Devine ready for Connor in grudge match

It is only two weeks until the Olivia Goodwin promoted “To Hell and Back show” opens up the new boxing season at York Hall with a show headlined by the grudge match between two former Southern Area Champions Michael “Chunky” Devine and Danny Cassius Connor.

Both boxers have sold plenty of tickets for a fight that will have the venue buzzing. The fight which is billed for the British Masters Lightweight title but also is a final eliminator for the Southern Area strap held by Adam Dingsdale heads a 10 fight card full of interest.

Devine says “Connor has done a lot of talking but I prefer to do my talking in the ring. Danny is in for a lot of trouble.” Connor feels differently it is all about levels and I am on a higher one. It will be shown on the night”.

Two other title fights offer chief support. George Jupp takes on Andy Harris for the British Masters Super-Featherweight strap whilst Diego Burton and Danny Brown have an eagerly awaited rematch for the Super-Middleweight version.

The controversial Ohara Davies has his third paid contest against Josh Thorne and is looking for his second consecutive knockout in a 4 round lightweight bout.

In a battle of the undefeated Ben Day (6 fights) takes on Velerijs Podojahins (2 fights). Someones ) has to go in this enthralling 6 round light-welterweight contest.

Rakeem “The Noble” Ashaye has been making good progress racking up 5 wins with 2 stoppages and has a 6 round contest against tough Kristian Dochev from Bulgaria.

Sohail “Showstar” Ahmad is 3 from 3 and looks to make  it 4 against Yorkshireman Graham Fearn.

The show sees the battle of the debutants where Ashley Hill takes on Ashley Howard at light middleweight.

Ollie Pinnock an exciting welterweight makes his debut against Vasil Vasilev (Bulgaria) whilst Heavyweight debutant David Jones takes on Moses Matovu.

Finally after an absence from the ring Karol Ozimkowski makes his return against Wales’s Jimmy White.

Tickets are available at www.goodwinpromotions.co.uk

Have a look at the press conference video here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlYEp6QHTfM&list=UUanHXZloJnfTivuj04Uf6rQ

Youngest Promoter in the world stages First show at the iconic York Hall on March 8th

18 year old Josh Goodwin takes the first step into the promotional world of boxing when he sets history and becomes the youngest boxing promoter ever in the world to stage an event.

Josh is following in the footsteps of father Steve and sister Olivia who are also UK promoters.

“This is something I have wanted to do since I was 15” said Josh “ I currently box myself as an amateur for Luton Academy but I see my future as a full time promoter. My father has really expanded but manages now over 30 boxers so his vision is to move more into the management side and I will be the promoter.”

Josh is well respected even at the age of 18 and is regularly helping to match the Goodwin Promotions shows run by his father.

Whilst building his boxing career Josh is currently studying for the financial services exams which he plans will lead him to a masters degree.

Steve said “I am really proud of Josh. He really knows his stuff and will not only make a great success as a promoter he will be one of the worlds top matchmakers in years to come. His knowledge and assessments are way beyond his years”.

Josh stages a bumper first show with no less than 18 fights on the card.

A mouth watering event with over 15 fights scheduled and a fantastic top of the bill where “Saint” George Jupp goes for his first title.

As well as standard and ringside tickets there are limited VIP packages available at £100 which includes guaranteed front two rows seating and a free bar for 2 1/2 hours from 5pm to 7.30 pm.

 Topping the bill is the exciting “Saint” George Jupp from Kent. George is known to tv fans following his exciting appearance in Prizefighter and steps up for his first title shot when he competes for the International Masters Super-Featherweight title. George takes on the toughest fight of his career when he faces the highly regarded Gia Atenov from Georgia. 

Atenov has only lost 1 from 11 fights and is coming to the UK to beat George and is searching for a European title shot in the next 18 months. What a fight this will be.

 The undercard will bring some massive excitement.

 Southern Area Super-Featherweight Champion Michael Devine makes his first appearence since moving up to lightweight and takes part in an International 6 round contest. Michael takes on another Georgian Tornike Tortladze. Tortladze will be Michaels toughes test in his career so far. Michael who won the southern Area Super-Featherweight title is looking for a crack at the Lightweight version in the Summer so cannot afford a slip up.

 Everyone is looking forward to the first appearance in 2014 of one of the countries most exciting heavyweight prospects. London’s AJ Carter is undefeated in 5 fights (3 by ko) and will be taking part in an International heavyweight contest.

 Daley Ojuederie will be having his first contest since appearing in the tv show Big Brother. Daley takes part in a 4 round Light-Heavyweight contest. Daley takes on "The Entertainer" Jody Meikle from Scunthorpe. This will be a very entertaining fight!

 The show is filled with some of the best prospects London has to offer.

 “The Sensation” Ben Hall makes his eagerly anticipated debut. Formally an England International in the unpaid ranks, Ben is sure to make into a future Champion so will be great to see him at the start. Ben takes on Jason McArdle who has won 1 from 2. This promises to be a branstormer as McArdle is coming to win.

 Cruiserweight “The General” Aji Sharif made a successful pro debut at the end of 2013 and is looking forward to carry forward his momentum in his first International contest. Aji takes on Slovakian Mario Lakatos who has won 3 from 5 fights.

 Light-Welterweight Brett Beadon is one of the most exciting prospects to come out of Alan Smith’s stable and is heading towards British champion at the very least. Brett has his third paid contest on this show.

 “The Genie” Justin Menzie re-appears at Light-Middleweight after his exciting debut at the end of 2013. Dont blink when Justin is boxing! Justin takes on Liam Griffiths from Sussex.

 “Showstar” Sohail Ahmad is 2 from 2 and has a 4 round light-welterweight contest. Sohail takes on Liam ellis from Wales.

 Frankie Monkhouse has his first 6 round contest with an International bout.

The Comeback kid is Chas Symonds. Chas is the former Southern Area Champion and is coming back at the age of 31 for one final crack at aiming for the big time. Chas takes on the ultra tough William Warburton from Lancashire.

Kevin Greenwood always brings excitement and he has a 4 round contest at Super-Middleweight against the undefeated Curtis Gargano.

 Craig Hardy is another exciting prospect. His debut resulted in an action packed draw which had everyone on the edge of their seats. He will excite again in his 2^ndpro fight. Craig takes on Harvey Helmsley from Devon.

 All action Light-Heavyweight Remel Scott is back in action in a 4 round contest. Remel will be having his 2^nd pro fight on this show.

 Former professional footballer Leon McKenzie excites fans everywhere. Leon is undefeated in 3 bouts and has his fourth contest tonight.

 The card is completed by Hemel Hempstead’s Kingsley Walker who makes his debut over 4 rounds at Light-Welterweight.

Tickets are available by calling 01525 851150

CAYZER WORKING HARD TO GET BACK TO WINNING WAYS

21 year-old light-middleweight Billy 'The Kid' Cayzer’s professional career was going fully to plan as he rattled off four straight wins (three stoppages) before disaster occurred in his first live TV fight when he was stopped by Bulgarian champion Stiliyan Kostov in September 2012.

At the time of the loss, Cayzer was having some personal issues and in hindsight should have pulled out of the fight. But he is a determined young man and after getting his personal life back in order is now sparring around London to get ready for his comeback fight on Olivia Goodwin’s 'Collision Course' bill at York Hall on March 9^th.

Cayzer’s sparring has been exciting to watch. Joe Mullender was first on the list and most recently Cayzer has been involved in explosive sessions with John Ryder. Next week Billy travels to Chingford to spar Lee Markham followed by a final session with Mullender.

Cayzer says: “I believe the loss is a blessing in disguise. I now know what it takes to get to the top and I have no doubt with a fantastic trainer John Cole and a great promotional team around me I can get to the top. I am more committed than ever but have learned that if I am not 100% right I will not go through with a fight in the future.”

Cayzer faces Birmingham veteran Dee Mitchell on March 9^th  in a show that features two Southern Area title fights in Michael Devine v Dan Naylor (super-featherweight) and Leon Senior v Danny Couzens (light-heavyweight). It's a typically packed Goodwin card with eleven fights currently slated. Tickets are available at www.goodwinmaninevents.com

Providing he comes through unscathed, Cayzer could well be out again on another Goodwin Promotions' card, 'It's Banjo Time' at Grays Essex on 5^th April which will be screened live by Eurosport.

2013 is a year where Cayzer aims to develop maturity as a fighter. “Sparring John Ryder has shown me where I need to be and I feel with a couple of years under me I am more than capable of being there."

Watching Cayzer aiming to get there will be exciting viewing.

Edwards looks to start his empire with a British title

Exciting cruiserweight Menay ‘The Emperor’ Edwards looks to get his career back on track when he takes on former British champion Shane McPhilbin at York Hall on March 9th.

Edwards (8-2) lost his last contest on points after a war against current WBO International champion Neil Dawson in a fight which saw both boxers on the floor.

Edwards subsequently split from his management team and feels rejuvenated after signing up with the up and coming Goodwin Promotions stable.

“With the support of Steve Goodwin’s team I have no doubt that 2013 is going to be a massive year. I am looking for a British title shot towards the end of the year.”

The York Hall show is a typically packed Goodwin card, featuring ten fights, including a Southern Area super-featherweight title bout between Luton’s Michael ‘Chunky' Devine and Dan Naylor.

Also featured is a bout entitled ‘Revenge for the Sparta’ in which exciting middleweight Lee ‘The Banjo’ Markham, fresh from two televised stoppage wins, boxes Jamie Boness over six rounds. Boness stopped Markham's gym mate Kevin Greenwood inside a round in 2012 and Lee wants revenge for the Sparta Gym.

Former Prizefighter winner Michael Lomax makes his return to the ring after his reversal last time against Matthew Hatton. Lomax, like Edwards, has since signed a deal with the Goodwin team and takes part in a six-round welterweight contest against ultra-tough Arvydas Trizno from Lithuania.

The impressive ‘Smokin’ Joe Mullender has won three out of three contests and takes on Latvian number one Jevgenijs Andrejevs over six-threes at middleweight. Andrejevs has won two of his last three fights.

Super-middleweight Miley Cash makes his eagerly awaited professional debut in a four-round contest. Miley takes on Irishman Joe Rea, a semi-finallist in Prizefighter last year. It shows how confident the Cash team are in taking such a hard contest for his debut.

Boxing starts at 5.30 pm and tickets can be obtained fromwww.goodwinpromotions.co.uk

BRENTWOOD SET FOR DEVINE INTERVENTION

23 year-old Luton lightweight Michael Devine is set to step up in class when he tackles Andras Varga. The Hungarian, who has only lost two of his ten fights, faces Devine on Steve Goodwin's bumper 'Earthquake in Essex' bill at Brentwood on December 8th.

Luton has produced some notable champions in recent years such as Billy Schwer and Graham Earl - and Devine wants to emulate them.

“Billy and Graham created a massive buzz for boxing in the area," said Devine (7-1). "My support is increasing every fight, with over 150 expected to make the trip to Brentwood.

“I originally signed with Graham Earl as manager but things did not work out and we parted company after my fourth fight when I lost to Mark Alexander. I had very limited amateur experience and I was not ready for such an experienced opponent. I had nearly a year out whilst I sorted out my contractual problems and then signed management with James Paisley and a promotional deal with Goodwin Promotions. Things are going well and I'm now going to be live on Primetime in December.

“In the immediate future I would love a rematch with Alexander but he does not appear to want it. I have also heard Graham Earl is planning a comeback and if so I would love to fight him in the battle of Luton.

“Steve Goodwin has promised to keep me active in 2013 and I couldn’t be happier. My dream is to fight at Luton Football Ground and Steve has told me if I keep winning he will deliver this for me.”

The Devine-Varga fight is part of an exciting 15-fight card where more than half the matches are between boxers who both have positive records. The bill is headed by the Southern Area light-middleweight title rematch between Kris Agyei-Dua and Nathan Graham. Chief support is the heavyweight grudge match between former amateur star Ian Lewison and unbeaten Welsh heavyweight Dorian Darch (6-0).

Tickets can be bought at www.goodwinpromotions.co.uk or by calling 01525 851150.