Frank Warren’s Olympic stars face an Eastern invasion when they make their long-awaited professional debuts at the NIA, Birmingham, on February 28. James DeGale, Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders will all meet opponents from former Iron Curtain countries.
Olympic middleweight champion DeGale takes on Vepkhia Tchilaia, a 21-year-old from Tblisi, Georgia.
Frankie Gavin, the world amateur champion, tackles a second Georgian, 22-year-old George Kadaria
And Billy Joe Saunders will face former Hungarian light-welterweight champion, Attila Molnar.
All three opponents have vowed to cause an upset in a fortnight’s time, and, given their professional experience, will pose stiff tests to each of the three Olympians.
“Training has been going brilliantly, but I’ve had an extra edge since I’ve known who I will be facing,” said 23-year-old DeGale.
“I boxed a few Eastern Europeans when I was an amateur and did well against them, but they are always tough and I know Tchilaia will come to fight.”
Saunders, 19, added: “I just can’t wait to get in the ring and make a statement. My opponent has been around a bit and he’s even boxed the full 12 rounds before, so if I look good against him then I’ll know I’m going in the right direction.”
And 23-year-old Gavin said: “Making my debut in my home city is a dream come true, and I’m going to put on a dazzling display for all the fans who come out to see me.
“It was frustrating not boxing at the Olympics, and by February 28 I’ll be desperate for a fight, so I’m counting down the days until I climb through the ropes.”
Tickets, priced at £30, £50, £100 and £150, are available from:
Ticket Factory
0844 338 8000
www.theticketfactory.com
See Tickets
0871 220 0260
www.seetickets.com
Ticket Master
0844 847 2500
www.ticketmaster.com
Ticketline
0871 888 9991
www.ticketline.co.uk
“Cinderella Man” Thaxton has World at his feet
Promoter Mick Hennessy believes Jon Thaxton can crown his “Cinderella Man” career with an audacious world title bid. After almost 16 years as a pro Thaxton upset the odds to win the European Lightweight title at the Norfolk Showground’s in his native Norwich last October and Hennessy believes he can go one step further.
Thaxton returns to the scene of his stunning one punch KO win over Juan Carlos Diaz Melero on February 28th when he makes the first defence of his title against French Champion, Anthony Mezaache.
While Thaxton is busy focusing on Mezaache his promoter is already making long term plans. “Jon’s too much of a professional to take his eye off the ball but I’m hoping to manoeuvre Jon into a position to challenge for the World title. Obviously he can’t afford to slip up against Mezaache and Jon himself knows that it’s a potential banana skin. He’s been in Mezaache’s position himself before and he’s a guy with nothing to lose so that makes him very dangerous but Jon knows all about that.
“People wrote him off after he lost his first European title attempt but I had faith in Jon and he delivered in style when he got a second crack at it. Jon has been one of British boxing’s greatest servants and I think it would be terrific to see him get a chance at a World title. He’s a role model for any young pro coming into the sport. His dedication and professionalism is second to none and if I can deliver a world title shot for Jon I’ve no doubt he’ll make the most of it.”
Thaxton says that a world title shot would be the icing on the cake of an amazing career that has seen him battle back from setbacks inside and outside the ring including a car crash that left him sidelined for 2 years.
“When I look back through my career and what I’ve been through, coming back from the car crash to win the British and European titles then I think, why not go all the way when I’ve come this far. It really would be the modern day Cinderella Man story and a real fairytale but it’s one I certainly believe in.
“I love it when people say I’m finished because I get a lot of motivation out of proving the naysayers wrong. To be honest I have to credit my wife with a lot of it. When I lost to Eamonn Magee seven years ago a lot of people were telling me it was time to hang up the gloves. To be honest there’s been times when I wondered myself if I’d ever get there. My wife isn’t a boxing fan at all, in fact she can’t stand it but through all the bad times she’s encouraged me and pushed me to keep going because she knew it was still in me and that I still had the hunger to do it.
Thaxton doesn’t have to look too far for inspiration. The dominant force in the lightweight division is unified champ, Nate Campbell. The American defends his titles in Florida on Saturday night and like Thaxton his career finally came good well into his thirties.
“I’d love a shot at Campbell and he’s certainly a good example of how it can be done even when your in your mid thirties. He’s two years older than me and like me he’s had his ups and downs so if he can do it why can’t I? It’s a strong division but to fight him or any of the other champs at lightweight would be a dream come true.
“Hopefully Mick can deliver that opportunity for me. I take everything as it comes but I train hard, I’m passionate about the sport and I’ll fight anyone. I’ve never ducked anybody in my life. In fact when people ask me who I’d like to fight I normally say either Amir Khan or Michael Katsididis. Neither of them hold any titles at the moment but I know for a fact they would be really exciting for the fans.
“They’d be great fights but I guarantee I’d win them because although I like to have a ruck and a punch up I’m adaptable and I can box when I need to. I’m a good mover and have decent skills so I’ve a lot more in my armoury than people think.”
The 34-year-old southpaw is keen to stress though that until fight night the only man he’s focusing on is Anthony Mezaache. “I’m really up for this one; training has gone better than ever. I’m ahead of where I would usually be at this stage in a training camp and I wish the fight was this weekend because it can’t come soon enough now. It’s at home in front of my own fans so I want to win this in style and make a real statement.”
Featuring on the exciting undercard: Danny McIntosh v Matthew Barney for the English Light Heavyweight Title (subject to Boards approval), also appearing New Heavyweight Sensation Tyson Fury, Matthew Thirlwall, Steve O’Meara, Daniel Herdman, Earl Ling and making his pro debut, ABA Senior Featherweight Champion 2008 & awarded the best boxer of the night Royston’s Bradley Evans.
Tickets for Jon Thaxton’s European title defence at the Norfolk Showground, Norwich on the 28th February are available from the Ticketline box office on 0871 424 4444 or via www.ticketline.co.uk
Woodhouse, Wale and Maxwell appear on HAYEMAKER 7: ‘Pain at the Lane’
Boxing and football join hands on Sunday, March 29, when Hayemaker triple threat Curtis Woodhouse, Patrick Maxwell and Josh ‘The Outlaw’ Wale invade Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane.
Appearing at Sheffield United’s Platinum Suite, Woodhouse and fellow punch machines Wale and Maxwell look to maintain their reputations as exciting, hard-hitting prospects.
The occasion will, of course, be extra special for former United player and pro footballer Woodhouse, now 9-0 in a promising boxing career. The 28-year-old welterweight made over 100 appearances for Sheffield United before being transferred to Birmingham City for £1 million.
Now looking to fulfil a lifelong passion as a boxer, Woodhouse returns to Bramall Lane on March 29 to display just what he’s picked up along the way in a six-round bout.
Also out to prove a point will be thrilling punchers Wale and Maxwell, both gunning for domestic belts in 2009.
Fresh off a ferocious war with veteran puncher Paul Samuels, the 29-year-old Maxwell looks to build on momentum and start taking domestic names. A big puncher with a desire to trade bombs, it’s advised to never blink when Maxwell is in the ring.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old Barnsley prodigy Wale is eager to get his career back on track following an unfortunate injury defeat last time out against Harry Ramagoadi. Renowned as one of the most continuously exciting fighters in Britain, super-bantamweight Wale will exhibit his relentless style March 29.
Trainer and manager Dave Coldwell is pleased to be back at the Lane.
“This will be the second show I’ve put on at the Platinum Suite, and the third show I’ve put on at Sheffield United,” says Coldwell.
“It’s always a pleasure going back there and the crowd really get behind the lads – especially Curtis, who is still something of a hero up there.
“Curtis will be doing six three-minute rounds for the first time in his career, and we’ll be looking to increase the level of his competition in 2009. We’re very confident he can handle it.
“Wale and Maxwell are both value for money kids, with lots of explosive power and energy. You’d never watch either and ask for your money back at the end of the night. In fact, all three guys on the show are massively entertaining.”
*** Tickets for HAYEMAKER 7: ‘Pain at the Lane’ are priced at £26 and can be purchased via the Sheffield United events office on 08716 632 448. For more information, email events@sufc.co.uk or visit www.sufc.co.uk and www.sheffieldconference.com.
*** HAYEMAKER 7: ‘Pain at the Lane’ takes place on Sunday, March 29 at Sheffield United’s Platinum Suite. Doors open at 4pm and boxing commences at 5pm.
ANDRE WILSON NEW FOE FOR UNBEATEN TEON KENNEDY MARCH 6 IN BLUE HORIZON SEMIFINAL
Philadelphia, PA–Hard-hitting lefty Andre Wilson, of St. Joseph, MO, steps in against unbeaten super bantamweight Teon Kennedy, of North Philadelphia, in the scheduled eight-round semifinal Friday evening, March 6, at the Legendary Blue Horizon, 1314 North Broad Street. First fight i s set for 7.30 pm.
Wilson replaces another lefty, veteran Paulino Villalobos, of San Diego, CA, who withdrew due to medical reasons.
Topping the seven-bout card will be Mike Jones’ first defense of his North American Boxing Association (NABA) welterweight title against Larry Mosley, of Los Angeles, CA, in a 10-round contest.
Wilson, 26, is 11-1-1, 9 K0s. He stepped up his career in 2008 when he knocked out Francisco Rodriguez (14-2), of Mexico, in two rounds in Chicago, IL, and earned a 10-round decision over Alex Baba (26-14-1), of Ghana, in St. Joseph, MO.
Kennedy, 22, won the 2004 National Golden Gloves flyweight ttle. As a pro, he is 11-0, 5 K0s. His biggest wins came against Castulo Gonzalez, of Lowell, MA, by decision, and over Thomas Snow, of Washington, DC, by knockout.
In his last fight Nov. 14 at the New Alhambra in South Philadelphia, Kennedy pounded out a one-sided decision over Felipe Almanza, of Lorica, Colombia.
The March 6 card marks a return to the Blue Horizon after eight years for Hall-of-Fame promoter J Russell Peltz, who began his career there as a 22-year-old in 1969. He is promoting the card with Joe Hand Promotions, Inc.
Tickets are priced at $45 and $60. They are on sale at the offices of Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc. (215-765-0922) and also can be purchased online at www.peltzboxing.com.