MMA UK

David Price to face Sergey Kuzmin on Joshua undercard

Mick Kane 14/09/2018

David Price will take on unbeaten Russian Sergey Kuzmin for a WBA world ranking title on the undercard of Anthony Joshua vs. Alexander Povetkin at Wembley on September 22. Liverpool heavyweight Price (22-5-KO18) was last seen rocking Kuzmin’s compatriot Povetkin in Cardiff back in March before falling to defeat and is back on the big stage – live on Sky Sports Box Office. Price said: “It’s just great. I got a huge buzz last time being part of such a big occasion. There’s nothing like the feeling of a big fight night and I’m excited to be part of another one. “It’s all been late notice but I was training to fight in Belfast anyway. It means I’ll have to squeeze in my sparring as the fight is only 10 days away but I’ll come out all guns blazing on the night. “Opportunity knocks again and I’m hoping to get some good support on the night. I was a massive underdog in the Povetkin fight. Kuzmin isn’t as well known but he’s serious and they plan to have me as just a name on his record. “I’m a banana-skin for any undefeated prospect coming through. Going into this one I’m drawing on all the positivity of my experience last time and the fans’ reaction. “People know when they come to watch me fight that it’s going to be exciting one way or another. This time, however, I’m confident it’s me who’ll come out on top. All I care about is getting in there and taking him out.” Photo credit:Fight Saga

MTK Global announce opening of Edinburgh club

Mick Kane 26/08/2018

MTK Global is proud to announce the creation of a new community boxing facility in Edinburgh – MTK Clermiston Boxing Club. The club will be based at the Rannoch Centre in the west of the city and headed by Mike Webb – General Manager of The Gym Group Edinburgh City and a Strength & Conditioning coach for high class boxers such as Lewis Benson and John Thain. Together with Edinburgh Council, MTK Global will provide funding and support as Webb and his team seek not only to coach boxing but also to tackle local social problems such as drug use, mental health and bullying through inclusion in sport. Webb said: “I walked into Lochend Boxing Club 10 years ago and it helped shape me as an adult. “The experiences created friendships for life and opened up worlds to me that I didn’t previously know existed. I can only imagine what I could have achieved as a child but facilities were not available. “We hope MTK Clermiston Boxing Club can influence change in the local community and we can grow our project wider in the future. All our coaches will be qualified coaches or elite professional or amateur boxers. “We’re going to create a safe environment which is accessible to all – somewhere children and adults alike can come and learn a skill, develop confidence and discipline while encouraging healthy living.” MTK Global CEO Sandra Vaughan said: “We are over the moon to be setting up another stronghold in the hotbed of Scottish boxing and proud to be working with Mike and his team. “The city of Edinburgh has produced some hugely successful boxers over the years and we want to be at the cutting edge when it comes to bringing through the stars of tomorrow. “While we are always on the lookout for the most promising young talent, the club will be about more than that – a hub for the community to come together regardless of age or ability.”

David Brophy eyes another shot at British title

Mick Kane 24/08/2018

Scottish super-middleweight David Brophy has set his heart on winning the British title as he prepares to fight in front of his fanatical support in Glasgow. The Caldercruix fighter (19-2-1-KO3) returns to Scotland for the first time since January 2017 on MTK Global’s show at Emirates Arena tonight – live on BoxNation – and has outlined his latest ambitions. The popular Brophy said: “I’ve got big support coming. I’ve got people even showing up for the weigh-in. I don’t know how or why because I’ve only got three mates! “You always see them there and it means a lot. It doesn’t matter where I go – they come and support me. “Realistically, world level is a long way away at this stage and we need to get back in the gym, back working and back under the lights. “I don’t like to look too far ahead. I like to take baby steps. If I can get back to British title level, that’d be good. “Obviously in my last fight, I fought Rocky Fielding for the British title and lost but hopefully one day I can get my hands on that Lonsdale belt.” Brophy features on a stellar card that also includes Darragh Foley v Chris Jenkins, Stephen Ormond v George Ashie, Kieran Smith and more.

Carl Frampton hits new heights of spite for Jackson showdown

Frankie 18/08/2018

Two-weight world champion Carl Frampton has warned opponent Luke Jackson he’s in ruthless mood ahead of Saturday’s clash at Windsor Park. Early in the build-up to the fight, Jackson claimed ‘The Jackal’ was looking “heavy” and “sluggish”; comments that have left the Belfast hero eager to punish his unbeaten Australian guest. Frampton said: “[Trainer] Jamie Moore has seen a lot of spite in sparring. There’s been a certain amount of spitefulness in the gym too – more so than before. “What Jackson said annoyed me a little bit. I think he’s been a bit disrespectful. It’s a fight and the media make it bigger than what it is. It doesn’t matter to me though. “If he was my best mate and I had the chance to take him out, I’m going to do it. It doesn’t matter what he’s said – he hasn’t said much to irk me. It won’t affect my performance. “We’ll have a handshake after the fight and go our separate ways I suppose. “There’s something in me. Madness, I suppose. Maybe that’s too strong a word, but I like dishing out the punishment. Maybe it’s small man syndrome! Whatever it is, it’s there…” Only a few hundred tickets remain for tonight’s historic stadium show at Windsor Park – which also features Fury v Pianeta, Cristofer Rosales v Paddy Barnes and more. BUY: ticketmaster.ie All the action will be broadcast live on BT Sport from 7.45pm

Tyson Fury tells remarkable story of encounter with stranger in Belfast hotel

Frankie 18/08/2018

Tyson Fury has told the remarkable story of his encounter with a severely depressed man at a hotel in Belfast on Wednesday.

Liam Williams to headline MTK’s first Welsh event

Mick Kane 25/07/2018

Former British, Commonwealth and European light-middleweight king Liam Williams is relishing the chance to shine in front of his home fans in Cardiff on September 7. The 26-year-old (17-2-1-KO12) tops the bill as MTK Global puts on its first ever show in Wales and is determined to kick off a new era for Welsh boxing with a bang. Williams said: “It’s great news. It’s so exciting for me and I’ve been itching to announce this fight for some time. “I’ve been telling people news was coming soon for a while now and I’m just so happy to be back home. It gives my fans who sometimes can’t be there the chance to come and watch me fight. “It’s an exciting time for me personally with my new team. I’ve now signed with MTK Global and have a new trainer in Dominic Ingle so you’ll be seeing some improvements on the night. “Welsh boxing is about to take off. You’ve got Sean McGoldrick coming through and there are so many good young Welsh fighters. They’re already at a good level but if MTK Global brings more shows to Wales, the progress will gather pace. “I’m hopeful of fighting JJ Metcalf after this one. It’s one I want this year. Ideally, I’d fight for a world title straight away but I know that’s not the way things happen. “The plan is hopefully it’s a good win on September 7 and then I’m certain I’ll beat JJ Metcalf when I get the chance. Then in 2019, who knows, you could see me fight for a world title…”

Tyson Fury faces step up in class against Francesco Pianeta

Frankie 12/07/2018

Lineal world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury will take on former European champion and two-time world title challenger Francesco Pianeta at Windsor Park on August 18.

MTK Global launch MTK TV

Mick Kane 11/07/2018

MTK Global is proud to reveal its new media hub for boxing content MTK TV will be launched in August. The new channel will be broadcast free online and will provide fans with unrivalled access to fighters, shows and events from across the world. With more than 160 fighters on its roster, MTK Global is the foremost boxing management in the world and is set to use unique access to bring its heroes to your screens. Behind-the-scenes footage, up-close-and-personal interviews and contraband sparring tapes will all be regular features of a new age for boxing media. MTK Global CEO Sandra Vaughan said: “This is a huge step for MTK Global and we are confident MTK TV will be the place to be for any boxing fan. “Through our work with iFL TV, we know what the people out there want and we’ve had time to coordinate a media package that is the first of its kind. “Media is a key cog in the wheel of boxing and with our own dedicated channel, we’re going to bring the supporters closer to the fighters.”

Conlan champions Irish boxing scene ahead of homecoming fight

Mick Kane 27/06/2018

Michael Conlan has championed the thriving Irish boxing scene ahead of Saturday’s colossal homecoming night – live on BT Sport. With some already dubbing Belfast the key fight city in Europe, Conlan is preparing to step up against Adeilson Dos Santos as the headline act of a glittering card at The SSE Arena. The former world amateur champion said: “Boxing has always been a huge sport in Ireland but it says a lot about it that you’ve got English stars like Tyson Fury and Jack Catterall fighting here these days. “Irish boxing is in a great place and you’ve now got some of the world’s leading fighters coming over here to experience the unique atmosphere on huge bills. “I’ve never felt threatened by the pressure of living up to the expectations in Belfast. That stuff just doesn’t bother me and all I really have to do is be myself. “There’s a team mentality about Belfast boxers. Everyone supports each other and if one of us does well, it benefits everyone. “I’ve got this huge homecoming night and that has resulted in a lot of great fights getting made on the card so the whole environment is positive. It’s the same when Carl Frampton fights. “People are starting to acknowledge Belfast as the fight capital of Europe and that’s a special thing for this city. “Of course there is lots of competition from other cities but the recent shows being put on by Frank Warren and MTK Global on BT Sport have taken things to a new level.” Conlan v Dos Santos headlines a card featuring Jack Catterall v Tyrone McKenna, Jono Carroll v Declan Geraghty, Johnny Coyle v Lewis Benson, Tyrone McCullagh v Joe Ham and much more.

Carl Frampton welcomes Windsor Park card featuring Tyson Fury

Frankie 11/06/2018

Two-weight world champion Carl Frampton will fight at Windsor Park on August 18 on a card that will also feature lineal heavyweight king Tyson Fury. Frampton (25-1-KO14) currently holds the interim WBO world featherweight title after outclassing Nonito Donaire at Belfast’s SSE Arena in April and will return at one of his city’s major stadiums. Joining ‘The Jackal’ on a high-profile card will be unbeaten heavyweight Fury (26-0-KO19), who shrugged off two-and-a-half years out of the ring with a four-round stoppage of Sefer Seferi on June 9. Frampton said: “It means the world to me. It’s something I’ve dreamed about for a long time. I feel it should’ve happened last year but it’s happening now. “I’d rather it was a world title but nobody’s to blame – all the champions have recently fought and Warrington beating Selby threw a spanner in the works because Selby would’ve taken the fight. “I’ve loads left. My last performance was the second best of my career after the first Leo Santa Cruz fight. I feel like I’m enjoying it more and while I’m still performing, I’ll do it as long as I can. “It’s great to have Tyson Fury on the undercard. To have someone of his stature on the undercard is massive and he’ll be up against a more serious opponent this time so it’s good for everyone.”