The inaugural Lee Mcallister promoted LET BATTLE COMMENCE in association with PAPA JOHN’S PIZZA and NEON ENERGY DRINK that took place at the OYO Northern Hotel in Aberdeen back on the 18th July and broadcast live on FITE TV is now available in the United Kingdom Free to View on Sports Channel Network (SCN) on FreeView/YouView Channel 265.

The all action event was headlined by the return to the fray of lineal World Boxing Organization (WBO) Featherweight World Champion Scott Harrison versus Professional Boxing Council (PBC) International Lightweight Champion Paul Peers in a non-championship contest.

The main support features Orkney based 10 time Kickboxing World Champion Caitlin Foran making her professional boxing debut against Professional Boxing Council (PBC) International Bronze Champion in a non-championship contest.

The card also includes the exciting unbeaten Super Featherweight Lewis ‘Machine Gun’ Mulberry (4-0-0) in action against tough Nicaraguan Johnson Tellez.

Perth’s Adam Stewart (1-0-0) makes a welcome return to the ring after a three year sabbatical and goes toe to toe with Nicaragua’s Alexander Zeledon, who back in February beat Mancunian Prospect Dan Booth.

The opening fight of the night featured Aberdeen teenager Liam Allan making his professional debut against Puerto Rico’s Jose F Leon..

To watch LET BATTLE COMMENCE 1 tune in to Sports Channel Network (SCN) Channel 265 on YouView and Freeview in the UK.

LET BATTLE COMMENCE II, in association with PAPA JOHN’S PIZZA and NEON ENERGY DRINK, takes place at the Northern Hotel in Aberdeen and broadcast live and exclusive by FITE TV on Saturday 1ST AUGUST 2020.

The line-up for the 1st August is:

1) Lightweight 

PBC & WBU International Champion Nathan Beattie (10-4-0) has a seriously tough night ahead, when he steps in the ring with Nicaraguan Milton Arauz (10-3-1)

2) Super Flyweight 

A truly mouthwatering contest sees PBC International Bronze Champion Nicola Hopewell go toe to toe with exciting Tasha Boyes from York, who will be making her professional debut.

3) Middleweight 

Liverpool’s Scott Mcintyre (4-1-0) will take on the seriously tough Nicaraguan Wilmer Gonzalez (21-18-1), who just a few fights back KOd a well known WBF European and International Champ.

4) Super Featherweight 

Denny’s Kevin Traynor (2-0-0) will need to be at his best when he takes on the current International Masters Champion Pablo Narvaez from Nicaragua.

5) Heavyweight 

The final fight of the night will pit debutant against debutant as Craig Dick takes on Michael Bassett, both the big lads have stated they will be looking to make a big impression on the 1st August.

LET BATTLE COMMENCE II PPV on 1st August ($4.99) go to https://www.fite.tv/watch/let-battle-commence-beattie-arauz/2p7rq/

Last Saturday night boxing finally returned to Scotland, for the first time since the lockdown began in March, when six time, five division World Champion turned Promoter Lee Mcallister presented the first in a series of ten special events created for TV under the banner of ‘LET BATTLE COMMENCE’, in association with PAPA JOHN’S PIZZA and NEON ENERGY DRINK and Broadcast Live and Exclusive on FITE TV.

However it was under very different conditions to any pre-lockdown events, for a start there were no spectators or press in attendance, but those weren’t the only differences, not by a long shot.

The event featured a five contest card, each restricted to a maximum of six rounds, in order to comply with Government guidelines. 

The first fight of the night see 18 year old Heavyweight Liam Allan from Aberdeen make his professional debut against Puerto Rican Jose F Leon. 

The local youngster showed no sign of nerves and was aggressively taking the fight to his much more experienced opponent right from the opening bell. Leon though is no mug and used all his experience to good effect to prevent Allan from landing too many big solid shots in the first, however the youngster did land some fantastic shots and come to that more than enough to easily secure the round.

More of the same in the second, Allan’s mature approach, that belied his tender years, really came into play in the second and as the round progressed worked behind his superb jab to fashion some good openings, which he took without a second thought. Just about mid way through the  second round one such opening enabled the youngster to let rip with a massive shot that sent Leon to the deck. Leon made the count with seconds to go and boxing resumed, then with around 30 seconds of the round remaining Allan created another opening and once again let rip and landed a big shot to send Leon to the canvas for a second time, the tough Puerto Rican tried to make it to his feet again but just failed to make the count, official time of the stoppage was 2 minutes and 40 seconds.

Next up was a six rounder between Perth’s Adam Stewart (1-0-0) and late replacement Nicaraguan Alexander Zeledon (6-23-3) after original opponent Steve Sunners (4-0-0) had to withdraw due to injury.

Earlier this year Zeledon beat Manchester’s Dan Booth (4-1-0), so not an easy opponent, regardless of his negative record, for 25 year old Stewart who returned to the fray following a three year sabbatical.

What a cracking fight, both protagonists really were up for the fight, which I’m sure entertained those watching on TV around the world as much as it did myself ringside. The first three rounds were closely fought from start to finish as was most of the fourth, that was until about 25 second or so of the round remaining Stewart fired a massive Exocet to send the Nicaraguan to the deck, Zeledon was clearly in pain as he unsuccessfully tried to make it to his feet. Official time of stoppage 2 minutes and 40 seconds of the fourth round.

The third fight of the evening featured unbeaten Lewis Mulberry (3-0-0), from Essex, undertaking his first six rounder against Nicaraguan Johnson Tellez (10-53-5) 

What a great fight, in fact a very close contender for fight of the night, it was fast a furious all action war for virtually every second of each round. I’m sure those watching on TV were as enthralled with the action as much as myself, Mulberry’s ring name is “Machine Gun’ and believe me that is a most appropriate moniker, as the 19 year old peppered the body of his far more experienced opponent with fast and powerful left and rights at a mega rapid pace. After six scintillating all action rounds, Referee Edward Law’s scorecard read 60-54 in favour of the teen sensation Lewis Mulberry.

One of the most welcome features of the LET BATTLE COMMENCE series is that there is always at least one female fight on every card, and the fight selected for the opening show welcomed former 10 time World Kickboxing Champion, 20 year old Caitlin Foran from Orkney making her professional boxing debut, against late replacement Jaime Bates (1-0-0), who had take the fight with just four days notice following original opponent Carly Mackenzie having to withdraw after breaking two toes in a riding accident the weekend before.

The fight itself was fantastic to watch, both girls went for it right from the opening bell and throughout the entire contest, Foran secured the first three rounds, but round four see a reinvigorated Bates turn the tide and secure not only the fourth but also the fifth. Bates and her team knew she was in with a chance to get a draw and with her corner’s encouragement really piled on the pressure, Foran is ring savvy though and her excellent ringcraft prevented the ever forward moving Bates from landing too many scoring shots, the around the midway point Bates began to fade, leaving openings that the Orkney lass just couldn’t ignore, which proved just enough for Foran to secure the round and her first Professional Boxing win. Referee Edward Law’s official score being 58-56.

The fifth and final contest of the night featured the return of two time WBO Featherweight World Champion Scott Harrison (27-3-2) to the fray in a six rounder against current Professional Boxing Council (PBC) International Lightweight Champion Paul Peers (7-4-0).

Peers started hard and fast to dominate most of the first stanza, Harrison managed to shake some the ring rust off in the second, his movement and ringcraft, became more like those that we had come to know during his reign as Featherweight King, he began to get his distance spot on and not only prevented Peers from landing as many shots as he did in the first but was landing plenty of big shots of his own to secure the second round.

The third round was fantastic to watch as the two warriors went to war, but the writing was on the wall, Harrison was beginning to look more and more like the Scott Harrison who destroyed the likes of Manuel Medina and Michael Brodie back in the early noughties.

No surprise then that after about a minute or so of the round Harrison see an opening and let rip with a vicious hook to the lower rib to send Peers down. Have to admit I as shocked that Peers made it to his feet, but he did and went straight back to mixing it up with one the best Scottish fighters of all time as if nothing had happened, however the fight was destined to conclude shortly after when Harrison let rip with an almost identical rib-breaker to send Peers down for a second time. Official time of the stoppage 2 minutes and 7 seconds of the third round.

The PPV ($4.99) on FITE TV is still available and those in the UK will also be able to view the event free from Saturday 25th July on Sports Channel Network (Youview/Freeview Channel 265) 

The next event in the LET BATTLE COMMENCE series, in association with PAPA JOHN’S PIZZA and NEON ENERGY DRINK will take place on the 1st August 2020 and will be PPV ($4.99) broadcast live and exclusive on FITE TV at 8pm in the UK, 9pm in Europe, 4pm (EST) and 1pm (PST) in America. 

The card will be headlined by PBC International Lightweight Champion Nathan Beattie (10-4-0) versus Milton Arauz (10-3-1) 

Main support pits exciting Super Flyweight Nicola Hopewell (1-0-0) against debuting Tasha Boyes.

An intriguing battle will ensue when Scott McIntyre (4-1-0) goes toe to toe with Wilmer Gonzalez (21-18-1), as both lads are proven big punchers and to add further interest in September 2019 Gonzalez knocked out the World Boxing Foundation’s (WBF) then European and International Champion, who coincidently had fought beat Scott McIntyre six months earlier.

Denny’s Kevin Traynor (2-0-0) is also set for a Battle Royale when he faces Patras, Greece’s #1 Super Featherweight Paris Stavropoulos (2-1-0).

The opening fight of the night will see Aberdeen Heavyweight Craig Dick making his professional debut against fellow Debutant Brentwood’s Michael Bassett.

This coming Saturday former longtime World Boxing Organization (WBO) Featherweight World Champion Scott Harrison makes his long awaited return to the ring, when he faces Professional Boxing Council (PBC) International Champion Paul Peers in a non-championship contest on the PAPA JOHN’S PIZZA Presented LET BATTLE COMMENCE behind closed doors event at the Northern Hotel in Aberdeen, that will be broadcast live and exclusive on FITE TV 

Harrison’s three year domination of the WBO Featherweight Championship began in June 2002, with a sixth round stoppage victory over Victor Santiago for the Interim World Crown. Four months later Harrison secured the full World laurels with an unanimous points victory over Julio Pablo Chacon. 

On his first defence Harrison faced and beat Wayne McCullough comfortably on points In March 2003. Four months later he then faced Manuel Medina for the first time, losing by a split decision. With a rematch clause in place Harrison faced Medina once more, this time securing the World Crown for a second time with an eleventh round stoppage victory.

Three stoppage victories followed, over Walter Estrada, William Abelyan and Samuel Kebede, then in January 2005 Colombian Victor Polo not only went the distance but secured a draw against the ‘Real McCoy’.

2005 was a good year for Harrison, boxing wise, the Glasgow man securing a stoppage victory over Michael Brodie and solid points victory over Nedal Hussein.

In May 2006 Harrison pulled out of his next title defence, the media at the time stating he had been charged over an incident in a nightclub.

Harrison’s career was firmly on hold until 2012, following two jail sentences, but the tough Glaswegian eventually made his successful return to the fray in June 2012, when he stopped Gyorgy Mizsel to secure the International Masters Championship. Three months later Harrison secured a victory over Joe Elfidh.

In April 2014 Harrison unsuccessfully challenged Liam Walsh for the WBO International Lightweight title, then just weeks later it was announced that he had to return to Spain to complete his sentence following losing the appeal on the case.

Speaking from his home Harrison said: “I’m looking forward to my return to boxing and getting back to work and finishing the last chapter of my Boxing  career.

“I believe I can win another World title. Boxing is all about taking your opportunity’s and when it’s time to deliver, deliver. I have kept myself in good condition through the years training , roadwork sparring.

“I would like to thank Rio (BIBA VP Gianluca Di Caro) and BIBA for their continued support and for giving me the opportunity to fulfil a dream of becoming World Champion again and being able to earn a living for my Family. 

“I would also like to thank Lee McAllister and Assassin Promotions for their help and support and for organising this Boxing event through these unprecedented times of this Coronavirus Pandemic. 

“My opponent for this fight is Paul Peers he’s a decent opponent and seems up for the fight he has won some lost some but has had 3 good wins in his last 3 fights. 

“I wish him all the best but Boxing is all about levels and experience I believe it’s my destiny to become World Champion again trainings going well and I’m in tremendous condition and look forward to getting back to work and doing my job.“

Scott Harrison versus Paul Peers headlines the PAPA JOHN’S PIZZA Presented LET BATTLE COMMENCE behind closed doors event at the Northern Hotel in Aberdeen, that will be broadcast live and exclusive on FITE TV 

Main support sees ten time Kickboxing World Champion Caitlin Foran making her professional boxing debut against PBC International Silver Champion Jaime Bates.

The undercard also features unbeaten Lewis Mulberry (3-0-0) versus Nicaragua’s Johnson Tellez,  Liverpool’s unbeaten Steve Sunners (4-0-0) will be facing off against Perth’s Adam Stewart (1-0-0) and Aberdeen’s Liam Allan making his pro debut against Southend’s Dan Ballard.

The first event in the PAPA JOHN’S PIZZA presented LET BATTLE COMMENCE series takes place in Aberdeen on the 18th July 2020 and will be broadcast live on FITE.TV (worldwide) as well as delayed broadcast in the UK on Sports Channel Network (SCN) Channel 265 on Freeview/YouView.

For PPV purchases ($4.99) please go to https://www.fite.tv/watch/let-battle-commence-harrison-peers/2p7nh/