Fury-Firtha on 9/17; Connor-Gorman on September 18

London (9 Sept, 2011) OHIO-based Nicolai Firtha says he wants to fight Tyson Fury for the Irish heavyweight title when they collide at the King’s Hall on September 17. Firtha may not sound like an Irish name but he has revealed how many of his cousins live in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare the home of his grandfather and mother Deborah O’Connor who left many years ago to make a new life in Massachusetts.

Firtha has no doubt that he will give British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Fury “the fight of his life” and says he is inspired by boxing at the King’s Hall, Ireland’s Madison Square Garden.

Firtha commented: “I can’t believe that I am going to box in Ireland. It’s a lifelong dream for me. This is like a homecoming for me. I wish it was for the Irish heavyweight title.

“I know my name doesn’t sound Irish and I have asked my mum, why did you call me Nicolai and she says she just liked the name!

“For years I have been in contact by phone and email with my family in Co Clare and when I was told that I had the chance to fight in Ireland I couldn’t believe it.

“So there will be plenty of my family coming up to watch me and I would hope the Belfast people will get right behind me.

“I have taken the fight at two weeks’ notice but I am a real fighter so I am never out of the gym. I’m a road warrior, a fighter must be ready for the call and I’m ready to have an old school brawl with Fury.

“One thing is sure, there is no way the fight is going the distance. We’re going to go at it from the start and somebody will fall and I think it will be Tyson.”

Also Joining these fighters at the King’s Hall will be a host of talented boxers including former WBC Light Welterweight Champion Junior Witter, Kid Galahad, Phill Fury, Ryan Greene, Willie Thompson, Willie Casey, Tommy Tolan, Phil Townley, Dee Walsh, Gerard Healy and Michael McLaughlin .

Tickets priced from £28.00 are available to purchase from the Ticketmaster box office on 0844 277 4455 (24 hour). Tickets are also available in person from Ticketmaster outlets, and online from www.ticketmaster.ie.

Connor In Confident Mood Ahead Of September 18th Showdown With Gorman

Mitcham, Surrey Welterweight Danny ‘Cassius’ Connor is confident that he will continue his winning ways, when he faces Aberystwyth, Wales’ Sean ‘Showtime’ Gorman, at the Miranda Carter and Bruce Baker co-promoted ‘Great Expectations’ event at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, on Sunday 18th September.

Connor, who is coached by Alec Wilkey at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, has managed to overcome a poor start to his professional career, where he drew one and lost four out of his first five bouts, and now seems to have his career back on track following two excellent wins just prior to the summer break.

It’s clear that Connor is confident that his winning streak is set to continue, as earlier today he said, “He’s a Welsh kid, so we know he’s going to be fit, with all that sheep chasing they do up there.

He’s gonna be strong obviously. He’s had six fights but only won the one, so not too brilliant, but to be honest I don’t take much notice of records as they are just numbers and at the end of the day records are for DJs aren’t they.

We’re just going to get in there and do the business, do everything that I’ve worked on in the gym with my coach, Alec Wilkey.

I’m looking to build on my recent wins. My first win was against Duane Grimes, who’d had one and got knocked out, that was by Glenn Foot who was a highly talented amateur who really adapted well to the pro game. He’s probably five or six and o, he’s a really, really strong kid.

Duane had been knocked out by him, he then boxed me and I just used my skills, I boxed him and out foxed him. He’s obviously not a bad fighter as the fight after me he went to Southampton and knocked out by Floyd Moore.

In the second fight I boxed Danny Dontchev, yeah he’s a journeyman, but he’s one of those journeyman that don’t know his role and comes to win. He uses his head and slings it in everywhere, so he’s really messy. He’s a bit of a scrappy fighter to be honest, but I did what I had to do and stuck with my plan, I didn’t take no risks, used my jab and out boxed him.

Since then I’ve kept in shape and going to proper do the business this time, no ones going to recognise me, hands nice and tight, banging out body shots and that. Yeah, I’ve improved a hundred percent, everyone’s going to see a different fighter on the eighteenth.

I can’t wait to show everyone, I am so confident coming into this fight it’s unreal.”

Danny Connor versus Sean Gorman will feature on the Miranda Carter and Bruce Baker co-promoted ‘Great Expectations’, which takes place at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London on Sunday 18th September 2011.

Co-Headlining the show are British Light Welterweight Champion Ashley Theophane, against a yet to be named opponent, and Southern Area Cruiserweight Champion Leon ‘Solid’ Williams against Battersea’s boxing Fireman Nick ‘The Ox’ Okoth.

Supporting the illustrious Theophane and Williams is a nine bout card featuring the cream of local talent.

Doors open at 2pm and the first bout is at 3pm.

Tickets for ‘Great Expectations’ are on sale now – priced £35 (Unreserved) or £65 (Ringside), book on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com or in person at The TRAD TKO Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA. For further information please call 07960 850645.

MOISÉS FUENTES GETS HIS 105 POUNDS BELT FROM THE WBO

World Boxing Organization (WBO) Francisco “Paco” Valcárcel gave the 105lb belt to the new champion Moises Fuentes, yesterday, in a ceremony, held in Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico.

Valcárcel, who represented the WBO at the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez tour and press conference in Mexico, join Fuentes (14-1, 6 KOs) and his team to give him the belt. Fuentes, whose manager is the former world champion Marco Antonio Barrera, beat last August 27 in Mexico former champion Raul “Rayito” Garcia (30-2-1, 18 KOs) to win the minimum title.

In the ceremony there was also WBO Rating Comitee Chairman Luis Perez, Barrera, and Promociones Zanfer people.

Remember the 24th WBO Convention in Puerto Rico, October 24-29. For reservations at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, can call 1 787 253-1700 Ext. 4161, 1 800 241-3333 or a accesing http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/SanJuan/Default.htm.

More information at www.wbo-int.com (www.facebook.com/WorldBoxingOrganization).