McDermott to defend against Butler in Manchester

Dudley's Darren McDermott will defend his English title against mandatory challenger Bristol's Danny Butler on a Hatton promotions show at the Velodrome in Manchester on September 25th.

Purse bids were put out for this fight recently with Hatton's promotion team who represent Danny Butler winning the bids and putting the fight on for that date. There are strong rumours that this date could be Hatton's first show on Sky as part of the deal they have signed recently.

"The Black Country Bodysnatcher" Darren McDermott will be looking to get back to winning ways after recently coming up short in a Commonwealth title chance against Darren Barker and will want to keep the English strap he beat Steve Bendall for earlier in the year.

Butler has mixed in far less quality company as McDermott (who has also fought for the British title losing on a cut against Wayne Elcock last year). Although Butler does have a few decent wins, including one for the vacant Super-Middleweight British Masters title over Walsall's Matty Hough last year (Butler stopped Hough in the 5th at the Tower Ballrooms, Edgbaston) and his only loss was in the Prizefighter tournament where he lost to the eventual winner Martin Murray.

"Modern day Tipton Slasher" turns pro at Civic, Dean Harrison to headline

Former amateur star Tipton's Lee Glover, 22 (pictured left) is turning pro with the First Team stable and will make his debut on a show promoted by them on Friday 17th July, the show nicknamed "the Summer Slammer" will be headlined by local favourite Dean Harrison.

Featherweight Glover will have big shoes to fill, having being given the nickname "the modern day Tipton Slasher" after the legendary Bare Knuckle fighter William Perry (who's named amateur club Glover fought for in the unpaid ranks).

Dean Harrison will look to improve on his (by his own admission) under par performance last time out at the Civic where he beat Ali Wyatt but was suffering from health problems which have now being rectified. Harrison is hopeful of landing a English title shot and putting in an impressive display at the Civic will certainly help. The English Light-Welter title is currently held by Lenny Daws but he is expected to vacate after being lined up as mandatory challenger for the British title against Ajose Olusegen.

Also on the bill will see Dudley's Chris Male who has recently jumped ship to former Dudley fighter Shaun Cooper's stable (that also includes Cooper's nephew Jamie Ball) taking on Walsall's experienced benchmark fighter Steve Gethin.

Coseley's Jamie Ball, Coventry's Troy James (who is trained by ring legend Barry Mcguigan), and Tipton's Rob Doodey will all be in action too.

Hillocks wins at Tower Ballrooms

Tower Ballrooms, Edgbaston
Sunday 5th July

Brierley Hill's Quinton Hillocks continued his career climb with his third win in as many fights. The Super-Middleweight beat Weslhman Adam Wilcox on points over four.

Stourbridge's Richie Wyatt made it two wins from two fights beating Craig Dyer over two fours.

Also on the bill Dee Mitchell beat Martin Concepcion (the two had fought last year, Concepcion winning on that occasion), Eddie McIntosh beat Jamie Norkett and Nasser-Al-Harbi beat Martyn King all on points.

Gethin back on track, Spencer hits 100

Liquid Envy Nightclub, Luton
28th June, 2009

Walsall's Martin Gethin got back to winning ways lastnight with a win over Jason Nesbitt, whilst Wolverhampton's Delroy Spencer celebrated his 100th paid fight with a surprise win.

Lightweight Gethin bounced back after his shock controversial defeat to Chris Long last month, beating Nesbitt in a shut out 40-36 points victory. Gethin's manager Errol Johnson is now hoping to secure Gethin a shot at either Lee McAllister's Comonwealth title, or the British title that John Murray was forced to vacate for not making weight earlier this month.

Delroy Spencer loses more than he wins, but the veteran celebrated his impressive 100th bout with a shock points win over Belfast's Luke Wilton. Wilton was being touted as an opponent for Britih and Commonwealth Flyweight champ Chris Edwards, which makes 40 year old Spencer's win even more impressive.

Back The "Bring Back Bunce" campaign

T.V channel Setanta have as you may know ceased broadcasting this week, and with that goes a host of live boxing (Setanta had a exclusive deals with Top Rank, Hayemaker and Sauerland) but also means the discontinuation of Setanta's weekly boxing show Bunce's Boxing Hour, hosted by sports writer Steve Bunce and presenter Andy Kerr.

Many boxing fans across the U.K have come together to try and keep this fantastic T.V show on our screens by creating a website, petition and Facebook group. The site has already garnered support from the likes of Carl Froch, Don King and Micky Cantwell. We'd like to add our support to the cause and hope that you will too. For the good of boxing in the U.K this show needs to stay on the air.

Please support by visiting the site http://www.bringbackbunce.net/ where you can find all information.

Board order Macca to defend against Butler

The British Boxing Board of Control recently put out some interesting British and English title fights for purse bids including ordering Dudley's Darren "Macca" McDermott (pictured with his English title) to defend his Middleweight English title against Bristol's Danny Butler.

McDermott who won the English title in February at the N.I.A in Birmingham beating Coventry's Steve Bendall on points. McDermott was recently unsuccessful in stepping up and trying to capture Darren Barker's Commonwealth title (being stopped controversially in four) and has also fought for the British title (lost on a cut to Wayne Elcock last year).

Danny Butler who has been fighting under Ricky Hatton's promotional team recently has mixed in far lower quality but has some decent wins, one of which a fifth round stoppage over Walsall's Matty Hough and a second round KO over Jamie Ambler (who recently took McDermott six rounds losing on points). Butler's only defeat comes in the Prizefighter series losing in the semi-final to eventual winner Martin Murray.

Portman to headline Tower Ballroom show

West Bromwich Light-Middleweight Marcus Portman will headline a First Team promoted Sunday afternoon show at the historic Tower Ballrooms in Edgbaston, Birmingham on the 5th July.

No opponent has yet to be announced for Portman who will continue to try and force himself into the title mix. Portman has held the WBF title but has come short when fighting for the British title (beaten by Gary Woolcombe in 2007) and the Commonwealth strap (beaten by Bradley Pryce last year).

Also on the bill will be former English title challenger Dean Hickman who only fought once last year losing to Steve Williams, Coseley prospect Richard Ghent and Walsall's Sam Padgett who recently made an impressive stoppage win debut.

In other news from Saturday night, Stourbridge's Kevin McCauley beat house fighter Brock Cato (on points over six) on the Hatton Promotions bill in Bristol.

Scragg lifts GBC title, Deano back to winning ways

Wolverhampton Civic Hall
Friday 12th June 2009

Wolverhampton's only female boxer Lyndsey Scragg (pictured) made history on Friday's First Team promoted show at the Civic as she lifted the vacant GBC female Super-Featherweight title outpointing late sub Kristine Shergold. It was the first time a women's 'world' title had been contested in Wolverhampton. It was also back to winning ways for British title challenger Dean Harrison.

30 year old Scragg was the better of the two fighters over the ten rounds on the main outworking her opponent. Shergold had stepped in at very late notice after Uganda's Agnes Andonga had visa troubles and Shergold did have some success especially in the later rounds. A headclash caused a deep cut to Scragg and the Wednesbury girl had to hold on in the later rounds hoping that the fight would not be stopped on a cut. She managed to do so and with that lifted the vacant title.

Wolverhampton's popular Dean Harrison was also in action winning a shut out 60-55 points victory against Ali Wyatt over six rounds. Harrison however was less than impressed with his performance hampered by a thyroid problem that also meant he had to compete at Welterweight rather than his favoured Light-Welterweight. It was Harrison's first fight since his unsuccessful British title challenge in March where he lost to Paul McCloskey.

Essington prospect gained his first stoppage victory over Scunthorpe's Davey Jones. The two had met at the same venue in April, Wilkes winning a points victory. This time however Middleweight Wilkes went one better, stopping Jones with an impressive looking jab in the fifth round of a scheduled six.

In an all Wolverhampton clash Light-Welterweight Chris Lewis edged a 39-37 points victory over veteran Carl Allen.

Walsall's Bobby Wood built on his pro debut with an impressive points win over Ernie Smith. Wood had Smith down twice during the fight, in the first after a nice looking left-right combo.

Tipton Light-Welterweight Rob Doodey outpointed Birmingham veteran Karl Taylor over six rounds.

Birmingham Heavyweight Neil Perkins stopped Jason Callum in the third round on a cut.

Coventry's James Mulhern outpointed Francis Croes in a four round Super-Flyweight contest.

Rhys Davies also from Coventry and now trained by Oliver Harrison beat Michael Banbula 59-55.

In a Birmingham derby Anthony Hanna and Daniel Walton drew over four rounds in a Featherweight contest.

In other news from lastnight over the border in Clydebank, Scotland Darren Gethin from Walsall was stopped by local lad Vinnie Baldassara at the end of the fourth.

Last minute opponent change for Scragg

Wolverhampton's only female professional boxer Lyndsey Scragg will now face Paignton's Christine Sheargold after original opponent Uganda's Agnes Andonga had to pull out due to visa problems.

The fight which will headline tonight's First Team show at Wolverhampton Civic Hall will still be for the vacant GBC Super-Featherweight crown thus making it the first ever time a women's 'world' title has been contested in Wolverhampton.

Saville pulls out of Reid fight

Wednesfield's Steve "Bomber" Saville (pictured) has pulled out of this Friday's Lightweight Midland Area title defence at Wolverhampton Civic Hall. Saville was due to headline the Civic bill defending his title for the first time against Stoke's Gary Reid but has come down with food poisoning which has meant he has missed vital sparring sessions leading upto the fight.

The First Team promoted show will go ahead with Wolverhampton's first ever womens 'world' title fight headlining as local favourite Lyndsey Scragg takes on Uganda's Agnes Adonga for the vacant GBC Super-Featherweight crown. Former British title challenger Dean Harrison will also fight on the bill, in a six rounder against Ali Wyatt.