High Stakes – Manchester 18/07/15 – Quigg V Martinez Preview

07/18/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

Regular WBA World super-bantamweight champion Scott Quigg, 30-0-2 (22KO’s), returns to the ring this evening after 8 months out of action to face former IBF World super-bantamweight ruler Kiko Martinez, 32-5 (24KO’s), sharing top billing with gym mate and friend Anthony Crolla.

It’s been a frustrating wait for the self-confessed gym rat, after surgery to rectify tendon tears to his middle and index knuckles on his right hand, alongside the high profile bundling that was the Carl Frampton negotiations forcing a hiatus that has the Bury man chomping at the bit.

In the 29-year old Spaniard, Quigg has been presented with the perfect return opponent. Martinez is respected, at the tail end of his world-class career without being washed up and a useful bargaining chip in any future Frampton talks, should Quigg dispatch of him in empathic fashion.

Will Eddie Hearn Improve Offer To Make Frampton/Quigg A Reality?

07/17/201507/17/2015 Olly Campbell

This weekend two of the world’s premium 122 lb fighters go separately into battle after negotiations between their respective camps recently broke down.

Bury’s Scott Quigg will defend his WBA (reg) super bantamweight crown against dangerous Spaniard Kiko Martinez in Manchester, while IBF champ and new Al Haymon signing Carl Frampton heads out to the US for his American debut on CBS against Mexico’s Alejandro Gonzalez Jr.

The all-British clash is arguably the biggest domestic dust-up there is, short of Kell Brook v Amir Khan, and following recent comments from Team Frampton that conveyed their dissatisfaction at the financial minutiae in particular, Quigg’s promoter Eddie Hearn is seemingly prepared to improve his offer to the Irishman’s team, should both emerge winners this weekend.

David Price Keen To Push On To World Level With Big Win Tonight

07/17/201507/17/2015 Olly Campbell

Tonight in Germany the David Price rebuilding project hits it’s first real obstacle when the giant Liverpudlian fights unbeaten German Erkan Teper for the European heavyweight title in what is a “must win” fight.

Defeat tonight will surely spell the end for Price, who’s career was in the wilderness after back to back knockout losses to wily old American veteran Tony Thompson in 2013.

After parting with then-promoter Kellie Maloney, German heavyweights Sauerland Event invested heavily in Price and he is keen to reward their belief with a solid win against Terper in Ludwigsburg tonight.

Hughie Fury: “Tyson loves facing taller fighters – he’s Klitschko’s worst nightmare

07/17/2015 Hennessy Sports

Heavyweight prospect Hughie Lewis Fury says his latest training camp has been boosted by news of Tyson Fury’s world heavyweight title shot against Wladimir Klitschko and that he fully expects his cousin to bring the belts back to England when the pair meet on October 24 in Germany.

Twenty-year-old Hughie faces durable Brazilian veteran George Arias on July 25 at Derby Arena and admits he couldn’t be happier right now.

“It’s a good thing for the whole family that Tyson has finally got his shot,” he said. “I’m over the moon for him.

Nathan Cleverly: ‘I Want To Rematch Kovalev’

07/16/201507/16/2015 Olly Campbell

It was a bleak night for British boxing and Nathan Cleverly back in August of 2013, when the then WBO light-heavyweight champion surrendered his title to big-hitting Russian Sergey Kovalev in front of his hometown fans in Cardiff – knocked out in four dominant rounds by the brutal puncher, who announced himself to the world and ripped the bottom out of the Welshman’s confidence and career in the process.

However, 2 years on and after a brief flirtation up at cruiserweight, the former champion is back at 175 lbs and is looking to right past wrongs, telling respected British publication ‘Boxing News’ – perhaps misguidedly – that a Kovalev rematch would be on his radar for the future.

Billy Joe Saunders: ‘You Can’t Get Careless Against Andy Lee’

07/16/201507/16/2015 Olly Campbell

On September 19th at Thomond Park, Limerick, a massive fight for British and Irish boxing will go down, when WBO middleweight champion ‘Irish’ Andy Lee defends his title against mandatory challenger, Hatfield’s Billy Joe Saunders.

The bout will be historic in that it will be the first time two men of traveller origins have contested a version of a world title, and talking to iFLtv this week, Saunders gave an insight into the significance of the fight within their communities;

“High Stakes” For Scott Quigg Against Kiko Martinez On Saturday

07/16/201507/16/2015 Olly Campbell

WBA (reg) super bantamweight champion Scott Quigg knows he will be in for the fight of his life on Saturday night against former IBF 122 lb boss Kiko Martinez in Manchester, topping the Matchroom Sport double world title “High Stakes” card alongside stablemate Anthony Crolla, who challenges for the WBA 135 lb title against Colombian Darleys Perez.

The Joe Gallagher trained Quigg is under no illusions that he will need a career best performance in front of the partisan Manchester crowd, as Spaniard Martinez is a seasoned road warrior, more than used to boxing – and winning – away from home.

Anthony Crolla Gunning For Glory Against Darleys Perez

07/15/2015 Olly Campbell

This Saturday night in Manchester, one of British boxing’s most likable characters, Anthony Crolla, attempts to cap off a difficult 7 months with a fairy tale ending, by capturing the WBA (reg) lightweight strap against dangerous Colombian Darleys Perez.

Crolla’s fighting career was in serious danger of ending last December, when he was attacked after foiling a burglary attempt at a neighbour’s home – an incident that left him with a fractured skull, a broken ankle, and a whole lot of uncertainty as to whether he would ever even box again.

Amir Khan: Still Desperately Seeking Floyd

07/15/201507/15/2015 Olly Campbell

There is still hope for Amir Khan landing the fight he’s been chasing for the better part of 2 1/2 years against Floyd Mayweather – at least in his own mind.

In the wake of the news that Florida’s Andre Berto looks to be the man gloving up to face Mayweather in September, Khan has spoken out yet again to insist it’s not over until the fat lady sings, and until Berto is “officially” announced as Floyd’s opponent, he refuses to give up hope of getting that career-high payday.

Once again insisting the boxing world wants him to face Floyd, Khan said to Sky Sports in his classic, self indulgent, 3rd person style;

Kiko Martinez Confident Of Beating Scott Quigg

07/15/201507/15/2015 Olly Campbell

Spain’s former IBF super bantamweight champion Kiko Martinez fights WBA (reg) 122 lb champion Scott Quigg in Manchester on Saturday night, headlining Matchroom’s ‘High Stakes’ card, and ‘La Sensacion’ is feeling in a confident mood, telling Sky Sports that not only does he have the beating of Quigg, he believes Northern Ireland’s Carl Frampton has his number too.

Quigg and Frampton are on an eventual collision course, with negotiations between them having broken down recently, and Martinez, who lost to Frampton twice, thinks that’s probably a good thing for Quigg, who he cannot see beating the Irishman.