UK Boxing: Harrison Targets Haye; Munroe vs Martinez; Tony Quigley
Audley Harrison announced today he is targeting a bout with long time friend David Haye, after Audley was snubbed in his attempt to kick start his career on a Hayemaker promoted show. ‘I hear David is looking for a warm up bout after Wladimir decided they over played their hand. The latest I’m hearing from America is David is going to have to wait now and Wladimir is looking at other options.."
‘I am happy to step into the ring with David and pay him back after the last sparring session we had where he took liberties after my first lost to Danny Williams. To make it worse, Lennox Lewis had come to see me. David and his sidekick Adam turned up unannounced and tried to blast me out. When people were telling me ‘he’s using you’ and ‘that was uncalled for’, I pushed it aside.’
‘When I used to put him on my shows, when no one knew who he was, he was not even required to sell tickets or help promote the show in any way, people said ‘he’s using you’, but I brushed it aside. When I let down all my friends and brought David as my ringside guest for Tyson versus Francis, ‘he’s using you’ they said but I ignored it. When I brought David as my private guest to P Diddy’s Private Party,’ he’s using you!’ they said. Over and over again I’ve heard this, but I always thought that I had read David right. I’m awake now and can’t really recall when David has really gone out of his way for me.’
‘All I wanted was an opportunity to appear on the Ryan Rhodes under-card in March. I’m told, sorry bud, no room for you. He didn’t even speak to me; he had Adam speak to me, which was even more insulting.’
‘So David, it looks like you have forgotten all the times I’ve gone out of my way for you, both professionally and personally.’
‘If you are still considering a warm up bout before your world title tilt, then I’m sure the British public would love to see you send me into retirement. They might say I am undeserving of a shot at you but who else are you going to fight? You say you want a challenge, well I know you David and I don’t think you really think you can walk through me and take me out. I dare you to make this match.’
It will be personal.
World Ranked Munroe Risks All Against Martinez
European super bantam champion Rendall Munroe puts his top ten ranking in all four major boxing organizations at risk this Friday, February 27 when he meets mandatory challenger Kiko Martinez in a rematch at the Metrodome in Barnsley, England.
The pair clashed during an explosive showdown in March, 2008 with Munroe pulling off a shocking upset by narrowly outpointing the Spanish bomber via a hard fought majority decision, taking Martinez's European title in the process.
The British southpaw put the first loss on Martinez's record by achieving what no opponent had before him as he backed up the massive punching Iberian through a brilliant mix of spearing bodyshots, blinding counters and nerves of steel.
But Martinez has studied Munroe's subsequent title defenses from ringside and the proud Spaniard, who simply crushed Irish hero Bernard Dunne in seconds to win the European crown in 2007, has promised his fans back in Alicante, Valencia that he will do the same to Munroe in a startling return to glory.
Leicester hero Munroe, 17-1 (8), has welcomed the challenge posed by Martinez, 20-1 (15), aware that he'll have to handle such dangerous situations on a regular basis if he is to realize the ambition of testing his meddle upon the world stage.
Frank Maloney Promotions presents Rendall Munroe vs. Kiko Martinez for the Super Bantamweight Championship of Europe with full supporting undercard at the Metrodome in Barnsley, England on Friday, February 27, 2009.
Tickets are priced at £75 and £35 and are available by logging onto
www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508.
Sky Sports will televise the action live on SS1 starting at 10PM.
Quigley postpones MMA career to fulfil boxing potential
Liverpool super-middleweight Tony Quigley will box for his first professional title on March 28 at the Echo Arena, but admits he came close to ditching his punching career for a stint in mixed martial arts.
Set to face English champion Paul David at HAYEMAKER 6: ‘The Mersey Beatdown’, Quigley’s title shot brings an end to a period of frustration and disappointment, which threatened to lead the Scouser elsewhere in pursuit of kicks.
“This is the kind of fight and event I’ve been dreaming about since I turned pro,” admits the ambitious 24-year-old. “I’ve been pushing for meaningful fights for the last few years and now I’ve got one. I’m not one for waiting around and building my career slowly.”
In compiling a 12-1 (5 KO) pro record, Quigley has battled durable opponents, as well as the hunger to fight better ones. Such has been Quigley’s frustration in the past 12 months, he even considered seeking challenges in the cage.
“I started going down the road of mixed martial arts and the UFC simply because I fell out of love with boxing and became frustrated by it,” says Quigley, who successfully made it through the trials for The Ultimate Fighter television series.
“I’m a boxer through and through, but I wasn’t happy with the progress I was making in the sport.
“I trained a lot with British UFC fighters and helped them with their stand-up game and their boxing skills. They would then teach me about the ground game. I was serious about doing it and was getting offered contracts to move into MMA full-time.”
It wasn’t long before Quigley had a big decision to make.
“I got to a crossroads one day and could either turn left into mixed martial arts or right into boxing and I stayed with boxing. That’s what I’m naturally good at. I want to conquer the boxing world first before I move into MMA. I’ve gone back to correct my boxing career and start taking things seriously now.”
For the time being at least, Quigley is a promising pugilist with titles in mind. His quest for belts begins on March 28 in his home city against English titleholder David.
“He’s (David) a big super-middleweight who is unorthodox and can punch,” assesses Quigley. “I’ll have to be at my absolute best to beat him. He’s never been stopped before and I’d love to be the first person to do it – especially with it being in Liverpool. That would make a major statement. I’m more than capable of doing it.”
With the emphasis on a stoppage victory, Quigley is looking for a breakthrough performance on March 28. David has been warned.
“I really think he’s underestimating me,” adds Tony. “He’s a very cocky fella and thinks he’s number one already. He’ll go in there and see me as a routine defence – someone he’s going to just walk through. He wants the winner of Brian Magee and Tony Dodson and even said that at the press conference. It’s no big secret.
“The thing is, if he fights anyone above a certain level, David ends up getting beat. Beneath that level, though, he’s dangerous. I just need to show how good I am on March 28.”
In terms of occasion, Quigley couldn’t ask for a better backdrop to his eagerly anticipated title shot.
“I desperately wanted to be on this show at the Echo Arena,” explains Quigley. “An eight rounder would have done me, so the English title is a bonus. I’ve been to a Hayemaker show in the past, too, and they don’t half put the bills together well. It’s a good bill from top to bottom, with a load of hard-to-call fights. It’s almost more of a UFC card than a boxing one.
“To be honest, this is the first British boxing card I’ve seen with more even bouts than uneven ones.”
*** Tony Quigley’s English title contest with Paul David forms part of the undercard to HAYEMAKER 6: ‘The Mersey Beatdown’ at the Echo Arena, Liverpool, on March 28. Headlining the show will be local lad Tony Dodson’s attempt to win back his old British title from Brian Magee, as well as Ryan Rhodes’ British title defence against Anthony Small.
