DERRY TWEETS HIS WAY TO EURO TITLE SHOT

DERRY Mathews aims to get back on top of British boxing next month after landing a shot at the European lightweight title, courtesy of Twitter!

 The former WBU world champion has bagged a crack at Wales' Gavin Rees in Cardiff on July 23rd thanks to an enquiry he made on the popular social networking site.

 Mathews was due to face city rival Stephen Jennings in an English title assignment the week after, with tickets for the Greenbank Sports Centre already having sold out.

 Yet after seeing a post from promoter Eddie Hearn online, he threw his name into the frame to face the Welshman.

 Derry revealed to Mersey Gloves: "I follow Eddie on Twitter and seen a post saying he was travelling to Wales to fix up a title defence for Gavin Rees to go live on Sky, so I just messaged him and offered my services as an opponent. Next thing you know he was on the phone.

 "It's an exciting fight, two former world champions, and it's a fight I've worked hard to get too. Like Gavin I've tasted defeat, but I've proved that there is plenty of fight left in me yet and rebuilt my career.

"Winning this European title will get me back where I was once, in fact it will get me higher, and I can't wait to fight Rees in his home town.

 "I'll take a few coaches down there and we'll bring that belt back to Liverpool for sure."

 

 

 

 Mathews also revealed one of the first people he contacted was Jennings.

 "I contacted Jenko right away and told him our fight was off," Derry adds. "Naturally he was a bit disappointed but he totally understands that you just can't pass opportunities by - plus he'll still fight for the English title, they'll just get him another opponent.

 "It's funny, I've know Jenko for a long time and we were both getting into fight mode and starting to have a little pop at one another. But we had a laugh about it when we spoke and, who knows, perhaps one day we'll get that fight on. The fans certainly wanted to see it if the ticket sales are anything to go by."

 For now though only one man is in Derry's mindset, Gavin Rees.

 "He's a veteran pro and very, very strong and so I certainly wont underestimate him," adds the now 28-5-1 former champion. "But I feel like this is destiny for me. I've worked so hard and been so low after suffering a string of defeats but now I am back and, believe me, Derry Mathews mark two is ten times better than the original."

* For ticketing information visit Derry's Twitter or Facebook page.

Bellew: I'll make McKenzie pay for drugs slur

TONY Bellew has warned rival Ovill McKenzie that he will punish him for his recent drugs slur when the pair meet in an eagerly awaited rematch on Saturday, July 16th.

 The British and Commonwealth titles will be on the line at the Echo Arena, when the two domestic light-heavyweight rivales will act as chief support to Ricky Burns' WBO world super-featherweight title fight against Nicky Cook.

 And it's the rematch between Bellew-McKenzie which has got Merseyside fight fans excited and looks destined to steal all the thunder from the main event as the increased tension builds daily.

 Last week Derby destroyer McKenzie marred the match-up by landing a low blow and accusing Bellew of being on drugs. The challenger made the allegation after seeing the popular Scouse 'Bomber' twice climb off the floor in their thrilling first fight to secure victory.

 But Bellew, speaking to a busy press pack at his base at Lambeth Road gym in Kirkdale earlier today, insists he will come to regret his insolence.

 "I've never heard anything so daft," said the unbeaten knockout artist. "But as well as being ridiculous it was massively offensive as well.

 "Every time I hit McKenzie on July 16, I will be saying to him 'The drugs don't work'. This fight is going to be like when Muhammad Ali kept saying ‘Whats’my name’ to Ernie Terrell

 "Every time I land a punch I'll be asking him 'Am I on drugs?' He'll regret ever making such a stupid statement by the time I've dealt with him.

 "I even contemplated coming out to the classic Verve song ‘The drugs don’t work’, but I’ve stuck with my regular Z-Cars track.

 "I'll definitely be shouting it at him when I've knocked him out for the second time. I've never done drugs and never will, and everyone who knows me can testify to that."

* Tickets, priced at £50, £80 and £100, are available on 0844 8000 400 or http://www.echoarena.com/

 

 

COOK PLANS EAST END REVIVAL ON MERSEYSIDE

NICKY COOK has warned English rival Ricky Burns he'll be on the wrong end of a Cockney revival on July 16th. The pair meet for the Scotsman's WBO super-featherweight world title at the Echo Arena.
 Cook says he'll be bringing the world title back to east London - and Mitchell will win his big fight against John Murray.
 A week earlier, Cook's former gym-mate Mitchell will attempt to reignite his career with a win against John Murray at the Excel in London. And Cookie is promising a spectacular against-the-odds double for the east end.
 "I'm concentrating on my world title fight against Burns and I'm sure Mitchell will do the job against Murray," said Cook. "I fancy Kevin's chances, and there is only one winner in my fight with Burns as far as I'm concerned.
 "This is my opportunity to set the record straight after my loss to Roman Martinez. I'm hungry at the moment, and a hungry fighter is a dangerous fighter. But I'll be going into my fight against Burns on a real high, whatever happens with Mitchell-Murray. I've not felt this good in training in a long, long time.
 "My camp in Tenerife so far has been great, and I think the next couple of weeks will be even better as I fine tune my preparations. I've been written off a few times since that Martinez loss, but if Ricky Burns underestimates me he is in for a massive shock because I'm going to Liverpool to knock him out."
 Tickets, priced at £50, £80 and £100, are available on 0844 8000 400 or www.echoarena.com
THE WBO SUPER-FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD
Ricky Burns vs. Nicky Cook
THE COMMONWEALTH AND VACANT BRITISH LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Tony Bellew vs. Ovill McKenzie
THE WBO INTERCONTINENTAL WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Frankie Gavin vs. Curtis Woodhouse
SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011
THE LIVERPOOL ECHO ARENA
***LIVE ON SKY SPORTS 1HD***

BELLEW VOWS TO KO McKENZIE FOR DRUG SLUR

Furious Tony Bellew has vowed to take revenge against Ovill McKenzie after he claimed he was on drugs.
 The pair meet on Saturday, July 16th at Liverpool's Echo Arena, with the Commonwealth and British light-heavyweight titles on the line, live on Sky Sports 1HD.
 It's a repeat of their thriller last December when Bellew twice climbed off the canvas to stop McKenzie late on in one of the fights of the year.
 At a heated press conference on Monday, McKenzie queried Bellew's powers of recovery in that fight.
 And he controversially suggested that the Liverpool hero could have been on drugs.
 But Bellew has rubbished the claim and has promised to ram McKenzie's insults back down his throat when they meet in his home city,"
 "Does he not remember that we were both tested before the fight?" asked Bellew. "He is a small minded clown and he's bringing our sport down with such stupid accusations. I'll ram these disgusting accusations down his throat come July 16th!"
 Bomber added: "He is completely insane. I took his best shots because I am always in fantastic shape. I'm the cleanest athlete in the sport. I've got great stamina and a great chin because I put in so many hard hours in the gym.
 "Claiming I'm on drugs is a huge insult and it has made me so fired up for our fight on July 16th. I'm going to come out swinging and hit McKenzie so hard he'll be the one who is high afterwards!"
Tickets, priced at £50, £80 and £100, are available on 0844 8000 400 or www.echoarena.com

THE WBO SUPER-FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD
Ricky Burns vs. Nicky Cook
THE COMMONWEALTH AND VACANT BRITISH LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Tony Bellew vs. Ovill McKenzie
THE WBO INTERCONTINENTAL WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Frankie Gavin vs. Curtis Woodhouse
SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011
THE LIVERPOOL ECHO ARENA
***LIVE ON SKY SPORTS 1HD***

BELLEW vs McKENZIE: HEAD-TO-HEAD ON MONDAY

Liverpool's Tony Bellew and domestic rival Ovill McKenzie will meet head-to-head on Monday to discuss their forthcoming rematch at the Echo Arena on Saturday 16th July.

Commonwealth light-heavyweight Champion Bellew and McKenzie fought one of the fights of the year last year with their up-and-down thriller and now they are set to do it again - with twice as much fireworks!

This time the British title will also be on the line after Bellew's bitter rival Nathan Cleverly vacated it.

All media are invited to attend and there are one-on-one interview and photo opportunities:

Monday 13th June
Hilton Liverpool - Grace Suite
3 Thomas Steers Way
Liverpool, L1 8LW
Time: 11.30am for a 12noon start

BAMMA 5: 'Semtex' Daley tops card featuring Wolflsair star Barnes

MMA takes centre stage this week with two massive promotions, one close to home and the other Down Under.

UFC 127 touches down in the Acer Arena in Sydney in the early hours of Sunday morning live on ESPN and is laden with talent like Michael Bisping, Curt Warburton and Tom Blackledge. But just a few hours before their Wolfslair team-mate Leeroy Barnes will be doing his thing on the groundbreaking BAMMA 5 bill at the MEN Arena.

Former UFC star Paul 'Semtex' Daley tops the Manchester bill which is easily BAMMA's biggest and best promotion yet.

Despite a disappointing end to his UFC career, Daley remains one of the biggest draws in European MMA and this weekend he hits the North West in familiar, explosive style.

Japan's Yuya Shirai has made the trip from the East and his 20-8-0 record featuring nine stoppages suggests that this one may not go the distance.

The BAMMA welterweight title will be up for grabs and Nottingham puncher Daley, himself now 20-9-2, is confident that fight fans are in for a treat.

The 12-fight card also features former Pride and UFC heavyweight star Ricco Rodriguez, whose extensive Octagon record features names like Randy Couture, Antonio Nogueira and current man of the moment Antonio 'Bigfoot' Silva. The 45-11-0 New Yorker, currently on a run of 10 straight wins, takes on Londoner James McSweeney, the former TUF contestant, who is himself looking to claim a mammoth scalp to try bounce back from his short-lived UFC stint.

Merseyside regular Alex Makhonin also appears on the main card, the Lancastrian taking a big step up in class from domestic level to challenge another fighter with UFC experience, Frenchman Xavier Foupa-Pokam. Scouse fight fans will recall 8-1-0 Makhonin's recent winning displays on the last few OMMAC bills at the Liverpool Olympia.

However, the bulk of MMA supporters making the trip up the M62 this Saturday will undoubtedly be doing so in support of Barnes.



Wolflsair's Leeroy Barnes features on this weekend's BAMMA 5
 card at the MEN Arena



The Wolfslair welterweight has taken his show on the road after a couple of early fights on Merseyside and has suffered some mixed results against good quality domestic opposition. His 4-6-0 record hides a real dedication to his craft and after stringing together back to back wins for the first time in his MMA career the popular scrapper is confident of adding to his revival this weekend.

Norwegian novice Mohsen Bahari, with just one pro win on his slate, will be in the opposing corner in Manchester and despite him being something of an unknown quantity, Barnes has benefited from a great training camp and is raring to go.

"I feel great, I just want to get in there now and do my thing. I've had a great camp for this fight and I am looking forward to fighting on my first BAMMA show."

BAMMA 5 Full Fight Card:

　Paul Daley v Yuya Shirai

(Welterweight Championship)

Ricco Rodriguez v James McSweeney

Alex Makhonin v Xavier Foupa-Pokam

Claudio Henrique Da Silva

Undercard:

Daniel "Denzil" Thomas v AJ Wenn

Leeroy Barnes v Mohsen Bahari

Rob Mills v Leigh Cohoon

Jason Ball v Peter Duncan

Paul Cook v Michael Johnson

Costas Doru v Liam James

Franky Slater v Jeremy Petley



* Tickets are priced from £25 and are available via ticketmaster.co.uk

NICK PEET

Tim Newman v Diego Vital

v Jean-Francois Lenogue

WATSON: CROLLA WAS SUPERB BUT MAKING WEIGHT RUINED ME

John Watson has praised the performance of new British lightweight champion Anthony Crolla but admits boiling his body down to make the lightweight championship limit took its toll at the Olympia on Saturday night.
 Watson suffered his second career defeat in his hometown live on Sky Sports when a relentless Crolla dominated the centre of the ring and with it the judges scorecards before forcing a painful TKO victory in the ninth round.
 After a run of 13 straight victories, Watson has now lost his last two - both by stoppage - and he admits that making the 9st 9lbs championship limit left him feeling tired and lethargic.
 The 27-year-old, who was halted in 11 rounds by Gavin Rees in his first shot at the Lonsdale Belt in November, said: "I've only made the lightweight championship limit three times and I guess my body is telling me my future lies at 10 stone. When I beat Martin Gethin in the eliminator I seemed to tire late in the fight but my fitness got me through.
 "Then against Rees I had made the weight a month before when I was a reserve to step in when John Murray was doubtful for his European title fight with [Andriy] Kudryavtsev so I had a good eight weeks or so to make the weight. But for this fight I just didn't have enough time.

John Watson has vowed to return after his setback British title defeat to Anthony Crolla

 "I felt lethargic during training, which is not like me. All I wanted to do was sleep when I wasn't at the gym. My body was telling me something but I had to stay positive, had to take my opportunity and I felt like I was going to be the bigger and stronger fighter in there.
 "But I had nothing in me once the bell went. My feet were so heavy and I wasn't anywhere near as sharp as I have been. It was a painful experience."
 For all his own problems however, Watson admits that he never underestimated Crolla for a second and he was more than aware that the Mancunian was capable of that kind of performance.
 He adds: "I totally respected Anthony Crolla long before we shared a ring. He's a very good boxer and he's fighting out of what in my opinion is the best camp in the country right now. They leave no stone unturned at Gallagher's Gym and he deserved the victory.
 "I wasn't surprised by his power, his confidence or his fitness because he's a dedicated kid and a true professional. I just wish that I too would of been at my best because I think it would of definitely been a fight of the year contender.
 "So I want to congratulate Crolla, a worthy champion, but also state that I will be back. Undoubtedly that will be up at 10 stone, but I'll learn from this and come back stronger."
NICK PEET