Former British featherweight champion Paul Appleby believes he can be a force at 9’4. And the Edinburgh prospect wants to prove it by fighting for Ricky Burns’ old Commonwealth super-featherweight title. Appleby will feature in an eight round contest on September 4 at Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall live on Sky Sports It will be his first fight under new promoter Frank Warren. The 22-year-old has not fought since he lost his British nine stone belt to Martin Lindsay, his only defeat. Weight-making issues mean he has stepped up a division, and he wants Burns’ championship should the world-title contender vacate..
Appleby told the Edinburgh Evening News: ”I am now struggling to make featherweight so I’ve stepped up a division.
“After I win my first eight rounder, I aim to fight for the Commonwealth super-featherweight crown that Ricky holds but will almost certainly vacate if he becomes a world champion.
“And if he doesn’t win then I’ll go after Burns to defend the Commonwealth title against me next.
”As a former British featherweight champion I should have no problems being rated as number one challenger for the Commonwealth super-featherweight title.”
Roman Martinez v Ricky Burns headlines a top quality card that also features John Simpson defending his Commonwealth Featherweight title against Stephen Smith, plus former British Featherweight Champion Paul Appleby and welterweight John Thain.
Tickets, priced at £40, £50, £75 & £150, are available from Morrison’s Gym on 0141 554 7777 and Ticket Scotland on 08444 155 221.
CLEVERLY GETS MATHS DEGREE
European light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly is celebrating after picking up a 2:2 in his maths degree.
But the 23-year-old Welshman says that when it comes to boxing, he’s going to get nothing but first class honours.
Cleverly sat his finals last month at Cardiff University, and is understandably delighted after passing his exams with flying colours and will graduate next month.
“It’s the culmination of four years hard work,” he said.
“It has not been easy because I’ve had to juggle my committments with boxing as well.
“All the other students in my year have been able to concentrate full time on getting their degrees.
“But as well as crunching numbers, I’ve had to fight for the British, Commonwealth and European titles as well, and spend most evenings hitting the heavy bag and doing numerous press ups and sit ups.”
It’s increasingly difficult for graduates to get jobs, but Cleverly has a ready-made career for him.
And there is little doubt that he will make it right to the very top of his chosen career.
He will now turn his attention to boxing full time, and is hoping to nail down a world title shot by the end of the year.
“I leave the matchmaking to my promoter Frank Warren, but I’m ready for a shot right now,” said Cleverly.
“I’m going to be a much better fighter when I go full time, and people are going to see a massive improvement in the next six months.
“Hopefully I can get a quick defence of my European title in, then it’s a question of waiting for my opportunity at world level.”
Former WBU Champ Graham Earl Laces Up Boots For Charity Football Tournament.
Former WBU Lightweight World Champion Graham ‘The Duke’ Earl is the latest boxing superstar to sign up for the Celebrity Football Tournament, in aid of the Indee Rose Trust, at the Brockwell Stadium in Canvey Island on Sunday 25th July 2010.
Earl, who in October ‘06 beat Angel Hugo Ramirez in a thrilling contest to lift the coveted world lightweight crown, now trains and manages boxers in Luton, as well as promoting boxing events, said, “The Indee Rose Trust is a very worthy cause and I support them whole heartedly.
After England’s disappointing exit from the World Cup, on Sunday, this tournament will give football fans something to look forward to.
I’m really looking forward to playing in the tournament, they’ll be some serious rivalries revisited. But more importantly it’ll be great fun and much needed funds raised for a genuinely good cause. I can’t wait.”
Earl will be joining the many, luminaries from the world of boxing, that have already committed to play in the tournament, such as WBA Heavyweight World Champion DAVID ‘HAYEMAKER’ HAYE, former undisputed Light Welterweight King RICKY HATTON, WBU Lightweight World Champion WILLIE LIMOND, European Champion DARREN BARKER, British & Commonwealth Super Featherweight Champ KEVIN MITCHELL, British Super Middleweight Champion PAUL SMITH and Commonwealth Champions RICKY BURNS & TONY BELLEW, Olympic Gold Medallist JAMES DEGALE, World Amateur Champion FRANKIE GAVIN and Olympian BILLY JOE SAUNDERS.
It’s not just boxers that have come forward to support the event, which is organised by Ultrachem TKO Gym’s Johnny Eames and Derek Grainger, and the Indee Rose Trust.
From the world of television and film, actors GERALD KERNS & CIAREN GRIFFITHS, both of whom are currently starring in the hit TV series SHAMELESS, former English Super Featherweight Challenger and CORONATION STREET star STEPHEN BELL, who will be guesting on the National Journalists team, and MARK WINGETT, who played Jim Carver in the ITV series THE BILL, who will be playing for the ULTRACHEM TKO GYM team.
Rock superstars IRON MAIDEN, who are favourites to win having former MILLWALL, WEST HAM UNITED , TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS, MANCHESTER UNITED & ENGLAND star TEDDY SHERRINGHAM as their striker, will be representing the music biz along with RAZORLIGHT frontman JOHNNY BORRELL, who will be guesting on the ULTRACHEM TKO GYM team.
The Ultrachem TKO Gym Boxers & Celebrity Football Tournament, in aid of The Indee Rose Trust will be at the Brockwell Stadium, Canvey Island on Sunday 25th July 2010.
Tickets are priced:
Adults: £10.00
Children: £5.00
and are available from The Ultrachem TKO Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA – Tel: 0207 474 3199