British and European Light-Heavyweight Champion Nathan Cleverly will be guest of honour at the 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh’s amateur boxing show at Dale Barracks in Chester this Thursday (22 July). Cleverly, 23, is preparing for his forthcoming WBO World title eliminator against Karo Murat on Frank Warren’s huge multi-show The Magnificent Seven on September 18 at the LG Arena in Birmingham, live and exclusive on Sky Box Office, but was delighted to be invited to the show.
The unbeaten Welshman met with the soldiers at his gym last October before they departed on six month tour of duty of Afghanistan and gave his support by wearing the “Support the Royal Welsh in Afghanistan” wrist band..
Cleverly said, “These guys are the real fighters who are putting their lives on the line everyday whilst on tour so it’s the least I can do by going to catch up with them and support their evening,”
Captain Robert Rees of the 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, said, “Nathan is an inspiration to the lads and they have followed his career closely in the last few years. In such a short space of time he has British, Commonwealth and European titles and now he is close to go for the world title and we will be there to support him. We are grateful that he has taken the time out of his busy training schedule to come down and see the lads again, watch our boxing show and present the awards.”
Tickets for the Magnificent Seven are priced at £40, £50, £80, £150 and £200 and are available from:
LG Arena
0844 338 8000
Ticketmaster
0844 844 0444
www.ticketmaster.co.uk
BARKER v MACKLIN IS A HOT TICKET!
Darren Barker is expecting big support for his showdown against rival Matthew Macklin at the LG Arena – after asking for 4,000 tickets.
The Barnet man defends his British and European middleweight titles against Macklin on September 18.
Promoter Frank Warren won the purse bids to stage the British blockbuster and it’s all part of Frank Warren’s Magnificent Seven card, shown live and exclusive on Sky Box Office.
It’s been billed as the biggest middleweight scrap since Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank clashed 20 years ago at the same venue.
Macklin is the home fighter with the event going on in his native Birmingham.
But popular Barker is hoping an army of fans make it to England’s second city.
“It’s ridiculous how many people have asked me about tickets for this fight,” said Barker.
“I’ve asked Frank Warren for 4,000 and I think I’ll sell them all.
“I’ve always been well supported, but this fight seems to have caught the public’s imagination.
“It’s the two best middleweights in the country going up against each other, and it’s a cracking card as well. I’ll get rid of all my tickets, no problem.
“But even if there wasn’t a soul there to support me I wouldn’t be bothered.
“I boxed all over the world as an amateur in some very hostile environments, and it never affected me.”
Opponent Macklin hit back by saying: “I’ll send home Barker’s fans in silence.
“I’m boxing in my home town so there will be pride at stake as well. My phone’s been ringing non stop as well, and this fight is as big for Birmingham as Benn-Eubank 20 years ago.”
Tickets for the Magnificent Seven are priced at £40, £50, £80, £150 and £200 and are available from:
LG Arena
0844 338 8000
Ticketmaster
0844 844 0444
www.ticketmaster.co.uk
BIRMINGHAM STARS BLAST “BORINGHAM” TAG!
Fuming Brummie boxers Matthew Macklin, Frankie Gavin and Don Broadhurst have blasted a survey that says their home town is boring – and will prove it with KO performances on September 18.
England’s second city has been dubbed “Boringham” after a survey found it was the dullest destination in Europe.
Yet it will be full of excitement on September 18 when Frank Warren stages his blockbuster Magnificent Seven card – the Hall of Fame promoter’s biggest show in over a decade – at the fabulous LG Arena.
And leading the action will be Macklin, Gavin and Broadhurst, all of whom feature in big title fights.
Macklin takes on Darren Barker in a huge European middleweight title clash, Broadhurst challenges for the English super-flyweight title, while Gavin is also in a championship fight.
“Birmingham certainly isn’t boring when it comes to boxing, and I’ll prove that when I fight Barker,” said Macklin.
“I challenge whoever called in Boringham to come and say it to my face!
“This is going to be the best fight of the year anywhere in Europe or the World. There will be a cracking atmosphere on September 18 and I don’t think anyone will be saying Brum is dull after it.
“Over the next few years Birmingham is going to become the best city in the UK for boxers, and we’ll have three or four world champions.
“Everyone loves to knock Birmingham, but it’s like a a good old fashioned boxer – every time you put it down, it just comes back trying harder.”
Gavin, Britain’s first ever world amateur champion, added: “The fans in Birmingham are the best in the world. I love my city and I can’t wait to bring a world title here.
“Whoever did that survey obviously hasn’t seen me box.”
“Who wants to go up and down the Eiffel Tower or look at some wonky building in Pisa. Give me Cadbury’s World or the Bull Ring any day!
And Broadhurst said: “It may not be Las Vegas but we’ve got just as many great boxers. It’s a real hot-bed round here and people will see that in a couple of months.”
Tickets for the Magnificent Seven are priced at £40, £50, £80, £150 and £200 and are available from:
LG Arena
0844 338 8000
Ticketmaster
0844 844 0444
www.ticketmaster.co.uk
TICKET DISCOUNTS FOR MOLITOR v BOOTH
WE all love getting a discount so Frank Maloney urges all fight fans attending his show at Rainton Meadows Arena on Friday (23rd July) to take up his special offer.
Maloney is offering tickets at reduced prices for the big world title night at the same venue on Saturday 11th September when Jason Booth challenges Steve Molitor for the IBF world super-bantamweight title.
The undercard will feature the cream of north-east boxing including Olympic bronze medallist Tony Jeffries.
Fans who attend Friday’s show will be able to buy £95 ringside tickets for just £85 saving a TENNER. £35 tickets will be available for just £28, saving a SEVEN POUND.
The offer will only be available to customers attending this week’s show and the special offer tickets for the world title bill will be sold inside the arena.
Maloney said: “Money is tight especially during August when kids are off school and it is the holiday season so I think this is way of appreciating north-east fans who are being asked to fork out twice inside a few weeks for big time boxing.”
“The discount is competitive and I am sure there will be plenty of people taking up the chance to save a few quid on Friday.
Heading Friday’s card is Darlington’s Stuey Hall (8-0-1) who makes the first defence of his British bantamweight title against former holder Martin Power (21-5)
The pair first waged war last September when Hall stopped the Londoner in the eighth round of a thrilling battle.
Crook’s Nigel Wright (21-6) who conquered former world champion Alex Arthur in his last bout contests the vacant English light-welterweight crown against Wolverhampton’s Dean Harrison (16-3).
Jeffries (7-0) continues his march to the top when he steps up to eight round class and meets Staines based Pole Michael Banbula (10-25-3)
Tickets for Friday’s big night of action, price £30 and £70 are available from 0871 226 1508 or www.frankmaloney.com