BoxRec

Press Release

MTK Fight Night will kick off 2022 with two title fights when they return to York Hall in London on February 11.

The bill will be broadcast in the USA on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank, and worldwide on IFL TV, as undefeated Danny Dignum puts his WBO European middleweight title on the line against Grant Dennis, while Irish star Gary Cully defends his WBO European lightweight title against Artjoms Ramlavs.

Dignum (13-0-1, 7 KOs) is back following his hard-fought draw with Andrey Sirotkin in April, turning his attention to former Southern Area champion Dennis (17-3, 3 KOs) for an all-British showdown.

Cully (13-0, 7 KOs) returns after two dominant stoppage wins in 2021, as he now goes up against Ramlavs (14-1, 8 KOs), who has only lost to Archie Sharp during his career.

Elsewhere on the card, Nina Hughes (1-0) faces Bec Connolly, plus some of the best rising stars are in action, as Shiloh Defreitas (2-0, 2 KOs), Jamie Robinson (11-4-2, 3 KOs), Joe Giles (1-0), Will Hamilton (3-0, 2 KOs), Jordan Flynn (3-0) and George Mitchell (2-0, 1 KO) all return, while Bilal Fawaz makes his highly-anticipated professional debut.

MTK Global Promoter Lee Eaton said: "We're delighted to start 2022 in a big way by heading back to York Hall with another massive card on February 11. We ended 2021 with two superb events at York Hall, and it will be more of the same in the New Year.

"It's great to have Danny Dignum back after injury forced him to miss the rest of 2021, and it's a brilliant domestic battle against Grant Dennis. Gary Cully returns too in an intriguing clash against Artjoms Ramlavs, and it gives Gary another good chance to test himself.

"Jamie Robinson will look to move back into title contention on the card, plus some of our best unbeaten prospects like Shiloh Defreitas, Nina Hughes, Joe Giles, Will Hamilton, Jordan Flynn and George Mitchell are all in action. Bilal Fawaz finally gets the chance to make his professional debut as well following his incredible journey, so this is certain to be a must-see event."

Interesting matchup. Dignum on the rise but held to a draw in his last outing and Dennis lost on the continent to the same boxer, but has come back with 2 low-key wins.

Not the best fights but a decent card so far

Forget the silly WBO trinket, it's basically the equivalent of a top drawer Southern Area title fight or a good English title clash.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑20 Dec 2021, 19:50 Not the best fights but a decent card so far

Yeah. Rarely not enjoyed an MTK show.

diggys a nice boxer but chinny and not with a great engine. youd think he has enough to beat dennis comfortably, but you never know

Dignum has to be favourite. Dennis' movement could cause problems, I just wonder about Grant's punch resistance now.

Press Release | Lee McGregor vs. Diego Alberto Ruiz Added To February 11 MTK Card

Undefeated sensation Lee McGregor will make his return to the ring on next month's MTK Fight Night when he faces dangerous Argentine Diego Alberto Ruiz.

The huge card will be held on Friday 11 February and be broadcast live in the US on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank, and worldwide on IFL TV, with Danny Dignum defending his WBO European middleweight title against Grant Dennis in the main event.

McGregor (11-0, 9 KOs) was last in action in August, when he stopped Vincent Legrand in the fourth round to retain his European bantamweight title, following on from his blistering first round knockout win over Karim Guerfi in March 2021.

The Edinburgh star now turns his attention to his showdown with Ruiz (23-4, 12 KOs), who has shared the ring with Michael Conlan and Shabaz Masoud in recent years.

McGregor said: "I'm buzzing to get back in the ring. It's been a frustrating few months after my December fell fell through and then receiving the news about Kash Farooq, so I'm delighted that we now have this date.

"I stayed on it over Christmas and it has paid off as now I've been able to step in and fight with not much notice needed, so hopefully it's the start of a very bright 2022.

"Ruiz is tough and comes and have a go, and that's exactly what I want. I don't want a journeyman coming to lie down just because I've not fought for a bit, I want someone who comes to win as that's when you see my at my best.

"I'm hoping to make a statement and be dominant, and show people what I've improved on, as I'm continuing to improve every single month."

Elsewhere on next month's show, Nina Hughes faces Bec Connolly, Shiloh Defreitas takes on Alexey Tukhtarov, Joe Giles meets Lewis van Poetsch, Bilal Fawaz makes his professional debut against Vladimir Fleischhauer, Jordan Flynn clashes with Lee Hallet, Will Hamilton goes up against Jone Volau, and George Mitchell fights Vasif Mamedov.

Fight Week!!

MTK Fight Night: Dignum vs Dennis fight card

• Danny Dignum vs. Grant Dennis – Dignum’s WBO European middleweight title
• Lee McGregor vs. Diego Alberto Ruiz, 10 rounds, super bantamweight
• Nina Hughes vs. Bec Connolly, 8 rounds, bantamweight
• Bilal Fawaz vs. Vladimir Fleischhauer, 4 rounds, super welterweight
• Joe Giles vs. Lewis van Poetsch, 4 rounds, super middleweight
• Jordan Flynn vs. Marian Marius Istrate, 6 rounds, lightweight
• George Mitchell vs. Vasif Mamedov, 4 rounds, super welterweight

Press Release

Grant Dennis is fully aware of the rewards that are on offer if he can defeat Danny Dignum when the two fighters meet on Friday's MTK Fight Night.

Dennis (17-3, 3 KOs) challenges Dignum (13-0-1, 7 KOs) for his WBO European middleweight title as part of this week’s huge event at York Hall in London, which will be broadcast live in the US on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank, and worldwide on IFL TV.

A victory for Dennis would see him send a huge statement out to the rest of the middleweight division, and he plans on making a big impact.

Dennis said: "I'm ready to go and I can't wait. I rate Danny as a fighter and when I've spoken to him on a few occasions, he's been cool, but this is just business.

"A win in this fight pushes me in the right direction. He's a name that's up there with world honours potentially on his doorstep, so having a scalp like his on my record does me a lot of favours.

"I've had to do it the hard way on the small hall scene, and thankfully I've now got this shot and it's going to be a good fight. Winning the WBO European title can propel me to where I've belonged for a long time.

"I've been training for this fight just as I would any other, like a madman. I don't look at Dignum any different to my last opponent who was a journeyman, I just give it everything no matter what. Everybody has got two hands, two feet and a heartbeat.

"In my head I feel like I've only lost one fight in my career to Andrey Sirotkin, as I felt I got robbed in the Elliott Matthews fight for the English title, and the other was in Ultimate Boxxer so that was just a three round contest.

"Dignum's last fight was too Sirotkin too, and that was a fight that could have gone either way. Personally I thought Sirotkin might have edged it."

Elsewhere on Friday’s card, undefeated sensation Lee McGregor returns against Diego Alberto Ruiz, Nina Hughes takes on Bec Connolly, Bilal Fawaz makes his professional debut against Vladimir Fleischhauer, Joe Giles meets Lewis van Poetsch, plus Jordan Flynn, Paul Ryan and George Mitchell are all in action.

Live transmission has started on IFL TV (YouTube)

Dennis is so chinny

So pleased the Master Knowledge is here to disperse the real knowledge to me

Barry Jones looks like an aged Shaun Atwood tonight

Very impressive first round stoppage by Paul Ryan

Ryan not short of confidence in the post fight interview

"I'm the hottest prospect out there, and I aim to prove it everytime"

Time will tell, but looking forward to his next fight !

Why oh why is that ludicrous nut sack Fearon given a job on these shows...he's utter shit

THEBUTCH wrote: ↑11 Feb 2022, 15:49 Why oh why is that ludicrous nut sack Fearon given a job on these shows...he's utter shit

The million dollar question.

Funniest ring walk ever

THEBUTCH wrote: ↑11 Feb 2022, 15:49 Why oh why is that ludicrous nut sack Fearon given a job on these shows...he's utter shit

One of boxing’s riddles

It's like watching a 10 year old when he's interviewing a guest. Absolutely useless

Why the hell Alex Steadman isn't running the show instead is mind boggling.

Van Poetsch is garbage

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑11 Feb 2022, 16:37 Van Poetsch is garbage

I mean even someone who never watched a boxing match before would think ‘big deal…. You beat an old bald fat man on points who was 10 inches shorter’…..