MTK win Paul Hyland v Liam Walsh British title purse bids
MTK Global won the purse bids for the right to promote the British lightweight title fight between Paul Hyland Jr [20(7)-2(2)] and Liam Walsh[23(15)-1(1)].
The BBBofC last month mandated the pair fight to fight for the same Lonsdale belt managerial stablemate James Tennyson defeated Gavin Gwynne to win on a Fight Camp card in August.
MTK, who manage Walsh and MHD Promotions, who look after the career of Hyland had until this week to reach an agreement or the fight would go to purse bids.
It appears negotiations hit a road block and purse bids were lodged today and MTK registered the winning amount.
PURSE BID WON ✅@MTKGlobal is pleased to announce that we have won the purse bid for the vacant British lightweight title fight between Liam Walsh and Paul Hyland Jnr.
— MTK Global 🌍 (@MTKGlobal) November 11, 2020
Date and venue to be announced soon. Fight set to take place early next year.#TeamMTKGlobal
There was talk Mark Dunlop had hoped to win the purse bid and put Hyland top of his proposed March 13 fight card.
Although having previously signed the Belfast fighter to a two fight deal and signing him to fight Terry Flanagan in Belfast in April, before the pandemic hit, it appears MTK see Hyland’s Belfast value.
They may use the fight to add serious weight to a Belfast return, if that becomes possible next year, meaning the former British and European title challenger may still have get home advantage.
Walsh hasn’t fought since November of last year when he defeated Maxi Hughes for the WBO European ranking title.
One of three boxing brothers, he is a former super featherweight British and Commonwealth champion. The 34-year-old’s only defeat has come against Gervonta Davis, who fights Leo Santa Cruz at the end of this month.
Interestingly Walsh’s brother Ryan defeated James Tennyson for the British featherweight title in April of 2016.
Hyland has British lightweight title previous, the Belfast fighter challenged Lewis Ritson for the strap in the summer of 2018, but was stopped by the Newcastle native.
The entertaining MHD fighter also recently challenged for the EBU European title coming out second best to Belgian Francesco Patera last winter.
