Nathan Sting To Face Nicky Booth on Sept 20

By Tony Nobbs

07.08 - Nathan Sting will make the first defence of his recently won WBU Bantamweight Title against local Nicky Booth at Nottingham, England on September 20 with the 30 year old Australian already eyeing off a shot at Denmark's WBA Champion Johnny Bredahl.

Sting took the Belt with an emphatic eleven round stoppage victory over Johnny Armour on July 5 and is confident he will defeat Booth just as decisive as he did the tough Armour according to trainer-manager Les Wilson.

"Nathan is red hot for the Booth fight. He has wanted Booth for two years. He was supposed to fight him a couple of times last year for the Commonwealth Title but we were committed to another fight the week before the first time and Nathan got a cut the second time around. Then Booth went and lost to current WBA rated Steve Molitor " said Wilson.

Booth was present at the Sting-Armour fight to help promote a bout between himself and Armour. He probably didn't like what he saw.

And he can expect an even better Sting next month!

"At the moment everything is going good. Nathan's cruising along, he could fight this guy tomorrow and we haven't started the hard stuff yet. Nathan was back in the gym the day after we got back from the Armour fight (July 15). His weight is good. I told him before we got home, no messing around because in the next few years he can really earn some good money and do a lot more with his career. Winning the Title has made him even hungrier. Everyone is talking about the improvement he's showing.

Johnny Bredahl would be a very good fight for Nathan. He beat Johnny Armour who was in the WBA top ten as a Super Bantam. We have requested a rating with the WBA but they might not want to drop anyone.

Sting has never ducked anyone. He's only lost twice in his right division. Bantamweight. And one of those was a rob. Because of his record, we might get a fight with Bredahl.

But we are very happy to be fighting under the Matchroom promotional banner and defending the WBU Title against who ever they want".

Sting has been rated in the lower part of the IBF top 15 for over twelve months and Wilson said "something might happen there" before adding that his fighter would love to fight in Japan before the end of his career.

"We have tried to get fights in Japan before but unfortunately they were not interested. As Nathan is a good fighter who doesn't get a lot of publicity, he was considered too dangerous a fight for no gain. They have a few rated boxers at Bantamweight, if Nathan can get another title or make enough defenses of the WBU, they might change their mind".