Macklin - Martinez has had his day

Matthew Macklin intends on making his opponent feel every day of his 37 years tomorrow night.

The brick-fisted Brummie challengers pound-for-pounder Sergio Martinez for the WBC Diamond middleweight title and the right to be called the best middleweight on the planet at New York's Madison Square Garden on Saturday evening [March 17].

Though many are tipping the Argentinian to know too much and register his 49th professional victory in 53 [two draws and 27 stoppages], Macklin plans on making his opponent, who stopped ex-British, Commonwealth and European boss Darren Barker last time out, use those 37-year-old legs.

Former British and two-time continental champion Macklin had his first amateur contest on St Patrick's Day in 1994 and, 18 years later, stands on the precipice of greatness. The Irish-rooted West Midlander controversial lost in a challenge for the WBA title in Germany last summer, conceding a 12-round split to Felix Sturm, in a fight the majority had him winning.

But the 29-year-old is insistent that everything happens for a reason and that the long, hard road, including a heavy knockout loss to Jamie Moore in a British 11st title challenge in 2006, will be worth it after the 36-minute bout with the Californian-based southpaw.

"It's been a long road to get here," began the ardent Birmingham City supporter from Solihull, 28-3 (19). "I've won Irish, British and European titles - and got stiffed out of winning the WBA world title against Felix Sturm last summer. But everything happens for reason and that performance brought me here, to face the best in the division.

"Since i started boxing on St Patrick's Day in 1994, at the Grand Hotel in Birmingham, I've always believed i could go all the way in the sport. On Saturday i get the chance to do that but also to beat not only the best middleweight on earth but one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in any weight division.

"Every dog has his day but he is 37 years old and i'm going to make him feel every single day of those. There will be, without doubt, a new world middleweight champion by Sunday morning," he roared.

Image courtesy of Ed Diller/ DiBella Entertainment.

Al Harbi - I'm several levels above Ball

Nasser Al Harbi believes Jamie Ball will be taught a lesson on the levels they're currently operating at.

The unbeaten all-Midlands pair clash in a ten-rounder, on a solid-looking Dave Coldwell-promoted bill at Birmingham's New Bingley Hall tomorrow evening [March 16], for the right to challenge Erik Ochieng for his English light-middleweight title.

But smooth-boxing Al Harbi [pictured] is adamant that he'll be too talented for the reigning Midlands Area 11st champion from Coseley, who has just a solitary draw [against tough Telford trier Kieron Gray for the vacant Area belt in 2010] against 13 professional victories [four stoppages].

Trained by his father, Naji, the fleet-footed 22-year-old WBC Asia Council Continental boss is looking to make 2012 one to remember after a frustrating 2011 that promised much but only delivered 12 rounds of action, against durable pair Duncan Cottier and Lee Noble in July and September. 

Instead, he should have been participating in career-hardest tests against then-unbeaten Irishman Dean Byrne and big-hitting former Commonwealth light-middleweight champion Matthew Hall - only to see the eight-rounders fall through a week or so before they were due to swap leather.

Yet Ball, a 27-year-old southpaw trained by his uncle, former unbeaten pro Shaun Cooper, could prove to be as difficult as either as the said pair. Long-armed and with a solid dig on him, Jamie has registered three inside-the-distance victories in as many fights, including an eight-round body shot KO over tough ex-Marine AA Lowe.

None of this worries Nasser, though, who is vocal in his belief that he has the required skills to win this and progress onwards. "I'm superior in ever department: speed, skills, movement and power," boasted the Yemeni-rooted Brummie ahead of the most significant Birmingham vs Black Country scrap since Wayne Elcock successfully defended his British title against Darren McDermott in 2008.

"I'm taking nothing away from Jamie, as he's a well-rounded pro with a lot of heart. He gives it his all in every fight but this about levels - and i'm several above him," Al Harbi, 13-0 (1), continued. "When Ball realises that i'm not there to be hit, it's going to be a very frustrating night for him.

"I'm not looking ahead of my opponent and i'm sure he's going think he can get the better of me, but i'm going to show Birmingham just how good i am and secure that fight with Ochieng. This is just the beginning," he added.

Connelly out to right debut wrongs

John Connelly has vowed to show Birmingham what he's really about this week. 

The 27-year-old goes into his four-rounder with Earl's Court-based South African Bheki Moyo on Friday [March 16], on a Dave Coldwell-promoted bill at the Second City's New Bingley Hall, having split his first two paid outings.

Surprisingly, though, it's not the defeat that the Brummie [pictured] portsider is most disappointed about - it's his debut victory.

Connelly edged past game same-city survivor Sid Razak on his pro bow at Edgbaston's Tower Ballroom in September [39-38], but conceded a combination of nerves and a build-up of 48 months-worth of rust tarnished what should have been a night to celebrate.

Subsequently, he's taken a last-minute four-rounder on the road, losing on points [39-37] to unbeaten Huddersfield-born Mancunian Marvin Greaves at Oldham Sports Centre three weeks ago, and though he surrendered his unbeaten record that night has made a breakthrough. 

Far from his maiden blemish being a negative for the Jon Pegg-handled light-welterweight-cum-welterweight, who accepted the call to arms in Greater Manchester the night before, it's actually turned out to be a positive.

Connelly, a former solider who served in Iraq, is adamant that the defeat has taught him more about professional boxing than his solitary win did - and plans on using this new-found knowledge to his advantage in front of a packed local crowd in the Jewellery Quarter in just over two days time.

"Even though i won my debut, it wasn't a great night for me," confessed the 42-bout unpaid performer [Ironworks ABC] from the Northfield area of the city. "I went from not boxing for four years to turning up at the [Midland Boxing Academy] gym and then fighting Razak three months later.

"I was so tense that night and that's not me at all. In truth, the occasion got to me and it was disappointing to only just about get by on points when i knew i had the ability to win with more comfort. But i feel more relaxed this time and looking forward to showing my city what i can really do when i'm on form.

"A lot of that has to do with the last-minute job i accepted last month," he continued. "Although i lost by a couple of rounds and it was a fair result, i felt the pressure was off and it's calmed me down.

"I like a challenge and, after Friday, if Jon came to me with another fight away from Birmingham then i'd take. It's important for me to learn my trade, whether that's fights at home or on the road, and when the time comes from me to challenge for a title then i'll be ready to take it."

Naji Al Harbi - Nasser will be too good for Ball

Jamie Ball has been warned that if underestimates Nasser Al Harbi's strength, he does so at his peril.

That's the message from Nasser's dad and trainer Naji as the Midlands pair get ready to cross swords in an hotly-anticipated Birmingham vs Black Country English light-middleweight title eliminator at the Second City's New Bingley Hall on Friday evening [March 16].

Dave Coldwell promotes the good-value seven-fight card and the ten-round bill-topper between a brace of young, hungry and unbeaten Midlanders who are eager to make a dent on the domestic scene has opinion divided. 

Though many fancy Al Harbi's skill, quick fists and neat boxing to be too much over the 30-minute distance, there are some who feel that Shaun Cooper-trained Ball, 27 and the Midlands Area champion at 11st, has the edge in power, strength and size.

But Naji, who took over the training responsibilities of his 13-fight unbeaten [one quickly], 22-year-old son from former WBC world champion Richie Woodhall in 2009, doesn't subscribe to that notion. He points out that Nasser, who won the WBC Asia Council Continental welterweight strap in 2010, has boxed bigger men and that he's impressed Matthew Hatton in recent sparring sessions.

Even Coseley southpaw Jamie, 13-0-1 (4), has been vocal in his belief that he'll be too strong, but his opponent's corner have lashed back with a verbal counter. "Ball and his team believe that they'll be able to bully Nasser back on Friday, but that won't be the case," said a confident-sounding Al Harbi Sr. 

"Nasser has boxed bigger men known for their strength in the past and even fought an unbeaten light-heavyweight early on as a pro and still won with ease. So if Ball think's he can out-muscle or bully his way to victory then he's in for massive shock.

"We take nothing away from Jamie, who is a decent lad and an honest fighter who won't stop trying, but there are so many ways that my son can win this. If Ball comes to box, he'll be out-boxed; he comes to try and fight and drag it into a toe-to-toe war then he'll be caught with punch after punch.

"Nasser has yet to have moved out of second gear and that'll be illustrated perfectly on the night of the fight. It's going to be a very long night for Ball," he added.

Ex-Commonwealth champ Callum wins in 90 seconds

Callum Johnson took the frustration of eight months out of the ring on the head and body of Tommy Tolan.

The well-muscled Lincoln light-heavyweight won Commonwealth Games gold in 2010 but after three contests in his first six months as a paid fighter he'd, prior to Saturday night, been inactive since July.

But, on the BoxNation-televised undercard of Ricky Burns' WBO lightweight title defence against Paulus Moses in Glasgow [March 10], Johnson [12st 7lbs 12oz] showed little signs of rust as he blew away Irishman Tolan, four wins in 13 entering [three stoppages], in just 90 one-sided seconds.

Tolan had been taken out in two by Beijing Olympic bronze medalist Tony Jeffries in 2010 but had gone the six-round distance with Prizefighter champion Rocky Fielding in Liverpool last year. But he wasn't allowed to gain a foothold in the scheduled four-rounder by a former Midlands ABA champion who won his Commonwealth metal whilst representing Scotland.

Left-right-lefts and a quick left to the body had the Belfast-based banger [12st 6 1/2lbs] stoutly defended on the ropes in a desperate attempt to survive the 26-year-old's early blitzkrieg. But a clubbing right hand behind the ear sent him to his knees and referee Kenny Pringle waived it off as Tolan's corner tossed in the towel at 1-30.

And in the post-fight interview, Joe Gallagher-trained Callum hinted that activity is what he's after - and hopes that four or five fight progression fights can be tucked under his belt in the next 12 months. "Coming out here and fighting just before the main event made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up," said 'The One' Johnson, now 4-0 (2).

"I picked my shots well and he couldn't take it. I've just come back with a bang," he added.

Champion Gethin unhappy with sloppy showing

Martin Gethin completed the first leg of potentially 16 rounds of boxing in just two weeks - but was far from happy with his night's work.

The relaxed Walsall lightweight added the International Masters welterweight title to an ever-growing collection that sees a brace of English [pictured], a Midlands Area [both at 9st 9lbs] and British Masters [10st] belts in his trophy cabinet.

But Gethin finished the scrappy ten-rounder against naturally-bigger Slovakian Ivan Godor in Peterborough - tallied 98-95 in his favour by referee Ken Curtis - with a marked-up face and a hideous-looking swelling on his left eye.

Though i had the Errol Johnson-trained puncher a far more commanding 99-93 victor [giving the Eastern European the ninth and a share of the two rounds that proceeded it], it was never easy, difficult to watch and saw heads frequently rub together.

He's penciled in to box over six on a BoxNation-televised, Paul Rowson-promoted bill at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on March 23, topped by Shane McPhilbin's British cruiserweight title defence against former WBO world champion Enzo Maccarinelli, and will be hoping for a more clinical performance.

The Black Countryman lacked the fluidity that secured him stoppages over then-undefeated Yorkshire pair Nadeem Siddique, 22-0, and John Fewkes, 17-0, but this was only his second outing in just over two years, after a serious back complaint almost forced him to retire from the sport he's served so well.

Yet Gethin [10st 1lb] was, on the whole, too well-rounded and talented for the durable European import, who'd extended Tyrone Nurse and Karl Place over six on his previous visits to England. And though the 33-bout [eight wins and four draws, four stoppages] scrapper showed more fight in his first-ever title fight than he'd done against the said pair, the 28-year-old West Midlander had too many tools in his box.

You had the feeling that, if he'd have wanted to, Martin could have stepped up the tempo and dominated. But after putting the first six rounds in the bag with a well-timed jab and follow-up right, he  held his feet in range too much and shipped plenty of punches from Godor [9st 12lbs] in rounds seven, eight and nine.

Although Gethin took the final round and won his fifth strap at a third weight, he was far from happy with his work over the 30-minute distance."I was too sloppy and fell into his mauling ways throughout," he candidly conceded.

"I was guilty of plodding and i'm not pleased with the way i boxed. I'll improve for my next fight, though, and he was an awkward little fighter who kept coming low and messing up any rhythm i tried to find," added an honest father of one, now 20-3-1 (7), who sported a nasty black eye as he left the ring.

Boxing-minded Renda dominates on his return

Many who turned up to see Cello Renda's return would've expected him to greet the sound of the opening bell by tearing across the ring with both fists blazing.

Instead, what they got was 12 minutes of controlled boxing behind a piston-like jab that illustrated what Jon Pegg has known all along: that there's more to Renda [pictured against gym-mate Max Maxwell in Prizefighter four years ago] than one-punch knockout power. 

The Birmingham-trained Peterborough puncher returned from 26 months of frustrating inactivity to shut-out sawn-off Latvian slugger Ruslans Pojonisevs over four rounds on a Robert Waterman-promoted bill at The Arena last night [March 9] and thrown his name back into the domestic middleweight hat.

Renda's outside-the-ring troubles - a bitter fall out with ex-trainer and manager Ian Pauly - have been well-documented, leading to over two years of his career going to waste as he waited for the contract to run its course. But now happy and settled training at the Midlands Boxing Academy in the Second City, the 26-year-old can look forward to a bright future.

Slowly but surely the former Prizefighter finalist and British Masters champion has been moulded from an all-action puncher who would fire back desperately instead of holding when hurt, to a measured boxer who has the power to take men out but lets things come naturally off the fast, accurate lead left.

And though his showing against a durable 32-bout Eastern European who extended Patrick Mendy over the same distance on his previous visit to British shores may have come as a shock to those in attendance or watching live on YouTube, it wasn't for me.

Former pro bantamweight Pegg, now a well-respected matchmaker, manager, trainer and promoter, has been telling me for the past year that when Renda made his comeback he'd be using his rarely-seen boxing ability to get results. That's how the four rounds of interesting action played out.

The pattern for the contest was set within the opening 30 seconds: Renda [11st 11lbs] took centre ring and pumped out the jab, doubling and sometimes tripling it, and digging occasional right hands to the body. Pojonisevs [11st 7lbs] came barreling forward with gloves high and though he tossed over a few solid-looking rights, Cello's footwork meant he easily skipped out of harms way.

Ken Curtis marked it 40-36 to the returning local hero, who also brought in new-found head movement to finish unmarked and satisfied with his night's work. "I can't take three or four to land one punch like i have done in the past," conceded the Italian-rooted Englishman, whose ledger improves to 19-9-1 (11) and returns to the ring on June 8.

"All credit to Jon, who told me to box and show that i do have the skills to get the job done without having to go looking for a war. It's been my downfall in the past," he continued, "and i'm determined not to  make the same mistakes again."

Pegg hinted that they want a couple more wins before making a charge towards champions  Nick Blackwell [English] or former foe Martin Murray [the British and Commonwealth monarch who controversially outpointed Cello by split decision in their Prizefighter final] - and Renda added: "It's been a nightmare two years but i'm back and ready to make a statement."

Patterson batters ex-Big Brother star Bird

Andrew Patterson ended a winless 12 months by de-railing the hometown comeback of former Big  Brother star JJ Bird.

The hard-nosed Birmingham welterweight [pictured] shrugged off a 10lb weight disparity at The Arena in Peterborough to thump out a convincing 40-37 [presumably giving Bird a share of the third] victory from referee Jeff Hinds and halt a 12-fight losing streak.

And such was the one-sided nature of the four-threes that was promoted by Robert Waterman and broadcast live on YouTube last night [March 9], i marked it down as a complete shut-out.

Having seen Bird box in the Midlands before - close points defeat to Dale Miles and a draw with former Midlands Area boss Rob Kenney - i'd mentioned in the week leading up to scrap that the West Midlander might be too strong. So it proved.

From those previous viewings it was noticeable that JJ, who finished fourth in 2010's Big Brother, likes to be given room to do his work at a distance and use every inch of the ring to his advantage. But Patterson, 32, intelligently never gave him enough space to get his jab going - stalking him around for the entirety of the 12-minute scrap.

And Bird, now trained by former European super-bantamweight champion Spencer Oliver, ate booming right hands over the top from as early as the opening minute. Chin held out to dry and with only a pawing lead to try and keep the aggressive-minded Brummie off him, the heavier [11st 11 1/2lbs] Cambridgeshire middleweight looked rattled on the return to his corner.

But the second followed in the same vein, with Jon Pegg-trained Patterson [10st 13 1/2lbs] plowing forward and landing overhand rights with ease. He even made the 25-year-old's legs dip late on and though Bird tried to gain a foothold with a nice bit of back-foot boxing in the third and with whipping uppercuts in the last, 'Patt' continued to be the man doing the damage.

Bird, whose 6-6-2 professional ledger includes a victory over former British and European title challenger Dave Walker, had no complaints when his opponent's hand was raised at the bell and will have to look at his leaky defence if he wants to add more victories to his record.

Now with five wins and three draws [four stoppages] in 35, it was a well-deserved break for Patterson - a hard-working, never-say-die family man who loves a scrap and is penciled in to cross swords with five-fight unbeaten Portsmouth prospect Mark Coombs at the city's Mountbatten Centre next Saturday.

No expense spared ahead of Macklin's big night

Matthew Macklin has shelled out on the best sparring America has to offer ahead of his career-defining fight in eight days.

The Birmingham banger [pictured] meets WBC Diamond middleweight champion and pound-for-pound-rated Sergio Martinez at New York's Madison Square Garden a week tomorrow [Saturday, March 17] having tested himself in sparring with some of the USA's finest.

Though many are predicting a painful defeat for Irish-rooted Macklin on St Patrick's Day, the West Midlander is adamant that the right-leading 37-year-old California-based Argentinian is slowing down and beatable, in spite of his lofty rating [three] in the elite list of boxing's best in any weight division.

The former British and two-European champion, though, has prepared with sparring sessions with three southpaws: New Jersey's Denis Douglin, 14-1 (8), former world title challenger Sechew Powell, 26-4 (15), and 24-fight [14 stoppages] undefeated WBA world light-middleweight boss Austin Trout.

All three are at differing stages of their careers - Douglin on the way up, Powell's probably on the way down and Trout is consolidating his position as an 11st champion to be feared - and the southpaw puzzle that has beaten Macklin before, against Jamie Moore in 2006, and that Martinez had used to secure 48 wins in 52 [27 stoppages and two draws] and world titles at two weights has finally been solved.

Back with Buddy McGirt but without a British Boxing Board of Control licence, Macklin turns 30 in May and feels that his second world title opportunity, after a controversial split decision defeat against Felix Sturm for the WBA belt in Germany last year, has arrived at the perfect time in his career.

"This is my time and I've left no stone unturned when it's come to getting the best sparring around," said the ardent Birmingham City supporter from Solihull. "Getting that type of sparring doesn't come cheap but I've always looked at it as an investment and the men who have helped me prepare are world-class performers.

"I started off my camp with Denis Douglin, who is a sharp-boxing prospect from New Jersey, and then brought in world-rated Sechew Powell, who was Floyd Mayweather's chief sparring partner for the Victor Ortiz fight and has still got plenty about him despite back-to-back world title defeats in the last couple of years, to help me out mid-way through.

"I finished off with world champion Austin Trout, who has helped Martinez out with some of his pre-fight sparring before," he continued, "and gave me some of the best of the entire camp. 

"That's exactly the type of preparation i needed before this and it just re-iterates my belief that i'll win next weekend," rounded-off a always-entertaining Brummie, 28-3 (19), who has a penchant for getting involved in nose-to-nose battles.

Image courtesy of Ed Diller/ DiBella Entertainment.

New year and new start for ambitious Parker

Duane Parker is looking to put the memories of his last fight firmly behind him. 

The skillful Woodville crowd-pleaser [pictured] suffered his first defeat as a professional fighter nine months ago and hasn't laced-on the gloves in competitive action since.

But he returns over six rounds at Burton's Meadowside Leisure Centre on March 30, on the undercard of Jonjo Finnegan's ten-round grudge clash with Ryan Clark for the International Masters super-middleweight belt, with renewed enthusiasm and with hopes of throwing himself into the mix for a title during 2012.

Paul Rowson promotes the good-looking seven-fight bill from a noisy Staffordshire venue that Parker hasn't boxed at for 17 months. He's had his last three [and five of his last six] in Birmingham and the Second City has left him with a bad taste in his mouth after his shock stoppage loss last year.

Entering with a blemish-free 13-fight record that had seen him drop only a handful of the 74 rounds he'd boxed, Parker was expected to dismiss Richard Troupe and move onto a Masters title fight in the autumn. But he was unexpectedly dropped twice and halted by the unheralded Hull scrapper in the fourth of a set eight that curtailed his immediate championship ambitions.

That weight-weakened showing convinced the tall, long-armed Derbyshire-based boxer to ply his trade six pounds north of 11st at middleweight - and he sees a bright future in a division that's ruled by Martin Concepcion in the Midlands and Martin Murray [the British and Commonwealth boss] domestically.

But before he can contemplate fights over ten or 12 rounds, Duane admits he needs to get the feel of the ring again. "I haven't boxed since June, so it's important that i shred some rust and get some of the timing back that only comes in an actual contest," said the 24-year-old former Burton ABC unpaid performer, who's a proud father to a pair of girls.

"I think that i'll be better and stronger at middleweight and that's were i see my future," he continued. "There are plenty of good fights around at the weight, both on the Midlands scene and at British level, and i'm going to put myself in the mix when i step back inside the ropes in just over three weeks.

"It's great to be boxing at a home venue again and it's going to be an explosive return from me," Parker added.

Mexican legend in Birmingham this weekend

One of the greats of the squared ring is coming to a Birmingham gym this weekend.

Marco Antonio Barrera, probably best-remembered on British shores for ending the 35-fight unbeaten run of Prince Naseem Hamed in 2001, will be visiting Jon Pegg and Michael Walsh's Midland Boxing Academy gym on Saturday [March 10] for a meet and greet in a setting he knows best.

Pegg and Walsh have secured the arrival of the former three-weight world champion [pictured], who still holds hope of meeting current WBC light-welterweight boss Erik Morales for a fourth time [two wins to Barrera, 67-7 (44)], and will be at the gym between 1pm and 3pm.

Barrera has won WBO, WBC and IBF belts at super-bantamweight, featherweight and super-featherweight - and boxed in Britain twice during a 23-year professional career that hasn't officially ended.

The 38-year-old 'Baby-Faced Assassin' thumped Paul Lloyd to a one-round retirement defeat [on a cut but the Liverpudlian had been dropped] for the WBO super-bantamweight title at the Royal Albert Hall in 2001 and, eight years later in Manchester, lost a controversial five-round technical decision to then-rising star Amir Khan.

An opening-round clash of heads left the Mexican legend masked in his own blood and post-fight consensus favoured the fight being halted during the first three minutes. But it was allowed to continue until the fifth - when, as some point out, Khan could be declared the winner and not have a No Contest stain on his ledger.

But by the time Barrera met Khan he was past his best and in a weight division nine pounds above his comfort zone. In his prime, though, he'll be remembered for his never-say-die attitude and contests with the likes of Naseem Hamed, Erik Morales, Manny Pacquaio, Juan Manuel Marquez, Johnny Tapia, Paulie Ayala, Junior Jones, Frankie Toledo, Rocky Juarez and Kennedy McKinney. 

In short, Barrera, who also smashed another Liverpool-based boxer, Richie Wenton, to a four-round defeat for the WBO strap in 1998, never ducked a fight at elite level from the moment he won his first world title in 1995.

"It's great that we've got a legend of the sport coming to our gym on Saturday afternoon," said former pro bantamweight, manager, trainer and matchmaker Pegg, whose leading charge, Brummie light-middleweight Max Maxwell, boxes for the British title in just over three weeks time.

"People want to have their photo taken with their heroes and we're giving people that chance for a reasonable price."

A limited amount of tickets, which cost only £10, are still available and can be bought by ringing 0121 6222120, by e-mailing jo.mba@btconnect.com or, if you're on Facebook, by sending a message to Jon Pegg or Michael Walsh.

Chris keen to shine in Wolverhampton

Chris Keane has been handed a fight with an Eastern European who secured Dereck Chisora's challenges for European and world honours.

The Walsall cruiserweight meets Remigijus Ziausys in a six-rounder on March 23, on a BoxNation-televised, PJ Promotions bill at Wolverhampton Civic Hall, and is looking to put a quiet 15 months behind him.

Ziausys, who's only been halted once in 70 paid outings, extended Chisora over the same distance last year and then the former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion from London went onto box for European and WBC titles on the continent.

Though Keane isn't looking for that type of rapid progression up the ladder, the 26-year-old would like to make a charge towards the British title this year. That would, as it stands, mean challenging the man topping the card in the Black Country, Shane McPhilbin.

The Nottingham puncher crosses swords with former WBO world champion Enzo Maccarinelli in the maiden defence of his Lonsdale Belt and him and Chris have history. They boxed as amateurs, won by McPhilbin, and Keane helped the champion in the run-up to his title-winning effort against Leon Williams in January.

But the Errol Johnson-managed stylist, a former ABA heavyweight champion who's unbeaten in four [one quickly] and who's quickly got a reputation as a neat boxer with a fast, formidable jab, says he'd have no qualms about trying to take the East Midlander's title if he was in the mix for the belt later this year.

He knows he has some catching up to do first. Keane didn't box in 2011 and has been left behind while former amateur stars Jon-Lewis Dickinson and Matty Askin box in a cruiserweight title eliminator next month. But he knows victory over the 27-year-old Lithuanian could force his name back into the thoughts of his domestic rivals.

"It's been a frustrating time for me over the last year or so," he said. "I had three good fights in 2010 and then, due to one thing or another with injury or management issues, didn't get a sniff of any contests last year.

"But i'm now promoted by Frank Warren and Errol and PJ have me on the show close to home in 16 days and i want to put in a good performance in front of the television cameras, who might show my fight live.

"By the end of the year i'd like to think i'll be in a position to make a move on Britain's best," added the West Midlander.

Patient Brown promises James destruction

Barrington Brown says he's going to take his time in his title fight next week.

The big-hitting if erratic super-featherweight from Nottingham swaps leather with Troy James for the vacant Midlands Area title on a Les Allen show at Bedworth Civic Hall a week Friday [March 16] having already fought each other last year [pictured].

The all-Midlands pair met in the quarter-final of October's featherweight Prizefighter and, after rattling James inside the opening minute, Brown went onto lose a unanimous three-round decision to his well-built opponent from Coventry.

But the capable 29-year-old has promised that this time, in an intriguing-looking ten-rounder between the two premier Midlands boxers at 9st 6lbs, it'll be a wholly different story.

Though Brown has suffered indifferent form in recent times - only one win in his last seven [two draws] - a large majority of those fights have been last-minute jobs against bigger men. But at super-featherweight and fired-up by an East vs West Midlands title clash he's ready to unleash the same punches that felled once-touted Lloyd Otte in just 111 seconds.

A solid-hitting former top-rated amateur, James, 11-1-1 (3), starts the 30-minute bout in Warwickshire a heavy favourite and, should he repeat the trick against the tall, lean banger from Nottinghamshire, 5-7-3 (2), has his eyes on English and British title opportunities at some stage this year.

Yet Brown thinks the Prizefighter result [two scores of 29-28 and a 30-28 for 'Terrifying Troy', who went onto lose in the semis to fleet-footed Mancunian slickster Rhys Roberts] means little - and will be proven in the rematch. "I went into that fight believing i had to blow him away quickly," he admitted.

"This time, though, i know that there's no rush to fly out of the corner and wing punches at him from the opening bell," continued the Tony Harris-trained, Jimmy Gill-managed fighter who, like his 28-year-old opponent, will be participating in his first contest scheduled for more than six-threes.

"I know i've got the power to get rid of him but i'm going to take my time and have 30 minutes to explore every avenue possible. I've had plenty of notice for this and this time around you'll see a completely different result," he added.

Hunt can only post draw on return; weekend round up

Rob Hunt's return to action after a ten-month absence ended in a disappointing draw.

The Stafford welterweight [pictured against Jason Nesbitt in 2008] is hoping to secure a shot at the Midlands Area title later in the year but could only stumble his way to a 38 apiece four-round draw with a one-fight pro novice at Chester's Northgate Arena on Saturday night [March 3].

This is the latest in a long line of setbacks for Hunt, who has been forced to endure a tumultuous previous 24 months. He lost for the first time in 15 [one draw] in November 2010 - a six-round stoppage defeat to Ben Lawler in a challenge for the vacant British Masters welterweight strap - and [prior to Saturday] had only boxed once since.

Yet the 26-year-old made a bright start against Colwyn Bay's Lee Quinn, sweeping the opening two rounds on the referee's scorecard with neat work off the jab. But though the third was fought on level terms, the now-two-fight unbeaten North Wales prospect battered Hunt in the final three minutes - forcing the Lyndon Newbon-trained Midlander to desperately hold for survival.

Though he managed to hear the final bell and avoid defeat, it's a disappointing result for Hunt, now 15-1-2 (1). He'll need to post better performances than that if he's to convince anyone he has what it takes to dethrone either Dave Ryan or Chris Truman [who meet for Ryan's Area 10st belt in Burton later this month] of the Midlands title.

Another Staffordshire fighter, Leek lightweight Andy Keates, battled to a 39-38 decision over Eastern European import Andrejs Podusovs, now 1-1, on the same Chester bill. Podusovs outpointed former Prizefighter finalist Paul McElhinney on his pro bow two months ago but found himself squeezed out after a slow start. Keates is now undefeated in four.

On the same night, albeit at the Hillsborough Leisure Centre in Sheffield on the undercard of Jamie McDonnell's European bantamweight title defence, undefeated East Midlands pair Gilson De Jesus, 1-0 entering, and Lewis Taylor, without blemish in two going on, met in an exciting-looking, evenly-matched four-rounder that was edged by Taylor on points.

Referee Phil Edwards handed the Derbyshire middleweight a 39-38 tally that could so easily have gone the other way. Carl Greaves-managed De Jesus, from Nottingham, boxed Chris Eubank Jr in the amateurs and has a reputation as an aggressive banger. He tossed plenty of looping right hands that Clinton Woods-trained Taylor sometimes slipped and sometimes caught.

Though both men had a claim to have done enough to preserve their unbeaten tallies at the end of the 12-minute contest, the 22-year-old from Dronfield was the one who hand his hand raised by the Preston-based referee and is now 3-0.

On Friday evening there were defeats for a brace of Jon Pegg-handled fighters, hard-nosed Andrew Patterson [on points, 40-36, to southpaw former British title challenger Barrie Jones in Wales] and durable Nuneaton centurion Kristian Laight [also on points, 40-37, to Yorkshire first-timer Robbie Barrett in Doncaster].

Dangerman Patterson, with four wins [all stoppages] and three draws in his 34-bout paid journey, takes on former Big Brother contestant JJ Bird in Peterborough on Friday and prepared  for it with four testing sessions in Cardiff. The Brummie was never troubled but generally out-boxed by a right-leading stylist whose ledger improves to 19-9 (7) and was once good enough to challenge for the Lonsdale Belt at welterweight

Laight, though, showed his debutant opponent a few tricks on his way to sharing a round on referee Michael Alexander's scorecard. Quick-fisted and slick, Kristian tagged the eager Yorkshire with the occasional left hook and right hand as he marched in and will see action for the 127th time in Scotland this weekend.

On the same bill at the Doncaster Dome, Northampton super-bantamweight Ash Lane, now 1-1-2 and who boxes in Bedworth on March 16, earned a hard-fought 38-38 draw with five-contest unbeaten [one draw] Gavin McDonnell, brother of European monarch Jamie.

Image courtesy of Jane Warburton.

Concepcion's future in doubt after latest defeat

Martin Concepcion's nine-year paid journey may be at an end.

The Leicester puncher failed in his attempt to tear the English middleweight title from Nick Blackwell on Saturday night and though a knee injury contributed to his four-round defeat on a PJ Rowson-promoted bill at Trowbridge Civic Hall, the local champion had already put three of the opening four sessions in the bag.

Beforehand, Concepcion had hinted that retirement could be on the cards if he didn't succeed in taking the belt from an improving 21-year-old who challenged for the British and Commonwealth belts less than two years after turning professional.

But whether or not he'll fade away - or whether he'll carry on after feeling his title charge was hampered by a knee injury that limited his ability to unleash his full punching power - is anybody's guess at present.

And after a quiet opening round of probing and posing, Blackwell [11st 5lbs] began to find the mark with his left lead from the second onwards. The East Midlander's eye was swollen by the end of that round and his normally-feared punches [11 stoppages in 18 victories - ten defeats] lacked the snap to trouble the swashbuckling champion.

The third followed in the same vein and after a solid combination from the former International Masters boss in the fourth [an attack that saw the 30-year-old ex-British and Commonwealth 11st title challenger injure his knee] and a two-fisted follow-up attack, Brummie official Terry O'Connor stepped in at 2-28.

For Blackwell, now 11-1 (5), his immediate future looks assured. His promoter, Black Country-based Paul Rowson, wants his charge to challenge for the WBC Youth title later in the year and, if old foe Martin Murray vacates his Lonsdale Belt in order to pursue fights at European level and beyond, he'll also be in the mix for that.

But for Concepcion, the Midlands Area monarch at the weight and an ex-Area champ at light-middle who also weighed 11st 5lbs at Friday's weigh-in, he'll have to have a serious think about his fighting future after a third defeat in his last four [all stoppages, albeit in esteemed company].

Macklin - Martinez won't cope with my intensity

Matthew Macklin says the backing of Birmingham and Ireland will add further weight to his already iron-laden fists.

The Brummie [pictured on the pads in New York last week] crosses swords with pound-for-pound number three-rated Sergio Martinez in a career-defining challenge for the WBC Diamond middleweight belt - and recognition as the premier 11st 6lbs fighter on earth.

The pair meet at New York's Madison Square Garden in 13 days [March 17] and despite his lofty pound-for-pound ranking and just two defeats in 52 professional contests [48 wins and two draws, 27 inside] going back 15 years, there's a feeling that the Argentinian might just be descending down the other side of the hill.

The 37-year-old overcame a sluggish start against Barking's Darren Barker to retain his WBC title by an eleven-round KO in October and Irish-rooted Macklin, who's been inactive since a controversial split decision defeat in a WBA world middleweight title challenge against Felix Sturm in Germany nine months ago, thinks he has the tools to exploit his opponent's advancing years.

But Martinez has only suffered setbacks to former multi-weight world champion Antonio Margarito, a seven-round defeat in 2000, and then-feared Paul Williams, who edged him out on a 12-round split that was later reversed in just 251 seconds. More tellingly, he's taken apart the best in a brace of weight divisions and the combined records of his last six reads a staggering 202-5.

Yet Macklin, 28-3 (19) and a former British and two-time European monarch who controversially handed back his British Boxing Board of Control licence in the run-up to this, doesn't subscribe to the notion that the formidable California-based South American is as invincible as he's portrayed. 

He's prepared for his hardest assignment by basing himself in New York under the worldly-wise eye of Buddy McGirt, who worked with the West Midlander before his points nod over former IBF boss Yori Boy Campas four years ago, and is adamant that the workrate, body shots and in-your-face aggression that's become his trademark will prove Sergio's undoing.

"There will be no excuses from either of us afterwards," said the big-hitting Birmingham City supporter from Solihull, 29. "I've had a great camp and it's been a pleasure working with Buddy again, who is a knowledgeable boxing guy and is bringing the absolute best out of me at the right time.

"I'll have everyone from back home in Brum and from my family in Ireland urging me on - not to mention the Irish support i'll have inside Madison Square Gardens on St Patrick's Day," he continued. "It's going to be a pro-Macklin crowd and a great atmosphere.

"And whether it goes one round or all the way to the twelfth, i honestly don't believe that Martinez is going to be able to cope with the intensity and desire that i will bring into the ring with me in just under two weeks. 

"I'm ready for war," roared the fired-up former Small Heath ABC unpaid performer.

Image courtesy of Ed Diller.

Gethin could box 16 rounds in just two weeks

Martin Gethin is preparing for potentially 16 rounds of action in just 14 days.

The Walsall lightweight [pictured] boxes over ten for the International Masters welterweight belt in Peterborough this Friday [March 9] and then, barring a cut or unexpected defeat, will have a six-rounder in the Black Country on March 23.

Gethin will swap leather with durable and bigger Ivan Godor, a 31-fight Slovakian who's yet to have been halted in his two previous visits to British shores [shut-out points defeats to Karl Place and Tyrone Nurse], for the vacant strap on a Hatton Promotions, YouTube-broadcast card from Cambridgeshire.

Victory against a pony-tailed Eastern European who fights almost a stone heavier will secure the ambitious 28-year-old his fifth belt as a professional [two spells as English 9st 9lbs boss, as well as reigns as Midlands Area and British Masters champion] and set him back on course for a crack at the British title later in the year.

He has his focus locked firmly on champion Anthony Crolla after an injury-hit spell that's limited the heavy-handed West Midlander, 19-3-1 (7), to just a solitary outing in 24 months, a six-round decision over solid Pole Arek Malek at Walsall Town Hall in November. However, his promoter hopes a busy March will shred the rust and force him back into the title picture.

The father of one is penciled in to face another international opponent on the undercard of Shane McPhilbin's British cruiserweight title defence against ex-WBO world champion Enzo Maccarinelli at Wolverhampton Civic Hall and Paul Rowson, who promotes that BoxNation-televised bill, said: "Martin has had a frustrating last two years.

"At the time of his back injury he'd just won the English title for a second time and was in a promising position to make a move on the top men in the division. Since then, though, Martin has been out of action for large periods of time and, outside the Midlands at least, been forgotten about on the domestic lightweight scene.

"But by keeping him active in contests that will test him we hope he'll be back in the mix to get a shot at the Lonsdale Belt, which he's more than capable of winning if he performs to the best of his ability. 

"These next few weeks are going to be crucial for his fighting future," added the Black Country-based promoter.

Shaw shrugs off slow start to keep unbeaten tag

Tom Shaw made certain his maiden hometown date as a professional stayed on course.

The unbeaten Burton lightweight overcame a slow start against willing late replacement Francis Maina, on a Hatton Promotions bill at Bury's Castle Leisure Centre last night [March 2], to have his hand lofted skywards and register his fourth win in as many bouts.

For the record, Steve Gray's 39-37 [or 3-1 in rounds] scoreline, handed up from ringside for trialist official Alvin Finch, looked spot-on for me.

Shaw [pictured] is set to box on the undercard of Jonjo Finnegan's vacant International Masters super-middleweight title fight with Ryan Clark at Meadowside Leisure Centre on March 30 - his first appearance in his Staffordshire hometown as a paid fighter - and will go into it having learnt from a testing scrap that saw him drop his first round [16 completed] since turning over 12 months ago.

Undefeated in two [one stoppage and one draw], Maina [10st 2lbs] drew with Nottingham's Barrington Brown on his pro bow last year and started the 12-minute contest well. His spearing overhand right frequently proving a nuisance, the well-built ex-MMA exponent forced Errol Johnson-trained Shaw to give ground on several occasions.

But the well-schooled West Midlander tightened up a low left from the second onwards, composed himself, and some neat boxing at range - a solid lead [sometimes doubled] followed by long, accurate rights - kept the older Londonder, whose record evens out at 1-1-1 (1), in check for the rest of the YouTube-screened fight.

Tom was enjoying himself by the time the bell rang to end the always-watchable four-rounder and the 21-year-old will have benefited from an excellent piece of match-making by Richard Poxon.

Image courtesy of Gavin Burrows.

Concepcion: Blackwell can run but i'll catch him and stop him

Martin Concepcion has warned the English champion that he'll catch up with him sooner or later.

The Leicester middleweight takes on Nick Blackwell for the St George's belt on a PJ Promotions bill at Trowbridge Civic Hall tomorrow [March 3] knowing that victory will lead him to a British title fight and defeat will probably mean the end.

There have been more than a few whispers in the trade that this ten-rounder, pitching a 21-year-old at the beginning of his paid journey against a dangerous veteran looking for one final shot at the big time, could be an early candidate for fight of the year.

Neither man is afraid to ship a punch to land one and Concepcion, 18-9 (11), has built his reputation on nose-to-nose battles that haven't always worked out for him but have left lasting impressions on those fortunate to witness them.

He won the Midlands Area middleweight strap in his first fight at the weight in September, downing champion Matt Hainy four times before the referee stopped the slaughter in the ninth of an unforgettable blood-soaked battle. That was his second Area title at a second weight and a move up six pounds seems to have breathed new life into the mallet-fisted East Midlander's career.

But Blackwell, with only one reversal, a corner retirement against recent world title challenger Martin Murray for the British and Commonwealth straps last year, in eleven [four quickly], is a hungry, capable young prospect who sparred in Belfast with WBA interim world 12st boss Brian Magee in the run-up for this.

His promoter, Black Country-based Paul Rowson, has ambitious-sounding plans for the Wiltshire ticket-seller if he can repel the charge of the always-dangerous challenger, but 30-year-old Concepcion plans to gatecrash the party and secure himself a shot at the British champion from St Helens.

"So far Blackwell's got a reputation as a type who'll get stuck in from the off. That doesn't mean he'll do that against me," conceded a blonde-haired puncher who holds paid victories over Lonsdale Belt-chasing 11st pair Max Maxwell and Matthew Hall, the former Commonwealth champion who was dismissed inside a round in 2007.

"He's been saying he's coming to take me out but he could decide he wants to keep things long and box after he's felt a few of my punches," he continued. "Whatever Nick chooses to do on the night, though, i'll have an answer for - and i know my replies will be a lot more effective than his questions.

"Whether it's the first three minutes or the final round, i'll catch up with Blackwell and rip the English title away from him," roared the fired-up former British and Commonwealth light-middleweight challenger.