Midlands Boxing

Lowe and Maughan to engage in Battle of Nottinghamshire

2012-01-24T14:36:00.004Z

AA Lowe and Terry Maughan are set to battle it out to see who's the best light-middleweight in Nottinghamshire.

The pair swap leather for the vacant British Masters 11st strap on a Carl Greaves bill on April 7, at Newark's Grove Leisure Centre, with hometown hero Lowe [pictured] looking to add a second Masters belt to his collection at a second weight.

But Sneinton-based Maughan has designs on his first paid title and is also targeting a future crack at the Irish crown. The former three-time British kickboxing champion, 6-2, has won four on the bounce after splitting his first four paid contests and is growing in confidence bout-by-bout.

In order to stop the 31-year-old ex-Royal Marine from having another belt strapped around his waist, however, Tony Harris-trained Terry's going to have to go more than 12 minutes for the first time and slow down a come-forward scrapper who has done the ten-round distance on two previous occasions.

But as Shane McPhilbin, who'd never completed more than four-threes, showed in his British cruiserweight title-winning effort at York Hall just over a week ago, belief and an unwavering will to win can override any experience of championship distances and push a man on in the latter stages.

Fit, strong and willing, crowd-pleasing Lowe, 9-6-1 (1), is returning to light-middleweight after back-to-back fights at middleweight with York's Harry Matthews. He drew a Masters ten-rounder with the Yorkshireman in Leeds in September but then boxed superbly to take a points nod for the still-vacant title in his hometown before Christmas.

And only the best get the better of him - and has only been halted twice, in eight rounds by both Mark Lloyd [Midlands Area welterweight, 2008] and Jamie Ball [Midlands Area light-middleweight, 2011]. In fact, the combined records of those who've beaten him [Steve O'Meara, aforementioned Matthews, Pat McAleese and Johnny Musgrave, debut] reads a none-too-shabby 52-5-2.

And the co-challenger admitted he's excited for his fifth scheduled 30-minute outing. "It's a good fight and i'm looking forward to it," said Greaves-handled Lowe.

Midlands Ratings: Heavyweight-Middleweight [January 2012]

2012-01-23T17:49:00.001Z

Midlands ratings, heavyweight to middleweight, compiled by Tom Podmore. [N.B. Any fighter inactive for 12 months is dropped from the list].

Heavyweight

Paul Butlin [Melton Mowbray]
Andrew Ingram [Long Eaton]
John Loveday [Birmingham]
Tommy Ward [Leicester]
Gaz Johnson [Lincoln]
Michael Skierniewski [Stoke]
Scott Welton [Birmingham]
Drew Mitchell [Loughbourough]

Cruiserweight

Shane McPhilbin [Nottingham] British Champion
Rob Norton [Stourbridge]
Chris Keane [Walsall]
Hastings Rasani [Birmingham]
Rhys Davies [Coventry]
Simeon Cover [Worksop]
Mike O'Hagan [Coventry]
Courtney Owen [Nottingham]

Light-Heavyweight

Ovill McKenzie [Derby] Commonwealth Champion
Elvis Dube [Derby]
Callum Johnson [Lincoln]
Liam Daly [Northampton]
Adam Corbett [Tipton]
Arfan Iqbal [Derby]
Paddy Connors [Chesterfield]
Jamie Norkett [Newark]
Bobby Wood [Walsall]
Lee Nicholson [Retford]
Sean Sinnett [Coventry]
Adam Stretton [Swadlincote]

Super-Middleweight

Carl Froch [Nottingham]
Paul David [Northampton]
Steve Bendall [Coventry]
Jahmaine Smyle [Leicester]
Llewy Davies [Coventry]
Jonjo Finnegan [Burton] British Masters Champion
Dave Davis [Ilkeston]
Jody Meikle [Lincoln]
Ricky Gammon [Nottingham]
Ryan Clark [Navenby]
Grant Cunningham [Stafford]

Middleweight

Matthew Macklin [Birmingham]
Martin Concepcion [Leicester] Midlands Area Champion
Matt Hainy [Derby]
Tony Randell [Birmingham]
AA Lowe [Newark] British Masters Champion
Ryan Aston [Dudley]
Lewis Taylor [Dronfield]
Simeone Lucas [Nottingham]
Myles Holder [Wolverhampton]
Matt Scriven [Mansfield]
Marc Ketnor [Leicester]
Craig Cunningham [Birmingham]
Leon Mrvik [Long Eaton]
Gilson De Jesus [Nottingham]
Simon Henry [Leicester]
Emmanuel Moussinga [Birmingham]

Midlands Ratings: Light-Middleweight-Flyweight [January 2012]

2012-01-23T17:48:00.002Z

Midlands ratings, light-middleweight to flyweight, compiled by Tom Podmore. [N.B. Any fighter inactive for 12 months is dropped from the list].

Light-Middleweight

Max Maxwell [Birmingham]
Marcus Portman [West Bromwich]
Jamie Ball [Coseley] Midlands Area Champion
Terry Carruthers [Birmingham]
Nasser Al Harbi [Birmingham]
Thomas Costello [Birmingham]
Kevin McCauley [Stourbridge]
Dee Mitchell [Birmingham]
Duane Parker [Woodville]
Danny Fletcher [Nottingham]
Terry Maughan [Nottingham]
Luke Gallear [Derby]
Billy Smith [Worcester]
Wayne Downing [West Bromwich]
Rick Boulter [Lincoln]
Andy Hardy [Nottingham]
Jimmy Price [Swadlincote]

Welterweight

Frankie Gavin [Birmingham]
Adnan Amar [Nottingham]
Young Mutley [West Bromwich]
Mark Lloyd [Telford]
James Flinn [Coventry] British Masters Champion
Scott Haywood [Derby]
Jack Perry [Derby]
Jason Welborn [Rowley Regis] Midlands Area Champion
Joel Ryan [Walsall]
Sean McKervey [Coventry]
Scott Miller [Stoke]
Nathan McIntosh [Nottingham]
Rob Hunt [Stafford]
Steve Jevons [Swanwick]
Ryan Hookway [Leicester]
Scott Evans [Stourbridge]
Andrew Patterson [Birmingham]
Tom Bowen [Sedgley]
Shane Normoyle [Coventry]
Tommy Ghent [Coseley]
Carl Allen [Wolverhampton]
Callum Cooper [Birmingham]
Danny Clews [Walsall]
Matt Seawright [Tamworth]
Steven Pearce [Stourbridge]
Martin Gordon [Brierley Hill]
Jason Nesbitt [Birmingham]
Kyle Spencer [Brierley Hill]
Lee Jevons [Swanwick]

Light-Welterweight

Martin Gethin [Walsall]
Dale Miles [Alfreton]
Dean Harrison [Wolverhampton]
Dave Ryan [Derby] Midlands Area Champion
Jamie Spence [Northampton]
Leonard Lothian [Northampton]
Chris Truman [Birmingham]
Tom Shaw [Burton]
John Connelly [Birmingham]
Sid Razak [Birmingham]
Kristian Laight [Nuneaton]

Lightweight

Amir Unsworth [Sleaford] Midlands Area Champion
Rob Sharpe [Mansfield]
Scott Jenkins [Chesterfield]
Andy Keates [Leek]
Steve Gethin [Walsall]
Marvin Campbell [Stoke]

Super-Featherweight

Troy James [Coventry]
Barrington Brown [Nottingham]
Paul Frost [Derby]
Matin Mohammed [Nottingham]

Featherweight

Chris Male [Cradley]
Lee Glover [Tipton] International Masters Champion
Leigh Wood [Nottingham]
Ash Lane [Northampton]
Saquib Amir [Halesowen]

Super-Bantamweight

Rendall Munroe [Leicester]
Jason Booth [Nottingham]
Dougie Walton [Coventry]
Delroy Spencer [Walsall]

Super-Flyweight

Don Broadhurst [Birmingham]
Nathan Reeve [Northampton]
Usman Ahmed [Derby]

Flyweight

Chris Edwards [Stoke] British and Commonwealth Champion
Sheldon Purdy [Leicester]

MB Exclusive: Male forced out of English title duel

2012-01-23T14:59:00.004Z

Chris Male has been forced to withdraw from his English title challenge in Bolton next month.

The promising Cradley featherweight [pictured] was set to swap leather with ex-Olympian Joe Murray for the vacant belt on a Sky Sports-televised, Hatton-promoted bill at the Reebok Stadium on February 4 but has been forced out due to a suspected torn rotator cuff in his arm.

This is a yet another setback for an 11-bout unbeaten [two stoppages] former British Masters champion who spent over six months on the shelf due to a serious hand injury sustained in his title-winning effort in 2010.

But an injury this severe could place a serious question mark on the Shaun Cooper-trained 29-year-old's future involvement in the sport. Ex-British and European monarch Dean Francis suffered a similar injury and that put paid to several of his peak years - and saw his arm only at 50 per cent in a return that involved a second reign as the champion of Britain.

And there was a strong feeling in the trade [especially so in the Midlands] that Male could give the smooth-boxing Murray, also unbeaten in 11 professional outings [five inside], a solid ten-round argument in front of the television cameras. So for Male's sake, let's hope this injury isn't as bad as first feared.

Macklin warns Martinez he's in for a real fight

2012-01-23T12:13:00.000Z

Matthew Macklin has warned Sergio Martinez he's in for a real fight and that he'll return to Birmingham as the city's first-ever world champion.

The Second City stylist [pictured with his European title] will swap leather with pound-for-pound-rated Sergio Martinez in New York on St Patrick's Day [March 17] for the WBC Diamond middleweight title and the chance to be recognised as the number one in the division.

It's not an opportunity he intends to let slip him by.

Macklin, 29, hasn't boxed since a controversial 12-round split decision defeat to champion Felix Sturm in June - a WBA world title fight consensus had deemed he'd done enough to win. But despite that disappointment in Germany, he's kept himself fit, based himself in New York with Buddy McGirt, and is adamant this is the right fight at the right time.

Yet the former law student is also aware the he has an Everest-sized mountain to climb. The California-based Argentinian has suffered only two defeats in 52 [48 wins, 27 stoppages, and two draws] and one was a controversial points decision to Paul Williams [later avenged in two]; the other an early setback to future multi-weight world champion Antonio Margarito.

The 36-year-old turned away a spirited challenge from Englishman Darren Barker last October, after a solid start by the ex-British, Commonwealth and Continental boss - and Martinez has also put away fellow Brits Richard Williams [twice] and Adrian Stone in a long 15-year paid career that has only received international recognition in the last three years.

But southpaw Sergio's last four victories, in which time he's snatched the WBC belt at 11st and the WBC and WBO straps at middleweight, have seen him beat men with combined professional records of a staggering 135-2 [Kelly Pavlik, 36-1, Paul Williams, 39-1, Sergey Dzinziruk, 37-0, and Darren Barker, 23-0].

Yet none of this fazes the hard-hitting Brummie, 28-3 (19), who showed against Sturm in Cologne that he deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as the premier fighters in the ultra-competitive division. And with strong Irish roots, he's almost certain to have the backing of the New Yorkers.

So far the pre-fight build-up has been a civilised affair and the Brian Peters-handled challenger said: "To be honest, i haven't got a single bad word to say about Martinez, who has been a gent every time I've met him. He's a humble, friendly fella and he's given me this chance and i thank him for that.

"But i'm coming to Madison Square Gardens to win, so he knows i'm going to give him a real fight," admitted the affable Birmingham City supporter from Solihull. "I've done things the traditional way and won British and European titles - and now i want the big one.

"I'm coming for a war and don't plan to return to Birmingham without the title in my suitcase," Macklin added.

Second Birmingham-Black Country derby on Coldwell's March card

2012-01-22T10:12:00.003Z

Promoter Dave Coldwell is serving up another Birmingham vs Black Country showdown on his Second City bill in March.

As well as the English light-middleweight title eliminator between unbeaten pair Nasser Al Harbi and Jamie Ball, Terry Carruthers [pictured blocking a probing left by Kreshnik Qato last year] will box Kevin McCauley for the vacant British Masters middleweight strap.

Though the original bill-topping fight between Curtis Woodhouse and Jason Cook fell through last week, the ten-round clash pitting 25-year-old Brummie Carruthers against Stourbridge-based ex-Midlands Area welterweight boss McCauley looks to be a sure-fight hit for the good-looking card at New Bingley Hall on March 17.

And this will be Jon Pegg-handled Terry's second attempt at snaring a Masters belt, having been stopped in three rounds by neat-boxing Scot Kris Carslaw last year. But though his pro tab is patchy, 9-11-6 (1), on his day he's a hard, capable fighter who holds recent victories over Martin Robins [7-1] and Steve Harkin [5-0-1], as well as holding touted former ABA champion Liam Smith to a four-round draw.

But he'll have a fight on his hands against McCauley, who may have only won ten of his 45 [three draws] paid bouts but is well-known for raising his game for title fights. The 32-year-old upset solid Dave Ryan over ten for the Midlands title in 2010 and then traveled to Scotland to punch-out a ten-round win for this title [subsequently vacated] against Craig Windsor Jr in November.

And Errol Johnson-trained McCauley admits he isn't fazed by the danger Carruthers is capable of presenting with plenty of notice. He said: "I think i can beat this kid and i'm definitely the better boxer out of the two. He's not bad but he's not amazing and if i take it to him then there's a good chance i'll have my third belt.

"To be honest, that's more than i could ever have hoped for when i turned professional," he added.

Image courtesy of Gavin Burrows.

MB Exclusive: Booth being lined up for a return against Naz-like Galahad

2012-01-21T10:12:00.002Z

Jason Booth is being lined up for a fight with an Ingle-trained fighter likened to a young Naseem Hamed.

The Nottingham super-bantamweight [pictured] lost his British title to Scott Quigg in October but hinted afterwards that he wanted to continue and is being penciled in to meet Kid Galahad, on the undercard of Kell Brook-Matthew Hatton, at the Sheffield Arena on March 17.

Qatar-born, Sheffield-based Galahad [real name Barry Awad] has looked a serious prospect since turning over in 2009 - registering ten wins in as many fights [four quickly] and handing stoppage defeats to usually-durable James Ancliff [in two] and ex-amateur star Paul Griffin, who was decked twice and rescued in just 91 seconds.

Injury has kept him out of action since October but the nimble feet, upper body movement and hard, fast punching from unusual angles that has become an Ingle trademark is there for to all see with the 21-year-old, who's increasing power has become evident with back-to-back quick wins.

Though the smooth-boxing Tony Harris-trained stylist, 36-8 (15), has seen fresher days he has performed at the highest level and is only 16 months removed from pushing Steve Molitor to a majority decision in an IBF world title challenge. In truth, had Booth had more pop in his gloves then he'd have won.

But he has lost his last two, albeit in European title chance against Kiko Martinez in Spain [in ten] and against unbeaten Quigg [retired at the end of the seventh], and the cold weather has firmly arrived in the winter of a 16-year-old paid career that has seen him unsuccessfully challenge for the Continental belt on four occasions.

Yet he sees untested Galahad as a perfect fight to begin his boxing resurrection - and it wouldn't be the first time the East Midlander rose from the ashes to once more become a force. "Talk of me retiring after my last fight was wrong," said the always-enigmatic and animated 34-year-old from the Strelley area of the Robin Hood city.

"I know I've still got plenty to offer - and i think that my last two defeats were due to a combination of exceptional talent in front of me but, more importantly, Martinez and Quigg being naturally too big for me.

"I've been wrote off before and I've read articles saying i haven't got it anymore but i'm going to shock people again," added the Jimmy Gill-managed former three-weight Commonwealth and two-weight British champion.

Hatton struggling to snare meaningful fights for slick Munroe

2012-01-20T10:56:00.002Z

Frustration at failing to land his man a meaningful fight has caused Ricky Hatton to label Rendall Munroe as the President of the 'who needs him' club.

The southpaw super-bantamweight from Leicester [pictured] had targeted a drop to bantamweight in search of career-defining tests and a second world title opportunity.

But after failing to lure anyone of note into a bout at 8st 6lbs, former Commonwealth and European boss Munroe has decided to stay three pounds north and boxes over eight, on a Hatton-promoted, Sky Sports-televised bill at Bolton's Reebok Stadium on February 4, against veteran Argentinian Jose Saez.

The nimble-footed, smooth-boxing 31-year-old, who's been out of action since a ten-round taming of Japanese Ryuta Miyagi in September, should have too much for the South American, 21-12-6 (11), who was blown away inside three by Cork-based Cuban Alexei Collado on a visit to England last Spring. But though he's been knocked out on ten occasions, he has taken ex-IBF champion Steve Molitor the distance and boxed as high as super-featherweight.

Still, although not as an explosive one-punch banger as some of the men who've put Saez away quickly - and an early night hasn't been had since he punched the resistance out of Victor Terrazas in a WBC title eliminator in 2010 - Jason Shinfield-trained Munroe's work-rate, accuracy and combination punching should be the key to chalking the tenth stoppage onto his his professional ledger [23 wins and two defeats].

And Hatton, the former two-weight world champion who only suffered paid defeats to Hall of Fame-bound pair Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, believes the East Midlander is one of the most avoided men in the lower weight divisions. "Because of his exceptional performance against Nishioka for the WBC title in Japan 15 months ago, Rendall has landed himself as the chief of the 'who needs him' club.

"Such is his class in the ring, we can't persuade any of the top 20-ranked fighters in the world to take the risk against him. It's frustrating for all involved.

"But if he is patient and keeps doing what he has been doing - winning and looking good - then i'm sure another world title chance will come his way. He certainly has the skills to win one if he gets the opportunity," added Hatton.

Image courtesy of Gavin Burrows.

Hainy bounces straight back into title action

2012-01-19T11:36:00.001Z

Matt Hainy will get the chance to win his second professional title in March - and potentially secure a rematch with a fighter who inflicted his most painful defeat.

The Derby middleweight will cross swords with Castleford's Luke Robinson for the vacant British Masters middleweight strap on a Clifton Mitchell bill at the Hermitage Leisure Centre - about 15 miles outside of Leicester city centre - trying to put the memories of his last contest to bed once and for all.

Hainy was taken off his feet four times, sliced open over both eyes, and relieved of his Midlands Area middleweight title in nine rounds by Martin Concepcion at the same venue last September, putting paid to a future English title challenge.

And though their heart-stopping scrap ranked as one of the best domestic fights of the year, it was little consolation to a 30-year-old ex-martial artist, 8-3 (1), making the second defence of a title he'd won from erratic Brummie Tony Randell eleven months earlier.

But Robinson represents a fresh danger to the East Midlander. With only one defeat in ten [eight wins and a draw, two early] - a three-round drubbing by Nottingham's Curtis Valentine in 2009, which left the Yorkshireman unconscious and in need of oxygen - the 23-year-old is the only man to have handed a paid defeat to former ABA champion Erik Ochieng, who challenges for the English 11st belt later this month.

The carrot-haired middleweight, however, has only boxed outside of Leeds United's ground, Elland Road, once and hasn't mixed, the Ochieng win aside, at the same level as the slimmed-down Duffield-based boxer, who has swapped leather with Tony Jeffries, Sam Horton, Tony Hill and the aforementioned Concepcion.

Though Hainy is itching to erase his last defeat, he's mindful of the tricky-looking assignment that's facing him on March 11. He said: "It was a bad loss in September - a heart-breaking one that took me a while to get over. But that's in the past and now all i can do is keep winning and, if i get the chance, put things right.

"I boil down from light-heavyweight and aside from Concepcion, I've only lost to bigger men in my career, and that shows what the extra weight can do," reasoned a Clifton Mitchell-trained scrapper who began life as a professional at 12'7.

"We'll do a lot of work in the gym and i'll be setting the pace like i always do. We'll see if Luke can keep up with me," he added.

Concepcion chasing English and British title scalps

2012-01-18T12:31:00.002Z

Martin Concepcion has been handed a fresh chance to win the English title.

Having had to withdraw from the original December date with champion Nick Blackwell through injury, the Leicester banger [pictured] is now penciled in to make a challenge for the middleweight strap on a First Team bill at Trowbridge Civic Hall on March 3.

Concepcion, 18-9 (11), looked to have had his career after suffering back-to-back stoppage defeats at the tail-end of 2010 and beginning of 2011 - in eleven to Sam Webb [British] and swatted aside in just two by Sergey Rabchenko eleven months ago.

But Martin breathed new life into a flagging career when he ripped the Midlands strap from Matt Hainy in an East Midlands derby last September, dropping the then-champion four times before referee Shaun Messer brought an end to the slaughter in the penultimate round of a set ten. It was Concepcion's first fight at middleweight and a statement of intent.

And if the East Midlander can snare the belt from the aggressive 21-year-old former British and Commonwealth title challenger, 10-1 (4), there will be no shortage of men looking to challenge him - with the most intriguing being a sure-to-be-explosive dust-up with returning Peterborough puncher Cello Renda.

But though there are options aplenty for the victor, the 30-year-old knows he can't look too far into the future. "I'm more than confident of beating Blackwell, but i can't afford to look past him - even if i'd love to get a crack at the British title afterwards," reasoned the hammer-fisted former Midlands Area 11st boss. "This is my last chance to win major honours.

"This is another massive night for me; a last chance like i had against Hainy last year. I can't afford to lose to Blackwell and if i do, it's probably over for me as a fighter," added an always-explosive crowd-pleaser who holds paid wins over then-unbeaten Matthew Hall, Max Maxwell and Kevin Hammond.

Pegg believes Rose will lose mental game to Maxwell

2012-01-17T13:49:00.007Z

Max Maxwell's manager believes Brian Rose will have to overcome more than just his charge's fists if he wants to retain his British title.

The light-middleweight pair meet in a Sky-televised 12-round rematch in Blackpool on March 31 and handler Jon Pegg [pictured with Max] is adamant that the ending of their first meeting will play heavily on the champion's mind.

Maxwell, whose up-and-down pro tab of 15-10-3 (3) is one of the most misleading in boxing, traveled to Huddersfield in 2010 and uncorked a booming right hand that not only brought to an end the contest but also the 15-bout unbeaten record of the neat-boxing Blackpool stylist.

Rose, 26, fell face-first, unconscious, in the sixth but has since gone unbeaten in four, picking up English and, most recently, British belts at 11st. He earned a hard-fought but deserved split decision over champion Prince Arron in December and is now looking to erase the only defeat in 20 paid outings [18 wins, five inside, and a draw].

But the hard-working and durable 32-year-old Brummie has only lost one of last five [and that was a controversial opening-round stoppage to Tom Doran in a British title eliminator last summer], held the aforementioned Arron to a draw and both the BBBofC and Sky Sports have given the green light for the matter to be settled once and for all.

And Pegg has little doubt that there's more to this fight than two men hitting each other. "The last time they met Max bullied him, pushed him back and switched his lights off," said the well-respected promoter, trainer, matchmaker and ex-bantamweight pro. "That's a huge barrier, psychologically, for Rose to try overcome.

"Rose might have gone unbeaten since and won the British title with a good win over a quality fighter, but what's going to go through his head when he's stood across the ring from a dread-locked fighter who knocked him out the last time they swapped punches?

"If we do things right in the gym and on the night, Max will repeat the trick and bring the British title back with him to Birmingham," he added.

Lion-hearted McPhilbin seizes British title with late display of power

2012-01-16T12:37:00.007Z

A mile behind on points and having been knocked down twice entering the final three minutes of a contest, there would have been some fighters who'd have meekly done enough to ensure they survived until the final bell.

Not Shane McPhilbin.

Like Carl Froch had done in his defence of his WBC super-middleweight title against Jermain Taylor three years ago, the Nottingham cruiserweight stiffened the legs of his opponent, British cruiserweight champion Leon Williams, in the dying embers of the eleventh and then turned the screw in the last to force a dramatic stoppage and tear away the prestigious belt when all had seemed lost.

Yet that fairy tale ending at York Hall on Friday night [January 13] seemed like the dreams of a fantasist only six minutes previously, when the East Midlander had a point deducted by referee Marcus McDonnell for holding. That meant that at the beginning of the penultimate session Shane was, on my card at least, six points down and in search of a miracle.

That miracle arrived. Still, McPhilbin will probably tell you it wasn't divine intervention but the unwavering faith he'd kept in his locally-famed BBGs [Bulwell Big Guns] to do the job when the opportunity finally presented itself. I'm not entirely sure he was intending on leaving it that that, however.

I've long been of the opinion McPhilbin would beat the Londoner if they met - and that was re-enforced when Williams won the Lonsdale Belt with a controversial 12-round decision over another Midlander, Stourbridge southpaw Rob Norton, at the same venue ten weeks ago. Canvassed opinion of that outing saw 100 per cent of those asked adamant that the long-standing Black Country champion had been unjustly robbed of his treasured title.

So the aggressive Johnny Eames-trained puncher, now 9-4 (4), was looking to make a statement against a slimmed-down former heavyweight who'd been drafted in with three weeks to go when the original opponent, Essex's unbeaten Southern Area champion Tony Conquest, was KO'd with a bout of shingles.

And Leon, who had flattened another fighter from the city of Robin Hood - Tyrone Wright - at the Bethnal Green venue in 2010, made a bright start to his maiden title defence, decking the always-aggressive Midlander [14st 3lbs] with a right hand two minutes in. Dazed, Shane made it to his feet, saw out the ensuing attack, and quickly regrouped to take the second on work-rate alone.

His confidence continuing to grow after a shaky start, Carl Greaves-handled McPhilbin started to make his natural size and strength show as the bout went into the third. Williams' telegraphed right hands were missing the target and the challenger, who celebrated his 26th birthday three days prior to the 36-minute bout, went about punishing the blood-thirsty aggressor with both hands.

The fourth went much the same way and after being two points down after the opener, now found himself a round up on my card. Yet he conceded a close fifth and was adjudged to have been floored [harshly for me] in the sixth when his glove grazed the canvas after absorbing a solid right on the ropes from the revitalised 28-year-old champion [14st 3 1/2lbs]. In truth, Shane looked as though he tangled his own feet and lost his balance.

But it didn't get much better for the brave Bulwell-based banger - who had never been off his feet amateur or pro, including three fights with Tyson Fury in the unpaid ranks, prior to Friday night - over rounds seven, eight, nine and ten, when he had a point taken off for holding. But Williams had a point docked himself in the eleventh and after being tagged late in the round, he seemed to fall apart.

Then the fun really started. Within ten seconds of the final stanza Leon was on all fours - having shipped a right that appeared to land with a thud around the left ear and a short left as he went south. Only just beating the count and on visibly wobbly pins, he was barged backwards, hit with hooks to head and body and, with only 30 seconds gone, ate a right-left and went hurtling down on the ropes for a second time.

On the resumption 'Mr Block' wildly tore into the scramble-brained Streatham scrapper, who desperately tried to cover up and stoutly soak up the charge of the marauding challenger. He couldn't. A stream of left-rights banged into the gloves and dome of the fading champion and he sunk into the ropes, spent, just as Mr McDonnell was forcing his way between them at 1-50.

A remarkable turnaround for the iron-chinned, lion-hearted Nottinghamshire fighter, who was down 105-101 on my scorecard at the time of the intervention. In the post-fight interview on BoxNation, an emotional and adrenaline-fulled McPhilbin, now 8-2 (5), dedicated the victory to his late father

And look for the former Midlands Area boss, who has brought the British title to Bulwell for the first time since Del Bryan held it in 1995, to now grow in stature as champion. There are no shortage of future challengers for his belt - Matty Askin, the aforementioned Conquest and Jon Lewis Dickinson, to name but three - but they'll now know that they'll have to go through Hell and high water to take the title away.

Not a bad start to 2012 for for a ten-fight pro and former 19-stone amateur who only had 21 days to prepare for the biggest fight of his life and who'd, outside of Midlands circles at least, been written off as a safe first defence for the now-deposed champion.

For the record, the three judges that were rendered irrelevant by the never-say-die fists of McPhilbin were Richie Davies, Mark Green and Terry O'Connor.

Image courtesy of Andrew Milwall.

Woodhouse given tough Lauri test in Second City

2011-12-08T15:57:00.011Z

Curtis Woodhouse's boxing credentials will be further tested in a city where he plied his trade as a professional footballer.

The improving Driffield welterweight [pictured] will meet four-time European title challenger Giuseppe Lauri on a Dave Coldwell-promoted bill at Birmingham's New Bingley Hall on March 2 with the knowledge a British title fight could be on the horizon.

Although he'd never fought with gloves until his paid debut in 2006, the ex-Coldwell and now Glyn Rhodes-trained East Yorkshireman has been molded from a wide-eyed, raw-looking, light-hitting novice into a game, solid, well-schooled puncher to be respected.

And the former International Masters monarch recent in-ring performances mean that talk of his footballing career, which saw Birmingham City part with £1 million in 2001, should be permanently put to bed; it should now be Curtis Woodhouse the boxer and not Curtis Woodhouse the ex-footballer.

But he's had to survive a sizeable share of criticism to earn this well-deserved respect. Seen as little more than a novelty act who'd get humiliated by the first decent fighter he faced, resounding stoppage wins over respected trio Dean Hickman, Stefy Bull and, most recently [November 26], Gary McArthur perfectly illustrate the natural-born talent and tenacity that has taken him to 16 wins in 19 [11 early] contests.

Yet Lauri, 52-9 (31), could be the true acid test. He was still capable enough to contest the European 10st belt in September, losing via eighth-round retirement to Denis Shafikov in Finland, and there have been a few whispers that the well-traveled Italian might still know a little too much - even if he's coming off a two-round hammering by Levan Ghvamichava in October.

The 35-year-old former EU boss gave Irishman Paul McCloskey a solid argument for the same title last year - eventually knocked out in the eleventh - and some of his other notable defeats have arrived at the fists of a brace of ex-world champions from Britain, Ricky Hatton and Junior Witter.

But the way in which Curtis pushed undefeated 2007 World Amateur Champion Frankie Gavin to a 12-round split decision in July - in an outing he, by right, had no right to have been competitive in - shows this could be a perfect piece of matchmaking to increase his standing on both domestic and continental shores.

Incidentally, the 30-year-old has swapped leather in Birmingham before, on the undercard of Amir Khan's Commonwealth lightweight title defence against Michael Gomez at the National Indoor Arena in 2008 - and dismissed West Bromwich southpaw Wayne Downing in under 60 seconds with a brutal display of body-punching.

Woodhouse will be looking for a similar result next year.

Ahmed could secure title fight on Sunday

2011-12-02T10:24:00.004Z

Usman Ahmed could set up a Midland Area title crack with victory on Sunday [December 4].

The willing Derby super-flyweight [pictured on the attack against Don Broadhurst in October's 8st 5lbs Prizefighter] goes to work over four at Whitwick's Hermitage Leisure Centre with renewed zest since linking up with Dominic Ingle.

Ahmed crosses swords with durable South Yorkshire-based Kuwaiti Anwar Alfadli on Clifton Mitchell's bill in Leicestershire this weekend and win seven [five defeats and one draw in good company] could potentially earn the 30-year-old a 2012 super-flyweight title showdown with Northampton's Nathan Reeve.

Though the former British and Commonwealth title challenger is without a win in his last three starts, albeit to former Commonwealth boss Broadhurst, improving Irishman Luke Wilton [who Uzzy had previously outpointed] and big-hitting English monarch Ashley Sexton, he's a neat little boxer who ended the unbeaten run of touted former ABA champion Kyle King.

But he believes that shifting his training allegiances from the hometown distractions of Derby to the Steel City [46 miles away] could kick-start his boxing resurrection. "The move to do my training with the Ingles has really paid off," admitted an East Midlander whose fearlessness was demonstrated when he took on Chris Edwards, two fights before he won the British title, on his paid bow.

"Training has been going well and i feel better than ever.

"But whoever i fight, be it on Sunday or in the future, is irrelevent to me, really. I'll box whoever is put in front of me and my ability will help me to do the job," he added.

Image courtesy of Matchroom Sport.

Bendall aims to dish out Season's Beatings to Dane

2011-12-01T16:54:00.003Z

Steve Bendall is looking to de-rail the world title aspirations of a Scandinavian power-puncher later this month.

The cultured Coventry southpaw [pictured landing his right-leading jab against Darren Barker in 2008] travels to Denmark on December 17 to meet big-hitting Rudy Markussen and is targeting an upset over the come-backing former European champion.

Markussen has won all three of his contests since a four-year break in 2006 by stoppage - and his last two have arrived in the opening round. The ex-IBF world title challenger is also penciled in to box for the WBA Interim world 12st belt next year, against Belfast's Brian Magee, and sees the 38-year-old former two-time English middleweight champion as an ideal warm-up for the contest.

But Bendall, a former British, Commonwealth and European title challenger who was the first man to hand defeat to future British champion Paul Smith and who extended touted and 24-fight unbeaten German Dominik Britsch over eight in Germany in the summer, won't be the type who'll lie down when caught with the first big shot.

Though he's been stopped in four of his six paid defeats [29 wins, 14 early], the Poole-based stylist was on his feet at the time of the interventions and bravely firing back, protesting the referees decisions against Scott Dann, Wayne Elcock and former world champion Sebastian Sylvester.

But the 34-year-old local hero, looking to emulate countryman Mikkel Kessler as a world super-middleweight king, claims he's the hardest-hitting 12st fighter on the planet and that Bendall will be the 24th man [36 wins, two defeats] to go home with a stoppage loss on his record.

"Bendall is the last obstacle between me and a title fight," said the fired-up Dane, who has a reputation, as demonstrated in a seventh-round surrender against Sergey Tatevosyan five years ago, for mental fragility when under fire," so i will try and get him out of the way as soon as possible.

"I will not under-estimate him but i don't think he can keep up with my power. I will knock him out," he coldly added.

Concepcion forced out of English title tilt

2011-12-01T10:39:00.002Z

Martin Concepcion has been forced to pull out of his challenge for the English middleweight title.

The Leicester puncher [pictured landing a left against Steve O'Meara in Prizefighter last year] was set to face champion Nick Blackwell on a First Team-promoted bill at Trowbridge Civic Hall, Wiltshire, on December 17.

But a knee injury has ended the immediate English title ambitions of always-entertaining Concepcion, 30, who punched his way back into contention with a nine-round drubbing of streaking fellow East Midlander Matt Hainy in Leicester three months ago.

In his maiden fight at middleweight, the chin-or-be-chinned former British and Commonwealth 11st title challenger, 18-9 (11), sent Hainy crashing to the four times, sliced him above both eyes and relieved him of his Midland Area title after a brutal affair that referee Rob Chalmers ranks up there with the best fight he's ever seen.

That was Concepcion's first win in 15 months, following stoppage reversals to Sam Webb [in 11] and, in February, what many thought was a career-ending defeat to impressive Eastern European Sergey Rabchenko [in two], after a career spent operating exclusively at light-middleweight.

He'd captured the Area title at the weight and also ended the undefeated run of future Commonwealth boss Matthew Hall, as well as engaging Kevin Hammond in a brace of ten-round wars. But the move to 11st 6lbs, on the evidence of his last performance, seemed to bring a new vitality to the big-hitting Leicester boxer, who'll have to now wait and see if he'll get penciled in for another crack at the English crown next year.

Image courtesy of Matchroom Sports.

Dube after another Sheffield scalp

2011-11-30T09:42:00.001Z

Elvis Dube has the opportunity to inflict more misery on a Sheffield boxer this weekend.

The iron-fisted Derby light-heavyweight [pictured] has been given a last-minute call to arms and boxes Wayne Reed, 7-3 (3), at Hillsborough [home to Sheffield Wednesday FC] on Friday night [December 2].

Reed was set to fight for the vacant Central Area 12st title on Glyn Rhodes' show but his opponent, Huddersfield's Jason McCalmon, pulled out through injury and Dube has been drafted in for a six-rounder in a city where he's gone unbeaten in his last two.

The 33-year-old, with four wins [three early] and a draw in 15, earned a 12-minute draw he is adamant he won against another Rhodes charge, Carl Wild, earlier this month having sensationally knocked out the normally-durable binman in just 123 seconds in July.

Though Wild won their first bout on points, Dube is unbeaten since and dangerous with rights that had British Masters champion Jonjo Finnegan on the deck and defeated - and Reed, a hard-punching 24-year-old who stopped Leicester's Jahmaine Smyle last year, can be hurt and stopped.

The southpaw appeared to have the beating of former WBC world super-middleweight champion Robin Reid until he was caught with eight seconds left of the fourth in June - and had been halted in the same session by Peter Federenko two years ago. But he's solid, can punch and been matched tough from the off.

But none of the this will matter to Jason Shinfield-trained Elvis, who'll be looking to check another Sheffield boxer into the increasingly-packed Heartbreak Hotel.

Troy warms up for title fight at the weekend

2011-11-29T09:50:00.002Z

Troy James prepares for his maiden title crack with a difficult six-rounder in his home city on Saturday [December 3].

The Coventry super-featherweight, 10-1-1 (3), will cross swords with Nottingham puncher Barrington Brown for the vacant Midland Area belt on March 16 but first has to get past Dougie Curran at the Hilton Hotel this weekend.

Curran is tough, durable and no stranger to the Midlands, having extended then-unbeaten Lee Glover over ten for the vacant International Masters strap in June [Walsall]. The 15-bout [five wins and a draw] Geordie was stopped in three by impressive Black Countryman Chris Male in the same month but does hold points nods over former British champion Jamie McKeever and Davey Savage Jr, then undefeated in 11.

But ex-Barry McGuigan-handled James [pictured in his unsuccessful Prizefighter semi with Rhys Roberts last month] should have too much strength and all-round ability for Curran, 23, and victory will secure the ten-round rematch with Brown - who the 28-year-old outpointed in his quarter-final three-rounder at York Hall - set for Bedworth Civic Hall in the spring.

Two other boxers from the city of Lady Godiva, super-bantamweight Dougie Walton, 7-1-1 (1), and light-heavyweight first-timer Sean Sinnett, also see action on the Les Allen-promoted dinner show.

Image courtesy of Gavin Burrows.

Valentine given green light to box again

2011-11-28T10:24:00.005Z

Curtis Valentine has been given the go-ahead to resume his career.

The hammer-fisted Nottingham middleweight [pictured with manager Jimmy Gill, left, and trainer Tony Harris] hasn't boxed for 16 months after a routine brain scan showed a problem that looked certain to be a career-ending one.

But several trips to the best neurological specialists in the country and a re-scan from the British Boxing Board of Control has seen the 30-year-old being given the all-clear and he can now look to add to his three paid wins [two stoppages] in five.

Curtis traveled to Yorkshire on his debut and sensationally flattened unbeaten Luke Robinson on his debut, leaving the Castleford-based boxer, undefeated since, unconscious and needing oxygen after the two-round drubbing. He outpointed durable Ryan Clark next but was then on the receiving end of a brace of four-round decisions he looked to have done enough to win, against former ABA champion Erick Ochieng and Huddersfield's Alastair 'Burt' Warren.

And the last time he swapped 10oz leather for pay, against solid ex-England international amateur Martin Marshall in July last year, the relentless former Midlands Novice Class B champion's in-your-face pressure forced the referee to halt the one-sided beating less than eight minutes after it had begun.

The ensuing months have been dark for the East Midlander but he's now looking forward to emerging from the light - and switching the lights of his future opponents off. "It's been a nightmare, to be honest," admitted Tyson-esque Valentine, who has the rare combination of having iron in his chin and carrying dynamite in his fists.

"The time away has been hard, especially when you resign yourself to not boxing again and not doing something you love. Thankfully, it's been resolved now and i seriously can't wait to get back in there and knock someone out again," he added.

Brown and James to meet again for Midland belt

2011-11-25T09:12:00.005Z

Barrington Brown and Troy James will renew hostilities next year - this time for the vacant Midland Area super-featherweight title.

The Midlands pair met in the quarters of last month's featherweight Prizefighter, with Coventry's James earning a unanimous decision after three keenly-contested rounds of boxing at York Hall.

Yet Tony Harris-trained Brown [pictured, right, in their October argument] shook his opponent badly in the opening round with a whipping right uppercut and though that was the only stanza he won on two of three judges scorecards, with the other only giving him a share of that session, the 29-year-old Nottingham puncher is touted to be a different animal over the ten-round distance.

The intriguing-looking East vs West Midlands title 9st 4lbs clash will top a Les Allen-promoted show at Bedworth Civic Hall on March 16 and 28-year-old Troy, 10-1-1 (3), who bowed out of that eight-man tournament in the semis to slick-boxing Mancunian Rhys Roberts, will enter the 30-minute battle as the betting favourite.

But James should be warned: the last title challenger from the Robin Hood city to turn up at the Civic Hall [Bullwell cruiserweight Shane McPhilbin] upset the odds, ended up chinning the Coventry favourite [Rhys Davies] and raced back up the M1 with the previously-ownerless Midland belt strapped firmly around his waist.

And big-hitting Brown, with five wins [two quickly] and three draws in 14, will be looking to land the devastating punches that'll make lightning strike twice at the Warwickshire venue.

Image courtesy of Gavin Burrows.

Monaghan targets title swansong

2011-11-21T14:11:00.003Z

Michael Monaghan returns from a 28-month layoff claiming there are plenty of fights he can win.

The awkward Nottingham light-heavy [pictured landing a body shot against same-city rival Tyrone Wright] hasn't swapped competitive leather since being soundly outpointed over ten by Bradley Pryce in 2009.

But he boxes over 12 minutes against Sheffield binman Dean Walker on December 3 - on a Carl Greaves-promoted bill in Newark that's topped by an interesting British Masters middleweight title clash between local A.A. Lowe and Pocklington's Harry Matthews - looking to add to his 18 paid victories [two stoppages] in 44.

The 35-year-old former Midland Area light-heavyweight champion has had a testing career that's seen him thrown in with the likes of ex-British champion Wayne Elcock, former two-time European boss Matthew Macklin and current WBC world super-middleweight monarch Carl Froch, as well as a host of dangerous up-and-coming prospects from 11st to 13st.

Mick belted then-touted Scandinavian Ali Khattab to such a comprehensive defeat that he only boxed twice more, ended the unblemished nine-bout log of Michael Bilak in 2005 and was unlucky not to add the scalp of future world title challenger Gary Lockett to his resume in their closely-contested 30-minute battle eight years ago.

Although he lost the return in under eight minutes, it's his trio of bouts with his same-city rivals that solidified his already-iron reputation.

Froch blasted him out in three rounds in an all-Nottingham grudge match at the Capital FM Arena in 2003, but few others were able to repeat that trick. He won the Midland strap with a ten-round nod over another boxer from the Robin Hood city, powerful future International Masters king Rod Anderton, in March 2007 but then agonisingly lost it two months later to big-hitting Tyrone Wright, who halted him with just a second remaining of the contest.

Yet Monaghan feels that the two-year absence has refreshed his body and got the fires burning for one last run in the harshest sport of all. "I'll feel fresh after the break," admitted a veteran spoiler who's now based in Lincoln," and feel like there are wins to be had and maybe, if there's the opportunity on the table to do so, a title to be won.

"Then again, i suppose we'll see what i have to offer on December 3. In my eyes there is plenty in the tank but the onus is on me to show that i still have what it takes to cause a few upsets," the two-weight Irish title challenger added.

Image courtesy of Colin Messer.

Rampant Welborn tears Midland belt from McKervey

2011-11-19T10:41:00.003Z

Jason Welborn had vowed to win the Midland Area title in spectacular fashion - and kept to his word with a clinical display of punching.

The 25-year-old ripped the welterweight title from champion Sean McKervey in three one-sided rounds, on a YouTube and Hatton Boxing-streamed three-bout show promoted by First Team last night [November 18], and has now put himself into the mix for the English belt next year.

Though the Coventry southpaw was coming off back-to-back reversals in 2011, including a stoppage loss last time out, Sean was still expected to give the Errol Johnson-trained prospect a career-hardest test. Indeed, he won the British Masters title with a three-round crushing of Wayne Downing and the Midland title with a points nod over Kevin McCauley last year [both Johnson-handled fighters].

But he had no answer to the aggression of heavily-tattooed Welborn [pictured above], who shook the 28-year-old champion with a fast-handed right in the opening three minutes. McKervey (10st 6lbs), who is never in a bad contest, entered the fight with a black eye and was stunned again with the right as the challenger continued to plow forward during the second.

Yet the 15-fight [eight wins and two draws, one stoppage] West Midlander put some nice punches together before he was sent hurtling to the canvas by a left in the third. Though McKervey managed to beat the count, Welborn repeated the trick - this time with a right - and referee Shaun Messer sensibly ended the slaughter at 1-26.

"I've boxed with a broken hand in my last three fights so just put the rounds in the bank and didn't look to get the job done early," admitted a bull-strong puncher who started his paid career at super-middleweight, has only lost to Nottingham's slippery Ingle-trained Tyan Booth, and who's improved immensely since a link-up with Errol in Wednesbury.

"But my hand is fine, i relaxed and didn't look to get the KO, and look what happened when i opened up on him. I think i sent a message to the welterweights of Britain with that display," roared the well-supported new champion (10st 7lbs) from Rowley Regis, whose paid record now improves to 8-1 (3).

Promoter PJ Rowson added: "He showed that he can listen and box to instruction when he's been told to. There are bigger fights to come for him."

In the four-twos show-opener in front of a good-sized crowd at Walsall Town Hall, Saquib 'Zak The Ripper' Amir (9st 6 1/4lbs) returned to the win column with a 40-36 verdict from Mr Messer [scoring on the outside for trialist referee Gareth Morris] over Nottinghamshire-based Latvian Pavels Senkovs (9st 7lbs).

Amir has had all three [now 2-1] of his paid bouts at the Town Hall but slipped to an unexpected defeat to winless Dan Naylor last month. But he's now being trained in Wednesbury by Errol Johnson, who took Young Mutley a British title, and though open-guarded at times he dug-in enough heavy-looking hooks to the body to run out a wide winner.

Athough i gave Matt Scriven-handled Senkovs, who slipped to loss 39 in 44, the second for a 39-37 tally after an always-watchable four, 28-year-old 'Zak The Ripper' was a worthy winner.

Gethin shows no ill-effects of back injury on return

2011-11-19T09:54:00.008Z

Martin Gethin admits he wants a title fight next year - but isn't fussed who it's against.

The two-time English lightweight champion from the Black Country [pictured after boxing in Las Vegas in 2007] returned from 19 months of injury hell to shut-out durable Pole Arek Malek over six at Walsall Town Hall last night [November 18] and has now targeted a title fight in 2012.

Well-muscled Malek (10st 2lb) has boxed on British shores on no fewer than 26 occasions in which time he's acquired a reputation as a durable character who is oft-beat but won't go without an argument and is capable when he lashes back with his right.

And though Gethin boxed neatly off his jab throughout an 18-minute First Team-promoted bout that was streamed live on YouTube by Hatton Boxing, the 57-fight [12 wins and two draws] Pole clipped him with a number of solid body shots and looping rights as the rust gradually shred from a man (10st 4lbs) who was boxing in his hometown for the first time in five years.

Showing no ill-effects from a back injury that had kept him out of competitive action for over a year-and-a-half and required career-saving surgery, the Errol Johnson-trained puncher moved his upper-body well, found the space to thump in body punches and thread rights through, and generally out-boxed the well-covered Eastern European, whose face was reddened by the accuracy of potency of Gethin's straight shots by the fourth.

The decent workout continued to heavily-favour the local in final six minutes, a heavy-looking head-body-head attack forcing his always-willing opponent to grab tightly late on, and it came as no surprise to see Shaun Messer [scoring on the outside for trialist official Gareth Morris] mark the ex-British Masters 10st boss a 60-54 victor.

And now, after registering professional win 19 in 23 [three defeats and a draw, seven inside], Gethin has laid down the gauntlet to English champion Derry Mathews and British 9st 9lbs boss Anthony Crolla, who defends his crown against Willie Limond in Scotland next Friday. He said: "I'll keep ticking over in the gym and then see what comes up in the New Year.

"Whatever the title my team can get for me, be it the English or British, i'll be ready to beat them and take the belt home with me," added the 28-year-old former Midland Area champion, who ended the unbeaten runs of Yorkshire pair Nadeem Siddique [22] and John Fewkes [17] in 2008.

McKervey can't wait for hard Area title defence

2011-11-17T11:09:00.002Z

Sean McKervey is looking to erase the demons of his previous two fights on Friday night [November 18].

The Coventry welterweight makes the maiden defence of his treasured Midland Area title, on a First Team-promoted dinner show at Walsall Town Hall, having suffered unexpected back-to-back setbacks

But the capable portsider [pictured above with the British Masters and Midland straps] has the chance to put a so-far-winless 2011 behind him against Tividale's aggressive and decent-punching Jason Welborn, 7-1 (2), in front of the Hatton Boxing cameras, who are streaming the three-bout card live on their YouTube channel.

McKervey had a stellar 2010, chalking-up three wins in four [one draw] and adding the Masters and Area belts to his trophy cabinet with resounded wins over Wayne Downing, who was dropped twice and swatted aside in three, and Kevin McCauley, the current British Masters boss at 11st who was outpointed for the Midland Area strap.

Yet he was shockingly decked and out-pointed by novice Walsall pro Joel Ryan in March over four and then, in a fight he was favoured to win the following month, went onto lose a crack for his old Masters title in three one-sided rounds to then-unbeaten and recently-retired Neil Beevers in Barnsley.

But Sean has only lost once at 10st 7lbs and favours his right-leading skills to end the charge of improving Welborn, who hasn't tasted defeat since Nottingham's Ingle-trained Tyan Booth flattened him in three in 2006. "It's a big fight and a great opportunity for me to show thousands of people on the internet what i can do," he said.

"I've had a bad couple of performances this year but i'm going to put that firmly to bed with a dominant defence of my belt on Friday. Welborn is a fit, game and willing kid but he's going to go home empty-handed because i have trained hard and will match and better everything he tries.

"Seriously, i can't wait for this," added the value-for-money 28-year-old, 8-4-2 (1), ahead of the tough-looking ten-rounder in the Black Country.

Prizefighter heading to the Black Country

2011-11-16T10:12:00.005Z

Wolverhampton Civic Hall is to play host to the next round of Prizefighter on January 28 - and set to feature at least two popular Midlanders.

Matchroom Sports' always-interesting three-round, eight-man format, in which the winner receives £32,000, ventures outside the capital for only the fourth time and lands in the Midlands for the first time, after two in Liverpool and one in Newcastle.

And Midlands Boxing can exclusively reveal that added local interest comes to the catch-weight light-welter and welterweight tournament in the form of West Bromwich's former British welterweight champion Young Mutley [pictured with his Lonsdale Belt] and hard-as-nails Telford 36-year-old Mark Lloyd.

Neither man is a stranger to the Sky Sports-televised show, having both reached the semis in their previous tilt at the crown. Former Midland Area welterweight, International Masters light-middle and British Masters middleweight monarch Lloyd, 15-4 (3), outpointed former IBO 11st boss Steve Conway in the 2008 welterweight event at York Hall before bowing out to ex-European champion Ted Bami [also on points].

Mutley, 29-6 (14), unanimously outscored Welshman Barrie Jones, who'd been heavily-tipped to beat the iron-fisted Black Countryman pre-fight, before losing a controversial semi-final to current British 10st 7lbs boss Colin Lynes in the 2009 light-welterweight Prizefighter at London's Olympia. The 35-year-old had previously been knocked out by Lynes but looked unfortunate not to be given the nod in their nine-minute rematch.

But the West Midlands pair, both trained in Wednesbury by Errol Johnson and coming of defeats earlier this year [Mutley on points to Frankie Gavin; Lloyd on a technical decision to Luciano Abis in Italy], have the chance to go one-step further in their back garden in the New Year.

Although none of the eight men have been named officially, Halifax's Liam Patrick Walsh is also touted to put his unbeaten professional ledger on the line in search of the hearty winner's cheque.