Cobra banking on fans to scare Canadian – final 400 tickets released
Carl Froch believes his loyal fans with be the twelfth man when he takes on International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight champion Lucian Bute at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham on May 26, live on Sky Sports.
The Cobra fights in his hometown for the first time since beating Andre Dirrell in a World Boxing Council (WBC) World title defence in October 2009. Froch has been on the road since that night in some grueling battles, and the 34 year old says he will take the IBF belt from the unbeaten champ to reward his followers for coming out in force – with the final batch of 400 tickets for the fight now released.
“I have to beat Lucian on May 26 – losing in front of my own fans is just something I cannot contemplate,” said Froch. “They have traveled thousands of miles to watch me during the Super Six, and now they have a massive World title fight on their doorstep as a thank you – but it has to be a party and the only way it will be is if I keep the title here.”
Only 400 tickets remain available for the May 26 showdown, with Froch’s World title fight ably supported by Belfast’s undefeated Commonwealth super featherweight champ Carl Frampton facing unbeaten Mexican Raul Hirales for the IBF Inter Continental super bantamweight title and Islington’s Erick Ochieng defending the English light middleweight title against Nottingham boxer AA Lowe. There are also outings for hotly-tipped unbeaten 10-0 middleweight John Ryder, as well as outings for Ryan Aston, Adnan Amar, Bute’s rated light welterweight stable mate Pier Olivier Cote and Team GB star Scotty Cardle.
“There’s nothing like the Capital FM Arena when it is full,” said Froch. “I was there on Monday night when it was empty and cold, and I just thought that in two weeks time this will be packed and the roof is going to come off. I know Lucian gets great support in Montreal but I don’t think it compares to mine. They are quiet and study the fight as it goes along, politely clapping when he wins. My lot put all their energy behind every punch I throw and chant Forest songs all the way. Really, they support me how I know I have to box him – non-stop for as long as it takes until the title is mine.”
The final 400 tickets for Froch’s IBF World super middleweight title challenge to Bute are on sale now priced £40, £60, £80, £100 and £150 from the Capital FM Arena Nottingham website www.capitalfmarena.com and on 08444 124624.
Browne 1st Olympian for Atlas Cops & Kids Program
NEW YORK CITY (May 14, 2012) – This summer in London, Staten Island light heavyweight (178 pounds) Marcus Browne will be the first Atlas Cops & Kids Boxing Program product to compete in the Olympic Games, representing Team USA.
Coached by Gary Stark at the Park Hill Boxing Club, Browne is a two-time National PAL champion and 2012 USA Boxing National gold medalist who officially qualified to box in the 2012 Olympics by defeating Felix Valera (Dominican Republic), 12-6, in a quarterfinals match last weekend at the American Qualifier in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Browne went on to capture a gold medal.
The Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by renowned boxing trainer and television analyst Teddy Atlas in his father’s memory, currently leases gym space for $1.00 a year for its Brooklyn and Staten Island locations. Operational costs, however, are approximately $50,000 for each gym. The money is used to pay coaches and to purchase equipment for the boxing program, and to pay a certified teacher who runs the educational component of each gym The Atlas Cops & Kids Boxing Program presently operates two gyms, in Park Hill and in East Flatbush in Brooklyn, with two new gyms scheduled to open this month at the Berry Houses in Staten Island and in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn.
Ochieng Brimming With Confidence, Ahead Of Title Defense On May 26th
Back in January Stoke Newington’s Erick ‘The Eagle’ Ochieng won the English Light Middleweight title in emphatic style, on just his tenth professional outing, in a sensational all action battle against Liverpool’s Nick Quigley, that many have as an early contender for 2012 ‘Fight of the Year’ honours.
In just under two weeks time 25 year old Erick will make the first defense of this recently acquired title, against Newark’s AA Lowe, on the undercard of the biggest, most meaningful UK event of the year so far, when Carl Froch challenges Lucian Bute for the IBF Super Middleweight Crown, at the Nottingham Arena.
Following a recent training session, at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, an ebullient Erick was not only brimming with confidence, of victory on the 26th May, but was also keen to emphasize his Championship credentials.
“Yeah, I’ll be out again on the 26th May defending my English title against AA Lowe.
He’s a good boxer, he’s been around, so we’re looking to perform good, look good and retain my title in style.”
“Training has been excellent as ever, my manager/coach Brian Lawrence wouldn’t have it any other way and again I’ve had the best sparring you can get.
The quality of sparring here at the TRAD TKO makes all the difference, I did some eight rounders with Colin Lynes the other week and have had plenty of other quality sparring, these sparring sessions are great preparation.”
“I mean Colin Lynes is a former British, European and World Champion, you can’t get better than that, you’re always learning from those guys.
As you can see we’re not leaving any stone unturned in the gym, I’m in good shape so I’m looking to put a good performance on the 26th May.”
“I never look past people or my next fight, but have to say this is just the start, I’ve always said I am already a World Champion, just people don’t know it yet, they will soon but right now they know I’m the English Champion.
I will defend my title successfully on the 26th May and then by the end of the year my focus will be on the British or Commonwealth title.”
Erick ‘The Eagle’ Ochieng’s English Light Middleweight title defense, against AA Lowe, will be main support at the Matchroom Sport promoted event headlined by the IBF Super Middleweight World Championship bout between Montreal, Canada based Romanian Lucian Bute and Nottingham’s Carl Froch, which co-features Carl Frampton versus Raul Hirales, for the IBF Inter-Continental Super Bantamweight title, at the Nottingham Arena in Nottingham on Saturday 26th May 2012 and will be shown live and exclusive on Sky Sports.
Tickets, priced £40, or £50 including coach from London to Nottingham and return, are available on line at www.tkoboxoffice.com or direct from Erick at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA