what’s he’s done in the sport and I know this is a great opportunity for me. This is the guy who’s going to make me a millionaire and world champion.”
Moreno (7-0, 6 KOs) is power puncher who comes forward behind lots of movement. Originally from Mexico City, he is now also living in Brooklyn. The 25-year-old went 54-5 as an amateur and was the 2004 Junior Olympic Champion, the 2011 Golden Gloves NY Champion and the 2012 Golden Gloves NY Runner-Up.
“I’m excited to make it happen,” said Moreno of the signing. “I’m looking forward to getting on the road toward the world championship. The plan I have is to have 10 more fights to get the experience in, because so far most of my fights have ended in the first round. So I say in a year or two we’ll be looking to step up and fight for titles.”
Both fighters are managed and trained by Kelly Rich at GymU Boxing (in Association GGE Fitness Studio) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Rich has had Ochoa since childhood and has been working with Moreno for the past four years.
Rich says he trusts Cohen to do the right things with his fighters.
“Greg is an exciting person and he motivates you and get the job done,” said Rich. “He’s a top promoter affiliated with all the other premier boxing companies. We are good friends and I can personally trust him. We’ve always been on the up-and-up.”
Promoter Cohen, on a hot streak of late with the “out of nowhere” success of heavyweight contender Jarrell Miller and world middleweight champion Robert Brant, says he’s happy to be adding this one-two punch of prospects from New York.
“Both these fighters have a wealth of talent,” said Cohen. “I will be looking to continue their strong development and advancement against increasing competition in the next couple years. Both fighters have the talent it takes to make it and with hard work and determination, it is very possible. I credit Kelly Rich for the work he’s done with them.”
Sam Bowen makes a highly-anticipated first defence of his British super featherweight title against Ronnie Clark at the Morningside Arena, Leicester on February 23, live on BT Sport.
Light Heavyweight sensation Anthony Yarde (17-0) will also return to action in a defence of his WBO Intercontinental light heavyweight title. The show will feature a number of the city's finest young prospects, including a Midlands Area title challenge for 9-0 super welterweight CJ Challenger and the return of 11-1 super featherweight Lyon Woodstock.
Elsewhere on the bill, 14-0 Cruiserweight Jack ‘One Smack’ Massey will look to climb the world rankings as he challenges for the WBO European cruiserweight title.
Bowen, 26, was originally scheduled to defend his title against Clark, 33, this weekend before the 14-0 man from Ibstock in Leicestershire was forced to withdraw after suffering a rib injury in sparring against his gym-mate David Avanesyan.
It was a setback which disrupted some strong momentum built-up by Bowen, who won the Lonsdale belt against Maxi Hughes in April before - after signing a promotional agreement with Frank Warren - adding a second belt to his collection with a hugely impressive fourth round stoppage of Horacio Alfredo Cabral for the vacant WBO Intercontinental title at the same Leicester venue in October.
Bowen will be bidding to vindicate his firm belief that he is the top man in the domestic division against the wily Scot from Dundee, who recorded a significant upsetting of the odds in his last fight in February.
In front of a packed house at York Hall, Clark lived up to his pre-fight promise and de-railed the unbeaten quest of formidable prospect Zelfa Barrett to win the vacant IBF European title.
Clark spectacularly sent Barrett to the canvas in the sixth round before proceeding to win via a majority decision at the end of 12 rounds.
Featherweight talent Ryan Garner (7-0), Scottish Light Heavyweight amateur standout Willy Hutchinson (6-0), Tamworth’s 4-0 Light Heavyweight Ryan Hatton all return to action in Leicester along with a second professional outing for Tyson Fury’s younger brother Tommy Fury at Light Heavyweight.