By Jonny Stapleton

Another of the leading female fight lights  Sophie Mathis has urged Katie Taylor to ease her way into the pro game if she does go pro.

The former two belt light welter world champion, who fights for three welterweight world titles in her next bout, believes any promoter that signs Taylor will be looking to cash in on her Olympic success and world wide notoriety instantly.

The reigning Pound for Pound Queen of boxing already claimed she was open to a Taylor bout if the Bray girl did change pro, but French pugilist Mathis feels Taylor would need time to acclimatize if she does change code.

The former European champion thinks at welter she would also prove to heavy for the lightweight Olympic champ and as a result can’t for see a fight between the pair.

“Katie has a very good record and  she already is a name so she can sign with a promoter and have an interesting career. The pro game is different, however. The number of rounds is one adjustment that takes time to make. I would advise her to rise gradually and not leapfrog the learning curve. Promoters might only see the present and the opportunity there to make money right now,” Mathis warned before discussing a possible fight between her and the greatest female amateur of all time.

“I’m not in the same weight class and no one would take the risk of fighting me right now, especially not a boxer about to start her career.However I would be confident if the fight was made. I never allow myself to think about defeat, but given my professional experience (1995 to 2012), it would prove a challenge to much  even if Katie is an amateur boxing great.”

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Betfair back Matchroom Boxing’s shows as title sponsors

Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Sport are delighted to announce that they have signed a two-year deal to be the principal boxing promoter on Sky Sports, with the World’s leading online betting exchange Betfair teaming up with the promoters as official partner.

Matchroom Boxing will stage 20 shows in both seasons with the first event of the new deal taking place on September 8 at the Alexandra Palace in north London as Tony Bellew’s clash with Edison Miranda in Betfair’s ‘London Calling’ tops a huge bill with five title fights.

Hearn says that the big night of action at Ally Pally is just the first in a series of shows that will have viewers on the edge of their seats over the next two years, with five stellar shows already lined up before December.

Carl Frampton defends his Commonwealth and IBF Inter-Continental titles against two-time World champion Steve Molitor on September 22 in Belfast in Betfair’s ‘Judgement Day’, with support from Paul McCloskey taking on WBA no. nine Manuel Perez, Martin Lindsay challenging Lee Selby for the British and Commonwealth featherweight titles and Eamonn O’Kane taking on Craig Windsor Jr. for the Celtic super middleweight title.

The best ever Prizefighter series line-up sees Anthony Crolla, Derry Mathews and Gary Sykes face-off for the Lightweights II trophy in Liverpool on October 6 where Rocky Fielding boxes for his first pro title in Betfair’s ‘Rocky and the Prizefighters’.

Kell Brook takes the final step towards a World title on October 20 as he faces Hector Saldivia in a final eliminator for the mandatory position for the IBF welterweight title at the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield in Betfair’s ‘This Is It’, where Jamie McDonnell is also in an IBF World title final eliminator against South African bantamweight Vusi Malinga.

Carl Froch boxes for the first time as a three-time World champion on November 17 in Betfair’s ‘True Brit’, defending his IBF super middleweight title against Yusaf Mack at the Capital FM Arena where he produced a stunning KO win over Lucian Bute.

“I am delighted that Matchroom has reached this ground-breaking agreement with Sky Sports,” said Hearn. “The future of boxing for fight fans and TV viewers is deeper bills with more title fights and more competitive fights in packed out arenas.

“We have a great stable of talent at Matchroom Sport and they will benefit from regular boxing at high-profile, atmospheric events, as our leading lights Carl Froch, Kell Brook, Darren Barker, Gavin Rees and Carl Frampton fight in huge title fights in the coming seasons.

“Sky Sports and Matchroom Sport want to deliver across the board for fight fans – broadcast quality shows, use Ringside Sky Sports News and skysports.com to build our boxers, and help create new heroes. We are looking to develop close relationships with fighters, promoters and international broadcasters to ensure an exciting future for the sport of boxing on Sky Sports.”

Betfair are already heavily involved in professional boxing as the title sponsor of the Betfair Prizefighter series, and have shown they are committed to grassroots boxing with their backing of the British Amateur Boxing Association. The deal will see Betfair play a role as title sponsor at all of Matchroom Boxing’s upcoming fight nights.

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Jonny Stapleton

HE has advised Katie Taylor against punching for pay, but Barry McGuigan admits he would be willing to mentor any of the other Irish boxing Olympians if they elected to turn over.

McGuigan, who has guided Carl Frampton to the verge of a world title shot after just 14 fights, feels the female side of paid boxing is ‘rough’, ‘messy’ and could  ironically prove less profitable for the World‘s greatest woman warrior.

As a result he has urged his fellow Irish boxing legend and the countries London 2012 Olympic gold medal hero, who is at present reviewing pro contract offers, to stay with the High Performance and try and add to her amateur legacy.

“I really hope Katie doesn’t turn pro because it’s a really tough business on the female side of things,” McGuigan said.

“I hope she can afford to live off her sponsorship and funding money and stay amateur. Hopefully she can go on to fight for another world championship title again next year and maybe then start coaching and doing something. Because it’s a very tough, messy business.”

Whilst the former world champion believes Ireland’s Golden Girl shouldn’t change codes, he is open to putting the names of any of the Ireland’s other London 2012 fighters beside that of Frampton on his managerial book.

It seems likely Paddy Barnes, Jamie Conlan, Adam Nolan and Darren O’Neill will all elect to keep the vest for the time being, but John Joe Nevin admits he could be tempted to sign professional terms.

And McGuigan is certainly interested in working with the Mullingar native , whose talents inspired Frampton to go pro, as the Belfast fighter felt Nevin would block his path to the Olympic Games.

“They were fabulous. John Joe Nevin’s semi-final performance against the Cuban was extraordinary. He was so amazing. If he’s going to turn over I’d like to talk to him but he has to realise his expectations and I have to know whether or not I could afford him. But certainly I’m interested in him.

“I’m interested in any of the guys who want to turn over.  But I’m not someone who goes around trying to steal or poach amateurs.  ” McGuigan added before hinting the transition will prove difficult for any of the current Irish squad.

“I took Frampton on board because I thought he had a tremendously efficient pro style that suited and, I though, would make the transition easily. The others will not find it so easy. John Joe Nevin is very much engrained in the amateur one-punch, two-punch
combinations. But he’s got serious ability. So has Joe Ward. Darren O’Neill is a teacher so he may not want to turn pro.”

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By Jonny Stapleton

JOHN ‘The Warrior’ Waldron will solider on and fight again according to his boxing brother ‘Quick Mick’.

The former Irish light heavyweight champ has suffered four knock out reverses in a seven fight loosing streak and at 37 must be readying himself to hang up his gloves.

However the brother whose corner he manned after loosing to Brendan Fitzpatrick last week believes he will fight on.

“I dont think John will retire he has being on a run of bad luck and thats boxing, but John is a warrior and no matter who he gets in there with he gives it his all. Unfortunatly he getting the tough ones but unlike other boxers will take all comers on. He fears no one in this game but he has respect for everyone. I have no doubt the tide will turn and John will get back to winning ways.”

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By Jonny Stapleton

‘Quick Mick’ Micheal Walrdon is hoping to live up to his ring moniker outside the squared circle by racking up as many wins and fights as possible over the coming months.

The younger brother of former Irish light heavyweight champ John, Waldron registered an impressive debut win over fellow pro newbie Brandon Peake in Castlebar last week.

Despite expressing his delight at the victorious start to pro boxing the Mayo puncher isn’t keen to dwell on his success.

Waldron wants to return to battle as soon and as often as possible and he believes he has put himself out there with a derby debut win.

“I feel great after my win. It opens a lot of doors for me and puts me out there in the mix with everyone. It was a great buzz to have my hand raised in front of local home support on my debut,” Waldron told Irish-boxing.com.

“I am still only 24 so I hope to have few more fights by the end of the year and get more wins under my belt. I was back in the gym the Wednesday after my fight. I will continue to train hard so that I am ready for any fights that may come at short notice. I have had few people onto me about getting me fights and all that so ill see what the nxt few weeks bring and hopefully Quick Mick will be out again soon.”

Waldron and in fairness Peak received praise for avoiding an easy passage to pro life by agreeing to trade leather against each other in their paid bow.

The 24 year old certainly believes that decision has earned him more respect. He also claims he was always confident of victory but was surprised in the manner in which it came. Waldron was ready to adopt his brothers ‘Warrior’ nick name but got a chess match instead of a war.

“I will benefit from this fight with Brandon because he a tough guy who generally keeps coming forward and makes you work. I knew from day one I would need to be fit to fight and box when need be. However Brandon didn’t do what i expected. I was fired up for a war really from the beginning but it didn’t go that way. I was expecting him to come forward straight away swinging, but he tried to box me and he boxed well I must say.

“Brandon is heavy handed and one punch can change a fight but i think I just had too much for him on the night and I remained focused from start to finish. and thankfully I got my win and stuck to the game plan. Hopefully i can help him prepare for it as i said we were friends prior the fight and now its over so i hope we can remain that and help each other out for future fights.”

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By Jonny Stapleton

IRELAND’S latest boxing debutant starts his career as he means to go on next month- on a bumper, high profile and mouth watering fight menu.

Whilst other Irish newbie’s have been opening their slates on the encouragingly increasing number of small hall shows around the country, the Belfast fighter punches for pay for the first time on the same card as Carl Frampton, Paul McCloskey, Martin Lindsay and the like.
The fighter, who won a Commonwealth Games gold medal for Northern Ireland in Delhi 2010 along with double Olympian Paddy Barnes and current Prizefighter champ Eamonn O’Kane, debuts on Macthroom’s Judgement Day Card in the Odyssey Areana on September 22 and couldn’t be happier to trading leather on such a show.
“These are the kind of shows I want to be on, the bigger the better and with the kind of talent on it, im sure it will b great.” Gallagher told Irish-Boxing.com.  “It’s a brilliant show to be making my debut on. I get the chance to capture the attention of the public on a big show. Hopefully as time goes on I will move higher up the bill and in time I’ll  be topping shows like this.”

Gallagher’s opponent has yet to be confirmed and fact that has been reflected in his training.

“I haven’t got an opponent named yet but just getting prepared. I’ve been doing every type of training and have been getting excellent sparring so ill be ready for whatever comes my way,” he added before stressing he is open to fighting on any show as he tries to spread the Gallagher Gospel.

“I would fight on any show as I would like to get as many fights as I can. I want to fight regularly  and stay active so I can get up the rankings ladder.”

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As the new boxing season is about to get underway, quietly under the shadows of the mighty Matchroom boxing set up, two East Belfast promoters have locked horns and teamed up to establish Peace Promotions Belfast.

This is aptly named amidst the recent sectarianism crisis within the local boxing scene that has allegedly been brought to light. Alan Wilton & Mark Dunlop have a vision to once again unite the people of Northern Ireland as did boxing legend Barney Eastwood all those years ago, and in doing so rubbish all those claims of bigotry in the sport.Wilton & Dunlop have put together a team of the finest young talent the Province has to offer consisting of pugilist’s from all religious denominations under the Peace Promotions banner.

The first of their “Saturday Fight Night” series dubbed “The Boys are Back In Town” will be held on Saturday 8th September 2012 at the Holiday Inn on Belfast’s Ormeau Road. It is hoped the Fight Night series will be run every six weeks to eight weeks to give their increasing stable of fighter’s regular work.Tickets for this event have been priced at £30.00 ringside and £25.00 unreserved to make it accessible for all boxing fans for a night’s full entertainment of International Boxing with the added support of local singing sensation Jessica Hammond, famed as a finalist in the hit BBC1 Saturday night show The Voice.

Peace Promotions Belfast will also be supporting the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children.The bill which will include the big hitting Luke Wilton, East Belfast’s British ranked number 1 Flyweight , who will take on the Bugarian number 1 Galin Paunov over 6×3 minute rounds. This should be a good warm up test for Wilton’s soon to be released big title challenge on the Peace Promotions bumper fight night at the Ulster Hall on Saturday 13th October.

Ballyclare’s William Thompson is also looking to secure a shot at the Irish Light- Middleweight champion Lee Murtagh on the same night, should he overcome a tough English opponent in Liam Griffiths.Former West Belfast 19 year old amateur star James Tennyson from Poleglass makes is professional debut when he takes on the experienced Bulgarian veteran Fikret Remziev at  Super-Featherweight.East Belfast’s Light-Middleweight Mathew Wilton looks to improve his unbeaten record against England’s Gavin Putney.

Dublin’s exciting Super Middleweight Brendan Fitzpatrick is hoping to continue his climb through the rankings against Paul Morby of England.The second of legendary Belfast trainer John Breen’s charges, Shankill Road’s Marco McCullough looks to punch his way into the top ten of British Featherweight division with a win over Hyusein Hyuseinov of Bulgaria.

Doors open at 7.30pm For Tickets Tel. 02890 489287 email info@peacepromotionsbelfast.com

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By Paddy Appleton

Kiko Martinez seems to thrive off being a nemesis to Irish boxing, but have we already given him too many chances on this fantastic boxing island?

His misdemeanours to Irish boxing may be few and far between, but they are like asteroids when they arrive as we saw in last week’s controversial pulling out of his ‘Judgement Day’ card with Carl Frampton.

But this wasn’t Kiko’s first time of rubbing the Irish boxing public up the wrong way, as we had to watch and wince as he took Dublin’s EBU super-bantamweight champion Bernard Dunne to the cleaners in 2007.

We then had to watch in disgust a few months later as he completely disrespected one of the finest fighters to ever come out of Ireland when he came in over the weight against Wayne McCullough.

Martinez then proceeded to do nothing much when asked to try and lose some of the

Martinez failed to make weight for Pocket Rocket bout

weight to make sure the fight went ahead. Needless to say many were thinking what McCullough was – “Who does this guy think he is?”

And who does Martinez exactly think he is? It’s fair to say this seems to be a genuine injury having pulled out with tendonitis in his shoulder, but not everyone agrees and most of all Carl Frampton smells a rat.

“The first thing I said then was ‘his balls have gone again’ – and I don’t like to say it but I think it’s true.”

Carl Frampton on Martinez no-show

There are quite a few pundits and boxers alike who like to believe that Kiko is afraid of a challenge when it presents itself but not all believe that Martinez tends to split when the going gets tough.

Some believe that Martinez is a tough character to read whilst others believe that he is a wily athlete who won’t be bullied into doing what a promoter wants from him, which would explain a lot.

However, Matchroom and Eddie Hearn didn’t hang around and Barry McGuigan also did a fantastic job by reeling in an arguably better opponent, although Steve Molitor doesn’t have the household name appeal that Martinez did in Ireland.

Molitor will be a perfect yardstick of just how close or far away Frampton is from a legitimate world title shot, and the Tigers Bay fighter knows he needs to be on top form to dispose of The Canadian Kid.

Despite having drafted in an arguably better opponent, fans, the promoter, Carl and his manager are all frustrated at Kiko’s actions and the disruption his latest clanger has caused.

This is at least the second time Martinez has dropped out of a bout in acrimonious circumstances; whilst there is no doubt his quality is there, sometimes his lack of respect to the sport and his opponents let him down, you only need ask Wayne McCullough about that.

‘Mini Tyson’ is a skilled fighter that much is clear, but Carl Frampton won’t lose sleep over a lost opportunity.

Many believe Martinez should be stripped of his title as like Carl they see his injury as an excuse to duck one of the most dangerous talents in the super-bantamweight division, however it poses the question why would he have signed on to the fight in the first place?

Perhaps Martinez is not the great fighter many assume him to be though, as for all his quality within the ring he has never yet quite progressed beyond European level; perhaps he likes being a big fish in the proverbial small pond.

It’s clear that McGuigan and Hearn looked towards Kiko as a stepping stone, albeit a tough one, to a world title opportunity. However, a win over Molitor could fast-track that opportunity by a fight or two, such is his world level appeal.

Martinez may yet be stripped of his belts, and it would be just in this opinion as Carl Frampton has tried to make the fight happen on more than one occasion.

His latest withdrawal could be viewed as a direct attempt to unsettle the young Belfast star and try to derail his bid towards a world title fight in his upcoming bouts.

Thankfully Matchroom Promotions were able to produce an arguably even tougher fight to keep the Frampton train rolling.

Steve Molitor will prove a tough proposition for Carl Frampton and it is no-one’s fault but Kiko Martinez’s if Molitor happens to be facing the newly crowned EBU super-bantamweight champion in September.

Kiko’s had more than enough chances, the dogs in the street know that. It’s about time he is treated with the same disregard he dishes out seemingly regularly in Ireland.

Catch more of Paddy’s personal opinion on topics from boxing to motorcycling at The Irish Eye here: http://theirishmansport.wordpress.com/

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Johnny Nelson and the Ringside camera’s came to Belfast recently for an in dept discussion with Belfasts rising star Carl ‘The Jackal’ Frampton.

The Belfast fighter faces Steve Molitor on September 22, but took time out of training to talk with Nelson about his progress in the paid ranks.

click the link to watch the interview

http://www.skysports.com/tv_show/story/0,20144,19875_8012357_19875,00.html

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