MTK: The Golden Contract | Light-Heavyweight Tournament

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Names added for the light-heavyweight division, with the likes of Hosea Burton, Steven Ward, Liam Conroy, Bob Ajisafe and Serge Michel already confirmed, will be forthcoming in due course.

The Golden Contract light-heavyweight quarter-finals will be on December 14, live on Sky Sports.

[margaret thatcher]

These tournaments look nice, very competitive lineups with no one really feeling a level above all the rest.

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Former Olympian Lenin Castillo added to Golden Contract tournament

Hard-hitting Dominican star Lenin Castillo has become the latest name to be added to the light-heavyweight edition of the exciting Golden Contract tournament.

Lenin Castillo will be part of the Golden Contract light-heavyweight tournament
The groundbreaking competition will be shown live on Sky Sports in association with Matchroom Boxing, and on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank, and has gripped the imagination of the public.

WBO no. 11 and WBO Latino champion Castillo (20-2-1, 15 KOs) is now the sixth fighter to be confirmed to be taking part at 175 lbs, joining some of the best stars from around the world.

Castillo was an elite amateur, winning multiple titles and also competing at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Since entering the paid ranks he has displayed fantastic power, with 15 of his 20 wins coming by knockout.

Along with being the WBO Latino champion, Castillo has won the WBO NABO title as a professional too, and has also fought former interim WBA world champion Marcus Browne, with Castillo knocking Browne down during that fight in 2018.

He said: “I’m delighted to be entering the prestigious Golden Contract tournament. I’ll be chasing the knockout bonuses too and I’m definitely going to be the last man standing at light-heavyweight.”

Castillo joins a fantastic line-up at light-heavyweight, which includes former British champion Hosea Burton, unbeaten WBO European champion and WBO no. 12 Steven Ward and ex-British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion Bob Ajisafe.

[margaret thatcher]

Lenin can be a bit of a spoiler, hopefully he comes to win and lets his hands go.

Funny enough he is married to a 6'5 volleyball player

[margaret thatcher]

Well Castillo is fighting Bivol now....

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Well Castillo is fighting Bivol now....

Yeh. He has no business fighting Bivol for s world title. BoxRex ranked #97.

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Light-heavyweight quarter-finals on December 14

https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/1 ... ecember-14

The Golden Contract light-heavyweight quarter-finals will be on December 14, live on Sky Sports.

Eight high-class hopefuls from the 175lb division will compete for a lucrative deal with one of the world's top promoters at the Brentwood Centre.

With Hosea Burton, Steven Ward, Liam Conroy, Lenin Castillo, Serge Michel and Bob Ajisafe already confirmed for the tournament, a landmark night is expected.

MTK Global professional development coordinator Jamie Conlan said: "We've already seen the huge impact of the featherweight quarter-finals at York Hall and with the last eight of the super-lightweights taking place there too, it's good to branch out in terms of venue.

"The fans in Essex will be thrilled to have something so high profile on their doorstep and it promises to be another night of thrills and spills. We knew the featherweights would be dramatic but it exceeded all expectations and this can do the same.

"With this edition taking place in the highest of the three weight classes, we're expecting heavier knockdowns and even more drama and it's just great that these events are being broadcast to so many fans on both sides of the Atlantic.

"There are, of course, still two places in the 175lb competition still unfilled and the applications are flooding in because fighters know what a huge opportunity this is to change their lives."

Confirmation of the final two contestants for the tournament will be forthcoming in due course.

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Unbeaten Dan Azeez takes on former English light-heavyweight champ Dec Spelman

Unbeaten Dan Azeez will take on former English light-heavyweight champion Dec Spelman in the reserve fight for the upcoming #GoldenContract tournament.

Some of the best 175lb fighters in the world will head to the Brentwood Centre for the event on December 14, live on Sky Sports in association with Matchroom Boxing, in the US on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank, with the undercard live on iFL TV.

Should one of the eight entrants in the main tournament be unable to compete in the quarter-finals, a coin toss will be held to decide whether Azeez or Spelman is handed the life-changing opportunity

Azeez (9-0, 6 KOs) picked up a huge stoppage win over Charlie Duffield for the Southern Area title back in July, and will also have a bout when #MTKFightNight heads to York Hall on November 9.

Spelman (16-3, 8 KOs), trained by Carl Greaves, has mixed it with some of the best domestic names, and won the English title when he beat Kirk Garvey back in May. He conceded the national title to unbeaten Shakan Pitters in his last fight, which proved to be a traditional York Hall barnstormer in September.

Azeez said: “I’m very happy to have another high-level domestic fight after the win in July. I’ve got a fight on November 9 first, so it’s very good to be staying active.

“I know that Spelman is tough, strong and game. Whoever is put in front of me I’m focused, and fans will see a starving animal in this fight.”

Spelman said: “I’m very excited to have another top level fight to finish off what’s been a busy year for me and I feel this has the potential to be a cracker.

“I’ve been watching Azeez for a while now and I know he’s got good pedigree coming from the amateurs. He looks big at the weight and can whack a bit too.

“I’m focused solely on Azeez. If the Golden Contract opens up for me I’ll take it with both hands but my fight is with Azeez so its him I’ll be training for until I’m told otherwise.

“Fans can expect to see what they get from me in every fight. I bring entertainment, wear my heart on my sleeve and give people value for money.”

The exciting #GoldenContract light-heavyweight event will feature Hosea Burton, Steven Ward, Liam Conroy, Lenin Castillo, Serge Michel, Bob Ajisafe and Richards Bolotniks, with the final entrant to be confirmed in due course.

http://britishboxingnews.co.uk/blogs/un ... ec-spelman

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Andre Sterling joins light-heavyweight event

Andre Sterling is the seventh entrant in the Golden Contract light-heavyweight tournament and is determined to seize his "life-changing" opportunity.

The 29-year-old Londoner joins Steven Ward, Liam Conroy, Hosea Burton, Serge Michel, Bob Ajisafe and Ricards Bolotniks in the quarter-finals at Brentwood Centre on December 14, live on Sky Sports.

Sterling pushed Craig Richards all the way in a battling points defeat in June, but is determined to put the loss of his unbeaten record firmly behind him as he pursues a lucrative multi-fight deal.

Sterling said: "I don't even know how it came about!

"I'd just been training and grafting. I've got faith in my team and then I came in and my trainer told me it might be happening.

"We went there on Friday and saw the super-lightweight quarter-finals. I'm really happy with the set-up and it's a great platform. This is what we train for and work hard for. We practice our skill set every day.

"I always say that we all train hard. We're all hungry and my rivals will go out there and feel the same way that I do. I have nothing negative to say about them.

"This opportunity could be life-changing for me, absolutely life-changing."

The final fighter in the 175lbs competition will be announced shortly after Lenin Castillo was forced to withdraw after injuring his knee in the recent world title defeat to Dmitry Bivol.

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The Golden Contract light-heavyweight quarter-finals will be on December 14, live on Sky Sports.

[handsofstone]

Looks like another decent GC here, some experienced boxers Ajisafe getting on a bit but has that awkward style that can old man people over the distance, haven't seen him in a while mind, Burton probably wins it for me, Sterling has a solid shot as well, i'll be backing Philbin all the way though

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Live on Sky Sports Action at 7.30pm Saturday

Steven Ward has echoed Eddie Hearn's claim The Golden Contract winner automatically becomes a superstar - but that doesn't feature in his sources of motivation.

The aptly-named 'Quiet Man' is among the favourites ahead of Wednesday's draw for Saturday's quarter-finals - broadcast live on Sky Sports Action at 7.30pm on Saturday.

Although the Belfast light-heavyweight is not lustful for the limelight, he harbours huge ambitions of a different kind as he prepares to face his last-eight opponent at The Brentwood Centre.

Ward said: "Eddie Hearn said it himself: You can come out of this competition as a superstar…

"My nickname 'The Quiet Man' probably tells you that I don't have any interest in being a superstar but I do have an interest in being selfish with the goals I want to achieve.

"I spend a lot of time away from my family trying to get to where I want to get to. Time with my wife and my kids are things I have to sacrifice. I have a newborn baby who I haven't seen much of but winning the tournament will change their lives for the better so I'm going to grasp this chance.

"It's been a great camp throughout and I've been away to Las Vegas sparring some top fighters in the Top Rank gym so I feel in a good place.

"I've watched both The Golden Contract quarter-final nights so far and everyone I've been talking to watched them too. It's fresh, new and exciting not being able to prepare for a fighter. I love the concept."

Joining Ward in the draw are Bob Ajisafe, Hosea Burton, Andre Sterling, Liam Conroy, Tommy Philbin, Serge Michel and Ricards Bolotniks.

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Press Release

Tommy Philbin travels down from Scotland full of hope

Some #GoldenContract fighters hope to be chosen rather than choose. Not Tommy Philbin.

The undefeated Scot (13-0, 4 KOs) is keen to pull a blue ball out of the bag and pick his opponent at Wednesday’s all-important draw.

While he admits to not knowing a great deal about the visiting duo Serge Michel and Ricards Bolotniks, Philbin has hinted he has plenty of intelligence on domestic rivals Hosea Burton, Steven Ward and Liam Conroy and is earmarking one in particular.

Philbin said: “I’ve only really seen Conroy, Ward and Burton. I’ve actually kept my eye on Conroy since I turned over as a professional.

“It’d be good to pull out a blue ball on Wednesday and get to pick my opponent.

“Winning this Golden Contract would be a huge chance to change my life and my family’s lives because I can be a full-time fighter.

“At the moment, I have to work full-time and fit my training and family time around it so it’d be great to get a chance to go full time and more Lauren and the kids.

“I feel very ready for this. I’ve been training for a long time and I can’t wait to go in there and get down to business.”

Tommy Philbin, the popular Edinburgh fighter – a former Celtic champion at super-middleweight – has secured back-to-back victories this year and takes his place alongside Steven Ward, Liam Conroy, Hosea Burton, Andre Sterling, Serge Michel, Ricards Bolotniks and Bob Ajisafe.

With the line-up now complete and the quarter-final fight night at Brentwood Centre looming large on December 14, Philbin is thrilled to be handed a huge opportunity.

Philbin said: “To be honest, it’s a massive surprise. I got asked if I would do it if the opportunity came up and I said ‘yes’ but with my luck I didn’t think it’d actually happen.

“I feel so ready for this. I’ve been in the gym since March and I’ve really been non-stop. I’ve just had the week off since my fight on the 14th so now I feel raring to go again.

“My weight is good and my mindset is spot on so I can’t wait to get it started!

“It’s actually a massive opportunity for me to get my career going. It’s been sh*t for the last couple of years for various reasons and this gives me a real chance to show what I can do.”

The all-important draw for the tournament will take place on Tuesday, December 11.

English hopefuls Bob Ajisafe and Andre Sterling join Philbin, Conroy, Ward, Burton, Michel and Bolotniks are joined in Saturday’s quarter-finals at The Brentwood Centre – live on Sky Sports in the UK in association with Matchroom Boxing and on ESPN+ in the US in association with Top Rank.

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Liam Conroy
Steven Ward
Hosea Burton
Serge Michel
Bob Asjisafe
Andre Sterling
Ricards Bolotniks
Tommy Philbin

What happened to Castillo?

[NoScoutingReports]

The final fighter in the 175lbs competition will be announced shortly after Lenin Castillo was forced to withdraw after injuring his knee in the recent world title defeat to Dmitry Bivol.

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Cheers mate.. I forgot I did that.

[NoScoutingReports]

Bob Ajisafe v Hosea Burton
Andre Sterling v Liam Conroy
Steven Ward v Ricards Bolotniks
Tommy Philbin v Serge Michel

Decent draw that, think Sterling and Conroy should be a good watch.

[Webbo911]

Bob Ajisafe v Hosea Burton
Andre Sterling v Liam Conroy
Steven Ward v Ricards Bolotniks
Tommy Philbin v Serge Michel

Decent draw that, think Sterling and Conroy should be a good watch.

Vacant English light-heavyweight title fight on the bill too. Looking forward to this.

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Here’s what they all had to say during today’s press conference…

Hosea Burton said: “It’s a good opportunity to get back in there and get back in the mix. Me and Bob are both awkward and we’re in the who needs them club. That’s why we’ve been inactive for a few years because everyone knows we’re hard to beat.

“It’s a shame that we got drawn against each other, but I’m up to the task and I think I’m the best boxer in the tournament.

“I know Bob will be fit, but I do plan on putting the hammer on him. I’ve been wanting this fight for a long time, and when he was British and Commonwealth champion it nearly happened but for one reason or another it didn’t. We get that chance now.”

Bob Ajisafe said: “I’m planning on putting a good performance on and getting the job done. I didn’t expect to get Hosea in the first round, but I’ve obviously known about him for a while.

“He’s been around the same time as when I was champion so he’s obviously a good fighter, but everyone here is a good fighter and here on merit. Styles make fights, and I’m confident in my own ability.”

Andre Sterling said: “My trainer told me about this opportunity and I was up for it. I looked at the fighters that were in it and I thought this was a fantastic chance to win it and get some exposure.

“I don’t really have a reason why I picked Liam Conroy, it’s nothing personal and I’m not scared to fight anybody. I’m fit and ready to go.”

Liam Conroy said: “I seem to be the underdog with the bookies, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve had a look at Sterling and stylistically I think it will gel and make for a good scrap, so I’m looking forward to it.

“I’m thankful to MTK Global for putting me in here and I’m looking forward to showcasing my skills again.”

Steven Ward said: “Going into the tournament there were no fighters I was gunning for. I’m happy with who I got.

“I had another look at my opponent last night so that was good to have an idea of what to expect, but the main thing comes from my team around me and we’re all confident.”

Ricards Bolotniks said: “Everyone who is here is tough and they’re all good boxers. I want to fight with everyone in this tournament and I am happy to fight Steven Ward.

“I saw his fight with Liam Conroy and I thought Liam won that fight. They have made a mistake by picking me, and I want to show them they’re not correct.”

Tommy Philbin said: “I was asked if I wanted to enter this tournament a few weeks ago. I spoke to my trainer and we waited for the call, and then I jumped at the chance.

“I had a few people in mind to pick, but in the last week or so I’ve been looking at Serge Michel and I think I have the beating of him.”

Serge Michel said: “I don’t see it as an insult being picked. When you played football as a kid, the first who got picked is the best!

“I didn’t want to pick anyway, I wanted a red ball. I need to beat everyone, so if you have doubts in your talents then it is the wrong tournament to be in.”

Following today’s press conference, the #GoldenContract fight week activities continue tomorrow, with the eight fighters hitting the scales for the weigh-in.

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[skanksta]

This has been great so far.
I'd like them to do similar for Area title/English and up to the LLB for the final.

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All of the 'Golden Contract' semifinalists now have a set date and location for their next ring adventure.

The four remaining combatants for the light heavyweight batch of MTK Global's 'Golden Contract' tournament will next step foot in the ring on March 20 at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, England. As is the case with all brackets—including those at featherweight and junior welterweight—the actual matchups will come via live blind draw during fight week, with the shows airing live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and ESPN+ in the United States.

"This is shaping up to be another incredible night of action live on Sky Sports and ESPN+," noted Jamie Conlan, professional development coordinator for MTK Global and a former title contender during his fighting days. "There was plenty of excitement during the quarter-finals and we're expecting more of the same on March 20.

"We have four very determined and talented semi-finalists and they all know that a victory in this tournament can open the door to big things in the light-heavyweight division.”

"It's great to be back at York Hall too," stated Conlan. "The atmosphere there is always incredible and we saw that first-hand with the featherweight and super-lightweight quarter-finals, so we can't wait to see what the light-heavyweights have in store for us."

The winners of each bracket will receive an exclusive two-year, five-fight contract with MTK Global, with a guaranteed minimum of six figures per fight.

Source

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While most worldwide boxing events are being shut down, Friday’s “Golden Contract” light heavyweight semi-finals card at York Hall in London is still a go. Tickets are still available and all the scheduled fight week festivities will proceed normally for the MTK Boxing event that will air live on Sky Sports in the UK in association with Matchroom Boxing and on ESPN+ in the US in association with Top Rank.

Light heavyweights Hosea Burton (25-1, 11 KOs), Liam Conroy (18-5-1, 9 KOs), Ricards Bolotniks (16-5-1, 7 KOs), and Serge Michel (10-1, 7 KOs) will learn their opponents this week. Each fighter will pull a ball out of a bag and the man who gets the “golden ball” will be allowed to choose his opponent. The eventual winner of the tournament earns a two-year, five-fight deal with six-figure purses for each fight guaranteed.

[NoScoutingReports]

While most worldwide boxing events are being shut down, Friday’s “Golden Contract” light heavyweight semi-finals card at York Hall in London is still a go. Tickets are still available and all the scheduled fight week festivities will proceed normally for the MTK Boxing event that will air live on Sky Sports in the UK in association with Matchroom Boxing and on ESPN+ in the US in association with Top Rank.

Light heavyweights Hosea Burton (25-1, 11 KOs), Liam Conroy (18-5-1, 9 KOs), Ricards Bolotniks (16-5-1, 7 KOs), and Serge Michel (10-1, 7 KOs) will learn their opponents this week. Each fighter will pull a ball out of a bag and the man who gets the “golden ball” will be allowed to choose his opponent. The eventual winner of the tournament earns a two-year, five-fight deal with six-figure purses for each fight guaranteed.

I wonder if this will change before Friday, something to watch if not horrendous having so little sport on.