Armour defends his WBU bantamweight title against Sting July 5

By Steven Connolly

26.05 - Chatham's Johnny Armour defends his WBU bantamweight title against Nathan Sting of Australia at Brentwood Lesiure Centre on Sat 5 Jul 03. It's a good chance for Armour to kickstart his career at the age of 34. The colourful southpaw has boxed only six times since he was stopped in four rounds by Carlos Navarro in December 1998. A jail term, a gruelling three-fight series with Francis Ampofo, and a tendency to cut, have all contributed to his meagre fight-rate. This fight itself was originally set for Bethnal Green in April, but visa problems in Australia put the fight back.

Armour won't have it easy against Sting, who is familiar to British rings. He took dangerous Neil Swain 12 rounds for the vacant Commonwealth super bantamweight title in Cardiff in 1996 (losing on points), but didn't fare so well against Paul Lloyd in the same year, and was stopped in six. Talented Russian Dimitri Kirilov, who was 18-0 at the time, outpointed him over eight rounds on the Johnny Nelson/Marcelo Dominguez undercard in Sheffield in 2001. But, one fight earlier, the southpaw Aussie had scored an excellent points win over Stephen Oates at York Hall, also over eight rounds.

Sting certainly doesn't lack for experience. Nor for confidence it seems. "It's going to be a tough fight, he is a good fighter, a wily old character," says Sting. "But it's not going to be easy for him either. That fight with Kirilov showed me I was genuine world class. It's been frustrating not getting the exposure other fighters get, but I've hung in, kept doing my thing and now I've got a great chance. The better the opponent, the better I fight, and he is a good one. But I'm a real fighter, not a protected species getting around, padding my record. I don't have to go to the morgue to find my opponents. Look at my record! All of my losses have been to world rated fighters and I've only lost two at my right weight, bantam. And I fight them in their backyards. "After twenty years in the sport, it is my time," added the 29-year-old.

Nathan returned home after that narrow loss to Kirilov, was reunited with old trainer Les Wilson, and has gone unbeaten in five fights since, including a points win over Sande Kizito in Brisbane in defence of his Australian bantamweight title. Last time out, he finished Junior Wahid Khan in one round.

Sting's record shows he can be vulnerable himself early on. He was stopped in the first by the world class Nadel Hussein in 2000 (who went 10 rounds with Manny Pacquiao in his next fight and proved way too good for Brian Carr in Glasgow). Sting was also beaten in two rounds by the heavier Tony Wehbee, later to challenge Scott Harrison for the Commonwealth featherweight title (who stopped him easily in three). But his current form is certainly good, and a skilful, rangy southpaw will pose problems for anyone. He brings over a record of 25-6-1.

Of course, his form will have to be good to contend with the rugged champion. Remarkably, Armour's loss to Carlos Navarro in 1998 for the WBU bantamweight title remains his only loss in 31 fights and after 13 years as a pro. He turned pro in 1990 after beating Paul Ingle in the 1990 ABA flyweight final (points), and captured the Commonwealth bantamweight title in just his eighth fight with a superb last round stoppage of Ndabe Dube at the Albert Hall, who pushed the young southpaw all the way.

Johnny took real pride in that title, making four successful defences, before being steered to a shot at the vacant European bantamweight title (vacated by a young Naz) against Italy's Antonio Picardi in 1995 at York Hall. Armour won in eight rounds. The new champion continued his excellent winning run, but a 10-rounds points win over Ervine Blake at Bethnal Green in 1997, saw the Chatham man suffer terrible cuts. It was hardly ideal prepararation for his next fight: a crack at Carlos Navarro's WBU bantamweight title at The Elephant and Castle Leisure Centre. Sure enough, Navarro proved too good for the Brit and won easily in four rounds. Navarroo looked sensational in fact (weight problems eventually got the beating of him at bantamweight).

Two years later, Armour was able to contest the vacant WBU title with Francis Ampofo, the start of a punishing - and controversial - three-fight series with the Norfolk farmer. Neither fighter was able to dominate for long in the series, and the first pulsating battle ended in scores of 115-113 and 116-112 for Armour, and one all even at 115-115. A rematch was inevitable. Again, it was another thriller, but this time Ampofo seemed to have the better of the exchanges throughout. Judges scored it 114-114, 114-114 and a final 116-112 for Armour, who thus retained his belt with a majority draw. Many tipped Francis to beat Johnny easily in the rubber match in September last year, but Armour moved and boxed to win quite convincingly by two scores of 115-111 - the third judge voting it all-even at 113-113. He floored Ampofo in the seventh to cap a fine domestic trilogy.

Armour hasn't boxed since, which is probably for the best. He comes into this fight rested and ready, and clearly punches harder than his Australian opponent, who I don't think would have staved off Ampofo for 36 rounds, despite the man's good reputation over here and in his own country. Sting's chin has been dented a few times, and Armour, a vastly underrated boxer-puncher in my opinion, has the ability to wear down the Aussie after a competitive start, and catch him mid-fight. Armour wins by stoppage before the eighth.

The Undercard

Matchroom Sports/Ringside Promotions have announced more details of their forthcoming show at the Brentwood Leisure Centre on Saturday 5th July 2003.

Topping the bill will be Johnny Armour defending his WBU Batamweight Title against the tough and durable Austrailian Nathan Sting. Chief support to the Armour/Sting fight Ted Bami will be featuring in an 8 round Light Welterweight Contest.

Barry Hearn, Chairman of Matchroom Sports has yet again made the show, which is being shown on Sky Sports, affordable for the fans attending with tickets being priced at £20 & £30 per ticket.

Saturday 5 July 2003
Brentwood Centre, Essex

Ticket Price: £20 Unreserved & £30 Ringside
Box Office: 01277 262616

Doors Open: 5:30pm

Boxing Commences: 6:00pm

WBU Bantamweight Championship of the World
JOHNNY ARMOUR (Chatham) vs NATHAN STING (Australia)

8 x 3 mins Light-Welterweight Contest
TED BAMI (Brixton) vs TBA

Plus full supporting undercard including:

6 x 3 mins Light-Welterweight Contest
COLIN DUNNE (Holloway/Liverpool) vs TBA

6 x 3 mins Welterweight Contest
HARRY DHAMI (Gravesend) vs PAUL KNIGHTS (Redhill)

6 x 3 mins Super-Bantamweight Contest
MARC P CALLAGHAN (Barking) vs MARK PAYNE (Coventry)

6 x 3 min Heavyweight Contest
ALBERT SOSNOWSKI (Poland) vs TBA

6 x 3 mins Light-Middleweight Contest
DARREN BRUCE (Grays) vs DARREN RHODES (Leeds)

4 x 3 mins Super-Middleweight Contest
ADRIAN DODSON (Islington) vs TBA

4 x 3 mins Super-Middleweight Contest
ALAN FOSTER (Northampton) vs TBA

4 x 3 mins Light-Middleweight Contest
MICHAEL LOMAX (Chingford) vs TBA

4 x 3 mins Cruiserweight Contest
SIMON GOODWIN (Cambridge) vs TBA

DETAILS SUBJECT TO CHANGE