Martin Rogan is aiming to become Ireland’s second heavyweight world champion – more than 100 years after the last man to hold the greatest prize in boxing. And he says victory over Matt Skelton later this month will put him on course to achieve his dream. The 37-year-old from Belfast will face Skelton at the N.I.A IN Birmingham, on February 28.
Having ended the career of Audley Harrison in December when he beat the Olympic gold medallist over 10 rounds, Rogan is looking to repeat the trick against Skelton.
And “The Entertainer” believes that a spectacular win over the Commonwealth heavyweight champion will allow him to gatecrash the world scene.
“It’s everyone’s dream when they are growing up to become heavyweight champion of the world,” said Rogan.
“Harrison was being talked up as a possible world title contender and I beat him. Now everyone is doing the same with Skelton. Both of them said that I was a stepping stone for their world title ambitions, but I’m a stepping stone for no one.
“Skelton is a great fighter and it’s not going to be easy, but I will go in there believing I will win, and if I do defeat him, then why shouldn’t I be thinking about becoming a world champion.
“And you know what – I don’t think this a tougher fight than Harrison.
“Harrison had a lot more class and boxing ability than Skelton. I’ve got a lot of respect for Matt and he’s going to rough and tough, but to be honest that suits me down to the ground, more than fighting someone like Harrison.
“I’ve got a great team behind me in John Breen and Eamonn Magee, and it’s going to be about whose game plan is best, and I believe mine will be.”
Rogan, 11-0 with five stoppages, doesn’t have history on his side in his quest for world glory.
But there has been an Irish heavyweight champion before – in 1895, Peter Maher was awarded the title by retired champion Jim Corbett after beating Steve O’Donnell.
He lost the crown in his first defence against Bob Fitzsimmons.
“We’ve not had a great history of heavyweights in Ireland, and I must admit I’d not heard of Peter Maher before,” said Rogan.
“But I know I’ve the got the tools to get to the very top and finally put Ireland on the map as far as us big men are concerned. We’ve had lots of great fighters at lighter weights in the past, but now the heavyweights are coming!
“I’m so confident after the Harrison victory. I’ve had a great training camp and I’ve been sparring with some good, big heavyweights in Northern Ireland and the south, everything has been spot on.”
Tickets, priced at £30, £50, £100 and £150.
HEAVYWEIGHT BLOCKBUSTER: SAM PETER TAKES ON DANGEROUS CHALLENGER EDDIE CHAMBERS ON MARCH 27
Big time heavyweight boxing will be played out on March 27 when #3 World-ranked contender Eddie Chambers and #5 World-ranked and former WBC World Heavyweight Champion Sam Peter collide in a monstrous heavyweight battle scheduled for 12-rounds on a special edition of ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights” (10:00 pm ET/7:00 pm PT) at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles.
“It has been a great pleasure working with Dan (Goossen) and Dino (Duva) and their respective fight teams to bring this exciting and meaningful bout to ESPN’s Friday Night Fights. We are equally excited by the opportunity to produce and televise this inaugural boxing telecast from AEG”s state of the art Nokia Theatre” stated Doug Loughrey, ESPN-Director Programming Acquisitions.
Goossen Tutor Promotions will present the marquee night of boxing and entertainment, and the Chambers-Peter Heavyweight Bout is being promoted in association with Duva Boxing. The ESPN special extravaganza will be the first ever boxing event staged from the world-class 7,100-seat Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, which is the centerpiece of L.A. LIVE, a 4-million square foot / $2.5 billion downtown Los Angeles sports, residential and entertainment district adjacent to STAPLES Center.
“This is undoubtedly the biggest and most anticipated heavyweight fight that does not have a world title attached to it, stated Dan Goossen, but the winner of this bout will once again be earning their right to fight for the prestigious World Heavyweight Championship.”
Chambers knows the power that comes with a win.
“I can’t wait for the big night,” said an ecstatic Chambers, making his third appearance on ESPN, the giant cable sports network, on word that Peter accepted his challenge. Known as “Fast Eddie” for his tremendous hand speed, Chambers (33-1, 18 KOs) beat Ross Puritty and stopped Derric Rossy in his two previous bouts on ESPN.
“Pro basketball, football and baseball all on ESPN, and now “Fast Eddie. I’m in great company. I will beat Sam Peter, and do it convincingly, to get in position for my well-deserved World title shot. Peter is a big man, and a powerful puncher with both hands, and I give him his respect. But come March 27, he’ll find out about my power and speed. This is a big fight for me and I promise an exciting fight for the fans. It’s major heavyweight boxing.”
The 26-year old Chambers was in the process of making a meteoric rise in the heavyweight division when he lost a decision in January 2008 against Alexander Povetkin in an IBF Heavyweight Title Elimination bout in Germany. A native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, now fighting out of Philadelphia, he was 29-0 when he stepped up to garner a split-decision over top contender Calvin Brock to earn the shot against Povetkin.
Now trained by the experienced and knowledgeable Rob Murray, Sr., Chambers has reeled off three straight wins: TKOs over Raphael Butler (for the USBA title) and Livin Castillo and, most recently, a unanimous decision victory over the gargantuan 6-4, 268-pound Cisse Salif two months ago in Cabazon, California.
Known as “The Nigerian Nightmare,” Peter (30-2, 23 KOs) is a 6-1, 250 pound knockout machine who is no stranger to fighting in Los Angeles, having recorded the first of his two big wins over James “Lights Out” Toney at STAPLES Center in September 2006 and has a decisive weight advantage over Chambers who weighed 221 pounds for his last bout.
“I’m coming home to LA. I love the city of Angels,” exclaimed Peter to the tune of Randy Newman’s “I Love LA” theme and added a little message to Chambers, “Eddie, you better be ready for the Nigerian Nightmare.”
Promoted by Dino Duva, managed by Ivaylo Gotsev and co-trained by Manny Massom and Shadeed Suluki, Peter, 28, was 24-0 and holder of the NABF Heavyweight Title before sustaining his first defeat as a pro in September, 2005 to current World Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko while knocking Klitschko down three times during the bout.
The powerful Nigerian went on to post five more wins (including two over Toney) before getting his opportunity at a World heavyweight title belt. In March 2008 Peter stopped Oleg Maskaev in the sixth round and claimed the WBC Heavyweight Title. Seven months later, in his first title defense, Peter relinquished the crown to the other Klitschko brother – Vitali – when he could not answer the bell for the ninth round.
So both Peter and Chambers will be looking for the opportunity to immediately get back into the World title picture on March 27 at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE.
The boxing industry is giving Peter and his team credit for taking on what most experts consider a 50/50 fight against the dangerous Chambers. “Goossen has two fighters we want back-to-back, Chambers and (Cristobal “The Nightmare”) Arreola. First, Sam will knock Chambers out cold,” said a confident Duva, “and then the World Title or we may comeback to Los Angeles and do the same thing to Arreola.”
“Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE and everyone at AEG are incredibly thrilled to host our first ever-boxing match on March 27th,” said Lee Zeidman, General Manager STAPLES Center, Nokia Theatre and L.A. LIVE. The theatre was designed to host a variety of events and now we can add World Championship boxing to that list, and are looking forward to a history making night.”
“Matching two of the world’s top heavyweights is only part of the story on March 27,” Goossen stated. “The opportunity to bring this event to the amazing state-of-the-art Nokia Theatre is the other star. I believe an expanded and younger fan base will be attracted to this event and it will be the place to be that night, in part because of the extraordinary L.A. LIVE, and bringing the first ever boxing event to Nokia Theatre. The fans will definitely be treated to a World-class event at a World-class entertainment center.”
The night is sure to be a knockout come March 27 — the only question is who will it be?
Ticket information and other televised and undercard bouts will be announced shortly.
RAN NAKASH LOOKS TO STAY UNDEFEATED AGAINST DAVE BRUNELLI IN MUCH ANTICIPATED BOUT APRIL 3RD AT THE LEGENDARY BLUE HORIZON
Tyric “Too Sweet” Robinson to battle Julias Edmonds in Philly war
On Friday night, April 3rd one of more intriguing matchups to have hit Philadelphia in a long time will take place when undefeated Israeli sensation, Ran Nakash battles former Heavyweight prospect and extremely popular Dave Brunelli in the eight round Cruiserweight main event of an exciting night of boxing at The Legendary Blue Horizon in Philadelphia
The great card is promoted by Vernoca L. Michael and Blue Horizon Boxing Promotions Inc.
This fight harkens back to the days where great ethnic battles between Jewish and Italian fighters were commonplace in the sport of boxing.
Nakash of Haifa, Israel has not only become a staple at The Legendary Blue Horizon but he has become one of the most popular fighters in Philadelphia.
This will be his ninth appearance at The Legendary Blue Horizon as he has won his previous eight fights at the Blue with five knockouts. Overall Nakash is 17-0 with thirteen knockouts.
In his last outing on February 6th, Naksah bludgeoned Ryan Carrol (7-1) in two rounds.
After that fight, Nakash went back to Israel and re-assumed his place in the Israeli Army to fight against unrest that is going on in the Middle East.
Brunelli is one of the most popular fighters in Philadelphia as the Northeast Philly native has built up a great fan base that has supported him throughout his five year career.
Brunelli has a record of 8-4 with three knockouts and is itching to get back in the win column after losing two straight.
Brunelli is coming off a first round knockout at the hands of former U.S. Olympian Devin Vargas (15-0) last May in Atlantic City.
Brunelli is undefeated (2-0) at The Legendary Blue Horizon with the high point being a unanimous decision victory over Aaron Lyons in June of 2007.
Ironically it was Lyons who handed another out of town Philly favorite, Joey Abell his first loss.
A lot of the talk around town has Brunelli springing the upset on April 3rd.
In one of the exciting co-features just added with be a six round Jr. Welterweight battle of Philadelphians as Tyric “Too Sweet” Robinson taking on Julias Edmonds in what will possibly a “show stealer”
Robinson has one of best reputations in town and he has amassed a record of 9-3-1 with three knockouts.
Robinson is a slick boxer with deceiving power. This will be Robinson’s seventh start at The Legendary Blue Horizon (3-3).
Robinson has taken on some very good fighters such as Chris Fernandez (14-3); Lenny DeVictoria and Jason Cintron (8-0) and will be looking to get back in the win column after dropping an eight round unanimous to decision to Cintron back on October 17th at The Legendary Blue Horizon.
Edmonds has one of the biggest hearts around as he looks to fight all of his fights in a “Phone Booth”
That style is exciting to the fans and Edmonds is constantly in the “Fight of The Night”.
Edmonds has a record of 4-3 as is 4-1 at The Legendary Blue Horizon.
He is coming off an exciting six round unanimous six round unanimous decision victory over Linwood Hurd on February 6th.
More exciting bout will be announced shortly which will include the return of Elad Shmouel on April 3rd.
These fights will be streamed live all over the world on www.gofightlive.tv
Ticket prices for this great night of boxing are $200 for Queen Seating, $125 for Presidential seats, $65 for VIP, $55 for Ringside, and $45 for General Admission and can be purchased by calling The Legendary Blue Horizon at 1-215-763-0500. Doors open at 6:30 PM / 1st bout begins at 7:30 PM
The Legendary Blue Horizon is located at 1314 North Broad Street in Philadelphia, PA
For more information, log on to www.legendarybluehorizon.com
There will be a press gathering on Wednesday, APRIL 1ST at the Legendary Blue Horizon at 2pm