Heavyweight sensation Tyson Fury is predicting another explosive performance in Norwich this Saturday night when he features live on ITV4 on the undercard of Jon Thaxton’s first European Lightweight title defence. The unbeaten Fury will be going for his third straight win as a pro on the Hennessy Sports event when he takes on Daniel Peret in a scheduled 6 rounder. The Norwegian based Russian is a veteran of 35 fights but Fury isn’t impressed..
“I‘ve seen Peret fight and he’s a big Russian lump who’s in for a real hiding come Saturday night,” blasted the 20-year-old. “I hope he doesn’t think he’s coming over here for a nice weekend in Norwich because I can guarantee you he’ll be leaving with painful memories of the place.
“He’s a big, experienced guy and has a reputation for being very durable. You look at some of the guys that have struggled with him like John McDermott and Derek Chisora. They weren’t very impressive against him and he beat that Scott Belshaw who Frank Maloney was going around saying was the next George Foreman.
“Mind you, who takes any notice of Maloney, he was going around shouting ‘Bring on Tyson Fury’ for another one of his heavyweights, Larry Olubamiwo. He turned into Larry the Lamb when the fight was actually offered to Maloney though because apparently what he meant to shout was ‘Bring on Tyson Fury…in another 18 months.”
Another man keen to avoid Fury is Norwich’s own Sam Sexton. Fury had offered him the opportunity to be in the opposite corner at the Norfolk Showgrounds this weekend but the Prizefighter champ turned down the opportunity of a fight in his hometown.
“Sexton’s been moaning for years that he can’t get fights at home in Norwich and then when he was offered one he didn’t want to know about it. His matchmaker Dean Powell said he was interested but we heard that his trainer was ringing other trainers up asking them if I was as good as people said and then all of a sudden he developed a bad back.
“I’m disappointed that he didn’t step up to the plate. It could have been a great fight for Norwich but I suppose he’s happy enough dining out on being a three round Prizefighter champ for another few years. He should have left the three round fights behind in the amateurs.
“If he can get out of bed this week though he should come down to the press conference on Thursday and explain to the knowledgeable boxing fans and media in Norwich just why he ducked out of fighting me. The fights still there for him if he wants it. I plan on keeping busy this year so if he changes his mind then I’m happy to oblige.”
Having despatched his first two professional opponents with ease Fury says he’s looking for a another explosive performance against Peret in front of the ITV4 cameras this weekend.
“It’s been great having my fights shown on ITV4. Not everyone has the satellite subscription channels so it’s been great exposure for me to fight on ITV4. I think people are really starting to sit up and take notice because they know that when I say something, I’m willing to back it up.
“I’m a throwback fighter, I don’t want to fight 20 nobodies in a row before I fight someone with a pulse. I’m ready to fight any of the other so called top prospects out there right now. It’s not my fault that they’re not up for it so in the meantime I’m going to keep bowling over whoever’s put in front of me.”
European Lightweight champ and local hero Jon Thaxton tops the bill at the Norfolk Showground, Norwich on Saturday night (February 28th) with an exciting undercard featuring Fury V Peret while Danny McIntosh defends his English Light Heavyweight Title against Matthew Barney.
Also appearing are Matthew Thirlwall, Steve O’Meara, Lee Purdy, Earl Ling and making his pro debut, ABA Senior Featherweight Champion 2008 and awarded the best boxer of the night Royston’s Bradley Evans. Tickets for Fury – Peret which is part of an exciting undercard at the Norfolk Showground, Norwich this Saturday are available from the Ticketline box office on 0844 888 4402 or via www.ticketline.co.uk.
RAYMOND SERRANO CO-FEATURE ON ESPN2’S FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS AT MOHEGAN SUN MARCH 6TH
On March 6th at the beautiful Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Uncasville, CT, Star Boxing’s young phenom Ray “Tito” Serrano (8-0, 5KO) takes a big step up in his career when he takes on once beaten “Smokin” Jay Krupp (12-1, 5KO) in an eight round welterweight contest. The card, which will be broadcast live on ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights”, will be headlined by Star Boxing’s welterweights Delvin Rodriguez (23-2-2, 14KO) taking on Shamone “The Truth” Alvarez (20-1, 11KO). At stake will be Rodriguez USBA welterweight championship and also the number two ranking in the IBF world ratings.
The fight against Krupp will not only be the toughest to date for the 19-year-old Serrano, but it will also be his first scheduled eight rounder, and also the first time he will fight as a live co-feature. Serrano, who hails from Philadelphia, PA and was named as one of the “Sweet 16, Philly Boxing Prospects on the Rise”, looks to follow in the footsteps of good friend “The New” Ray Robinson who scored the biggest win of his career on February 13th on ESPN2 stopping previously undefeated Darnell Jiles (8-1-1, 3KO). Like Serrano, Robinson is also promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, also hails from Philadelphia, PA, was also pitted in his first scheduled eight rounder, and his first live co-feature.
RAYMOND “TITO” SERRANO
“Everything’s going great right now,” stated Serrano. “I couldn’t have asked for a better training camp for this fight. I can honestly say that I’m pretty much ready to go right now.”
Regarding fighting on ESPN Serrano couldn’t be happier. “It feels great knowing I am going to have an opportunity to showcase my skills on national T.V., and for that I want to thank my promoter Joe DeGuardia and Star Boxing. This is a big step up in my career, fighting as the live co-feature. I am prepared to go the full eight rounds, but I am looking to end this fight in spectacular fashion, and if the opportunity for a knockout comes you better believe I am going to jump all over it.”
“SMOKIN” JAY KRUPP
The 25-year-old Krupp, who hails from New Orleans, LA, but now lives and trains out of Catskill, NY under the tutelage of Kevin Rooney, is currently riding an eight fight win streak and feels that he has the skills to pull of the upset against the young Serrano.
“Training has been good. I have been sparring with guys who are really aggressive just like Serrano, so I know I will be ready for him come fight night,” said Krupp. “I know he has good speed, and he is a good young fighter. I expect this to be a great fight. Knowing the fight is going to be the co-feature on ESPN2 is extra motivation for me. I have been training and waiting my whole life for an opportunity like this, and now it’s here, and there is no way I am going to let it pass me by.”
The card is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing in association with Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort. A complete list of the undercard will be announced shortly. Tickets are priced at $75.00, $45.00 and $30.00 and are on sale now through Ticketmaster. Ticketmaster customers may log on to ticketmaster.com or purchase tickets by calling 1 (800)745-3000 or by calling any Ticketmaster Charge by Phone number; or visit any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets may also be purchased at the Mohegan Sun Box Office subject to availability or by calling Star Boxing at (718) 823-200
BILLY JOE READY TO GO!
Top prospect Billy Joe Saunders makes his professional debut on Saturday night – but says he’s ready to start campaigning over the championship distance straight away.
The 19-year-old, who will feature on a blockbuster Olympian card at the N.I.A in Birmingham, will face former Hungarian lightweight champion Attila Molnar over four rounds live on Sky Sports.
But the confident teenager, who went to the 2008 Olympic Games, insists that he could easily fight three times that distance that after teaming up with renown trainer Jimmy Tibbs.
He looked in excellent shape today during a media work out at the Peacock Gym in London’s East End.
“I thought I was fit when I went to the Olympics last year,” said Saunders. “But the work that Jimmy has been giving me to do has taken me to another level.
“I don’t think I’ve ever worked so hard in my life – fighting on Saturday night is going to be the easy bit.”
Saunders has enjoyed quality sparring before his professional debut – fellow 2008 Olympians DeGale and Frankie Gavin also feature – and has benefited from the advice of experienced Tibbs.
“Jimmy has been around boxing for years, so he knows what he’s talking about,” said Saunders. “I feel like improved 100% in the few weeks that I’ve been with him.
“He’s really whipped me into shape and I could easily go 12 rounds on Saturday night if I was asked to.”
Tibbs, who has trained a multitude of world champions, added: “Billy Joe had quite a professional style to start with, so I’ve not had to change him too much.
“He’s got an amazing talent and I’m really excited about Saturday night, because the public are going to see a very special boxer.”
Tickets, priced at £30, £50, £100 and £150, are available from: Ticket Factory 0844 338 8000
www.theticketfactory.com