London/Johannesburg, October 6 – In a major coup for UK boxing fans, October 25’s “Title Tornado” tournament in Monte Carlo, jointly headlined by the UK’s Martin Murray in a world title eliminator and Stuart Hall in a world title fight, will be broadcast live on Channel Five in Britain.
Working in collaboration with leading promoter Mick Hennessy, and Hennessy Sports’ William Storey, Golden Gloves promoter Rodney Berman has ensured that Murray’s WBC Silver middleweight title defence against Domenico Spada and Hall’s IBF world title fight against undefeated Randy Caballero will be seen by millions of households live on UK terrestrial television.
This is a significant milestone for the sport given that the last major world title fight broadcast live on UK terrestrial television was Carl Froch against Jean Pascal for the WBC title in December 2008, also promoted by Mick Hennessy on ITV.
“I’m delighted,” said Hennessy, who in the past has developed and promoted top boxers including the likes of Junior Witter, Carl Froch, Darren Barker, Howard Eastman, Herbie Hide and James De Gale. He currently promotes heavyweight sensation Tyson Fury and Super bantamweight star Kid Galahad, among many others.
“Murray is an elite-level fighter with a huge following at home. The fans deserve to see more of him.”
Another British highlight on the card is former world champion Hall’s crack at the IBF world title. UK fight fans will be able to see live whether Hall can regain the world title he held until four months ago. British fight fans will also get to see Europe’s most avoided middleweight, the West Country Warrior Nick Blackwell, making his Monte Carlo debut.
Berman expects over 100 countries to tune into the Monte Carlo tournament, which also features two world championship fights and another WBC Silver belt championship bout between unbeaten Ryno Liebenberg of South Africa and undefeated Eleider Alvarez of Colombia, with the winner certain to step into a full-blown world title fight against Adonis Stevenson.
When China’s Xiong Zhao Zhong challenges South African Hekkie Budler for the WBA and IBO minimumweight belts, expectations are that 300 million Chinese will watch the fight live, according to manager Gang Liu.
Africa’s SuperSport, which broadcasts in 54 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, will also showcase the event.
Known as one of the most exclusive vacation destinations in the world and situated on the Mediterranean Sea in South West Europe, Monaco attracts millions of visitors each year. The Casino de Monte-Carlo, owned and operated by the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, is the premiere casino destination in Europe. The Casino de Monte-Carlo continues to attract some of the wealthiest and most well-known celebrities and aristocrats throughout the world.
‘Little Mike’ to Face Matthew Pepper On Oct 25th
Hackney based Turkish Light Heavyweight prospect, Onder ‘Little Mike’ Ozgul is set to face Scunthorpe’s Matthew Pepper, on the Dave Murphy Acourtier events promoted CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, which takes place at the York Hall in Bethnal green, London on Saturday 25th October 2014.
A former Amateur and IABA World Series Of Boxing star Onder has made quite an impact since turning pro in March this year.
On his pro debut, Onder scored a shut out points victory over Lithuania’s Dmitrij Kalinovskij, he then followed this up just six weeks later with a first round stoppage win over Brighton’s Iain Jackson, who he had sent to the canvas twice before the fight was stopped mid way through the final minute of round by referee Ian John-Lewis.
These wins wouldn’t come as a surprise to his many fans back in his homeland – as it was they who gave him the nickname ‘Little Mike’, due to his style being so similar to that of legendary ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson.
His opponent on the 25th October, Matthew Pepper, may be more experienced, having fought ten times previously, but that doesn’t seem to bother Onder one iota, as he made clear when he spoke following a training session with his coach, former Commonwealth Lightweight Champion Mo Hussein at the TRAD TKO Gym in Canning Town.
“I’m really looking forward to fighting again, it’s been longer between fights than I want, so can’t wait.
I don’t know my opponent, no disrespect intended but I don’t care who I am fighting, just that I am fighting and winning.
I came to this Country with one intention, to be a World Champion, that is my goal, that is why I am here at the TRAD TKO.
Training has been going very well, under the tuition of Mo Hussein, he’s an excellent trainer, he trains my brother (Siar) also.
We have great training and sparring sessions at the TRAD TKO and it’s going well so far.
I’ve been sparring Manny Muhammad, who’s also fighting on the 25th October show, as well as TRAD TKO gym mates Amro Ezzat, Festim Lama and of course Siar.
I want to say thank you to the fans that come and support me and Siar, we really appreciate your support, we wouldn’t be able to achieve our dream without you, Thank you.”
Onder Ozgul vs Matthew Pepper features on the undercard of the Baz Rehman sponsored Marianne Marston versus Marianna Gulyas MBC International title clash, takes heads up the Dave Murphy Acourtier Events promoted CAPITAL PUNISHMENT mega event at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, on Saturday, 25th October 2014.
Tickets, priced £35 (Standard Seated) and £60 (Ringside) are available from any of the boxers taking part, on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com and www.acourtier.com – or call the ticket line on 07960 850645 or 07809 499896.
Sanctioning of the CAPITAL PUNISHMENT event is courtesy of the Malta Boxing Commission, the national and international professional boxing sanctioning organisation for the Republic of Malta. Malta Boxing Commission is a proud member of the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC)
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