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Kofi Yates secures huge fight on Sky Sports

Light welterweight Kofi Yates [14(1)-2(0)] has been handed a huge chance with the announcement of a big Sky Sports fight next month.

The MGM fighter will take on home favourite Tommy Coyle [22(10)-4(2)] at the Hull Arena on Saturday February 25th.

Blood-and-guts boxer Coyle is a former BBBoC Central Area champion at lightweight and challenged for the Commonwealth belt before moving up and challenging for Tyrone Nurse’s British 140lbs crown, losing narrowly. The popular scrapper is a well-known fighter on Sky Sports having shared a rivalry with fellow Hull boy Luke Campbell.

Yates impressed when he fought on the Bellew-Makabu undercard at Goodison Park last year, losing a competitive battle with Tom Farrell. The Manchester-born boxer was wanted back by Matchroom to face prospect Charlie Flynn in Scotland only to see the fight fall through due to injury to the youngster.

The Arnie’s Gym fighter, a stablemate of Belfast’s Ciaran McVarnock, got a comeback win under his belt against Ibrar Riyaz and is approaching the biggest fight of his career, one described by Eddie Hearn as a “guaranteed war,” with confidence.

Headlining the bill next month is Gavin McDonnell, who fights Rey Vargas for the vacant WBC super bantamweight title, while local lad Luke Campbell will face Jairo Lopez.

Joe O’Neill and Gavan Casey look ahead to 2017 in episode 1 of The Irish Boxing Show

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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