On December 7, the night before Manchester’s Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton represents the United Kingdom in his long-awaited showdown against “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, a host of Hatton’s countrymen will invade the MGM Grand Conference Center to take on opponents from around the globe in a British invasion not seen on these shores since The Beatles landed in 1964..
In a special televised co-main event, 160-pound contenders Bronco McKart and Enrique Ornelas will revisit their exciting battle from this past August in a 12-round rematch for the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) middleweight crown. McKart won their first fight via a razor-thin split decision. The other televised co-feature will see undefeated Manchester native John Murray in a ten-round lightweight battle.
“BRITISH INVASION – THE U.K. VS. THE WORLD” is a night of world-class professional boxing presented by Golden Boy Promotions. Telefutura’s Solo Boxeo will broadcast the event beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Tickets for “The British Invasion,” priced at $125, $75 and $50, may be purchased at any MGM Grand box office outlet or by calling MGM Grand at 702-891-7777. Fans also can obtain tickets at all Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Macy’s West at the Fashion Show Mall and Ritmo Latino), by calling Ticketmaster at 702-474-4000 or online at Ticketmaster.com. Doors open at 4 p.m. and the first bell will ring at 4:30 p.m.
“Golden Boy promotions is proud and excited to present the one of the biggest showcases of British boxing talent ever to take place in the United States,” stated Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar de la Hoya. “Mix the rematch of McKart and Ornelas with the excitement of the great fans from the U.K. in town to see Mayweather vs. Hatton watching Britain’s best prospects taking on fighters from other countries, and you’ve got a can’t miss event.”
A former World Boxing Organization (WBO) and International Boxing Association (IBA) World Junior Middleweight Champion, McKart (51-7, 31 KOs) has gotten a second wind in his career in the middleweight division. Winner of three straight bouts this year at 160 pounds, the southpaw native of Monroe, Mich., who has fought the likes of Kelly Pavlik, Winky Wright (three times), Travis Simms and Aaron Davis, will be looking to repeat his August win over Ornelas.
The hard-hitting brother of super middleweight contender Librado Andrade, La Habra, California’s Ornelas (25-4, 15 KOs) has never failed to give fans their monies’ worth when the bell rings. A former World Boxing Council (WBC) youth champion, the 27-year-old has been plagued by bad luck in losing close decisions to McKart and Sam Soliman in his two most recent bouts, but he promises to bring his own judges to Las Vegas in the form of his fists.
Manchester’s John Murray (21-0, 12 KOs) will return to a familiar venue and boxing scene when he steps into the ring December 7. Murray’s last fight was an impressive 7th-round knockout against Lorenzo Bethea at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on the undercard of the mega-fight between De La Hoya and Mayweather this past May. This time around, Murray will look to repeat history in front of a strong English crowd and will battle 10 rounds in the televised co-main event against an opponent to be announced.
Seen by many as the best prospect to come out of Scotland since former world champion Scott Harrison, Edinburgh middleweight Craig McEwan (8-0, 6 KOs) has relocated to the United States, where he has been setting the local scene on fire with his two-fisted attack. In his last fight on November 2, the 25-year-old pounded out a near shutout decision over Anthony Cannon in Cabazon, Calif. McEwan will face an opponent to be announced in an eight-round bout.
Also representing the United Kingdom will be a group of England’s finest up-and-comers, with Salford native Lee Meager (21-2-1, 8 KOs) leading the way. A former British lightweight champion, the 29-year-old Meager bounced back from the loss of his title to Jonathan Thaxton by blasting out 40-fight veteran Laszlo Komjathi in just four rounds in September. Another win to close out 2007 on December 7 will propel him into the new year in impressive style.
London-born middleweight Jimmy “The British Assassin” Campbell (10-1, 7 KOs) relocated to Indiana to begin his pro career in 2005, and has since impressed U.S. fans with his aggressive style and punching power. This has allowed him to score knockouts in his last three victories and he is eager to share the bill with his fellow U.K. compatriots and show the visiting fans from across the pond just how far he has progressed.
Opening the show in separate bouts will be Walsall lightweight Martin Gethin (10-0-1, 4 KOs), the 2006 Young Boxer of the Year award-winner along with fellow undefeated prospect from Wolverhampton, junior welterweight Dean Harrison (9-0, 1 KO).