BoxRec

Press Release - Crocker vs. Ilbay, Cully vs. Kotochigov - MTK Fight Night, March 12 in Bolton

Bolton will now play host to two title fights taking place on March 12 – as Lewis Crocker defends his WBO European welterweight title against Deniz Ilbay, and Gary Cully meets Viktor Kotochigov for the vacant WBO European lightweight title.

The fights will be part of an MTK Fight Night next month, which will also feature featherweight contender Isaac Lowe, undefeated welterweight talent Sahir Iqbal, and amateur sensation Jordan Reynolds making his professional debut.

The event take places at the University of Bolton Stadium, and will be broadcast live in the US on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank, and worldwide on IFL TV.

Crocker (12-0, 7 KOs) is making the first defence of the belt that he superbly won by stopping Louis Greene last August. He now goes up against Ilbay (22-2, 10 KOs), who has never been stopped in 24 professional fights.

Cully (11-0, 5 KOs) is back after two impressive wins in 2020, looking to add another belt to his collection when he meets former WBC International champion Kotochigov (12-1, 5 KOs).

Lowe (20-0-3, 6 KOs) fights in the UK for the first time in two years after three straight wins in the USA, while fellow undefeated star Iqbal (8-0, 1 KO) gets the chance to fight in his hometown of Bolton.

The card will also see the long-awaited professional debut of Reynolds, who will look to replicate the superb performances he displayed in the amateur ranks.

MTK Global Promoter Lee Eaton said: “These two title fights are both very intriguing match-ups, and will show us just what Lewis Crocker and Gary Cully are capable of by facing very dangerous opponents.

“On the undercard we have Isaac Lowe and Sahir Iqbal both returning, and highly-rated Jordan Reynolds makes his debut. We’ll be announcing even more for the card soon and it’s going to be another must-see event.

“We’re really proud of our current schedule of UK shows, as they’re full of 50-50 fights up and down all of the cards, so we’re delighted to be giving boxing fans the fights they want to see.”

The event on March 12 continues a run of MTK Fight Night shows taking place in the UK, which kicks off this Friday with three championship contests, including Sean McComb facing Gavin Gwynne for the vacant Commonwealth lightweight title, Darren Tetley and Samuel Antwi meeting for the vacant English welterweight title, and DP Carr defending his Southern Area super-featherweight title against Dean Dodge.

The action then continues on March 19, as Karim Guerfi and Lee McGregor finally square off for the European bantamweight title, and Liam Walsh faces Paul Hyland Jnr for the vacant British lightweight title.

time, date, TV channel, undercard, schedule, venue, betting odds, predictions, ring walks and live stream info

Date

The bout takes place on Friday, March 12.

Venue

It takes place behind closed doors at the Bolton Whites Hotel in Bolton, Lancashire, on an MTK Global show.

Rounds scheduled

12 three-minute championship rounds at welterweight (147lbs).

Titles

Crocker's WBO European welterweight belt that he won against Louis Greene in his last fight is on the line here.

Ringwalks

The ring walks for the main event are expected from 10pm UK time, but that will depend on the undercard results.

TV Coverage

Coverage for Crocker-Ilbay starts live on iFL TV from 6pm GMT, and on ESPN+ at 7pm GMT / 2pm EST / 11am PT.

Live Stream

You can watch online via the iFL TV YouTube channel HERE

Price

Free to view for YouTube and ESPN+ subscribers.

Undercard Highlights

There's another WBO European title clash on the same night as unbeaten Irishman Gary Cully (11-0, 5KOs) meets Kazakh Viktor Kotochigov (12-1, 5KOs) for the vacant lightweight version.

Quotes

MTK Global Promoter Lee Eaton: "These two title fights are both very intriguing match-ups, and will show us just what Lewis Crocker and Gary Cully are capable of by facing very dangerous opponents.

"On the undercard we have Isaac Lowe and Sahir Iqbal both returning, and highly-rated Jordan Reynolds makes his debut. We'll be announcing even more for the card soon and it's going to be another must-see event.

"We're really proud of our current schedule of UK shows, as they're full of 50-50 fights up and down all of the cards, so we're delighted to be giving boxing fans the fights they want to see."

Predictions

Tim Rickson, BBN Editor: "Lewis Crocker is in the driving seat here. Deniz Ilbay is a national champion, but Crocker is above that level, albeit less experienced, but he should have the greater skillset to win here."

Background

Lewis Crocker overcame former Southern Area titlist Louis Greene (12-2, 7KOs) in his last battle. He has stepped up in level of competition in his previous two bouts and passed boths tests with flying colours.

Deniz Ilbay has won a plethora of titles during his approaching 10-year career, but if you list them all, you wouldn;t recognise any of them. He is the reigning German welterweight champion, which is the strongest indication of the level the 26-year-old is at.

Betting Odds Supplied by Star Sports

2/11 Lewis Crocker
17/4 Deniz Ilbay
20/1 Draw

Running Order

Main Event:
Lewis Crocker vs Deniz Ilbay
10x3 WBO European welterweight title

Co-Main Event:
Gary Cully vs Viktor Kotochigov
10x3 WBO European lightweight title

Sahir Iqbal vs TBA
8x3 Welterweight contest

Jordan Reynolds vs TBA
4x3 Super-lightweight contest

Isaac Lowe vs TBA
8x3 Featherweight contest

Press Release

The event will be broadcast in the US on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank and worldwide on IFL TV, and includes the WBO European welterweight title fight between Lewis Crocker and Deniz Ilbay, and the clash between Gary Cully and Viktor Kotochigov for the vacant WBO European lightweight title.

Several of the superb fights on the undercard have now been confirmed, including a fantastic rescheduled battle at welterweight, as undefeated Sahir Iqbal (8-0, 1 KO) goes up against Liam Wells (7-1, 2 KOs).

Jordan Reynolds faces a tough test as he prepares to enter the paid ranks for the first, colliding with former Southern Area title challenger Robbie Chapman (6-6).

Highly-rated Adam Azim (1-0) is also back in action, with the teenage sensation looking to build on the impressive showing he produced in his professional debut back in December.

Featherweight contender Isaac Lowe, and fellow debutant Carl Fail are also in action, with opponents to be confirmed soon for Azim, Lowe and Fail.

MTK Global Promoter Lee Eaton said: “We’re pleased to be delivering another MTK Fight Night with 50-50 fights. We got excellent feedback from our opening show of the year last Friday, and we’re determined to keep providing competitive fights for the fans.

“It’s great to get the welterweight fight between Sahir Iqbal and Liam Wells back on, and I’m looking forward to seeing how Jordan Reynolds does in his debut against Robbie Chapman, who we have had on our shows recently against Ben Fail and Fearghus Quinn.

“Along with those two great fights, we’ve also got our two title fights, and Isaac Lowe, Adam Azim and Carl Fail, so it’s going to be a night to remember.”

Stay up to date at mtkglobal.com and on social media @mtkglobal

Press Release

German welterweight Deniz Ilbay plans on marking his first fight in the UK an upset win when he faces Lewis Crocker on the March 12th edition of MTK Fight Night. Ilbay (22-2, 10 KOs) challenges unbeaten Crocker (12-0, 7 KOs) at the University of Bolton Stadium next Friday, live in the US on ESPN+, and worldwide on IFL TV. Germany’s Ilbay went the distance with former world title challenger Egidijus Kavaliauskas back in 2016, and he’s warned Crocker to expect a fiery encounter.

Ilbay said: “I’m excited to be standing in the ring again and to be able to deliver fireworks. In the past year I have become stronger and improved on a lot of things. I’m so excited to fight in front of such a huge audience, even if they are only behind their TVs. We have had a lot of great sparring with fighters of the highest level. I had a lot of fight cancellations in 2020 due to COVID, but I stayed in fight mode because I knew it will pay off one day, and now it has. I will be pleased once I’m sitting on the airplane on the way back from the UK to Germany, because that means the fight did happen. Winning is all I want right now, that’s my main focus.”

Elsewhere on the March 12th MTK Fight Night, Gary Cully squares off with Viktor Kotochigov at lightweight, Isaac Lowe returns, Sahir Iqbal faces Liam Wells, Jordan Reynolds makes his professional debut against Robbie Chapman, Adam Azim is back in action, plus Carl Fail enters the paid ranks for the first time too.

It kicks off a huge 7 days, as on March 19th, another MTK Fight Night takes place, as Lee McGregor challenges Karim Guerfi for his European bantamweight title, and Maxi Hughes meets Paul Hyland Jr. for the vacant British lightweight title. The event on March 19th also sees Padraig McCrory face Germaine Brown in a clash of unbeaten super middleweights, Shabaz Masoud goes up against Louis Norman, Jamie Robinson fights Billy Allington, Paul Ryan makes his professional debut against Kyle Hughes, and William Hamilton returns.

Press Release | Lewis Crocker: Deniz Ilbay is My Toughest Test To Date

Lewis Crocker is relishing the tough challenge in front of him as he prepares to take on Deniz Ilbay on Friday’s MTK Fight Night.

Undefeated Crocker (12-0, 7 KOs) puts his his WBO European welterweight title against Ilbay (22-2, 10 KOs) at the University of Bolton Stadium, live on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank, and worldwide on IFL TV.

It’s the first defence of the title that Crocker superbly won last August, and the Belfast man is excited to test his skills against a dangerous opponent.

Crocker said: “I’m delighted that I’m fighting again and it’s great to get back in the swing of things. Starting 2021 with a big fight is just what I wanted.

“Ilbay has won several titles and has been in there with world class opposition, so I’m expecting my toughest test to date. My mindset hasn’t changed whatsoever, I’m still as hungry as ever and I definitely don’t plan on losing my belt.

“Headlining another show back to back is quite special, and it’s all good experience for me and my progression throughout my career. Training has been great and all the boxes have been ticked.

“This Friday it’s just about going in there and putting on a good performance. The plan is to win this fight, and then add more titles to my resume and remain unbeaten.”

Elsewhere on the MTK Fight Night on Friday, Gary Cully squares off with Viktor Kotochigov for the vacant WBO European lightweight title, Isaac Lowe returns, Jordan Reynolds makes his professional debut against Robbie Chapman, Sahir Iqbal is back in action, Carl Fail enters the paid ranks for the first time against undefeated Jordan Dujon, and Mace Ruegg meets Johnson Tellez.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑01 Mar 2021, 07:08

that poster does a great job of making iqbal's name look like ioral

step da f@ck up mtk graphic designers

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑09 Mar 2021, 09:39

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑01 Mar 2021, 07:08

that poster does a great job of making iqbal's name look like ioral

step da f@ck up mtk graphic designers

You reckon they should both be taking huge dumps??

Poster doesn’t really have much to it.. shame.

in this case yes, better taking a huge dump than both of them looking bored shiteless

Live from the University of Bolton Stadium in Bolton, England

ESPN+ & IFL TV Broadcast Starts: 7pm GMT / 2pm EST / 11am PT

Fight #1

6 Round Middleweight Bout
Jordan Reynolds vs. Robbie Chapman

Fight #2

6 Round Super-Featherweight Bout
Mace Ruegg vs. Levi Dunn

Fight #3

6 Round Super-Welterweight Bout
Carl Fail vs. Jordan Dujon

Fight #4

6 Round Super-Featherweight Bout
Isaac Lowe vs. Ed Harrison

Fight #5

Vacant WBO European Lightweight Championship
Gary Cully vs. Viktor Kotochigov

Fight #6

WBO European Welterweight Championship
Lewis Crocker vs. Deniz Ilbay

Starts in short while

Watching but not inspired by anything so far

Just got it on my massive new telly
Fail looks all right - not bad for a debut.

Sticking it on soon

Solid debut for Carl Fail. Looked nice and controlled, plus kicking off with a 6 x 3's made things that bit more demanding.

Has Jordan Reynolds boxed yet

Lowe severely lacks power

Good 6 rounder that. Harrison was competitive and forced Lowe to work for his win.

Shhhh wrote: ↑12 Mar 2021, 17:19

dookus wrote: ↑12 Mar 2021, 17:17 Lowe severely lacks power

I’m not sure it’ll matter - hits fast and sharp enough.

Anybody else read the live chat on the side. Some funny stuff

Fury sounds like he's bored out of his head waiting for a fight

Shhhh wrote: ↑12 Mar 2021, 17:30 Does Tyson seem high here

who can ever tell

Cully looking good R1. Keeping it rangy but clearly landing hard enough to trouble Kotochigov

Cully starting well.
10-9

Boom !

Lovely ko from cully