EDWARDS AND SATCHELL READY FOR BIG AINTREE JUMP

Scouse rivals Paul Edwards and Kevin Satchell have a huge fence to clear at Aintree racecourse on Saturday – one another!

Their Merseyside derby title fight has been rewarded with the vacant Commonwealth flyweight championship, which was recently relinquished by former champion Chris Edwards.

It is now the third major title fight topped by the vacant British and Commonwealth title clash between local heavyweight sensation David Price (12-0) against Sam Sexton (15-2) at Aintree's Equestrian Centre.

Former British champ Edwards (9-1) and Satchell (7-0) have put their friendship aside and promoter Frank Maloney, never one to stir things up, is tipping a photo-finish.

Frank Maloney sits between Kevin Satchell and Paul Edwards
ahead of their Merseyside derby Commonwealth title fight

Maloney said: “They are both every good young fighters and ambitious. It is a pick ‘em fight and so hard to pick a winner. When they were matched against each other neither one of them needed to think about accepting the challenge. I hope that whoever wins will get a crack at Chris Edwards for the British belt next, because they will have earned that Lonsdale belt chance.”

In the chief support, Ashley Theophane (31-4-1) defends his British light-welterweight crown - however, it will not be against Wallasey's Steve Williams who was forced to pull out with a chest infection on Monday night.

In another Merseyside derby special attraction, John Donnelly (13-2) collides with Kirkby's Mike Robinson (5-4-3) in a repeat of their thrilling English super-flyweight title fight, while former amateur rivals Johnny Quigley (6-0) and Ryan Farrag (6-1) also feature on the 11-fight card. 

Tickets are selling fast. The are some available priced at £95 (ringside), £75 (main floor) and £55 (floor) from www.frankmaloney.com or www.ticketmaster.com

SMITH BROS OUT – SELKIRK AND FIELDING IN!

Joe Selkirk and Rocky Fielding will hope to close in on domestic title fights later this summer after being confirmed as joint top of the bill main events on a card in Oldham on May 18th. However, the switch is due to both brothers Stephen and Liam Smith seeing their planned big night's both scrapped.

Stephen was due to headline a card at the Liverpool Olympia on Friday May 11th, defending the WBO Intercontinental super-featherweight belt, while Liam was pencilled in to headline the card in Oldham. But both of their scheduled opponents have pulled out injured, forcing one card to be scrapped and the other to be recast.

A statement detailing all of the changes was released by Frank Warren Promotions this afternoon. Here it is in full...

"With the late cancellation of the BoxAcademy show at the Troxy that was due to take place tomorrow in London and injury problems on other shows, Frank Warren Promotions and Queensberry Promotions have made some changes to their forthcoming schedule of events.

"The Frank Warren show at the Liverpool Olympia on Friday 11th May, headlined by Stephen Smith's WBO Intercontinental super-featherweight title defence against Francisco Urena, has been cancelled after Urena pulled out injured.

"Liverpool stars Joe Selkirk, Rocky Fielding and Paul Butler, who were featuring on the undercard, will now go on the debut Queensberry Promotions BoxAcademy show which will take place on Friday 18th May at the Oldham Leisure Centre.  

"Ronnie Heffron had to withdraw from his clash with Liam Smith on the Oldham card due to a hand injury, so unbeaten light-middleweight star Selkirk will now joint-headline alongside super-middleweight ace Rocky Fielding, in separate 10-round contests.

"Unbeaten Liverpool light-middleweight talent Smith will go on the Newport Sports Centre card on Friday 25th May which is headlined by Lee Selby's Commonwealth featherweight title defence against Patrick Okine. 

"In addition, Frank Warren has confirmed a show for Friday 1st June at the York Hall, Bethnal Green, headlined by new Commonwealth middleweight Champion Billy Joe Saunders and Stephen Smith will be on the undercard.

"Saunders stopped Tony Hill inside an explosive 30 seconds at the Royal Albert Hall last Saturday night to win the title and will be making the first defence of the belt."