THE 'BATTLE OF BRUM' IS ON

[HS Press]

THE 'BATTLE OF BRUM' IS ON

Wayne Elcock and Matthew Macklin will square off in the ‘Battle of Brum’ in the biggest Birmingham boxing derby in living memory at the Aston Arena on Saturday, 14th March.

The fight Birmingham has been waiting for will become reality when Elcock makes the second defence of his British Middleweight Title against Mandatory Challenger Macklin, who has won his last six fights since he was stopped by Jamie Moore for the British Light-Middleweight Title in 2006.

The grudge match will be shown live on ITV4 in front of what is expected to be a sell-out crowd at the Hennessy Sports show and former world title challenger Elcock cannot wait to get it on with his Birmingham rival Macklin.

"There hasn’t been a fight like this in Birmingham between two top rated Brummies for as far back as I can remember," said champion Elcock.

"My phone is off the hook at the moment because there’s so much interest in it. It’s going to be a cracking atmosphere on the night and a cracking fight.

"I will win the fight and have been looking for this opportunity for years, since we turned pro. Matt has been doing all the talking, but there’s no need to hype this one because it is just a massive fight without any hype.

"I rate Matt as a decent fighter and this is what Birmingham and British boxing needs – two top fighters squaring off against each other.

"He said he’s going to knock me out but he was saying that sort of thing before he fought Jamie Moore and look what happened then."

Elcock had to pull out of scheduled defence last month against Jason McKay because of a leg injury, but he has fully recovered from the fractured fibia.

"My leg is fine and I’m back in the gym full-time now. The December 6th fight was just a bit too soon for me and I needed a longer break for the injury."

"The venue holds just over 2,000 people and I expect a quick sell out for this one as I can’t remember a bigger Birmingham boxing derby. There will also be a massive audience on TV for this one. There’s a bit of needle between them both and it’s boiling up to be a great fight." said promoter Mick Hennessy.
“I am pleased for Wayne as this is a fight he has wanted for a while; I know this fight has highly motivated him”

Tickets will be on sale from Monday 12th January from the Ticketline box office on 0871 424 4444 or via http://www.ticketline.co.uk

[TerribleTerry]

Great fight, can't wait.

Matt might be just a little too young, strong and hungry for Elcock although I expect Wayne to test Macklin's chin along the way.

This is going to be a cracking fight!

NOTE: Hennessey remember there is a credit cruch so ticket prices should start no higher than £30

[whicker]

HSpress... what is HS???

OH! Hennessey Sports!

I am Slow today.

[bennie]

A big all-Birmingham scrap at the Aston Arena in Birmingham on March 14 pairs Wayne Elcock and Matthew Macklin for the British middleweight title. Elcock is the champion; Macklin, the mandatory challenger.
"Mad Dog" Wayne won the title in September 2007 with an upset decision over Howard Eastman in Coventry. He was the first British fighter to lick "The Battersea Bomber" and it earned him a quick shot at the IBF middleweight title held by unbeaten Armenian thumper Arthur Abraham, who duly thumped Elcock in five rounds in Switzerland in December 2007. Since then, the 35-year-old Elcock has boxed only once: a quick cuts stoppage of Dudley's Darren McDermott in defence of his title at Wolverhampton last June (two rounds). He might be rusty.
By contrast Macklin fought three times last year, all of them full 10-rounders, and looks the fresher, sharper man at still only 26. Those fights included punch-picking wins over tough Serb Geard Ajetovic and tough Mexican Yory "Boy" Campas. Matthew is boxing more today after a tearaway reputation cost him in a previous stab at the British title (at light-middleweight) against Salford's excellent Jamie Moore in Manchester in 2006. Macklin piled it on too early, ran out of gas and was kayoed in the 10th round of an absolute barnstormer. Macklin can whack and still enjoys the chance to mix it but the 'new' Matthew Macklin poses a real threat to Elcock. He moved up to middleweight immediately after the Moore humbler.
The champion's great experience, however, will undoubtedly make this a long, hard fight. Elcock came to the fore when he dazzled Manchester strongman Anthony Farnell over 12 rounds in Manchester way back in 2003, flooring Farnell in the process. He can whack, too, has good all-round ability and always fights well in Brum. With the famous old Lonsdale Belt on the line, and bragging rights, it should be a belter.

[liamlion]

I think Elcock is gonna win by late stoppage. Elcock's gonna be too big and strong for Macklin and he definitely punches with more authority than Macklin. However, Elcock's ring inactivity and recent leg injury may cause him a real problem.

I personally hope Macklin wins.

I cant wait for this fight. Villa leisure centre will be buzzing! Shame one of them doesnt support the Villa - that would have put some real needle in the atmosphere.

[rhino222]

what is a 'fibia' ....

[Counter-puncher]

I am more comfortable picking Macklin as i feel I know what to expect more with him. sometimes with Wayne you can't predict which version will turn up

[liamlion]

what is a 'fibia' ....

lol, its the bone child of a tibia and fibula

[beano]

[quote="liamlion"]I think Elcock is gonna win by late stoppage. Elcock's gonna be too big and strong for Macklin and he definitely punches with more authority than Macklin. However, Elcock's ring inactivity and recent leg injury may cause him a real problem.

I personally hope Macklin wins.

I cant wait for this fight. Villa leisure centre will be buzzing! Shame one of them doesnt support the Villa - that would have put some real needle in the atmosphere.[/quote]

i can safely say that if one of these fighters was a villa fan that the fight would never take place unless it was behind closed doors

[fatton]

I think Elcock is gonna win by late stoppage. Elcock's gonna be too big and strong for Macklin and he definitely punches with more authority than Macklin. However, Elcock's ring inactivity and recent leg injury may cause him a real problem.

I personally hope Macklin wins.

I cant wait for this fight. Villa leisure centre will be buzzing! Shame one of them doesnt support the Villa - that would have put some real needle in the atmosphere.

i can safely say that if one of these fighters was a villa fan that the fight would never take place unless it was behind closed doors

Agreed, the last thing this fight needs is any more needle to convince a few knobs in the crowd to prove how hard they are. Birmingham has had enough crowd trouble over the years with the likes of McCracken V Foster and Muttley V Anderson.

[Counter-puncher]

Muttley vs Anderson the 'crowd trouble' was a bit of handbags really.

next to McCracken - Foster anyway

[Bomber 1]

I go for Maklin in this shootout BUT it will be very exciting and I feel both will get hurt in this brawl!!

[Counter-puncher]

Great fight, can't wait.

Matt might be just a little too young, strong and hungry for Elcock although I expect Wayne to test Macklin's chin along the way.

This is going to be a cracking fight!

NOTE: Hennessey remember there is a credit cruch so ticket prices should start no higher than £30

yer avin a laugh ay ya, Tezza our kid?

107.50 ringside, £45 general......

[salvador]

THE 'BATTLE OF BRUM' IS ON

Wayne Elcock and Matthew Macklin will square off in the ‘Battle of Brum’ in the biggest Birmingham boxing derby in living memory at the Aston Arena on Saturday, 14th March.

The fight Birmingham has been waiting for will become reality when Elcock makes the second defence of his British Middleweight Title against Mandatory Challenger Macklin, who has won his last six fights since he was stopped by Jamie Moore for the British Light-Middleweight Title in 2006.

The grudge match will be shown live on ITV4 in front of what is expected to be a sell-out crowd at the Hennessy Sports show and former world title challenger Elcock cannot wait to get it on with his Birmingham rival Macklin.

"There hasn’t been a fight like this in Birmingham between two top rated Brummies for as far back as I can remember," said champion Elcock.

"My phone is off the hook at the moment because there’s so much interest in it. It’s going to be a cracking atmosphere on the night and a cracking fight.

"I will win the fight and have been looking for this opportunity for years, since we turned pro. Matt has been doing all the talking, but there’s no need to hype this one because it is just a massive fight without any hype.

"I rate Matt as a decent fighter and this is what Birmingham and British boxing needs – two top fighters squaring off against each other.

"He said he’s going to knock me out but he was saying that sort of thing before he fought Jamie Moore and look what happened then."

Elcock had to pull out of scheduled defence last month against Jason McKay because of a leg injury, but he has fully recovered from the fractured fibia.

"My leg is fine and I’m back in the gym full-time now. The December 6th fight was just a bit too soon for me and I needed a longer break for the injury."

"The venue holds just over 2,000 people and I expect a quick sell out for this one as I can’t remember a bigger Birmingham boxing derby. There will also be a massive audience on TV for this one. There’s a bit of needle between them both and it’s boiling up to be a great fight." said promoter Mick Hennessy.
“I am pleased for Wayne as this is a fight he has wanted for a while; I know this fight has highly motivated him”

Tickets will be on sale from Monday 12th January from the Ticketline box office on 0871 424 4444 or via http://www.ticketline.co.uk

I've been on ticketline.co.uk and I can't see these tickets anywhere. Does anyone know if these tickets have actually gone on sale yet? And any news on the undercard?

[Counter-puncher]

mate give them a call i booked my tkts a couple of hours ago

UC could be okay- Hennessy has a good relationship with PJ Rowson (promotes Gethin, dean harrison, Mark LLoyd, Young Mutley etc) so i would imagine they will try to get another couple of local lads on the bill

having said that i think it will sell out regardless of the UC

[Coco]

A big all-Birmingham scrap at the Aston Arena in Birmingham on March 14 pairs Wayne Elcock and Matthew Macklin for the British middleweight title. Elcock is the champion; Macklin, the mandatory challenger.
"Mad Dog" Wayne won the title in September 2007 with an upset decision over Howard Eastman in Coventry. He was the first British fighter to lick "The Battersea Bomber" and it earned him a quick shot at the IBF middleweight title held by unbeaten Armenian thumper Arthur Abraham, who duly thumped Elcock in five rounds in Switzerland in December 2007. Since then, the 35-year-old Elcock has boxed only once: a quick cuts stoppage of Dudley's Darren McDermott in defence of his title at Wolverhampton last June (two rounds). He might be rusty.
By contrast Macklin fought three times last year, all of them full 10-rounders, and looks the fresher, sharper man at still only 26. Those fights included punch-picking wins over tough Serb Geard Ajetovic and tough Mexican Yory "Boy" Campas. Matthew is boxing more today after a tearaway reputation cost him in a previous stab at the British title (at light-middleweight) against Salford's excellent Jamie Moore in Manchester in 2006. Macklin piled it on too early, ran out of gas and was kayoed in the 10th round of an absolute barnstormer. Macklin can whack and still enjoys the chance to mix it but the 'new' Matthew Macklin poses a real threat to Elcock. He moved up to middleweight immediately after the Moore humbler.
The champion's great experience, however, will undoubtedly make this a long, hard fight. Elcock came to the fore when he dazzled Manchester strongman Anthony Farnell over 12 rounds in Manchester way back in 2003, flooring Farnell in the process. He can whack, too, has good all-round ability and always fights well in Brum. With the famous old Lonsdale Belt on the line, and bragging rights, it should be a belter.

so whos gonna win bennie?
who do you write for?

Bennie always leaves us hanging, always stops short of a prediction!
He is one of the Colloney(sp sorry) who used to write for BN

[d]

Great fight!!

Macklin all day long for me!

[TerribleTerry]

Great fight, can't wait.

Matt might be just a little too young, strong and hungry for Elcock although I expect Wayne to test Macklin's chin along the way.

This is going to be a cracking fight!

NOTE: Hennessey remember there is a credit cruch so ticket prices should start no higher than £30

yer avin a laugh ay ya, Tezza our kid?

107.50 ringside, £45 general......

Once again Hennessey has his greedy, fat hands in the pockets of hard working fans.

Why didnt he book a bigger venue and work off a lower per ticket price? I am sure he will have all his excuses ready re: purses, venue costs etc but I don't buy it - he is jacking up the prices because he knows an all Brummie derby will sell out. That has pi55ed me right off

Any which way you look at it the fat c u n t is taking us for a shower of w@nkers with these prices.

[jonp]

Vote with yr feet terry come to my show on feb 1st instead.

30 quid and a fiver discount for any boxrec users who pm me.

We got more fights and two midland title fights.

Shameless plug over back to Macklin Elcock.

[Autobarn]

Great fight, can't wait.

Matt might be just a little too young, strong and hungry for Elcock although I expect Wayne to test Macklin's chin along the way.

This is going to be a cracking fight!

NOTE: Hennessey remember there is a credit cruch so ticket prices should start no higher than £30

yer avin a laugh ay ya, Tezza our kid?

107.50 ringside, £45 general......

Once again Hennessey has his greedy, fat hands in the pockets of hard working fans.

Why didnt he book a bigger venue and work off a lower per ticket price? I am sure he will have all his excuses ready re: purses, venue costs etc but I don't buy it - he is jacking up the prices because he knows an all Brummie derby will sell out. That has pi55ed me right off

Any which way you look at it the fat c u n t is taking us for a shower of w@nkers with these prices.

A promoter trying to make money?

I can't afford to go to any fights at the moment, but if I could, I'd be more likely to go to a Macklin-Elcock genuine (on paper) fight, than Commonwealth title mismatches served up by other promoters.

I'd still be wary though, as Elcock's head has been dangerous in the last 2 fights.

[TerribleTerry]

A promoter trying to make money?

45 quid for a fight in a sports centre is a p i ss take - end of.

Jon - good luck with the show on the 1st Feb. I will see if I can make it but am already going to 2 shows in the next 6 weeks or so, so am a bit strapped for ca$h (esp with that cockney chancer charging so much!)

[Chambers2]

I was considering getting a group of mates together and getting a mini-bus over for this show, but there's no way they'll be willing to fork out 45 nicker a piece for a ticket.

[Autobarn]

Still, a genuinely good matchup and no doubt McDermott will be next for another local derby.

My concern - will Elcock be overanxious, and will that head fall in when he throws the right hands?

Imagine paying £45 and that happening again...

[whiteboy]

£45? that really is quite alot, also considering the fight is going out on free-to-air TV - is this actually going to sell out

[Autobarn]

If it's a sports hall, you might get a good view. You won't be too far from the ring.