BoxRec

The opening instalment of the exciting Golden Contract tournament will take place on October 4 when the featherweight quarter-finals take place at the iconic York Hall.

The groundbreaking competition has gripped the imagination of the public, with some of the best fighters at 126 lbs now set to head to London for their first taste of the action.

The first fighters announced for the featherweight division were British champion and WBO no. 6 Ryan Walsh, Commonwealth champion and IBF no. 15 Leigh Wood and unbeaten WBA no. 7 Hairon Socarras.

They were then joined by IBF European champion and IBF no. 9 Jazza Dickens, unbeaten WBO European featherweight champion and WBO no. 11 David Oliver Joyce, and unbeaten WBO European super-bantamweight champion and WBO no. 8 Tyrone McCullagh. The remaining two fighters in the featherweight division are set to be named in the near future.

https://mtkglobal.com/mtk-global/london ... er-finals/

Ryan Walsh, Davey Oliver Joyce, Leigh Wood, Tyrone McCullagh, Jazza Dickens, Hairon Socarras, Carlos Araujo and Carlos Ramos

Joyce to win

Looks a decent field of featherweights this, should be a good watch. Hopefully Sky picks The Golden Contract up, so to speak.

Really can see any of them winning. Well done MTK!!!

Decent field lets hope someone picks this up, certainly be better than some of the tosh we have had lately on the box.

Assume these will be 12 round fights like the WBSS or possibly 10?

Not sure if that has been publicised yet?

Joel2 wrote: ↑20 Aug 2019, 11:07 Really can see any of them winning. Well done MTK!!!

Still 2 more to join

...had high hopes but this fills me with "meh". Expected a glimmer of world class but feels more like a British level tournament.. Not bad just sort of expected more... Still should be competitive which is good thing

Boxing Prospect wrote: ↑20 Aug 2019, 12:53 ...had high hopes but this fills me with "meh". Expected a glimmer of world class but feels more like a British level tournament.. Not bad just sort of expected more... Still should be competitive which is good thing

Are you a glass half empty man I thought it looked like a quality line up

smiling assassin wrote: ↑20 Aug 2019, 13:51

Boxing Prospect wrote: ↑20 Aug 2019, 12:53 ...had high hopes but this fills me with "meh". Expected a glimmer of world class but feels more like a British level tournament.. Not bad just sort of expected more... Still should be competitive which is good thing

Are you a glass half empty man I thought it looked like a quality line up

Not usually, I think I just... Expected more given all the press and everything, was hoping for a few top 30 guys not just top 90 ones I guess

Ryan Walsh wins that.

I voted for Walsh, as on paper he 'should' win win.

But given how underwhelming his performances can sometimes be, it wouldn't surprise me if he was to get out worked by someone like Wood or McCullagh.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑20 Aug 2019, 11:45

Joel2 wrote: ↑20 Aug 2019, 11:07 Really can see any of them winning. Well done MTK!!!

Still 2 more to join

Ye heard Bellotti wants to get involved but tbh they probably want someone better

Walsh looked crap last fight vs not a particularly good opponent, it was a very close fight. He's got the strongest resume but I got the feeling he won't win.

Wood's been in great form lately and I like McCullagh, this tourneys quality

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑21 Aug 2019, 17:18 Walsh looked crap last fight vs not a particularly good opponent, it was a very close fight. He's got the strongest resume but I got the feeling he won't win.

He’d been out for a while hadn’t he?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑21 Aug 2019, 17:53

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑21 Aug 2019, 17:18 Walsh looked crap last fight vs not a particularly good opponent, it was a very close fight. He's got the strongest resume but I got the feeling he won't win.

He’d been out for a while hadn’t he?

6 months isn't that long, a pro should be able to handle it

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑21 Aug 2019, 17:54

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑21 Aug 2019, 17:53

He’d been out for a while hadn’t he?

6 months isn't that long, a pro should be able to handle it

Oh.. was it his bro that was out for couple of years?

The Golden Contract tournament will be shown live on Sky Sports

https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/1 ... sky-sports

The Golden Contract, a ground-breaking new tournament organised by MTK Global, will be shown live on Sky Sports in association with Matchroom Boxing.

Current champions, unbeaten prospects, and enigmatic challengers have already confirmed their entry in The Golden Contract, which kicks off with the featherweight quarter-finals at London's iconic York Hall on October 4, live on Sky Sports.


Eight fighters will compete at featherweight, super-lightweight and light-heavyweight, with the three divisional winners earning a two-year, five-fight deal with six-figure purses for each fight guaranteed.

Adam Smith, Head of Sky Sports Boxing, said: "The Golden Contract is an exciting concept which has been created by MTK Global and we're really looking forward to showcasing the inaugural tournament live on Sky Sports.

"There are some familiar faces in the different weight classes, who always bring drama, high-octane fights and explosive knockouts, so you should expect an enthralling evening of action when the competition begins on October 4, and we really cannot wait for it.

"The Golden Contract is a welcome addition to our stacked Autumn as we bring you a bumper schedule of live boxing on Sky Sports."

Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn said: "It's a great format - quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final. The winner comes out as a bit of a superstar and also goes straight into a major contract with a promoter as well.

"Get them in there, make the draw, no-one can duck anyone, no seeding. Go and beat them and run all the way to the final.

"More domestic shows coming to Sky Sports in the schedule, with all our Saturday night fight nights, big Box Office events as well, Matchroom Boxing USA international fight nights.

"It's non-stop! In fact, I believe there's boxing every week now from Devin Haney up until Christmas. Busy times ahead for UK fight fans."

MTK Global President Bob Yalen said: "We are hugely excited to have reached this deal with Eddie, Adam and their respective teams at Matchroom and Sky Sports. We look forward to working with them closely to bring this outstanding concept to the public.

"When three powerhouses unite to put their collective expertise and resources into making something great, you know they're going to succeed; so if they weren't already, everyone should be very, very excited about the Golden Contract Tournament and supporting their favourite boxers."

MTK Global Professional Development Coordinator Jamie Conlan said: "This is fantastic news for all parties concerned and a proud day for MTK Global.

"We're delighted to be working with two of the biggest companies in the game to bring the Golden Contract Tournament to the masses. We believe these events are going to be a huge hit with everyone who gets to see them both at the events themselves and on TV."

Glad Sky have picked this up

NoScoutingReports wrote: ↑10 Sep 2019, 11:33 Glad Sky have picked this up

I always thought Sky would have picked up Ultimate Boxxer instead of BT/Bnation etc. and this tournament would be something BT would have picked up.

The eight featherweights in Ryan Walsh, Davey Oliver Joyce, Leigh Wood, Tyrone McCullagh, Jazza Dickens, Hairon Socarras, Carlos Araujo and Carlos Ramos kick off the tournament at London’s York Hall before the super-lightweight quarter-finals on November 22 at the same venue.

With Sky's obsession with political correctness, I am surprised they've gone into bed with MTK.

Quarter-final draw explained ahead of next Friday's featherweight competitionhttps://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/1 ... ompetition

The Golden Contract offers a lucrative opportunity for fighters to transform their careers, but how will Tuesday's draw add a twist to the innovative event?

Current champions, unbeaten prospects, and enigmatic challengers have already confirmed their entry in The Golden Contract, which kicks off with the featherweight quarter-finals at London's iconic York Hall on October 4, live on Sky Sports.

Eight fighters will compete at featherweight, super-lightweight and light-heavyweight, with the three divisional winners earning a two-year, five-fight deal with six-figure purses for each fight guaranteed.

Knockout bonuses are also on offer and the 126lb curtain-raiser features current British champion Ryan Walsh, Commonwealth king Leigh Wood, former Lonsdale belt holder Jazza Dickens, Davey Oliver Joyce, Tyrone McCullagh, Cuban Hairon Socarras, Mexico's Carlos Araujo and Spaniard Carlos Ramos.

Entrants will not find out who they are facing until fight week - and Tuesday's draw is expected to crank up tension and animosity ahead of the opening bell.

The draw, which will be streamed on the Sky Sports Boxing social platforms, will be conducted in the following way:

The Golden Contract Draw

1.) Eight balls will be placed in a bag; four blue (numbered 1-4) and four red (not numbered).

2.) All eight fighters draw a ball from the bag in turn.

3.) The fighters who draw a blue ball (starting with the fighter who drew the blue ball numbered '1') choose their opponent from the fighters who drew red balls.