Tickets are now on sale for the big Belfast show on Friday, May 15, at the fabulous Odyssey Arena. Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion Martin Rogan headlines a massive fight card that also features The Olympians: James DeGale, Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders, plus an action packed undercard. This will be Rogan’s homecoming party following his sensational win against Matt Skelton last month and his win over the 2000 Olympic Champion Audley Harrison last year.. His relentless, all-action, style has lit up the domestic heavyweight division and he aims to be the first Irish world heavyweight champion this century.
Rogan makes the first defence of his title with the challenger to be confirmed shortly.
Tickets are priced at £150 (Ringside), £100 (Floor), £60 (Floor), £40, (Tier) £30 (Tier) and are available from: Odyssey Arena Box Office 02890 739 074 www.odysseyarena.com
Tony Dodson must defeat friend turned foe to lift crown
Former British super-middleweight champion Tony Dodson will now have to defeat a ‘friend’ in order to lift his old crown, following the withdrawal of Brian Magee from their March 28 dust-up. Due to Magee’s back injury, Dodson now locks horns with Merseyside rival Tony Quigley, a man he’d been helping prepare for his own bout on March 28. “I’d been giving Quigley tips on how to beat Paul David (English champion), the guy he was originally supposed to be fighting on March 28,” explains Dodson. “Quigley’s a mate of mine and I wanted to see him win that fight. I wanted to see him lift the English title and then set up a fight with me.”
Middle man cut out, Dodson and Quigley now get it on together earlier than either expected. At the Echo Arena, Liverpool, Dodson and Quigley will contest the vacant British title over 12 rounds.
Their friendship has been temporarily placed on hold.
“I’ve got a job to do and I’m going to do it,” states Dodson. “I don’t care who it is in front of me, I need that British title back.
“The closer the fight gets, the more Quigley becomes my enemy. He’s trying to take something from me and I can’t let him. He’ll feel exactly the same way about me. It’s just business at the end of the day.”
Although disapointed to learn of Magee’s injury, Dodson was quickly bouyed by news of Quigley’s emergence as a possible replacement.
“I’ve been the ‘cock’ of Liverpool for the last 10 years and it’s about time someone else stepped up to the plate and gave me a challenge,” explains Dodson. “Quigley is that man. I’ve now got to prove why I’ve been Liverpool’s number one for so long. It’s going to be a painful lesson for Quigley.”
Even though Dodson has stayed in-the-loop with Quigley’s progress ahead of their March 28 date, the Liverpool super-middle doesn’t expect any awkwardness when they stare across the ring at one another.
“I don’t think it will be awkward at all,” he says. “To be honest, I’ve already spoken to Tony on the phone about it. We’ve agreed that business is business and that nothing will stop us being friends at the end of it.
“This doesn’t need any bigging up or bad-mouthing from either of us. The people of Liverpool know this is a genuine fight between two of their own. He’s a good fighter, I’m a good fighter and all I can say is sit back and enjoy.”
Given his close relationship with Quigley, Dodson isn’t about to take his local rival lightly. He knows what the younger man can produce.
“He’s got snappy hands, good speed and has all the talent,” assesses Dodson. “He’s got good amateur pedigree and plenty of ability. The thing is, he’s never been over six rounds and he’s never been in with anyone as good as me.
“Mark my words, though, Quigley is no pushover. He’s a terrific fighter on his night and has a lot of natural talent.”
Dodson expects Quigley to “grab his chance with both hands” given the circumstances. Nevertheless, Dodson isn’t without motivation of his own.
“I am in the greatest shape of my life right now,” he boasts. “It’s going to be my night on March 28. Once I step through those ropes at the Echo Arena, the idea of friendship will be completely out of my mind. I’ll be staring across the ring at someone who is looking to take my British title.
“I don’t just want to beat Quigley on March 28, I want to win well and look fantastic doing it. That’s what I’m hoping for.”
*** Tony Dodson’s all-Liverpool British title clash with Tony Quigley headlines HAYEMAKER 6: ‘The Mersey Beatdown’ on March 28 at Liverpool’s Echo Arena. Supporting Dodson-Quigley will be John Watson’s British title eliminator battle with Martin Gethin, as well as appearances from Derry Mathews, Joe McNally and Olympic bronze medallist David Price.
*** To purchase tickets to HAYEMAKER 6: ‘The Mersey Beatdown’ visit www.accliverpool.com or call 0844 8000 400.
*** HAYEMAKER 6: ‘The Mersey Beatdown’ will be screened live and exclusively on Setanta Sports
ANDERSON TARGETS FIRST TITLE
Scottish sensation Kenny Anderson is aiming for an explosive victory over Nathan King on Friday night.
The pair clash for the Vacant Celtic Super-Middleweight title at the Bellahouston Sports Centre, Glasgow, as chief support to Ricky Burns’ Commonwealth super-featherweight title defence against Michael Gomez.
The fight is 26-year-old Anderson’s first for a title, and he is looking to extend his unbeaten run to 10 fights against gritty Welshman King live on Sky Sports 2.
And the 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medallist says that once he has dealt with King, he’ll be looking to capture the British title before the year is out.
“King is pretty experienced and he’s only been stopped once, so I’ve prepared for a hard 10 rounds,” said Edinburgh ace Anderson.
“This is just the kind of test that I need at this stage of my career, and I’m desperate to impress, especially as my fight will be screened on Sky.
“But victory on Friday will just be the start.
“My ultimate aim is to win a world title, but my immediate target is the Lonsdale belt.
“I’m improving with every fight, and within 12 months I’m confident I will have that title.
“The domestic super-middleweight scene is in transition at the moment because Carl Froch has gone on to world level, and I plan to take advantage of the power vacuum.
“When I was growing up my heroes were the likes of Steve Collins, Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank and Joe Calzaghe, and I want to follow in their footsteps.”
FRANK WARREN PROUDLY PRESENTS
CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
BELLAHOUSTON LEISURE CENTRE, GLASGOW
FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2009
LIVE ON SKY SPORTS 2 AT 10pm
THE COMMONWEALTH SUPER-FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
12 X 3 Minute Rounds at 9st 4lb (130lb)
RICKY BURNS 25-2 (6) (Coatbridge, Scotland) vs. MICHAEL GOMEZ 38-9-0 (25) (Manchester, England)
THE VACANT CELTIC SUPER-MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
10 X 3 Minute Rounds at 12st (168lb)
KENNY ANDERSON 9-0-0 (7) (Edinburgh, Scotland) vs. NATHAN KING 12-12-0 (1) (Mountain Ash, Wales)
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Lightweight Contest
ANDY MORRIS 15-2-0 (5) (Wythenshawe, England) vs. YOUSEF AL HAMIDI 5-15-1 (1) (Dewsbury, England)
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Bantamweight Contest
KRIS HUGHES 4-0-0 (Bellshill, Scotland) vs. JAMES ANCLIFF 6-3-1 (1) (Aberdeen, Scotland)
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Welterweight Contest
CRAIG WINDSOR 1-0-0 (Coatbridge, Scotland) vs. GERIANT HARVEY (Mountain Ash, Wales)
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Lightweight Contest
SANTINO CARUANA Pro-Debut (Coatbridge, Scotland) v TBA