After a three year matriculation, featherweight Akaash Bhatia gets his first truly significant bout on Tuesday, June 30 at London’s famed York Hall. The 26 year old speed merchant will face opponent Jamie Arthur as chief support to the Jason Booth vs. Rocky Dean British super bantam title fight headliner. Bhatia, 14-0 (5), has experienced a surge in power over the last year, stopping adversaries during his last three bouts after finishing off only two opponents in his previous 11 contests..
This is an important addition to Bhatia’s arsenal as he will be facing a bigger rival in the form of Welshman Arthur, 14-2 (4), who has operated as a lightweight over the majority of his professional bouts.
Both of Arthur’s losses have been within the distance and but the 29 year old from Cwmbran possesses superb boxing skills and represents a credible threat to Bhatia’s undefeated record.
On offer to the victor in the clash at York Hall is the mandatory position in the British featherweight rankings, making this the most important fight of either man’s career.
Frank Maloney Promotions presents “Back From The Brink”, the Super Bantamweight Championship of Britain between reigning titlist Jason Booth and challenger Rocky Dean with full undercard at York Hall in London, England on Tuesday, June 30, 2009.
Tickets are on sale at £30and £80 and are available from the Box Office 0871 226 1508. To obtain a discount on all ticket prices buy from www.frankmaloney.com.
Sky Sports will broadcast live on SS2 starting at 9:30PM.
McIntosh Boxing Cleverly
Danny McIntosh is brimming with confidence ahead of his British title showdown with Nathan Cleverly at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on July 18th. The undefeated Norwich man currently holds the English Light Heavyweight title and he has no doubts that he will be adding the Lonsdale belt to his honours list next month. The mouth watering clash headlines the next Hennessy Sports event and will be live on ITV4. Despite his perfect record McIntosh has been labelled a 7/2 underdog by the bookies but he’s scoffed at those odds. “There’s going to be a lot of people with egg on their face after this fight,” predicted McIntosh.
“It’s a great fight between two undefeated guys and it’s a fight that needed to be made. I’ve heard people like Barry McGuigan saying that it’s too soon for me and that I need more experience but I couldn’t care less what anyone else thinks.
“When I fought Joey Vegas people said it was too soon, when I fought Steve Spartacus they said it was too soon and when I fought Matthew Barney they said it was too soon and guess what? I’m still undefeated, I won all those fights and I’ll will this one as well and I’ll prove an awful lot of people wrong in the process.
“People don’t see what I do in the gym day in, day out. I know I’m ready for this and I know I’ll be leaving that ring with the Lonsdale belt.”
Although McIntosh has only had 10 pro fights in comparison to Cleverly’s 16 he feels that the calibre of his opposition has been better. “Some of the guys Cleverly’s been in with have been complete unknowns,” said McIntosh.
“He’s looked good blowing them away but anyone would have looked good against those guys. He’s a nice technician and a decent boxer but I don’t think he’s been tested at all yet and he’s going to get a shock when he gets in the ring with me.”
The 29-year-old who trains out of the Ingle Gym in Sheffield is currently stepping up his preparations for next months contest. “I’m sparring with George Groves at the moment and I’m hoping to get some sparring in with Carl Froch shortly as well. I’m really buzzing for this fight, it’s a huge opportunity for me and I know I’m going to walk away with that British title, all I have to do is go into that ring and collect it.”
An action packed undercard at the York Hall features former British and European Lightweight Champ Jon Thaxton, unbeaten Heavyweight sensation Tyson Fury and contests featuring hot prospects Steve O’Meara, Dwayne Lewis, Bradley Evans, Del Rogers and Bobby Ward.
Tickets priced from £35 are available from the Ticketline box office on 0844 888 4402 or via www.ticketline.co.uk.
Ward draws cold comfort from debut
Bobby “Boogaloo” Ward will finally look to get his first win in the pro ranks when he takes to the ring in London next month. Ward was left bitterly disappointed in Wigan earlier this month after an impressive pro debut was tainted when his bout with Mo Khaled was deemed a draw by referee Michael Alexander.
The result shocked Ward and ITV’s commentary team of John Rawling, Duke Duke McKenzie and Barry McGuigan who all expressed their disbelief at the verdict. Ward will hope for better luck when he appears at the York Hall, Bethnal Green on July 18th on the undercard to the Danny McIntosh – Nathan Cleverly British title fight.
The Hennessy Sports event is live on ITV and promoter Mick Hennessy revealed that he was particularly impressed with Ward’s first pro outing. “It was one of the most impressive pro debuts I’ve seen combined with one of the worst decisions I’ve seen,” said Hennessy. “Ward won the fight hands down and even Khaled’s corner admitted that. I think Bobby has a really bright future in the sport and he’s going to be a real fans favourite because he’s got such an exciting style.”
Ward’s trainer Tony Sims echoed Hennessy’s thoughts. “I still can’t figure out how the referee could score that fight a draw,” said Sims. “Bobby won the first three rounds easily and the second and third rounds were especially big for him. The only thing you could have given Khaled was possibly a share of the fourth round.
“In the third he had Khaled in real trouble and was probably only 2 or 3 punches away from finishing the fight when Khaled just went into a crouch and the referee broke them up for no reason. It gave him time to recover and the referee just waved the fight on again and the bell went before Bobby could finish the job.
“There was no reason for the referee to break them at that point, that’s something you see in the amateur game, not in the pros and I believe it cost Bobby a stoppage win.”
Despite his frustration at the decision Sims is excited by what he’s seen from his new protégé. “It’s early days yet but he’s a real talent. He worked very hard and he shed 2 and a half stone since coming back into the gym. He has bags of ability and that was his first fight in over 5 years so I think there is an awful lot more to come from him.”
Sims revealed that Ward’s spirits were lifted by a visit from Junior Witter to his dressing room after the fight. “Junior told Bobby that he had won the fight easily but told him not to lose heart because he drew his first pro fight as well and it didn’t stop him from going on to win British, Commonwealth, European and World titles.”
A clash of unbeaten fighters tops the bill at the York Hall on July 18th with Danny McIntosh and Nathan Cleverly squaring off for the British Light Heavyweight title. An action packed undercard at the York Hall features former British and European Lightweight Champ Jon Thaxton, unbeaten Heavyweight sensation Tyson Fury and contests featuring hot prospects Steve O’Meara, Dwayne Lewis, Bradley Evans, Del Rogers as well as Bobby Ward.