| IBF, WBC & WBO Light-Heavyweight Championship 12 x 3 Minute Rounds @175lbs Artur Beterbiev 12 stone 6 pounds 8 ounces Anthony Yarde 12 stone 6 pounds 4 ounces WBA Flyweight Championship 12 x 3 Minute Rounds @112lbs Artem Dalakian 7 stone 13 pounds 10 oz David Jimenez 7 stone 13 pounds 2 oz Vacant WBC International Light-Heavyweight contest 10 x 3 Minute Rounds @ 175lbs Karol Itauma 12 stone 6 pounds 2oz Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna 12 stone 6 pounds 11 oz 4 x 3-minute rounds International Heavyweight contest Moses Itauma 17 stone 12 pounds Marcel Bode 15 stone 10 pounds 6 x 3-minute rounds International Featherweight contest Umar Khan 9 stone 1 pound Sandeep Singh Bhatti 8 stone 13 pounds 4 ounces 6 x 3-minute rounds International Super-Featherweight contest Charles Frankham 9 stone 6 pounds 6 ounces Joshua Ocampo 9 stone 2 pounds 2 ounces 6 x 3-minute rounds welterweight contest Joshua Frankham 11 stone 8 ounces Joe Hardy 11 stone 1 pound 5 ounces 6 x 3-minute rounds International welterweight contest Sean Noakes 10 stone 6 pounds 4 ounces Santiago Garces 10 stone 4 pounds 2 ounces 6 x 3-minute rounds International Super-welterweight contest Khalid Ali 10 stone 13 pounds Ivica Gogosevic 10 stone 10 pounds 10 ounces 6 x 3-minute rounds International Featherweight contest Masood Abdullah 9 stone 6 pounds Lesther Lara 9 stone 6 pounds 10 ounces 6 x 3-minute rounds Cruiserweight contest Tommy Fletcher 14 stone 3 pounds 6 ounces Darryl Sharp 13 stone 6 pounds 8 ounces |
Month: January 2023
BETERBIEV VS YARDE WEIGH-IN RESULTS
| IBF, WBC & WBO Light-Heavyweight Championship 12 x 3 Minute Rounds @175lbs Artur Beterbiev 12 stone 6 pounds 8 ounces Anthony Yarde 12 stone 6 pounds 4 ounces WBA Flyweight Championship 12 x 3 Minute Rounds @112lbs Artem Dalakian 7 stone 13 pounds 10 oz David Jimenez 7 stone 13 pounds 2 oz Vacant WBC International Light-Heavyweight contest 10 x 3 Minute Rounds @ 175lbs Karol Itauma 12 stone 6 pounds 2oz Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna 12 stone 6 pounds 11 oz 4 x 3-minute rounds International Heavyweight contest Moses Itauma 17 stone 12 pounds Marcel Bode 15 stone 10 pounds 6 x 3-minute rounds International Featherweight contest Umar Khan 9 stone 1 pound Sandeep Singh Bhatti 8 stone 13 pounds 4 ounces 6 x 3-minute rounds International Super-Featherweight contest Charles Frankham 9 stone 6 pounds 6 ounces Joshua Ocampo 9 stone 2 pounds 2 ounces 6 x 3-minute rounds welterweight contest Joshua Frankham 11 stone 8 ounces Joe Hardy 11 stone 1 pound 5 ounces 6 x 3-minute rounds International welterweight contest Sean Noakes 10 stone 6 pounds 4 ounces Santiago Garces 10 stone 4 pounds 2 ounces 6 x 3-minute rounds International Super-welterweight contest Khalid Ali 10 stone 13 pounds Ivica Gogosevic 10 stone 10 pounds 10 ounces 6 x 3-minute rounds International Featherweight contest Masood Abdullah 9 stone 6 pounds Lesther Lara 9 stone 6 pounds 10 ounces 6 x 3-minute rounds Cruiserweight contest Tommy Fletcher 14 stone 3 pounds 6 ounces Darryl Sharp 13 stone 6 pounds 8 ounces |
BETERBIEV VS YARDE PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
| UNIFIED WORLD LIGHT heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev and his challenger Anthony Yarde met the media for the final time today ahead of their highly-anticipated showdown at the OVO Arena, Wembley on Saturday. Yarde and Beterbiev were joined by their Hall of Fame promoters – Frank Warren and Bob Arum – and a selection of key quotes from the event are below. Frank Warren “38 years ago this month we (Bob Arum) did Don Curry v Colin Jones in Birmingham and that was the first world title fight we did together. Look at this, 38 years later, we are delivering between us a fight between two big punching fighters who can box as well and this is going to be something really special. We welcome Artur and his team coming over to defend his titles and I just feel we are in for something extremely special on the night. As a boxing fan, I can’t wait to see it. It is going to be a real bust-up. “Anthony was brought to my attention by Tunde, a friend of long years, as an amateur and he was setting the scene alight. I liked what I saw and, when I met him, I thought he was an extremely nice young man. He’s worked very hard to get where he has considering the experience he had. He doesn’t shy away from anything, any fights we’ve wanted to make, he doesn’t care who it is. He didn’t shy away when we made the first world title fight for him against Kovalev in Russia and it was a fight he should have truly won. It tells you a lot about him that he was prepared to go there to the other guy’s backyard. He went out there and it was brilliant how he performed, he was so close to winning that title. “I think he learned a lot from that, I think the whole team learned a lot from that fight and I genuinely believe he has the tools to create what the bookmakers will say will be an upset. He’s got the composure, he can box, he’s got fast movement and, more importantly, he can punch. I think he can match Artur in the punching department. Artur has the best record of any champion in the world at the moment. “So I think it will be an outstanding fight and I really thank Bob, along with Top Rank and team, for helping to make this happen and get this fight in this country.” Bob Arum “I am feeling pretty good. There are fighters today who are known for their power. The two heavyweights particularly, Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder, the lighter weight guys like Inoue and Terence Crawford, but I think pound-for-pound the biggest puncher in boxing today is the guy on my right. He has knocked out every opponent who has been put in front of him, not because he is not a good boxer, because he is, but he also has that magic that you can’t really train a fighter for. It is instinctive, the ability to punch and knock out an opponent. “So I am very happy to be here. I know Anthony Yarde, I’ve followed him and he is a terrific fighter, also with a big punch. This should be a very, very exciting kind of fight. How the fight plays out a lot depends on Anthony, if he is going to go out and fight Artur like Joe Smith did, the fight will end early. If he boxes a bit with Artur the fight will end in the middle to late rounds. “With all due respect to Yarde, Artur I believe will emerge the winner. It is no problem coming here, I have been around this game a long time and the big test for me was when Artur fought Smith because we did that fight in New York where Smith has a tremendous following. They cheered and they yelled and they screamed and what did that do? It incentivised Smith to take the fight to Artur. That was a big mistake because he knocked out Smith in two rounds. “Hopefully Yarde will be excited by his fans, will go after Beterbiev and the fight will be over in a few rounds rather than more.” Anthony Yarde “I am excited. It is a good feeling, it is part of my journey and I am happy to be here. Everyone knows what kind of character I am, I am very calm and I jump at opportunities. Sometimes you go through things on your journey to strengthen you and you go through certain things on your journey to prepare you as well. That is what I keep saying, I am so excited. “For my first world title fight I was very green, I was 18 fights in and a big novice in the sport. I just had something and it was heart. I went out to Russia, it was a very different experience and a lot of things happened leading up to the fight, but I’ve got the mentality of once you get in the ring, you will see. “It doesn’t matter now, my preparation is different now and I have learned since then as well. I am a different type of fighter with different life experiences. I am ready for Saturday. “I feel like I am always smiling. I am happy to be alive, happy to be at this stage of my life as well. Being an underdog, overdog or middle dog don’t matter to me. I am a dog. When I get in that ring and start throwing my hands about, everyone knows what I can be like. If being an underdog does anything to me it is to give me that little push, that little urge. “He has done a lot in the sport and that is why he should be respected. When we get in the ring there is no respect and you try and take the respect away from your opponent.” Artur Beterbiev “I feel good. I hope on January 28 I will change a little bit (to turn into a monster). I said he looks like a bodybuilder because of his muscles. I don’t have this muscle and I didn’t say it to mean anything bad. I said it because he looks strong! “In our camp we always try to be ready for different scenarios. If it is a tough fight we are going to be ready, we will be ready for whatever. I just try to do my best.” |
YARDE RULES OUT GOING GUNG-HO
| WHILE ANTHONY YARDE is promising to bring fire and brimstone to his unified world title challenge against Artur Beterbiev on January 28, live on BT Sport, he insists he has no intention of neglecting the basics when it comes to doing so. The big-hitting Londoner has previously stated that planned long-distance travel in fights is not really his thing and that the unbeaten Beterbiev can expect an onslaught at the OVO Arena, Wembley. However, the 31-year-old light heavyweight contender has never been simply a crash, bang, wallop merchant. There is much more to his game than that. He works off a hurtful jab and picks his spots before detonating any bombs. So don’t just expect him to just charge across the canvas on his night of destiny in North West London. “How often do you see someone just go in there swinging?” asked the man with 22 KOs to his name from 23 wins as pro. “All the biggest knockout punchers, like GGG, he didn’t go in just hitting and trying to knock people out, he had a tactical approach. “He’s got an excellent jab and used to wear down his opponents. “Mike Tyson. People call him a brawler. Disrespectfully, for years. Only now people are starting to see the more technical side of his boxing and are saying this guy was a masterful counter-puncher. “Even early in your career when you are fighting people you are ‘meant to beat’, you find prospects struggling with these guys because you don’t just go in and knock someone out. It doesn’t work like that. It is boxing, it is an art. “You’ve got to pick someone apart and then land the shots. I said this early on, my thing is I am a powerful, accurate puncher. I find the shot and, when I find it and land it, people are going to feel it.” Yarde has done his best to resist sweeping change to his style as he climbed the levels in the pro ranks. Fighters, quite naturally, adapt their game plans as the danger increases, but the key, according to the Ilford man, is not changing in response to credentials being doubted from the outside. “It is a mixture because, in my mind, I said I don’t want to run into the unknown. But, at the same time, I don’t want to have somebody else’s career. That is what happens in boxing and people are telling you, you should be doing this, you should be doing that. “If I listened to everyone that was saying things I would not be where I am today. When I started boxing people said all sorts of things until I would do it. “It is a compromise, you can’t please everybody, in boxing or any sport, really. “When Mike Tyson was knocking out everybody, I remember watching one of his fights with the commentary on and they said that people were starting to say he was fighting nobodies. People are always going to have something to say. “Then when he went 10 rounds they said he was not the real deal, after all. So you can’t win. If you go 10, win every round and don’t get hit, they say the guy you fought was nothing, but he didn’t knock him out like we wanted to see. When you do get the stoppage, some people say you knocked him out too early, ‘what is he learning from that?’. “He is learning how to knock someone out! That is what he’s doing. “That is my thing as well, the more I knock people out, the more I have learned how to do it in different ways. That is the way I see it.” Tickets for Beterbiev vs Yarde are priced from £50 and are available from AXS.comand Ticketmaster.co.uk. Artur Beterbiev v Anthony Yarde for the WBC, WBO and IBF world light heavyweight titles takes place at the OVO Arena, Wembley on January 28, live on BT Sport. The bumper card also features the WBA world flyweight title fight between unbeaten fighters Artem Dalakian v David Jiminez. Willy Hutchinson and Karol Itauma fight for the WBO Intercontinental and WBC International light heavyweight titles respectively, with the show also featuring top prospects Charles Frankham, Umar Khan, Sean Noakes, Joshua Frankham, Khalid Ali and Tommy Fletcher. The show also features the highly-anticipated professional debut of World Youth Champion Moses Itama. |
HEANEY AND FLATLEY SET FOR TELFORD REMATCH – CAIN TAKES ON BALUTA
| NATHAN HEANEY WILL rematch Jack Flatley with the vacant WBA Continental middleweight title at stake and Andrew Cain will defend his WBC International Silver super bantamweight title against Ionut Baluta when Queensberry make a return to the Telford International Centre on Saturday March 25, live on BT Sport. Stoke hero Heaney (16-0, 6 KOs) and Bolton man Flatley (20-3-1, 4) shared five rounds of action at the AO Arena in Manchester back in September of last year on the undercard of the Joe Joyce-Joseph Parker heavyweight collision. What appeared to be a close run affair was aborted in the fifth round on the advice of the doctor following a head clash that left Heaney with a severe cut above his right eye. The fight went to the scorecards and Heaney was judged to have been ahead by all three judges. Liverpool KO-artist Cain (10-0, 9) won his belt via a first-round stoppage of Pablo Ariel Gomez in Telford last April before defending at York Hall against Luis Moreno with the same outcome. A shoulder injury ruled the 26-year-old out of November action but he is set to go again against his toughest opponent to date in Baluta (15-4, 4), the Romanian based in Bushey. A winner over Irish world champion and Olympian, TJ Doheny and David Oliver Joyce respectively, Baluta went on to fight a close run thing with Michael Conlan before winning the WBC International title by defeating Brad Foster in May of last year. He then challenged for the vacant European title against Liam Davies in November, with the Telford man prevailing over 12 rounds. The night that will also see the return of former European super bantamweight champion Jason Cunningham (31-7, 7) to the ring. “I am really looking forward to it and I suppose it will be dubbed ‘unfinished business’,” said the 33-year-old Hitman Heaney. “There are questions that need answers, with them thinking they were going to beat me in the last fight and me believing the complete opposite. “I am training hard and looking forward to being back in Telford with a great crowd,” added Heaney, who explained that his apparent unwillingness over the prospect of a rematch on social media in the days after the original fight was due to a feeling of being railroaded by Flatley’s team. “No, that is not the case. Once people try to force my hand into doing something I immediately think I want nothing to do with them. It was his second and others popping up saying things and, for me, once that happens, I have zero interest in people. “But, after speaking to George (Warren) it is an interesting fight and when it is on our terms rather than theirs, that is when I become interested. When people try to force it, it doesn’t interest me at all, but now I am right up for it.” Former English super welterweight champion and European title challenger Flatley, added: “I’m made up and this fight is what I wanted after how it ended last time. I felt like I was getting into the fight, and it ended like it did, so I am buzzing it has been made again. “Being honest, it was close, and I thought it was 50-50 when it got stopped. I’m not saying I was in front, but they had him winning every round. “I didn’t think this fight was going to happen again and I don’t think, deep down, Nathan really wants it. He pretty much said on social media that he wasn’t going to fight me, so I am quite surprised, but made up it is happening. “I don’t know why he has changed his mind and I feel like he might have been pushed into it, or he might have felt pressured by what’s gone on social media and stuff. I don’t know the reason, but I don’t really believe he fully wants to have the fight. “I think there could probably be an easier option than me, although I’m not saying I’m a world-beater. I want to beat Nathan and then possibly be looking for a shot at the British title after that.” The 33-year-old Cunningham’s winning run at the weight was ended by Zolani Tete at Wembley in July of last year and Cunningham now gets back on the title trail with a fight for the vacant WBO Intercontinental super bantamweight championship. Cunningham was originally set to attempt to reclaim his European title from Liam Davies, but injury to the Telford man means the fight is now subject to delay. Also on the card, Raven Chapman (5-0, 2) will make a first defence of the WBC International featherweight title she won by defeating Jorgelina Guanini in Manchester back in September. The Omen will take on the Czech Lucie Sedlackova (15-1-1, 6) in Telford. Heavyweight star of the future Moses Itauma will have his second professional fight over four rounds, while Liverpool super bantam Brad Strand (9-0, 3) will hit double figures as a pro with an eight-round assignment. “Settling the score with Jack Flatley is the right fight for Nathan Heaney and I think we can expect fireworks on the night,” said promoter Frank Warren. “When you have an unsatisfactory ending for both parties in an entertaining fight it is always best to do a rematch in the hope of a conclusive finish. “Jack’s and his team will fancy the job, while Nathan needs to maintain his winning streak in order to realise his dream of fighting for a major title at Stoke City FC. This fight will deliver the goods and I am looking forward to the atmosphere created by the best crowd in boxing. “I think we have got a humdinger of a fight in prospect when Andrew Cain takes on Ionut Baluta. Andrew comes in off two spectacular first round stoppages and if he can stop Baluta it will send shockwaves across the division. I am also excited to see Andrew’s teammate Brad Strand move towards title contention in what will be his 10th fight as a pro. “Unfortunately, Jason Cunningham’s attempt to regain the European title is delayed due to injury to Liam Davies, but Jason gets the opportunity to put himself firmly back in the mix with a fight for the WBA Continental super bantamweight title. “Barring any mishaps or injuries on January 28, the fans in Telford will also be treated to seeing the second professional fight of future heavyweight champion Moses Itauma.” Midlands Area welterweight champion Owen Cooper (7-0, 2) from Worcester will be in eight-round action, Telford super lightweight Macaulay Owen (5-0, 1) will fight over six. While Natty Ngwenya (1-0) makes his Queensberry bow in a four-rounder, Ilkeston super welterweight Jimmy Smith will make his professional debut over four rounds. Tickets for Heaney vs Flatley and Cain vs Baluta at the Telford International Centre on Saturday March 25 go on sale at 11am on Tuesday January 31 available from Ticketmaster.co.uk. |
APBC Cut/Cornerman Course Set for 18th February 2023 in Worksop, Notts.
APBC Cut/Cornerman Course Set for 18th February 2023 in Worksop, Notts.
The British & Irish Boxing Authority (BIBA) have arranged an Association of Professional Boxing Commissions (APBC) Certified Corner/Cutman Course, at the Stanley Street Sports and Social Club in Worksop, Nottinghamshire on Saturday 18th February 2023, that is essential for all Coaches and Cornermen.
ALL Coaches are welcome, as these courses are essential for all coaches in our sport whether Pro, Amateur or Unlicensed.
The Cut/Cornerman course covers all aspects from weigh-in to post fight.
Subjects covered:
- Duty of Care
- Head Trauma Signs & Symptoms
- Coaches/Cornermen/Cutman Responsibilities
- Cutman’s Tools of the Trade
- Professional Hand Bandaging
- Weight Cutting and Weigh-in
- Working the Corner – Contest and Sparring
- Types of Injuries and Rules Pertaining to Injuries.
- Corner Treatment of Bruising, Swellings and Cuts
- Post Fight
The Course will take place at Stanley Street Sports and Social Club in Worksop, Nottinghamshire on Saturday 18th February 2023
Times and fees for the course are:
1pm to 5pm – Cornerman/Cutman Course – £105 per person
Photo ID as well as a Passport-Size Head & Shoulders Photo for Certification are required, so please bring with you on the day.
To register: Call/Text/WhatsApp: +44 (0)7789 364702 – e.mail: admin@boxbiba.com or office@apbcboxing.com
Download Registration form here:
https://boxbiba.com/CutmanCourseRegistration18thFebruary2023Worksop.pdf
The course takes place on Saturday 18th February 2023 between 1pm – 5pm at:
Stanley Street Sports & Social Club
2 Stanley Street
Worksop
Nottinghamshire S81 7HX
United Kingdom
#BIBAChangingBoxingForGood
Distinguished Professor Brad Donohue Joins BIBA Medical Advisory Board
Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in the United States, Brad Donohue, BA, Ph.D., has been appointed to the British & Irish Boxing Authority (BIBA) Medical Advisory Board.
Having experience as a national amateur boxing champion in the U.S., Dr. Donohue is known internationally for his work developing the first sport-specific psychological assessment screens and interventions for athletes’ mental health and performance (clinical trials funded by NIH/NIDA in the U.S.)
Upon his appointment Dr. Donohue said, “I’m extremely honoured to be appointed to this very prestigious Board.
“Professor Michael Graham, Mr. Gianluca Di Caro and Mr. Chris Wardrope have assembled an impeccable Board of luminaries who have established hallmark strategies safeguarding boxers.
“I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and get to work optimising the mental and physical health of BIBA boxers.”
BIBA Vice President Gianluca Di Caro added, “it is a true honour to have Dr Donohue join our team, .he is exceptionally qualified, as are all BIBA Medical Advisory Board members, and of course being a former boxer really gives him an unequalled insight of the boxer’s psyche, as is clear when you read his published papers.
“Dr Donohue joins fellow highly qualified specialists on our esteemed Medical Advisory Board headed by Chief Medical Officer: Professor M.R. Graham and includes Chief Consultant Surgeon: Mr Ken Park, Regional Chief Physiotherapy Officer : Mark Heffernan, Regional CMO (England): Professor Bruce Davies, Regional CMO (Scotland): Professor Julian S Baker, Deputy Regional CMO (Scotland): Dr. Rajeev McCrea-Routray, Regional CMO (Wales) Dr. John Pates,
Regional CMO (Southern Region) Dr. Yousef Rashid and Chief Medical Officer (Malta) Dr. Mark Xuereb.
“Dr Donohue’s experience and knowledge can only help BIBA raise the bar even higher, Health & Safety and Boxer Mental Wellness wise.
“BIBA are already the indisputable industry leader, with regard to boxer Health & Safety.
“Following three major life changing injuries and one fatality on BBBofC sanctioned, not BIBA sanctioned, professional boxing events in the UK in 2016, the BIBA board decided it was time for additional procedures in an attempt to try and reduce further bleed to the brain injuries.
“The following year we recruited leading head injury specialist and forensic scientist Professor Graham to the BIBA Medical Committee, as well as became the first boxing commission world-wide to introduce the potentially life saving Infra-scanners ringside at our events.
“In addition to introducing Infra-Scanners, we also introduced further Health & Safety Initiatives, including Rehydration Drinks authorised for contest of eight rounds and more, as well as making it mandatory that all BIBA officials are fully trained on Head Trauma Signs & Symptoms Awareness.
“The Head Trauma Signs & Symptoms Awareness initiative has now been extended and all APBC Accredited courses run by our team, whether Referee/Judge, Supervisor/Inspector or Cut/Cornerman, include not only Head Trauma Signs & Symptoms but also Duty of Care
“It is our belief that it is essential that in order to be able to deliver the highest levels of duty of care to competing boxers on events sanctioned by ourselves that the officials in the ring and ringside, as well as those in the corner of boxers when competing, are aware of the signs of possible head trauma.
“When combined with other BIBA initiatives, such as Infra-Scanners ringside, Rehydration Drinks, Weight-Cutting monitoring etc. we believe that these initiatives will ensure that those that compete on BIBA sanctioned events are receiving the highest possible levels of care, within the sport.
“Dr Donohue’s timing couldn’t be better, as later this month we will be announcing the introduction a new bit of kit, an advanced medical process for the treatment of head trauma injuries within sport, this will be a game changer, not just for Boxing, but all sports where head injuries occur.
“I look forward to working closely with Dr Donohue, and of course all our established Medical Advisory team, on this exciting life changing project as well in relation to the development of further Health & Safety and Boxer Mental Wellness initiatives for the boxers and our beloved sport.”
#BIBAChangingBoxingForGood
Beterbiev Shrugs Off Yarde’s Usyk Assistance Talk
ARTUR BETERBIEV OFFERED up a nonchalant response when questioned over his former amateur rival providing some words of advice to his forthcoming opponent Anthony Yarde ahead of the world light heavyweight title clash at the OVO Arena, Wembley on January 28.
British challenger Yarde was perched next to the unified heavyweight champion Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December while Tyson Fury was quashing the threat of his old rival Derek Chisora.
He claimed the Ukrainian gave him some tips on how to go about taking on the formidable Canadian-based Russian.
Beterbiev was edged out by Usyk at both the 2011 World Championship and the 2012 London Olympics.
“I don’t know,” said the 37-year-old Beterbiev with a chuckle when asked if a few pearls of wisdom from Usyk would help Yarde in his quest to part him from the WBC, WBO and IBF world title belts.
“If it helps him, then good for him. What can Usyk give him?
“It was suggested that Usyk could impart the benefit of experience from fighting him.
“And?” said a still smiling Beterbiev, who was a little bit more forthcoming when it came to explaining why, when he stepped up to light heavyweight, Canelo Alvarez opted to challenge Dmitrii Bivol for one world title belt, rather than himself for two, at the time.
“Why do you think? You need to ask Canelo, not me. How can I answer this one? If it was a fight that came to me I would take it, but I am not dreaming about this fight.”
Artur Beterbiev v Anthony Yarde for the WBC, WBO and IBF world light heavyweight titles takes place at the OVO Arena, Wembley on January 28, live on BT Sport.
The bumper card also features the WBA world flyweight title fight between unbeaten fighters Artem Dalakian v David Jiminez.
Willy Hutchinson and Karol Itauma fight for the WBO Intercontinental and WBC International light heavyweight titles respectively, with the show also featuring top prospects Charles Frankham, Umar Khan, Sean Noakes, Joshua Frankham, Khalid Ali and Tommy Fletcher.
The show also features the highly-anticipated professional debut of World Youth Champion Moses Itama.Tickets for Beterbiev vs Yarde are priced from £50 and are available from AXS.comand Ticketmaster.co.uk.
Six-time National Champion Maiseyrose Courtney becomes latest Matchroom Signing
| Eltham Flyweight prospect and former amateur standout Maiseyrose Courtney has signed a multi-fight promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing. The 22-year-old South Londoner made a winning start to her professional career by comfortably outpointing Hungary’s Judit Hackbold over four rounds on the undercard of Katie Taylor’s Undisputed Lightweight World Title defence against Karen Elizabeth Carabajal at the OVO Arena in Wembley last October. Courtney, who is the first female boxer to train out of the Matchroom Boxing Elite Gym in Essex, started boxing at just eight-years-old and went on to represent the famous Repton Boxing Club, winning six National Titles and fighting her way into the Team England set-up. Trained by Tony Sims and Kevin Mitchell, Courtney joins a thriving Matchroom stable boasting some of the very best female fighters on the planet including Ireland’s Undisputed Queen Taylor, Undisputed Super-Lightweight ruler Chantelle Cameron and Unified Super-Featherweight Champion Alycia Baumgardner. “It’s a dream come true to have signed a deal with Matchroom Boxing,” said Courtney. “From walking into the Matchroom Elite Gym a year ago and becoming Tony Sims’ and Kevin Mitchell’s first female fighter, to making my debut on Katie Taylor’s undercard and now this, it’s been an incredible few months. “Now it’s time to repay the faith that Eddie, Tony and Kevin have shown in me. In 2023 I’m going to show the world why I believe I’m one of the most exciting female fighters around. “I’ve been boxing my whole life, mixed it with some of the best boxers across the country and now finally I’ve got the right team in place to help build me into the World Champion I know I will become.””I’m delighted to welcome 1-0 Eltham Flyweight talent Maiseyrose Courtney to the Matchroom Boxing team,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “Maiseyrose has lived and breathed boxing since she was a child and she has huge ambitions in the sport. Her achievements in the amateurs speak for themselves and I believe she will enjoy even more success in the professional ranks under the guidance of Tony Sims and Kevin Mitchell. I was really impressed with her debut performance on such a big stage right ahead of Irish legend Katie Taylor’s last defence of her Undisputed World Title and she looks like she’s made for the big stage. I look forward to guiding her throughout her career.” You can follow Courtney’s journey on Instagram: _maiseyrose and Twitter: @Maiseyrose1 |
Yarde Ready for Beterbiev
ANTHONY YARDE DISCOVERED in just his second amateur fight that playing for points and attempting to impress the judges is not for him.
Yarde, of course, is set for a second tilt at world title glory when he takes on the unbeaten unified champion Artur Beterbiev at the OVO Arena, Wembley on January 28, live on BT Sport, having overcome professional setbacks against Sergey Kovalev and Lyndon Arthur.
The self-styled ‘Beast from the East’ of the capital famously enjoyed limited amateur experience of just 12 fights before blasting onto the pro scene back in 2015. It meant he was not moulded into a textbook light heavyweight or took onboard too many amateur traits that required drilling out of him.
In fact, he flatly refused requests from his amateur coach Tony Cesay to adopt a more patient approach to his work, which resulted in him having only the dozen unpaid fights.
“It was the timeframe as well, I started boxing late,” added Yarde, now 31. “I had my first amateur fight when I was 19, I got into boxing at 18 and I didn’t have no junior bouts, no schoolboys, just straight into adult boxing.
“I think Tunde (trainer/manager, Ajayi) would agree with this. When I met Tunde I had a style-base already, based on people I had watched, people I wanted to mimic or re-mix. I feel like Tunde helped me evolve my boxing skill as I was very powerful.
“As an amateur I trained with Tony Cesay up until around seven fights in and, even as a professional, he used to come and join some of our sessions as well. From when I started boxing Tony used to say to me ‘you are sitting on your shots too much, you’re being flat-footed, you need to be in and out. Yes, you are powerful, but you need to be in and out, in and out’.
“I replied to him saying ‘Tone, I want to be a great professional boxer, not a good amateur. I know what you are saying, but I’ve got a plan in my head. I’m going to knock out everybody’.
“He said I couldn’t do that because I wouldn’t get any fights. In my first fight I knocked the guy out – we are friends now – then I couldn’t get a fight for three months. Tony said, ‘You see, because of your physique, the way you look, and you knocked out somebody, no-one wants to fight you’.
“So, in the second fight I boxed the guy. I still won, it was clear I won, Ohara Davies was there shouting the place down and, when they announced the other guy as the winner, he had a bloody nose, a bruised eye… They gave him the decision on their show, an army show, and afterwards the guy came into my changing room and tried to give me his medal, saying ‘you won that’.
“I said to keep it because now I was upset. If I got no fights, I got no fights, and after that I knocked out everyone I fought in the amateurs. So, I always wanted to have that great professional boxing style.”
And therein lies the lesson. Playing the longer game is not for him.Yarde admits that he listened to the doubters who questioned whether he could go the full 12 rounds ahead of his maiden world title challenge against the long-standing Russian champion.
Against his better judgement, he bided his time and did the same thing when he first came up against Lyndon Arthur.
The spectacular outcome of the rematch with Arthur demonstrated which method of boxing works for Yarde and it isn’t a cagey, calculated approach.
“Fact. That is what I’m trying to say. I don’t think it is to do with anyone but myself. I had a mindset when I started boxing and, the second I tried to change it or listen to people asking if I could go 12 rounds, I went away from what I knew.
“I know why the Kovalev fight didn’t go my way, I know why the fight didn’t go my way in the amateurs, I know why they gave the decision to Lyndon Arthur in the first fight.
“When all these things happened, it was when I went against my natural instinct and what I said I was going to do from the beginning.
“After that first fight with Lyndon Arthur I said ‘no more games, I know exactly what I’m going to do. And I’m going to do it’.”It is like back to the future.”
Artur Beterbiev v Anthony Yarde for the WBC, WBO and IBF world light heavyweight titles takes place at the OVO Arena, Wembley on January 28, live on BT Sport.
The bumper card also features the WBA world flyweight title fight between unbeaten fighters Artem Dalakian v David Jiminez.Willy Hutchinson and Karol Itauma fight for the WBO Intercontinental and WBC International light heavyweight titles respectively, with the show also featuring top prospects Charles Frankham, Umar Khan, Sean Noakes, Joshua Frankham, Khalid Ali and Tommy Fletcher.
Tickets for Beterbiev vs Yarde are priced from £50 and are available from AXS.comand Ticketmaster.co.uk.
