26 year old Lee “The Banjo” Markham aims to be a three time Masters title holder at the weekend when he tackles Sam Couzens for the British Masters Gold Super-Middleweight strap.
Markham defeated Harry Matthews in April this year to win the British Masters Middleweight version and then defeated Tadus Jonkus in September to win the International Masters Super-Middleweight version.
Now he faces his toughest task to date against former Southern Area Champion Couzens.
The fight was originally scheduled for 12 rounds. However the British Boxing Board of Control did not have an A* referee who are deemed competent to officiate at Masters Gold, British and European, Commonwealth and World titles. Consequently the bout has had to be reduced to 10 rounds
“I feel great and have had an ideal preparation with my trainer Lenny Butcher” said Markham. I am in no major rush and am improving my opponents gradually under manager Steve Goodwin.” Markham continued “I will move up levels when the time is right. I don’t just want to win major titles, I want to hold onto them and these progression fights will give me the experience to be able to do that.”
Couzens is no back number and knocked out Kelvin Young in May 2013 to win the Southern Area title for the same weight division.
Co featuring is the International Masters Light-Middleweight title scrap between Kris Agye-Dua and tough Czech Jan Balog.
In 2012 Agyei-Dua had two unsuccessful attempts to win the Southern Area strap. In two televised Primetime bouts Agyei-Dua fought a draw with Nathan Graham in September before a shoulder injury forced Kris to retire in the fourth round of the December rematch.
Agyei-Dua has since had a comeback win over Dee Mitchell which sets him up for this title shot. “I am determined to make it third time lucky and am so grateful to all the support I am bringing from Essex for this fight.” However Balog has other ideas “Agyei-Dua is nothing compared to me. I have trained hard for this fight and he is just a stepping stone for me fighting the better British fighters.”
Goodwin's "Golden Boy" John McCallum from Edinburgh competes for his first title when he competes for the International Masters Bronze Light-Middleweight title.
A special attraction sees London's undefeated "Quicksilver" Philip Bowes (6-0) take on former British Champion Paul Appleby from Scotland in a 6 round Light-Welterweight contest. This could well be fight of the night.
Exciting undefeated Heavyweight prospect AJ Carter (4-0) has a 4 round contest against Luke Martin from the UK.
The exciting "Pexican" Johnny Garton is the current holder of the British Masters Bronze Welterweight title and has 10 wins from 10 fights. Johnny has a 6 round International contest in what is his toughest contest to date. Johnny takes on Stanislav Nenkov who has won 7 from 11 fights.
"Saint" George Jupp has an International 6 round Super-Featherweight contest. George takes on the in form Kristian Dochev who has won 3 from his last 4 fights and featured on Box Nation on 16th November recording another victory.
Kevin Greenwood has recorded four consecutive victories at Super-Middleweight and will be aiming to make it five in a super-middleweight contest. Kevin takes on Pole Robert Studzinski.
Former Premier League professional footballer Leon McKenzie has made a perfect start to his professional boxing career with 2 victories and aims for his third in a 4 round super-middleweight contest. Leon has his toughest fight to date against Darren McKenna.
Another former professional footballer Leo Roget makes his professional debut taking on Mitch Mitchell in a 4 round contest.
The show features the eagerly awaitied debuts of Craig Hardy at Super-Featherweight, Adam Balski at Cruiserweight and John Cash at Light Middleweight. All participate in four round contests.
