Commonwealth heavyweight champion Matt Skelton has called out David Haye. Skelton, who defends his title against Martin Rogan on 28th February, said he “absolutely would” like a shot at Haye. Speaking to Setanta Sports News Skelton insisted his comments weren’t personal. He said:
“He seems like a nice fella. And technically he’s a very good fighter, but who he’s fought at heavyweight so far is not someone to be shouting about.
“But I believe whoever went on to win that fight between Haye and Maccarinelli would have got what’s happening now [the Klitschko fight].
“He’s moved up to heavyweight and I certainly think David Haye has capitalised on it.”
Skelton takes on Rogan at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham in three weeks time. And the champion is looking forward to a tough bout. He added:
“Martin can mix it up with the best of them. Hopefully the referee will let certain things go and we can have a good old tear up.”
SWITCH FOR CLEVERLY
Fast-rising boxing star Nathan Cleverly has been handed a tough fight against heavy-handed Samson “The Hammer” Onyango next Friday night.
The Welshman was originally scheduled to box James Obede Toney at the Oasis Sports Centre in Swindon next Friday night live on Sky Sports.
But when the Ghanaian was ruled out with an injury, in stepped Kenya’s Onyango.
He has an 18-3 record with 12 stoppages, and is sure to give unbeaten Cleverly a tough fight.
The Blackwood hot-shot, a potential candidate for the prestigious Boxing Writers’ Young Boxer of Year, is unbeaten in 14 with four KOs – and knows he’ll have to be at his best.
“Onyango looks just as good as Toney, if not a bit better,” said Cleverly.
“But I’m buzzing after defending my title in style just before Christmas, and I’m ready for another action-packed display next Friday.
“It will be a St Valentine’s weekend massacre – with all the big shots coming from me.
“I’ve had a great training camp and it really doesn’t matter who Frank Warren puts in front of me, I’m going to war and I’m going to win in style.”
A pro for four years, Onyango has won six of his last seven fights.
Tickets, priced at £30 Bench, £40 Terraced, £60 Outer Ring-Side and £100 Ringside including VIP, are available from The Oasis on 01793 445 401.
“The Lion” stays with ARENA. Mahir Oral extends his contract for three more years. Ahmet Öner: “He’s got championship potential!”
Middleweight contender Mahir “Lion” Oral has extended his promotional contract with ARENA Box-Promotion for three more years. “I took my time to think about the offer”, states Oral. “Finally I made my decision and I am one hundred percent convinced that it is the right one. There is no better promoter in the world for me than Ahmet Öner and ARENA.
I am sure that Ahmet is the right man to push me to the top of the ratings. He knows this business very well; he is organizing excellent shows and always finds the right opponents. In addition to that I get along very well with all the other guys in the ARENA gym. My coach Hans-Jürgen Witte is great and it is fun to work with all the guys. Also Hamburg is my hometown and ARENA is based here as well.”
“I am very happy that Mahir decided to stay with ARENA”, says promoter Ahmet Öner. “He already proved that he is one of the best middleweights in the world today. And with Klitschko vs. Gomez coming up he also recognized that I am able to get world title fights for my boxers. I am sure that Mahir will make his way to the top. He is already rated very high in all major organizations. If everything goes well he might get a shot at a world title at the end of this year.
Oral’s next step on the way to a title shot will be a fight against “stable-mate” Kofi Jantuah in May. “Kofi is a very good boxer as well” adds Öner. “And he has fought for the IBF title before. I am sure that the winner of this bout will get close to a championship bout.” The exact date and place of the fight are not set yet.