UK Boxing: Adam Etches; Richard Towers; Martin Murray

ADAM ETCHES and Scott Jenkins hope that boxing on Hatton Promotions ‘Road To Glory’ bill will be a stepping stone towards their first professional titles. The unbeaten Sheffield pair will be in action at Manchester Velodrome on Saturday 16th June. One of the show’s big attractions sees Scott Quigg challenge Rendall Munroe for the vacant interim WBA super-bantamweight crown..

But unbeaten middleweight Etches hopes chalking up his eighth straight professional win will put him on championship course.

Etches, 21, said: “When Richard Poxon lets me off the leash I will be prepared to fight anyone.

“There are a lot of fighters who are mates of mine in the middleweight divisions, but boxing is a business and they are the sort of fighters I have to beat to get to the top.”

Etches has just returned from a trip to Las Vegas, where he had hoped to see Amir Khan fight Lamont Peterson.

He explained: “The fight was cancelled, but I still decided to go over there and try to enjoy myself.

“I didn’t go to any gyms, but I ticked over every day in the hotel gym to keep my weight right.”

Super-featherweight Jenkins, 21, has won his all five professional fights, and is another Hatton Promotions hopeful going in the right direction.

His fight next month will coincide with his first 12 months as a professional boxer.

He added: “It has been a good 12 months for me and I have learnt a lot. I hope to make more progression in the coming year.

“The biggest thing I have done is slowing down my pace from the amateurs and the professional code is harder than you think.

“It is very different getting hit by 8oz gloves and wearing no head guard as well!”

The ‘Road To Glory’ bill also features a vacant European light-middleweight title fight between Ryan Rhodes and Sergey Rabchenko and Richard Towers facing Gregory Tony for the vacant EU heavyweight crown.

In a special attraction unbeaten British middleweight champion Martin Murray meets French title holder Karim Achour.

There will be a talent stacked undercard that will include former British and Commonwealth welterweight champion Craig Watson, unbeaten hopefuls Lucas Browne, Kallum De’Ath, Jazza Dickens, Adam Etches, Scott Jenkins and Adam Little.

Ticket prices are selling fast. All VIP tickets have been sold. There are a few £100 Ringside left. Also available are £55, £35 and £30. You can purchase tickets by calling Hatton Promotions hotline 01925 755 222/www.ticketmaster.co.uk/0844 847 2500/www.ticketline.co.uk/0844 888 4402/www.hmv.com

RICHARD TOWERS NOW FIGHTS TONY

RICHARD TOWERS will now face Frenchman Gregory Tony for the vacant EU heavyweight title at Manchester Velodrome on Saturday June 16.

The 6ft 9in Sheffield giant had been due to meet fellow unbeaten boxer Michael Wallisch on the same bill, but the German has pulled out.

Tony, 33, has 17 wins with 14 coming by knockout and two defeats – both setbacks coming against top class opponents Robert Helenius and Mike Perez.

Hatton Promotions CEO said: “It is a disappointing that Wallisch is out, but Tony is a decent test.

“The fight will tell us exactly where Richard is at and if he wins he’ll be closing in on the new European champion Kubrat Pulev.

“Richard is making steady progress and inside 12 months will be ready for men like Pulev, Tyson Fury and David Price.”

The ‘Road To Glory’ bill also features a vacant WBA interim super-bantamweight title fight between Scott Quigg and Rendall Munroe. There is also a vacant European light-middleweight title fight between Ryan Rhodes and Sergey Rabchenko.

In a special attraction unbeaten British middleweight champion Martin Murray meets French title holder Karim Achour.

There will be a talent stacked undercard that will include former British and Commonwealth welterweight champion Craig Watson, unbeaten hopefuls Lucas Browne, Kallum De’Ath, Jazza Dickens, Adam Etches, Scott Jenkins and Adam Little.

Ticket prices are now on sale priced £125 (VIP Inner Ringside + exclusive cash bar), £100 Ringside, £55, £35 and £30. You can purchase tickets by calling Hatton Promotions hotline 01925 755 222/www.ticketmaster.co.uk/0844 847 2500/www.ticketline.co.uk/0844 888 4402/www.hmv.com

MURRAY OUT TO CREAM KARIM

MARTIN MURRAY will face French middleweight champion Karim Achour next month.

They will meet on Hatton Promotions ‘Road To Glory’ bill at Manchester Velodrome on Saturday June 16.

The bill is one of the biggest being staged in the UK this year and includes the vacant WBA interim world super-bantamweight title fight between Bury’s Scott Quigg and Rendall Munroe.

Unbeaten British champion Murray drew against WBA super champion Felix Sturm last year and is patiently waiting for another world title challenge.

But 25-year-old Achour who has won 13 of his 15 fights will provide stern opposition for Murray who is ranked in the top five by the WBA, WBC and WBO.

Hatton Promotions CEO Ricky Hatton said: “Martin is being patient, but I am certain we will deliver another major fight later this year.

“In the meantime it is all about keeping him busy and winning against decent opposition.

“Since the Sturm fight a match against WBC champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr fell through, but he got over that by getting straight back into the gym.

“Achour is a decent test for Martin in his first fight since Sturm, but I am predicting a big performance that will prove he’s Britain’s number one middleweight.”

The ‘Road To Glory’ bill also features a vacant European light-middleweight title fight between Ryan Rhodes and Sergey Rabchenko and Richard Towers facing Michael Wallisch for the vacant EU heavyweight crown.

There will be a talent stacked undercard that will include former British and Commonwealth welterweight champion Craig Watson, unbeaten hopefuls Lucas Browne, Kallum De’Ath, Jazza Dickens, Adam Etches, Scott Jenkins and Adam Little.

Ticket prices are now on sale priced £125 (VIP Inner Ringside + exclusive cash bar), £100 Ringside, £55, £35 and £30. You can purchase tickets by calling Hatton Promotions hotline 01925 755 222/www.ticketmaster.co.uk/0844 847 2500/www.ticketline.co.uk/0844 888 4402/www.hmv.com