Unbeaten Super-Lightweights Jack Catterall and Tyrone McKenna will collide in Belfast on June 30 after McKenna’s original opponent Phil Sutcliffe Jr suffered an injury.

News of Sutcliffe Jr’s withdrawal was quickly followed by confirmation that Lancastrian Catterall (21-0, 12 KO’s) will put his WBO Intercontinental belt on the line in a colossal bout with McKenna (16-0-1, 6 KO’s) at The SSE Arena.

Far from complaining about facing such a high-quality replacement at four weeks’ notice, home fighter McKenna has welcomed the opportunity to pit his wits against a former sparring partner.

McKenna said: “When I heard Sutcliffe Jr was out again my heart sank but then I was told Catterall was in and it’s amazing. I’ve wanted that fight for 18 months.

“It’s extra motivation for me in camp now. Catterall is a massive name. I sparred him and I speak to him so I know what he brings to the table.”

Catterall is equally excited to be on another big stage after his recent outing at Elland Road ended in an underwhelming early victory, when opponent Christopher Sebire appeared to sustain a shoulder injury.

Catterall said: “I’ve only had two rounds in the ring this year but I knew sooner or later I would be involved in a big fight. I was expecting a different opponent but this makes perfect sense.

“I fought just two weeks ago and it wasn’t much of a fight so this is brilliant. I’m in shape anyway and Tyrone was training. Both camps and both fighters want it and that’s great to see.”

Tickets for The Homecoming are available to purchase now via www.ssearena.com

By Frank Warren Promotions

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Servania.Concepcion.SupBantam.combine

By Ronnie Nathanielsz –

Revenge is on the mind of undefeated WBO “Best Boxer of the Year” and the reigning WBO Asia Pacific super bantamweight champion Genesis “Azukal” Servania when he faces Panama’s former WBA super flyweight interim champion Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion for the WBO Intercontinental title at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino in Cebu on Saturday.

The “Pinoy Pride XXII” card staged by the famed ALA Promotions in partnership with the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN will be telecast on The Filipino Channel with a delayed telecast at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday over Channel 2.

The bad blood between the cocky Concepcion who scored a stunning 10th round knockout over fancied  AJ “Bazooka”  Banal on July 26, 2008 and has vowed to give Servania an even more humiliating defeat resulted in a fierce exchange of words during a post weigh-in stare-down at the Ayala Activity  Center Friday,  forcing GAB official Celso  Miranda to step in and separate the two fighters.

Concepcion annoyed Servania when he offered him a blue pillow taunting the Filipino prospect by claiming he would put him to sleep early.

Servania promised to make Concepcion eat his words and adding, “I trained hard for this fight and will make him eat his words.”

Taking a cue from Concpcion, Mexico’s Edgar “Chololo” Martinez said he would shock the world and upset undefeated “King” Arthur Villanueva in their WBO International super flyweight title fight.

Boasting that Mexicans are the best fighters in the world, Martinez asked Villanueva to take a look t his fists because it would be the last thing he would see.

Villanueva reacted calmly and indicated he will let his fists do the talking in the ring. Rated by all four major world boxing organizations, Villanueva is hoping that an impressive showing against Martinez will help line him up for a wold title shot.

http://www.boxingscene.com/genesis-servenia-concepcion-bad-blood-continues–70970

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braekhus.castillo

The first meeting between WBA, WBC and WBO Female Welterweight Champion Cecilia Braekhus (22-0, 6 KOs), the pound-for-pound number one, and WBO Light Middleweight Champion Oxandia Castillo (12-0, 9 KOs) came to a dramatic conclusion on Thursday afternoon. While the First Lady was giving interviews after the final press conference, Castillo grabbed the three belts and posed for pictures with them. “They will be mine on Saturday, I will take them home,” she said.

The clash of unbeaten champions at Arena Nord in Frederikshavn, Denmark is just two days away. “She should not have taken my belts, I am not happy about it,” Braekhus said. “I have never seen anyone do that before. Anyway, it´s the closest she will get to them. She will never touch them again. I will defend them on Saturday and take them back home with me.”

When promoter Nisse Sauerland heard about the happenings, he was shocked by the “disrespectful behaviour” of the 18-year-old.

“It is a big insult to take the belts,” Sauerland stated. “You have to earn the belts, you cannot just take them. Oxandia crossed a line and Cecilia will make her pay for it on Saturday night.”

On Saturday, Braekhus can once again be counting on the ferocious support from Norwegian and Danish fans. “The support in Frederikshavn has always been fantastic and we will put on a great fight on Saturday,” she stated. “It´s something special to fight here.”

Castillo is unimpressed by the prospect of entering an arena packed with a hostile crowd. “That´s no problem for me. When I knocked out Hanna Gabriel, I had no support either. I will be at my best on Saturday and win the titles.”

In the Danish main event, WBA Intercontinental Middleweight Champion Patrick (19-0, 9 KOs) Nielsen takes on Patrick Majewski (21-1, 13 KOs). The WBO Intercontinental Title will also be at stake. The Nordic Fight Night will be broadcast live across Scandinavia on the Viasat channels.

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/2013/castillo-steals-braekhuss-belts-at-press-conference-sauerland-disrespectful/

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