FROCH ROARED TO THE SCALES AHEAD OF BUTE SHOWDOWN

Duo greeted by mass of fans at the official weigh-in for IBF Title clash

Carl Froch and Lucian Bute weighed-in for their IBF super middleweight World title fight in front of the Capital FM Arena live on Sky Sports News.

The pair will clash for the belt at midnight in the Arena tomorrow night, and in blazing sunshine in front of a throng of Froch and Bute fans, both made the weight for the highly anticipated clash.

Undefeated champion Bute tipped the scales at 11st 13lb 12oz after hometown hero Froch came in at 11st 13lb 5oz. Both men were well supported in the shadow of the venue for the fight, which has finally arrived for both men.

“I’m buzzing now, that was a great reception and I want to thank the fans for turning out in force,” said Froch. “It’s a huge night for me, the biggest in my career – back in front of my people with this guy thinking he can come here and beat me – that’s just not happening.

“I’m on the edge of super stardom here – the chance to become a three-time World champion in Nottingham. I cannot let that go and I will pour every ounce of energy into taking that belt off him.”

The first bell for tomorrow night’s action is at 6.30pm, with Froch and Bute fighting at midnight.

Less than 100 tickets remain for the fight – they will be available to purchase at the Capital FM Arena Box Office tomorrow.

Official weights:

LUCIAN BUTE (11st 13lb 12oz) v CARL FROCH (11st 13lb 5oz)

CARL FRAMPTON (8st 9lb 8oz) v RAUL HIRALES (8st 9lb 7oz)

PIER-OLIVER COTE (10st 2lb 4oz) v MARK LLOYD (10st 3lb 9oz)

ERICK OCHIENG (10st 12lb 9oz) v AA LOWE (10st 12lb 8oz)

JOHN RYDER (11st 6lb 4oz) v LUKE ROBINSON (11st 8lb 7oz)

RYAN ASTON (11st 7lb 14oz) v PAUL SAMUELS (11st 4lb 1oz)  

ADNAN AMAR (11st 4lb 3oz) v TERRY CARRUTHERS (11st 3lb 6oz)

FRAMPTON LANDS CHIEF SUPPORT SLOT ON FROCH BILL

Global exposure for Belfast super bantamweight star – Ochieng defends English title – Cote makes UK bow



Carl Frampton will provide the chief support on the undercard of Carl Froch’s IBF World super middleweight title challenge to Lucian Bute in Nottingham on May 26.



The Commonwealth super bantamweight champion will fight at the Capital FM Arena in front of a huge global audience with the event aired by EPIX in the United States and live in more than 20 countries across the world, including the UK, Canada, Spain, Germany, Russia, Japan and in Scandinavia.



The unbeaten 25 year old defended his Commonwealth title for the second time in Sheffield on March 17 with a second round knockout of Ghanaian Prosper Ankrah, following his explosive win over Kris Hughes at York Hall, Bethnal Green in January with a knockout of the year contending right hand in the seventh.



It’s a stacked undercard of young talent with Islington’s Erick ‘The Eagle’ Ochieng defending his English light middleweight title against Nottingham’s AA Lowe, who landed the shot at Ochieng after beating fellow Nottinghamshire fighter Terry Maughan with a fourth round stoppage to claim the British Masters title.



International flavour is added by Bute’s fellow Canadian Pier Olivier Cote and the IBF Inter-Continental light welterweight champion will face Wolverhampton’s Mark Lloyd as Cote fights for the first time in the UK.



Islington’s exciting middleweight star John Ryder is looking to move to 11-0 and faces a tough night against Yorkshire’s Luke Robinson, and fellow Matchroom Sport fighter Ryan Aston also fights on the bill.



Team GB star Scotty Cardle will make his third pro outing and local fighters Leigh Wood and Adnan Amar will also taste the action on a huge night of top class action in their city.



“It’s a great line-up and another chance for Carl Frampton to get massive exposure,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “The unbeaten super bantamweight star heads an exciting undercard group alongside Erick Ochieng, Pier Olivier Cote, John Ryder, Ryan Aston and Scotty Cardle, who will provide plenty of entertainment to a global TV audience before the mouth-watering main event.”



Tickets for Froch’s IBF World super middleweight title challenge to Bute are on sale now priced £80 and £150 from the Capital FM Arena Nottingham website http://www.capitalfmarena.com/ and on 08444 124624 – £40, £60, £100 and £200 tickets have sold-out, as have the VIP packages priced at £300.

ADIL ANWAR CLAIMS PRIZEFIGHTER GLORY

Anwar beats Nurse and hunts British title shot

Adil Anwar is gunning for a British title shot after defeating Tyrone Nurse in the final of the Prizefighter Light Welterweights II at Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall.

Leeds man Anwar and Huddersfield fighter Nurse were unbeaten going into the 23^rd edition of Matchroom Sport’s eight man, one night tournament so there was plenty at stake in the all-Yorkshire final, with local bragging rights, both boxers ‘0’s’ and the title and £32,000 winner’s cheque.

Both men had used their slick elusive styles to get to the climax of the evening in the sold-out Civic Hall, and it was ‘The Platinum Kid’ Anwar who used the style to dazzle the judges, firing in his jab to keep Nurse at bay and even wobbling the 22 year-old with a late flurry to secure a unanimous decision that he believes pushes him into title contention, with Brit king Ashley Theophane the chief target.

“Tyrone is a good operator but I was a lot faster and a lot slicker,” said Anwar. “The jab was the secret tonight and now I want to test myself against the bigger names. I won the English Welterweight title under the radar and I've been avoided. Now I have won Prizefighter live on Sky Sports – without getting out of second gear – I've shown I bring a lot to the table.

“This was my first televised performance and that has been frustrating for me as I think that I've got the lot, and that people will want to watch me. I bought a lot of great fans down with me but at the end, everyone was supporting me because I'm entertaining, and that's what it's all about.

“I wanted to shine and I think I have. I'm a risk taker and tonight could've been seen as a risk, but I was hugely confident of winning this and I think this will open big doors for me now.

“I want to fight Ashley Theophane but I don't care who I fight really. I know I have the goods and now I've won this, I don't need to go hunting, I've proved I've got the what it takes to do big things.”

Kell Brook and Matthew Hatton performed the live draw and the 24 year-old was picked to face Barry Morrison in the third quarter-final of the night and the Leeds man started as he meant to go on with his slick work dominating the former British champion.

Anwar then met a fresh John Watson in the second semi-final, after the Liverpudlian took just 100 seconds to defeat local favourite Dean Harrison, with Watson flooring the Wolverhampton fighter then unleashing a barrage of punches that forced referee John Keane to step in – Harrison announced his intention to hang up his gloves shortly after.

Although Watson had saved some energy with the early stoppage, Anwar won every round with the judges in their semi-final, and was beginning to enjoy himself as he found Watson’s style to his liking and mixed great movement with some flashy shots.

Nurse’s journey to the final was a trickier affair having drawn one of the favourites in Dale Miles in the second quarter-final. Their fight moved into what looked like a winner-takes-all final round but Miles had already been cut above the right eye and a clash of heads in the final stanza opened it up again, forcing a disappointing end for Miles in what was building into a cracking final three minutes.

Nurse then faced the experienced Young Mutley in the first semi-final of the night after Mutley had edged a cagey opening bout with Mark Lloyd on a split decision. Nurse was impressive in withstanding a late rally from Mutley, with the youngster using his superior speed and movement to take the opening rounds to reach the final.

Prizefighter Light Welterweights II results:

Quarter-finals

Young Mutley beat Mark Lloyd – split decision 30-27, 28-29, 30-27

Tyrone Nurse beat Dale Miles – third round stoppage (Miles cut above right eye)

Adil Anwar beat Barry Morrison – unanimous decision 30-27, 29-28, 29-28

John Watson beat Dean Harrison – first round stoppage, 1 minute 40 seconds

Semi-finals

Tyrone Nurse beat Young Mutley – unanimous decision 29-28, 29-28, 29-28

Adil Anwar beat John Watson – unanimous decision 30-27, 30-27, 30-27

Final

Adil Anwar beat Tyrone Nurse – unanimous decision 30-28, 30-27, 29-28