Light-middleweights Bradley Pryce and Matthew Hall have vowed to steal the show on March 14 at the M.E.N Arena. And although they are up against a blockbuster fight card featuring Khan-Barrera, Cook-Martinez and Maccarinelli-Afolabi, the 154-pound KO artists reckon they can do it.
The pair meet for Pryce’s Commonwealth light-middleweight title on the biggest night of boxing so far this year.
It promises thrills and spills, with both boxers boasting a high KO percentage – and both having been stopped before.
“It’s Sweet Sugar time,” said 27-year-old Pryce, who is on a seven-fight unbeaten run, all of them involving the Commonwealth title.
“I’ve already beaten Andrew Facey on points and stopped Marcus Portman and Anthony Small, so I’m not bad against Brits.
“Hall’s being talked up as the next big thing, but everyone I fight is supposed to be going places.
“Ivan Kirpa and Sergey Stepkin were future world champions until I gave them a beating.
“I’m going to take Hall places where he’s not been before. He’s a good puncher, but then so am I, and I’ve got more experience.
“I love to go to war and I love the roar of the fans when I fight and people aren’t going to be disappointed next weekend.”
But Hall, still just 24 despite six years in the pro ranks, said: “I stopped Pryce’s stablemate Kerry Hope, now I’ll do the same to Bradley.
“It’s an honour to be boxing on a massive card like this one, but fans should get there early because me against Pryce is going to be better than the main event.
“Both of us like to throw bombs and be positive, so it’s going to be an old-fashioned shoot out at the MEN.
“I’m in the shape of my life after sparring dozens of rounds with Michael Jennings ahead of his world title fight in New York.
“Pryce might think that I’m another hype job, but he’s going to be in for a nasty surprise when I catch up with him on March 14.”
Tickets, priced at £40, £50, £75, £100, £150, £200 and £300, are available from the following outlets:
See Tickets
0871 220 0260
www.seetickets.com
Ticketline
0844 888 9991
www.ticketline.co.uk
M.E.N Arena
0844 847 8000
www.men-arena.com
Amir Khan Boxing
01204 535 332
07817 559 450
www.amirkhan-boxing.com
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***PAY PER VIEW DETAILS***
Amir Khan v Marco Antonio Barrera is live on Sky Box Office and in high definition on Sky Box Office HD on Saturday 14 March from 9pm. The bill also includes Nicky Cook v Roman Martinez and Enzo Maccarinelli v Ola Afolabi . To order ‘Coming of Age’, a night of live boxing call: 08442 410 888
Integrated Sports is distributing three 12-round championship bouts featured on the “Kahn-Barrera” card, presented by Frank Warren, in North America for live viewing at 4 PM/ET – 1 PM/PT on cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, TVN, DirecTV and Dish Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Bell TV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.
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***FIGHT CARD***
FRANK WARREN In Association With DON KING
PROUDLY PRESENT
CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2009
M.E.N ARENA, MANCHESTER, ENGLAND
THE WBA INTERNATIONAL AND VACANT WBO INTERCONTINENTAL LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS
12 X 3 Minute Rounds at 9st 9lb (135lb)
AMIR KHAN (Bolton, England) vs. MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA (Mexico City, Mexico)
THE INTERIM WBO CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD
12 X 3 Minute Rounds at 14st 4lb (200lb)
ENZO MACCARINELLI (Swansea, Wales) vs. OLA AFOLABI (California, USA)
THE WBO SUPER-FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD
12 X 3 Minute Rounds at 9st 4lb (130lb)
NICKY COOK (Dagenham, England) vs. ROMAN MARTINEZ (Puerto Rico)
THE COMMONWEALTH LIGHT-MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
12 X 3 Minute Rounds at 11st (154lb)
BRADLEY PRYCE (Newbridge, Wales) vs. MATTHEW HALL (Manchester, England)
THE VACANT WBA INTERNATIONAL SUPER-MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
12 X 3 Minute Rounds at 12st (168lb)
PAUL SMITH (Liverpool, England) vs. RASHID MATUMLA (Tanzania)
8 X 3 Minute Rounds International Cruiserweight Championship
DENNIS LEBEDEV (Moscow, Russia) vs. MATHEW ELLIS (Blackpool, England)
8 X 3 Minute Rounds Welterweight Contest
DENTON VASSELL (Manchester, England) vs. EDDIE CORCORAN (Wembley, London)
6 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Featherweight Contest
ANTHONY CROLLA (Manchester, England) vs. TBA
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Light-Welterweight Contest
LIAM SMITH (Liverpool, England) vs. KEVIN McCAULEY (Stourbridge, England)
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Bantamweight Contest
CRAIG LYON (St Helens, England) vs. TBA
Amar – I’ll stop Glover inside 5
Adnam Amar claims he’ll be out to eclipse the mouth-watering top of the bill clash between Wayne Elcock and Matthew Macklin in Birmingham on March 14th. The two local middleweights go head to head in a hugely anticipated British title fight that is being billed as “The Battle of Brum” but Amar has set his sights on stealing the show.
Amar defends his English Welterweight title against Tom Glover on the Hennessy Sports event which will be screened live on ITV4. Having been out of the ring since last May Amar is determined to bounce back with a bang.
“It’s been frustrating time for me, watching from the sidelines,” revealed the 26-year-old. “I‘ve had a number of fights fall through for various reasons so I’m itching to get back in there now and prove I belong up there with the best in Britain.
“Fighting on ITV4 will give me a big stage to showcase my skills and anytime I fight in front of the TV cameras I have an extra edge and that will show in my performance. I like to entertain and that’s what I plan on doing by winning in style against Glover.”
The Nottingham native has won all but one of his 23 pro fights and he says that facing Southern Area champion Glover holds no fears for him.
“He’s a tough guy and I take my hat off to him for stepping up to the plate and fighting me because I believe I’ve been avoided because of my style and ability. He’s never been stopped so it’s not going to be easy but I believe I’ll be too strong, too clever and too accurate. If he walks onto something he’ll get taken out inside 5 rounds.”
Amar is confident that he can make a real statement by despatching Glover in style and pressing his claims for the British and Commonwealth titles.
“In my last fight I beat Mark Lloyd convincingly to win the English title and now he’s getting a chance at Kell Brook’s British title. I wasn’t even at 50% of my best when I fought Lloyd and I still beat him easily so I think that says a lot about my ability.”
With both Amar and Brook based at the famous Ingle gym in Sheffield Amar says a clash between the two is unlikely anytime soon but it’s not something he’s ruling out completely.
“I spar with Kell regularly and they are always very good, even spars. I give him plenty of problems, more than he needs but at the end of the day he’s a good fighter and no disrespect to the British title but we’re both looking at bigger things.
“I don’t think a fight between us would make sense unless there was big money and titles at stake but if it was down to me I’d fight anybody because I really want to push on with my career.”
Also appearing on “The Battle of Brum” undercard at the Aston Arena, Birmingham on the 14th of March is heavyweight sensation, Tyson Fury alongside Eddie O’Rourke, Chris Male, Quinton Hillocks and Callum Archer. Tickets are available from the Ticketline box office on 0844 888 4402 or via www.ticketline.co.uk.
A FAMILY AFFAIR: ROONEY VS. ROONEY ROUND 1 KICKS OFF MARCH 6TH AT MOHEGAN SUN
On March 6th at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT Star Boxing’s 19-year-old welterweight phenom Raymond “Tito” Serrano (8-0, 5KO) will step into the ring against world renowned trainer, Kevin Rooney Sr.’s protégé “Smokin” Jay Krupp (12-1, 5KO). The bout is scheduled for eight rounds in the welterweight division and will be that evening’s ESPN2 “Friday Night Fights” co-main event.
Standing across the ring from Team Krupp on fight night will be a very familiar face, Rooney’s son Kevin Jr. Kevin Jr., who serves as the Director of Media Relations for Serrano’s promotional company Star Boxing, has known Krupp for the past eight years, serving as both a friend and even assistant trainer at times during Krupp’s career.
Rooney Jr. graduated from Fordham University in 2006 and has been working with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing since early 2008. Rooney Sr. is most famous for his work with former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world Mike Tyson. After the death of Cus D’Amato, Rooney Sr. guided Tyson to becoming the youngest heavyweight champion ever, winning the belt when he was just 20 years old.
“There will definitely be some weird feelings standing in the opposite corner from my father and Jay come fight night,” stated Rooney Jr. “I have known Jay for a long time now, I consider him one of my good friends, so of course I want him to do well, and be successful in his boxing career. That being said, business is business and Raymond is our guy. It makes it even harder for me because since working at Star, Raymond and I have built a very good relationship with one another. If there was a way that both guys could come out victorious that would be great, but that’s not the business we are in. Bottom line I am just hoping that it turns out to be great fight which we are all expecting it to be, and most importantly that both Raymond and Jay walk away from the fight safe and sound.”
“Not only is KC (the name Rooney Sr. uses for Kevin Jr.) my son but he is also my best friend, but come March 6th he is going to be my enemy,” jokes Rooney Sr. “I told him not to worry about any hard feeling’s, Jay and I both know this is a business and that KC will have to be on Serrano’s side for this fight. It will definitely be a first for us though. We have been in the ring together so many times before, whether it was when KC was fighting or when he was helping me out with my fighters, but never before on opposite sides. It’s an exciting moment for me as a father though seeing the success my son is experiencing with Star Boxing, and I wish nothing but the best for him and all of the fighters on the Star Boxing roster.”
The card is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing in association with Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort. Tickets are priced at $75.00, $45.00 and $30.00 and are on sale now through Ticketmaster. Ticketmaster customers may log on to ticketmaster.com or purchase tickets by calling 1 (800)745-3000 or by calling any Ticketmaster Charge by Phone number; or visit any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets may also be purchased at the Mohegan Sun Box Office subject to availability or by calling Star Boxing at (718) 823-2000. Doors open at 6:30 PM with the first fight scheduled for 7:30. ESPN2’s telecast will run live from 8:30 to 10:30 PM.