It's on... like Donkey Kong.
Posted: 07 Sep 2005, 11:39
(From Hartlepool Mail)
HUNTER TO FACE RIVAL FOR THREE TITLES
IT'S ON! Hartlepool is to stage the triple title tussle between Michael Hunter and European champion Esham Pickering.
Promoters, Matchroom, won the purse bids for the British, Commonwealth and European super-bantamweight title confrontation and today announced that it will be at Borough Hall on Friday October 28.
Victory for the unbeaten Hunter would see him win the prestigious Lonsdale Belt outright, as well as snatch the European and Commonwealth crowns from the gifted Newark boxer.
It's all on the line and Sky Sports cameras will make their first visit to the famous Headland venue since 2001 to capture the action – and it promises to be explosive stuff.
Hunter has stopped his last three opponents at the Borough Hall – defeating Mark Payne, Marc Callaghan and Sean Hughes in British title clashes – while Pickering has won his last six championship bouts inside the distance.
The Hunter team, boss Dave Garside and coach Neil Fannan, are relishing the biggest night for Hartlepool boxing in over half a century.
The town has not boasted a triple champion since the great Teddy Gardner clinched the European, Empire and British flyweight titles when he outpointed London's Terry Allen at St James's Hall in Newcastle in 1952.
Teddy defended his European title later that year in Hartlepool when he defeated Italy's Otello Belardinelli in front of a 10,000 crowd at the Greyhound Stadium.
Despite brave efforts by the Feeney brothers, John and George, Hartlepool has not had a Euro champion since but Fannan believes that can change on October 28.
"Pickering is a brilliant champion, there is no questioning that," said Fannan. "But I do believe Michael has the tools to beat him – and the heart.
"Michael is a special fighter and one who loves the big occasion and there is no bigger occasion than this.
"Winning one title is special, but to bring three major titles to Hartlepool would be a tremendous achievement.
"Whenever a challenge has been put in front of him, he's passed it and he has the ability and the will to win to do this.
"It is a massive fight and we can't wait for October 28."
The showdown brings together Europe's top two 8st 6lb fighters. Pickering, 29, who boxes out of the famous Ingles gym in Sheffield, has a proud career log of 28 victories and only three defeats, with 11 of his wins coming inside the distance.
The talented Hunter boasts a near-perfect record of 22 wins (10 by stoppage) from 23 appearances, his only slight blemish being a draw with Marc Callaghan three years ago.
"They have brilliant records and both are probably somewhere near their peaks," added Fannan.
"I think it will be one of the best fights in British boxing in 2005."
HUNTER TO FACE RIVAL FOR THREE TITLES
IT'S ON! Hartlepool is to stage the triple title tussle between Michael Hunter and European champion Esham Pickering.
Promoters, Matchroom, won the purse bids for the British, Commonwealth and European super-bantamweight title confrontation and today announced that it will be at Borough Hall on Friday October 28.
Victory for the unbeaten Hunter would see him win the prestigious Lonsdale Belt outright, as well as snatch the European and Commonwealth crowns from the gifted Newark boxer.
It's all on the line and Sky Sports cameras will make their first visit to the famous Headland venue since 2001 to capture the action – and it promises to be explosive stuff.
Hunter has stopped his last three opponents at the Borough Hall – defeating Mark Payne, Marc Callaghan and Sean Hughes in British title clashes – while Pickering has won his last six championship bouts inside the distance.
The Hunter team, boss Dave Garside and coach Neil Fannan, are relishing the biggest night for Hartlepool boxing in over half a century.
The town has not boasted a triple champion since the great Teddy Gardner clinched the European, Empire and British flyweight titles when he outpointed London's Terry Allen at St James's Hall in Newcastle in 1952.
Teddy defended his European title later that year in Hartlepool when he defeated Italy's Otello Belardinelli in front of a 10,000 crowd at the Greyhound Stadium.
Despite brave efforts by the Feeney brothers, John and George, Hartlepool has not had a Euro champion since but Fannan believes that can change on October 28.
"Pickering is a brilliant champion, there is no questioning that," said Fannan. "But I do believe Michael has the tools to beat him – and the heart.
"Michael is a special fighter and one who loves the big occasion and there is no bigger occasion than this.
"Winning one title is special, but to bring three major titles to Hartlepool would be a tremendous achievement.
"Whenever a challenge has been put in front of him, he's passed it and he has the ability and the will to win to do this.
"It is a massive fight and we can't wait for October 28."
The showdown brings together Europe's top two 8st 6lb fighters. Pickering, 29, who boxes out of the famous Ingles gym in Sheffield, has a proud career log of 28 victories and only three defeats, with 11 of his wins coming inside the distance.
The talented Hunter boasts a near-perfect record of 22 wins (10 by stoppage) from 23 appearances, his only slight blemish being a draw with Marc Callaghan three years ago.
"They have brilliant records and both are probably somewhere near their peaks," added Fannan.
"I think it will be one of the best fights in British boxing in 2005."
