O’Donnel-Watson……a case of history repeating itself at the venue of legends or a case of sweet revenge?
Ok it’s not exactly at the venue of legends but it is just across the road from the famed venue, however it’s at the Wembley arena that’s hosted many a big fight night down the years…..Hope-Mattioli….Minter-Antuofermo….amongst countless other big nights.
On February 5th Mick Hennessey put’s on an interesting show featuring the return between John O’Donnell the Shepherd’s Bush based Irishman against a man he’s beaten before in Manchester’s Craig Watson, the pair fought in April 2009 at the York Hall when O’Donnell beat the Mancunian for the Commonwealth welterweight crown by a split decision and winning it by a single point on two of the judge’s scorecards.
Since then O’Donnell after one successful defense against Essex fighter Tom Glover has vacated and has since won two on the trot, last time out beating former Olympian Terence Cauthen by a wide point’s decision, while Watson has battled his way back into contention by rebounding from that loss by stringing together six wins and also stopping Uganda’s Badru Lusambya impressively in two rounds to win the Commonwealth light middleweight title a year ago almost, since then Watson’s kept on winning in setting up this a rematch and a shot at the vacant British welterweight crown vacated by Kell Brook.
And talking of British title fight’s there’s also on the show a battle for Lenny Daw’s British light welterweight title against Ashley ‘the treasure’ Theophane in what I can see being a hard long night for both men, Daw’s if he win’s will win the Lonsdale belt outright but Theophane nicknamed ‘the treasure’ will be looking to add it to his waist moreso than his chest!
And if that’s not enough there’s also the return of former British, Commonwealth and European middleweight champion Darren Barker over ten rounds who has been inactive since winning the European title last April at the Alexandra Palace due to a hip injury.
Barker was to have figured last year in a big fight with rival Matthew Macklin but pulled out through injury, Barker whose promotional outfit have now won purse bids for the aforementioned match up with Macklin, will be looking to impress and set up such a mouth watering spectacle.
The rest of the undercard look’s like value for money as popular Albanian Kreshnik Qato come’s back after a short lay off against selected opposition as do Enfield’s Chris Evangelou, Phil Fury cousin of Tyson, Colchester’s first pro champion Lee Purdy, Tyler Goodjohn and puncher John Ryder who will be hoping for a more satisfying outcome as he last time was headbutted repeatedly by Sabie Monteith who opened a nasty cut over his eye, Monteith naturally was DQ’d in a round!
Ticket are priced at £100, £75, £40 and £30 and can be purchased from www.hennesseysports.com or from www.wembleyarena.co.uk or alternatively call 0844 815 0815 or 0844 888 4402.
Hope to see you there
Michael Angelo Serra