RICHARD COMMEY STARS IN SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER ON JULY 13TH

Steve Goodwin (Goodwin Promotions) and Olivia Goodwin (Goodwin Main Events) are planning a bumper
end of season with two Saturday night shows at York Hall in the space of two weeks.

Olivia stages her best ever card on 13th July in an event entitled 'Saturday Night Fever'.  Olivia promotes this alongside Streetwise Promotions from Ghana.

Top of the bill is Ghanaian star and IBF African champion Richard Commey (15-0, all by stoppage) against former Commonwealth featherweight champion Paul Truscott. The fight is a final eliminator for the Commonwealth lightweight title which is being contested on the same night by Derry Mathews and Tommy Coyle.

Commey says: "I have total respect for Truscott but the one I want is Derry Mathews. His manager said I was not
good on Twitter and I want to show him by beating his boy. First however I have to fight Paul who is a quality fighter and I am looking forward to the challenge."

This is the first time for many years that an African boxer has being promoted by a UK promoter and treated as the home fighter. The Goodwins alongside Michael Amoo-Bediako of Streetwise have made this happen.

Chief support is a heavyweight title bout over ten rounds for the British Masters belt where Brixton banger Ian Lewison takes on former conqueror Colin Kenna. Lewison, fresh from a controversial semi-final exit in Prizefighter,
has his first ten round contest against Kenna who in his last fight beat Lewison.

"I am going to hurt and punish Kenna," said Lewison. "The fight will be a destruction. I will be at my lightest and fastest ever. Don't blink as Kenna hits the canvas".

A third big fight sees the skilful Philip 'Quicksilver' Bowes (6-0) compete for the Masters light-welterweight crown against Joe Elfidh (7-3). Bowes is one of boxing's rising stars and Elfidh is a tough Yorkshireman who is
remembered for his fight with Scott Harrison.

Ricky Boylan competes for the International Masters Bronze title over eight rounds against an international opponent yet to be confirmed.

The card sees the return of Tom 'The Bomb' Dallas in a six round International contest. This is Dallas' first contest since signing a promotional deal with the Goodwins. Exciting light-heavyweight Miles Shinkwin (3 <<...>> -0) has his first eight round contest.

Plus, as is always the case with a Goodwin card, many more bouts to be added.

Two weeks earlier on 29th June Olivia's father Steve Goodwin stages a 13-fight card headlined by two Masters title fights.

Prizefighter finalist Hari Miles defends his British Masters cruiserweight title against 'The Emperor' Menay
Edwards. Edwards decided not to go into Prizefighter as he is opting for a career build rather than instant money in a three round format. Miles has been taunting Edwards on social networking sites after Edwards won their
first clash with Miles claiming late notice as the reason for the loss.

Edwards said: "H Bomb is one bomb that never detonates. He can't punch, has a big mouth and I will shut him
up once and for all on 29 June. He needs to go back to being a journeyman. Thats his level!"

Exciting Goodwin middleweight Lee 'The Banjo' Markham defends his British Masters middleweight title against Alistair Warren (8-4-2).  Lee is marching on a career path that will eventually lead to bigger title honours.

'The Rematch' features former British title challenger Michael Lomax against former Commonwealth champion Bradley Pryce over eight rounds. Pryce won their first encounter in Wales and Lomax wants revenge.

What could be fight of the night sees 'Smoking' Joe Mullender (4-0) take on former Southern Area champion Gary Boulden over eight rounds. This will be one all out war and not to be missed.

The undercard features the debut of former professional footballer Leon McKenzie who competes at super-middleweight and the debut of two future champions in heavyweight Dominic Akinlade and light-welterweight 'Showstar' Sohail Ahmad who has been working with Yassine el Maachi.

Another barnstormer sees Southern Area super-featherweight champion Michael 'Chunky' Devine take on the Belarusian banger Andrei Hramyka (10-6-2). Hramyka has won nine of his ten victories inside the distance and Devine is susceptible to a punch as when floored in the first round by Dan Naylor in his Southern Area title victory.

The Goodwin team brings fantastic value to small hall boxing - evenly matched bouts offering value and excitement.

Tickets are available at £100 VIP reserved ringside (including free private bar), £60 reserved ringside and £35 unreserved.

There are discounts if you buy tickets for both shows before 3rd June.
 

Tickets at www.goodwinpromotions.co.uk or 01525 851150

ASTON TO FIGHT FOR FIRST TITLE ON PACKED BROOK SHOW

Dudley fighter in one of five title bouts in Sheffield

Exciting middleweight prospect Ryan Aston will take on Curtis Valentine for the vacant Midlands Area title on the packed undercard of the Kell Brook vs. Carson Jones show on July 7 at the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield.

Aston has made an impressive start to his professional career, winning all seven of his fights in his first year in the pro ranks and impressing fans and pundits alike along the way.

The 21 year old, who stopped Paul Samuels in the fifth round of their six round clash in his last outing in Nottingham in May, faces Nottingham’s Valentine in both men’s first title bout and the Dudley man plans to finish the year in style by bagging his first belt.

“I cannot wait to get in the ring for my first pro title shot,” said Aston. “It’s been a dream year for me, I’ve fought on some big shows like the Kell Brook vs. Matthew Hatton card and the amazing Carl Froch vs. Lucian Bute show. But this is what all the hard work has been about. I’ve been training well, I feel good and hope that this will be the first of many titles in my career.”

There are now five title fights on the card in what is sure to be another explosive night in the Sheffield culminating with Brook’s IBF International welterweight title clash with the tough American Jones.

Two eagerly anticipated European title rematches as Gavin Rees defends his lightweight title against Derry Mathews and Kerry Hope faces Greg Proksa in his first defence of the Middleweight crown he took off the Pole in March.

Before the European clashes, Lee Purdy will defend his English welterweight title against Chris Johnson and one of Matchroom Sport’s newest signings Kal Yafai also makes his debut on the undercard.

Tickets for Kell Brook vs. Carson Jones featuring Ryan Aston’s first title shot are on sale now priced £30, £40, £60, and £100 from the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield box office on 0114 256 5656 and at  www.motorpointarenasheffield.com.

VIP packages will be sold exclusively by Matchroom Sport priced £150 on 01277 359900 or at www.matchroomboxing.com. The package includes inner ringside seating (front seven rows), pre-fight party from 5.30pm-8pm with complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks and canapés. (The bar will stay open as a pay bar after 8pm.)

BROOK: HEROIC FROCH WILL INSPIRE ME

Sheffield star wants to follow Britain’s number one to glory

Kell Brook has vowed to emulate stablemate Carl Froch after watching the Nottingham man become a three-time World champion on Saturday night.

Froch took just five rounds to destroy previously unbeaten IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute in front of a sold out Capital FM Arena and the show smashed Sky Sports viewing figures set by Brook when he fought Matthew Hatton in March.

Sheffield sensation Brook faces his toughest test yet when he meets IBF number three Carson Jones in a bout likely to be given official eliminator status by the governing body, and Brook says he has been inspired by The Cobra.

“Carl’s performance on Saturday was just out of this world,” said Brook. “Afterwards he said it was an all-or-nothing night so to go in there with that pressure and produce a performance like that is incredible.”

Brook was ringside with stablemates Darren Barker and Kal Yafai and joined the 9,500 fans in an outburst of joy as Froch followed flurries of punches in the third and fourth rounds to stop the Canadian after 65 seconds of the fifth.

“When the referee stepped in to give the count, everyone thought the fight was all over and the noise was unbelievable,” said Brook. “Carl is the best in Britain without any doubt and a great example to any young fighter. He is an absolute animal in training and totally professional in everything he does. He’s someone I really look up to and lean on ahead of my fights now we’re in the same team.

“I know the size of the task ahead of me on July 7 – he’s obviously totally confident of coming over here and beating me. But just look at what Carl did to Lucian. He said he was insulted that he thought he could come here and beat him and Carl put him in his place – I need to do exactly the same thing because the reward at the end will be a World title shot.”

Before the main event there is a stacked undercard led by two European title rematches as Gavin Rees defends his lightweight title against Derry Mathews and Kerry Hope defends the European middleweight title against Greg Proksa. One of Matchroom Sport’s newest signings Kal Yafai also makes his debut on the undercard.

Tickets for Kell Brook vs. Carson Jones featuring European title rematches between Gavin Rees and Derry Mathews and Kerry Hope and Greg Proksa and Kal Yafai’s debut are on sale now priced £30, £40, £60, and £100 from the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield box office on 0114 256 5656 and at www.motorpointarenasheffield.com.

VIP packages will be sold exclusively by Matchroom Sport priced £150 on 01277 359900 or at  www.matchroomboxing.com. The package includes inner ringside seating (front seven rows), pre-fight party from 5.30pm-8pm with complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks and canapés. (The bar will stay open as a pay bar after 8pm.)

BROOK AND JONES DRAW BATTLE LINES IN SHEFFIELD

July 7 show set to sizzle after duo clash at press conference

Kell Brook’s IBF welterweight clash with Carson Jones on July 7 at the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield promises fireworks after the pair clashed at today’s press conference at the venue.

The stakes couldn’t be higher for the pair as IBF number three ranked Jones travels from his Oklahoma home to Sheffield to face hometown star Brook who is ranked two places below him at five.

With the vacant title to be decided by a June meeting between number one ranked Mike Jones and number two Randall Bailey, the winner of Brook and Jones’ clash is likely to be given mandatory challenger status when the belt is decided, and Brook admitted he was riled by the American who bragged that he would stop the unbeaten Ingle Gym product in front of his home fans.

“He’s very brash and has a lot to say, and he’s got under my skin if I’m honest,” said Brook. “Talk is cheap though and I’m not interested in what he claims he’s going to do to me in front of my fans. I can assure you though that he is not coming to my town to beat me up and he better get some sightseeing in as he will need some good memories to take back to the States as I’m going to be a nightmare for him on July 7.

“It’s not going to go 12 rounds. I was too nice against Matthew Hatton and this time you are going to see the nasty side of Kell Brook. He’s the final step towards a World title and he’s not going to get in my way.”

Jones – a year younger than Brook at 25 – has won his last eight fights inside the distance and vowed to silence Brook’s hometown fans and stretch that record to nine.

“Inviting me to come over here to fight Brook is a big mistake,” said Jones. “He may have 9,000 fans on the night against five for me, but when we get in the ring it’s just me and him – he might think he’s a beast but I am a monster.”

Before the main event there is a stacked undercard led by two European title rematches. Gavin Rees defends his lightweight title against Derry Mathews 10 months after their original clash in Newport ended in a technical draw after Mathews broke his nose in a head clash. Since then, both men have recorded impressive wins on the road, with Rees defending the belt with an impressive seventh round stoppage of Anthony Mezaache in Paris, before Mathews ripped the British title away from Anthony Crolla in Oldham, stopping ‘Million Dollar’ in the sixth.

“Everyone was disappointed by the first fight as it was brewing up nicely – he started well and I was getting into it before the head clash,” said Rees. “But now the fight is probably much bigger after we’ve both had good wins in our last fights. Derry boxed brilliantly against Anthony, I really didn’t think he was going to win but it was comprehensive and he hurt him on so many occasions, which suggests he can bang at this weight. For me, this is probably my last domestic and European hurdle before getting back to World title level and for Derry he wants to prove he can step up – so the stakes are high for us both.”

“I know what I’ve got to do to beat Gavin,” said Mathews. “I was the underdog the first time we fought and I’ll be the underdog again – but I was the underdog against Crolla and I outclassed him so I don’t pay attention to the odds. Gavin is a different level to Anthony Crolla, he’s proved that he is World class and I’m sure that he wants to get there again, but so do I. He was outstanding in Paris when he beat Mezaache so we’re both on a high, and I think that it’ll be a cracking fight for the fans on a great card.”

Kerry Hope defends the European middleweight title against Greg Proksa in a rematch at the venue where Hope stunned the Surrey-based Pole to take the title on points in a bloody encounter in March. The Welshman is determined to hold onto the belt while Proksa will be gunning to retain it, with show promoter Eddie Hearn dangling a possible autumn date with former champ and World title challenger Darren Barker in front of the winner.

“I was really confident of upsetting Proksa last time and I’m even more confident that I can keep hold of the belt,” said Hope. “Some people have said that he might have taken me lightly and that he’ll be training extra hard to win the title back, but I will be training like I’m the underdog in order to keep hold of it, and with someone like Barker there to fight down the line, I’m sure it will be an even better fight than the first one.”

Matchroom Sport’s latest signing Kal Yafai will make his debut on the undercard, and the 22 year old amateur star is said he is delighted to be kicking off life in the pro ranks on such a star-studded bill.

“It’s a massive honour to be handed your debut fight on a card with so much quality,” said Yafai. “But I knew when I signed with Eddie that these were they types of shows that I would be involved in and that was why I put pen to paper – and I intend to show people that I am worth the hype.”

Tickets for Kell Brook vs. Carson Jones featuring European title rematches between Gavin Rees and Derry Mathews (lightweight) and Kerry Hope and Greg Proksa (middleweight) and Kal Yafai’s debut are on sale now priced £30, £40, £60, and £100 from the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield box office on 0114 256 5656 and at www.motorpointarenasheffield.com.

VIP packages will be sold exclusively by Matchroom Sport priced £150 on 01277 359900 or at www.matchroomboxing.com. The package includes inner ringside seating (front seven rows), pre-fight party from 5.30pm-8pm with complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks and canapés. (The bar will stay open as a pay bar after 8pm.)

KELL BROOK TO FACE IBF #3 CARSON JONES ON JULY 7

Winner set for IBF shot in the fall – tickets on sale 9am

Kell Brook will face highly ranked Carson Jones at the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield on July 7 as an IBF World title shot draws a step closer.

Jones is ranked at number three by the IBF – two spots above Brook – and the stakes couldn’t be higher as the victor would move into pole position to fight for the title in the fall, which is being contested by current number one Mike Jones and number two ranked Randall Bailey on June 9 in Las Vegas.

Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday May 11 priced £30, £40, £60, and £100 from the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield box office on 0114 256 5656 and at www.motorpointarenasheffield.com. VIP packages will be sold exclusively by Matchroom Sport for £150 on 01277 359900 or at www.matchroomboxing.com.

The Sheffield star thrilled a packed home crowd in the Arena in March when he dismantled Matthew Hatton in a master class that drew record viewing figures on Sky Sports for non-pay-per-view boxing.

The 25 year old from Oklahoma has won his last eight fights inside the distance, and currently holds the USBA welterweight title, which he defended for the second time in April with a seventh round stoppage over Allen Conyers in his hometown, the 34^th win and the 24^th by KO.

“It’s a step-up in class again and one that I’m truly ready for,” said Brook. “Jones is experienced for his age and has been avoided, but I want a World title shot and in order to get it, I need to go through him.

“The Hatton night just blew my mind. It was the biggest crowd I’ve ever fought in front of and they were all there for me. That’s a very special feeling and I cannot wait to experience it again.”

“Basically Kell Brook is the last person standing in my way to fight for a World title,” said Jones. “He will have to kill me to beat me because I have worked too hard to let anyone stop me from reaching my dream.

“It does not matter if the fight is here, there or in Zimbabwe. I have made a living going to other people’s hometowns and knocking them out and this will be no exception. Kell Brook needs to be afraid, very afraid, because his fans are going to see him put to sleep on July 7.”

“This is a tremendous opportunity for Carson and one he personally asked for,” said Bobby Dobbs, Jones’ promoter. “Carson is often overlooked because of his earlier career mismanagement, but I always knew he was an exceptional talent and he has finally begun to hit his stride. He has won eight in a row all by stoppage with some very tough fighters in that cycle. We respect Brook and his team, but we are coming to win and move on to the next level.”

Brook’s showdown with Jones tops a great bill for British boxing as Gavin Rees and Derry Mathews meet again for Rees’ European title with Mathews putting the British belt on the line too. Kerry Hope and Greg Proksa face a rematch for the European middleweight title Hope wrestled from Proksa on the Brook vs. Hatton undercard.

Lee Purdy will defend his English welterweight title against Lancastrian Chris Johnson and Ryan Aston will fight for the Midlands Area middleweight belt, and there will also be another outing for Team GB star Scotty Cardle.

“Brook vs. Jones is a fantastic contest and one I’m delighted to have signed,” said Hearn. “Kell is in one of the toughest divisions and to manoeuvre a World title shot isn’t easy. Victory against Carson will put us in line for a shot at the Jones-Bailey winner and that’s a fight I want to bring to the UK in October.

“This will be our first show of the new season and in terms of the card, it’s a statement of intent of where we want to take the sport – bigger fights, bigger nights and packed out arenas.”

Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday May 11 priced £30, £40, £60, and £100 from the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield box office on 0114 256 5656 and at www.motorpointarenasheffield.com.

VIP packages will be sold exclusively by Matchroom Sport priced £150 on 01277 359900 or at www.matchroomboxing.com. The package includes inner ringside seating (front seven rows), pre-fight party from 5.30pm-8pm with complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks and canapés. (The bar will stay open as a pay bar after 8pm.)

EURO RIVALS REES VS. MATHEWS AND HOPE VS. PROKSA MEET ON BROOK BILL

Two European title rematches top undercard for July 7 Sheffield show

Gavin Rees and Derry Mathews meet again for the European lightweight belt on the undercard of Kell Brook’s July 7 show in Motorpoint Arena Sheffield, which features another European title rematch in Kerry Hope vs. Greg Proksa, live on Sky Sports.

Rees and Mathews fought for the Welshman’s European lightweight title in Newport in October but the bout was cut short when the Liverpool challenger broke his nose in the fourth round after an accidental head clash.

Since then, both men have recorded impressive wins, with Rees travelling to Paris in March to defend his title in style with a seventh round stoppage of Anthony Mezaache, while Mathews upset the odds in Oldham last month with a sixth round stoppage of Anthony Crolla to win the British title.

That was the venue where Hope stunned Proksa in a brutal and bloody battle for the Surrey-based Pole’s European middleweight title, with Merthyr Tydfil’s Hope putting in the best performance of his career to inflict the first defeat of the hotly-fancied 27 year old.

Sheffield’s unbeaten welterweight star Brook will announce his opponent for July 7 live on Sky Sports boxing magazine show Ringside on Thursday at 6pm, and show promoter Eddie Hearn is delighted be putting on these two mouth-watering rematches.

“These are two fantastic rematches that will provide huge entertainment on July 7,” said show promoter Eddie Hearn. “The Rees vs. Mathews fight in Wales was warming up nicely when Derry got injured, and I’m glad they are getting the chance to get it on again. Gavin was fantastic in France when he beat Mezaache and Derry’s performance against Crolla was very impressive and he certainly deserves a second crack at the title.

“Kerry Hope’s win over Greg Proksa was a real shock to everyone – apart from Kerry and his team. They were convinced he had the goods to beat Greg and so it proved, he was terrific and it was a gruelling and gripping contest. Greg will have revenge on his mind while Kerry won’t want to let that title out of his hands, so I expect the rematch to top the ferocious intensity of the first fight.”