BBC to replay Rogan-Skelton

03 March 2009 – Press Release

Martin Rogan’s sensational win over Matt Skelton to capture the Commonwealth Heavyweight Title will be replayed on Wednesday, March 4, on BBC 1 Northern Ireland.

Jim Neilly will describe the best of the action from a contest considered one of the best heavyweight bouts in more than a decade as part of a specially extended “Season Ticket” documentary – The Breen Team – about the gym where Rogan learned his trade.

The programme starts at 10:45pm on BBC 1 Northern Ireland.

The heavy-handed Belfast star hit the headlines with his amazing upset victory at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham where he stopped Skelton in the eleventh-round of a brutal and exciting fight.

Now fans who missed the action can see what Promoter Frank Warren has described as the best heavyweight fight he had seen in 15 years.

The 37-year-old’s fairytale story from Belfast cabbie to champion has captured the hearts of the public.

Although unbeaten, Rogan shot to prominence by winning the inaugural Prizefighter tournament last year and then really hit the big-time when he beat Olympic Champion Audley Harrison to set up his showdown against Skelton.

Rogan, who is now looking towards a glorious homecoming fight for the vacant European title in May, enthused: “It was absolutely tremendous to be involved in a fight like that and I’m so happy that it will be show again by BBC Northern Ireland for even more people to enjoy.

Skelton was a very hard man, the best I have been in with, but I said to myself there was no way I was going to lose this fight and I wanted to bring the title back home with me.

But it’s probably going to be more painful watching the fight the second time round!”