BoxRec

Cheers for that Kevin. Much appreciated.

i forgot to mention, Steve Gethin is a nice little fight for Swifty

if Swifty can blow him out early it would really impress me, and I'm impressed by him as it is

Thanks Kevin.

Just wondering where you got that from? I had a look around and couldn't find it.

Thanks for that Kevin, here's hoping for a good show

Counter-puncher wrote:i forgot to mention, Steve Gethin is a nice little fight for Swifty

if Swifty can blow him out early it would really impress me, and I'm impressed by him as it is

Completely agree there mate

Dudley's rangy Darren McDermott takes on grizzled Coventry southpaw Steve Bendall for the English middleweight title as part of a fine undercard in Birmingham tonight.
"Deadly" Darren is looking to bounce back from an unlucky - and inconclusive - defeat to big Black Country rival Wayne "Mad Dog" Elcock last summer in a crack at the British middleweight title in Wolverhampton. McDermott suffered a bad cut from a clash of heads (cough, cough) and was pulled out in the second round, much to the disappointment of Midlands boxing fans and Darren himself, naturally.
Every cloud has a silver lining. McDermott is now lined up to face the tough, clever but ageing Bendall, who won the English title with a shock 10-round decision over previously unbeaten Liverpool Contender Paul Smith last year (it was close) and has been in with anyone who is anyone on the domestic middleweight front, including Elcock himself and reigning Commonwealth champion Darren Barker. A win over the 35-year-old Bendall would put McDermott right back in the running for, well, just about every honour in the near-vicinity, including another British title shot at the canny Elcock, who defends against Matthew Macklin in a sizzling all-Birmingham affair in Birmingham on March 14. Things are really hotting up on the Midlands middleweight front and Bendall, a Midlander himself, will want a slice of the pie and has already shown he can carve a big one.
Nevertheless, the superfit, relentless, younger McDermott, closer to home, looks to have the edge.
Local stylist Don Broadhurst defends his Commonwealth super-flyweight title on the show against Ghana's tough but unheralded Isaac Owusu.
Broadhurst won the title (the inaugural title) with a classy 12-round decision over another Ghanaian iron man, Isaac Quaye, in his native Birmingham last October. A former amateur star and now unbeaten in nine fights as a pro, Broadhurst picked off Quaye with every shot in the book, body and head, and looks set for big things at 25.
Owusu will have other ideas for "The Don", of course, and also holds a 12-round decision over the teak-tough Quaye, which evens this one up. In fact, we can expect it to go all the way but sheer home advantage - sheer boxing skill - tilts the balance towards Broadhurst.
Another fine boxer on the bill is recently crowned Olympic middleweight champion James DeGale, who goes pro with top British promoter F rank Warren against a 21-year-old Georgian by the name of Vepkhia Tchilaia, scheduled for four rounds. Southpaw DeGale, a flashy, cocksure, sharp-hitting exponent, will not fight anyone too threatening for a while as they build up his record and adjust him to the longer pro distances. DeGale should walk right through the 17-fight Tchilaia, in fact. The Londoner beat an American, a dangerous Irishman and ultimately a Cuban to win his gold medal last summer in China, which says it all. The 23-year-old DeGale has talent.

I'd say, all things considered (value for money etc,) this was one of the best boxing shows I've been to.

how many do we reckon were there last night? 3-4k?

with those figures and the booing of degale will sports network be back to birmingham any time soon ?

whiteboy wrote:how many do we reckon were there last night? 3-4k?

with those figures and the booing of degale will sports network be back to birmingham any time soon ?

The Arena was half used, the ring being near the back end. Only the top tier at the back was used, the side bits were curtained off, but in general the venue was pretty full (at least the part that was being used.

For me, Easy parking, no traffic leaving, top notch seats etc.

whicker wrote:

whiteboy wrote:how many do we reckon were there last night? 3-4k?

with those figures and the booing of degale will sports network be back to birmingham any time soon ?

The Arena was half used, the ring being near the back end. Only the top tier at the back was used, the side bits were curtained off, but in general the venue was pretty full (at least the part that was being used.

For me, Easy parking, no traffic leaving, top notch seats etc.

I know, I was there How many do you think were there then?

The seats i picked out (block 3)to be in line with the ring ended up being behind the cornerpost and camera man, luckily I was able to move to some prime seats.

whiteboy wrote:

whicker wrote:

whiteboy wrote:how many do we reckon were there last night? 3-4k?

with those figures and the booing of degale will sports network be back to birmingham any time soon ?

The Arena was half used, the ring being near the back end. Only the top tier at the back was used, the side bits were curtained off, but in general the venue was pretty full (at least the part that was being used.

For me, Easy parking, no traffic leaving, top notch seats etc.

I know, I was there How many do you think were there then?

The seats i picked out (block 3)to be in line with the ring ended up being behind the cornerpost and camera man, luckily I was able to move to some prime seats.

No idea how many were there, to be honest- the seating areas that were used were close to full, so might be possible to work it out.

What sort of crowd is normal for that sort of show? I'd say the crowd was pretty good, all things considered.

There were plenty of empty seats in the top tier.

My first ever Boxing show, and I absolutely loved it. Got the cheap £30 seats and had a smashing view, 6 rows up on the tiered seats facing the middle of the ring. The Boxing started at 7.40, and finished at about 12.20. Can't complain about 4 and a half hours and 8 fights for that price.

Thought Skelton v Rogan was phenomenal. I had a horrible feeling it would be shite, but seeing them lump the shit out of each other for nearly 11 rounds was priceless. After watching the sky repeat, TV didn't do that fight justice.

Attendance was probably around 4000 at a peak during the Frankie Gavin fight which isn't too bad. I got Frankie's autograph when he was in the crowd during the main event and he seemed like a good bloke. Almost got James de Gale just before the final 4 rounder but only realised it was him as he was walking away.

Seriously top stuff, I can't wait for Khan v Barrera now, and I'm really tempted to go to the Hayemaker show on March 28th, particularly if they do a two for one offer at some point

chrisfinch wrote: tempted to go to the Hayemaker show on March 28th, particularly if they do a two for one offer at some point

It remains a possibility! I've paid £53 for my tickets for that, similar seating position to the one I had at NIA. I will be annoyed if they go 2 for 1!!!!!!