CASH – I’M LEVELS ABOVE CULLEN

Felix Cash believes that he is “levels above” Jack Cullen and is determined to prove it when they meet for the Commonwealth Middleweight crown at Manchester Arena on Saturday November 2, live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US. 

The unbeaten Wokingham talent (11-0, 7 KOs) landed the Commonwealth title in style by taking out Nigeria’s Rasheed Abolaji in the opening round of their clash at The O2 in February earlier this year but hasn’t fought since after an injury ruled him out of his July 6 date with Cullen.

‘Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver’ has enjoyed a breakout year, stopping Jack Sellars in eight rounds to win the English title at the Bolton Whites Hotel in May before halting Dillian Whyte protege John Harding Jr on his Sky Sports debut in Liverpool three months later. 

Despite his opponent’s recent run of impressive form, Cash insists that he has more than enough in his armoury to deal with Cullen and has predicted that their eagerly-anticipated domestic showdown won’t go the scheduled 12 rounds.

“I’ve been looking forward to this fight for a while and now it’s time to deal with this fella in good fashion,” said Cash. “There are a few weaknesses in his game which I have seen and no disrespect to John Harding Jr but he’s no Felix Cash and if he stands and trades with me then he’s going to be in trouble and he will walk onto one.
 
“He works hard Cullen, he’s a grafter who throws a lot of shots but that suits me because he is going to be there to be hit, I don’t think that he will see the twelfth round. This is the perfect fight for me to come back and show everybody how good I am.

“He’s tall and he’s awkward but I do believe he has never been in with a man or a fighter like me of my calibre. No disrespect to him but he’s been chinned before and I plan on doing the same. He is a decent fighter but there are levels in boxing and I believe that I am levels above him.

“It doesn’t matter what stage it is or how many fans he has got, it’s only going to be me and him inbetween them four ropes and I’m going to show him that there are levels.” 
 
Cash vs. Cullen is part of a huge night of boxing in Manchester. 

Main event sees Irish star Katie Taylor (14-0, 6 KOs) attempt to create history by becoming a two-weight World Champion as she takes on Christina Linardatou (12-1, 6 KOs) for the WBO Super-Lightweight World title, Manchester favourite Anthony Crolla (34-7-3, 13 KOs) prepares to bid an emotional farewell as he takes on Frank Urquiaga (13-1-1, 1 KO)in his final fight, Martin Bakole (14-1, 11 KOs) aims to build on his knockout win over Kevin Johnson, Qais Ashfaq (7-0, 3 KOs) fights for his first pro title as he meets Joe Ham (16-1, 6 KOs)fortheWBA Continental Super-Bantamweight crown, recent Matchroom Boxing signing Terri Harper (8-0, 5 KOs) makes the first defence of her IBO World title against Vivian Obenauf (14-5, 7 KOs)and there’s also action for Sheffield Super-Lightweight Dalton Smith (3-0, 2 KOs), Birmingham Featherweight Gamal Yafai (16-1, 9 KOs), Heywood Super-Lightweight Nathan Farrell (2-0) along with the professional debut of Leeds amateur standout Hopey Price.




CROLLA ON LIGHTWEIGHT PROTÉGÉ DYLAN EVANS: I SEE A LOT OF HIM IN ME

Anthony Crolla Lightweight protégé Dylan Evans has landed a dream slot on the bumper July 6 Sky Sports and DAZN televised Manchester Arena card that features Lawrence Okolie vs. Jack Massey, Scott Fitzgerald vs. Brian Rose, Felix Cash vs. Jack Cullen and more.
 
Fighting out of the Fox ABC in Manchester’s Newton Heath, 22-year-old Evans made a wining start to life in the professional ranks in 2017, outpointing Joe Beeden at the Oldham Leisure Centre before being forced to curb his boxing dream to focus on work commitments. 
 
Determined to relaunch his short-lived pro boxing career, Evans turned to former WBA Lightweight ruler ‘Million Dollar’ Crolla for advice and guidance. Crolla took Evans under his wing, beginning a role as his trainer/manager, and the Mancunian partnership got off to a winning start as Evans earned a comfortable decision over Michael Horabin last month. 
 
“His experience is second to none and he’s a massive inspiration to me as well,” said Evans. “He’s someone that I’ve always looked up to. He was always helping train the lads in our amateur gym after his sessions. Hopefully I can pick up from all of his experience, his experience at boxing at Manchester Arena multiple times is second to none. 
 
“He’s Manchester’s main boxer at the minute and he’s been through everything in his career. He’s had a rollercoaster career, he’s experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. It’s amazing to have him in my corner. He’s good mates with my brother-in-law and we’ve known each other for the past ten years, we go way back.
 
“I was gobsmacked when I found out that I’d be boxing at Manchester Arena. It’s not something that I was expecting. It’s a dream come true to be fighting at the arena I used to attend as a kid. All Manchester fighters want to box at the arena at some point in their career. To box there so early on in mine is going to give me massive experience moving forward and massive motivation to one day top a bill in Manchester.”
 
Crolla won the WBA Lightweight World title with a fifth-round knockout of Columbia’s Darleys Perez on a hugely emotional evening at Manchester Arena in November 2015 and successfully defended his title with a fifth-round KO of Ismael Barroso at the same venue the following year. 
 
The North West hero returns to the scene of his greatest triumph for the first time as a trainer next month and is already backing his Moston protégé to make his own mark in Manchester. 
 
“I was probably the first person to take him on the pads when he was a kid,” said Crolla. “He’s a good lad. He trains as hard as anyone. At first, I was just looking to help him out a little bit, but you can’t help but get involved way more than you thought you would. I love the lad’s attitude.
 
“I see a lot of him in me – a young lad who wants to work hard and get the best out of what he’s got. I think there is quite a lot of similarities in us both. He’s only 22, he’s got so much to learn but he’s learning all the time and he’s the kind of kid that picks things up fast. 
 
“He was over in LA training with us and he’s been getting great sparring with Stephen Smith, that can only help him. He’s a kid who’s not had much experience, but he does absolutely everything asked of him. He’s super fit, he lives the life. I’m excited to see how far we can go. We’re going to take it one fight at a time. He’s absolutely made up to be on the card at Manchester Arena.
 
“I’m not retired yet but it will be very proud moment for me to go to the arena as a trainer on the night, as much as I’d love to be fighting. It’s going to be little bit different to what I’m used to. I think it will be a little bit surreal, but I’d like to think that I can offer him as good advice about fighting at Manchester Arena than almost anyone.
 
“It’s something that I’m really looking forward to. I hope to be back there as a fighter one more time before I finish, but for the meantime it will be a very proud moment for me to go there as a trainer for the first time. It’s  an arena that holds some special memories for me and I hope Dylan can create some of his own, starting on July 6.”

Evans features on a huge night of boxing in Manchester where Lawrence Okolie (12-0, 9 KOs) puts his British and Commonwealth Cruiserweight titles on the line against Jack Massey (16-0, 8 KOs), Scott Fitzgerald (13-0, 9 KOs) defends his WBA International Super-Welterweight title against former World title challenger Brian Rose (31-5-1, 8 KOs) in a huge Preston vs. Blackpool Lancashire derby, Felix Cash (11-0, 7 KOs) defends his Commonwealth Middleweight crown against Bolton’s Jack Cullen (16-1, 7 KOs), Anthony Fowler (9-1, 8 KOs) returns after his first pro defeat and Sheffield’s Dalton Smith looks to go 2-0 as a prowith more exciting additions to the card to follow.

Tickets priced £40, £60, £100 and £200 (VIP) are available to purchase now via StubHub (www.stubhub.co.uk), Manchester Arena via ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.co.uk) and Matchroom Boxing (www.matchroomboxing.com).




Garcia decisions Cheeseman

Sergio Garcia won a 12-round unanimous decision over Ted Cheesman to retain the European Super Welterweight title at the O2 Arena in London

It was a high contact fight with Garcia getting much better of the exchanges. His worked showed as Cheesman was bleeding from his nose throughout the fight.

Garcia, 153.4 lbs of Spain won by scores of 119-109 twice and 115-114. Cheesman, 153.3 lbs of England is 15-1.

Craig Richards stopped Jake Ball in round three of a scheduled 10-round light heabyweight bout.

In round one, Richards sent Ball to the canvas with a right hand. In round two, it was a right to the body that sent Ball to a knee. In round three, it was a hook to the head that sent Ball down for a 3rd time. Ball was still hurt, and Richards jumped on him by landing several more hard blows before the fight was stopped at 2:27.

Richards, 174.8 lbs of 14-1 with eight knockouts. Richards, 174.5 lbs of Lightwater is 12-2.

Lawrecnce Okolie remained undefeated with a 2nd round stoppage over Tamas Lodi in a cruiserweight fight.

In round two, Okolie dropped Lodi with a perfect left hook.. At the end of the round, Okolie landed a flush right hand that put Lodi down for a second time. In the opening seconds of round three, Okolie sent Lodi down again with a right hand. Lodi went down for a fourth and final time with a short right to the chin, and the fight was stopped at 1:13.

Okolie, 199.8 lbs of Hackney, and is now 11-0 with eight knockouts. Lodi, 199.5 lbs of Hungary is 20-12-2.

It was announced after the fight that Okolie would fight Wadi Camacho on March 23rd.

Felix Cash demolished Rasheed Abolaji in round one of a scheduled 12-round middleweight bout.

In round one, Cash dropped Abolaji with a hard jab. Moments later, Cash dropped Abolaji with a perfect overhand right that sent him on his stomach. Abolaji got to his feet, but stumbled back, and the bout was stopped at 2:45.

Cash, 159.6 lbs of Workingham is 11-0 with seven knockouts. Abolaji, 157.8 lbs of Nigeria is 11-5-1.

Fabio Wardley destroyed Morgan Dessaux in the 1st round of their scheduled six-round heavyweight tilt.

Wardley landed a booming right uppercut that was followed up with a short left that dropped Dessaux, and the fight was stopped at 1:43.

Wardley, 229 lbs of Ipswich is 6-0 with five knockouts. Dessaux, 215 lbs of France is 5-5

Scott Fitzgerald remained undefeated by stopping Radoslav Mitev in round two of their scheduled six-round middleweight bout.

In round one, Fitzgerald dropped Miev with a right to the head. In round two, Fitzgerald had an all-out assault until he dropped Mitev with an uppercut. The fight was stopped upon a bloodied Mitev getting to his fight at 1:27.

Fiztgerald, 159.9 lbs of Preston is 12-0 with nine knockouts. Mitev, 156.9 lbs of Bulgaria is 12-46-2.

John Docherty stopped Przemyslaw Binienda in the 1st round of their scheduled four-round light heavyweight bout.

In round one, Binienda began to bleed from his nose. Docherty landed a hard combination that was punctuated by a straight left that plummeted Binienda into the ropes and the bout was stopped at 1:59.

Docherty, 170.4 lbs of Montrose is 3-0 with three knockouts. Binienda, 173.4 lbs of Poland is 2-23.




CASH: I WANT THE BRITISH TITLE NEXT

Felix Cash believes winning the Commonwealth Middleweight crown will earn him a shot at the Lonsdale belt currently held by Welshman Liam Williams.

The unbeaten Wokingham talent, 10-0, is keen to make up for lost time as he takes on Nigeria’s Rasheed Abolaji for the vacant Commonwealth title at The O2 on February 2, live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US.

Cash picked up the first title of his professional career after cruising to victory against Stephen Danyo at the Copper Box Arena in October. He dominated his Manchester-based Dutch opponent throughout before receiving a unanimous verdict to claim the WBC International Silver belt.

And the former Team GB amateur standout is aiming to add a second belt to his collection when he takes on Abolaji next month before targeting a shot a two-weight British Champ Liam Williams in 2019.

“A shot at a good domestic belt has been a long time coming,” said Cash. “The Commonwealth title is right up there and hopefully once I get my hands on it more fighters will be tempted to get in the ring with me. We’ve been trying to make big fights for a while now, but opponents have always priced themselves out or messed us around.

“I’ve flown under the radar a little bit for the past couple of years but my last fight was a title fight and this is for the Commonwealth. When I get the win on February 2 I can start targeting some big names in the domestic Middleweight division and show everyone what I’m really about when I step up.

“I’m looking forward to going in there and putting on a performance. The plan is to get the Commonwealth and then I want to go for the British. I’m taking things one fight at a time, but I’ve got full confidence in my abilities. Liam Williams holds the British and that’s a fight that could happen this year.

“I’ve sparred Liam before and he’s a good fighter. He boxed very well in his last fight – he looked class. You’d be lying if you said he didn’t, but I’m very confident in my abilities. I’ve sparred multiple World Champions and I know what I’ve been doing to them, and they know too. Sparring is sparring but it’s the closest thing to fighting. I know how good I am and it’s my time to show everyone.”

‘Afonja Warrior’, 27, has won six of his eleven career wins by KO and has previously fought in the UK when he took Sam Sheedy the distance in a challenge for the Commonwealth Middleweight title in 2017. Cash is expecting a hard night’s work.

“He’s quite dangerous early on so I’ll have to stick to my boxing, break him down and then go to work on him. He’s a bit of a hooker and doesn’t throw many straights. Tony says he’s very tough, so I’ll have to go down and work the body. He’ll be the best opponent I’ve faced to date, but I fully expect to come away with the win.”

Cash vs. Abolaji is part of a huge night of action in London.

Bermondsey star Ted Cheeseman steps up again when he challenges undefeated Spaniard Sergio Garcia for the European Super-Welterweight crown.

Unbeaten British Cruiserweight Champion Lawrence Okolie returns to action after his win over Matty Askin at Wembley Stadium in September.

Light-Heavyweight rivals Jake Ball and Craig Richards finally face-off in a highly-anticipated grudge match for the WBA Continental title.

Scotland’s fast-rising Super-Middleweight talent John Docherty aims to make it three KO’s from three fights, Ipswich Heavyweight Fabio Wardley looks to go 6-0, decorated amateur Charles Frankham makes his debut at Super-Featherweight and Hammersmith Light-Heavyweight Dana Zaxo takes part in his fourth professional contest.

Tickets for February 2 priced at £30, £50, £80 and £150 are (VIP) available to purchase from StubHub (www.stubhub.co.uk), The O2 (www.theo2.co.uk) and Matchroom Boxing (www.matchroomboxing.com)




CHEESEMAN GETS EUROPEAN TITLE SHOT AT THE O2

Ted Cheeseman clashes with undefeated Spaniard Sergio Garcia for the EBU European Super-Welterweight crown at The O2 in London on February 2, live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US.

‘The Big Cheese’ gets his European title shot after outpointing Asinia Byfield in an all-action battle for the Lonsdale belt at the Copper Box Arena in October, and the Bermondsey favourite knows a win over Garcia could secure a mouth-watering fight with Liverpool’s Anthony Fowler.

Bitter Light-Heavyweight rivals Jake Ball and Craig Richards finally get in on after Ball pulled out of their October meeting at short notice due to injury, and there is no love lost between the pair who have been trading insults over Twitter ever since.

Felix Cash won his first professional title in October and now he gets the chance to add a second when he takes on Nigeria’s Abolaji Rasheed for the vacant Commonwealth Middleweight title, with the Wokingham man determined to make up for lost time.

Undefeated British and Commonwealth Cruiserweight Champion Lawrence Okolie returns to action after wrestling the Lonsdale belt from Matty Askin at Wembley Stadium, and the Hackney powerhouse is aiming to add more belts to his collection in 2019.

Further exciting additions to the card will be announced soon.

Tickets for February 2 are on sale from midday today (21/12) and available to purchase from StubHub (www.stubhub.co.uk), The O2 (www.theo2.co.uk) and Matchroom Boxing (www.matchroomboxing.com)

Tickets are priced at £30, £50, £80 and £150 (VIP)




Ryder stops Sirotkin in 7

John Ryder stopped Andrey Sirotkin in round seven of their scheduled 12-round super middleweight bout at The Copper Box Arena in London.

In round six, Ryder was cut over his left eye.

In round seven, Ryder landed a right to the body that sent Sirotkin down for the count at 2:54.

Ryder is now 27-4 with 15 knockouts. Sirotkin of Russia is 15-1.

Jordan Gill stopped Ryan Doyle in round seven of their 12-round featherweight bout.

In round four, Gill landed a couple thunderous shots that hurt Doyle and made him start to bleed form his nostrils. In round six, Gill landed a big left hook that put Doyle on the canvas.

In round seven, Gill landed a big barrage of punches, and the bout was stopped 1:32.

Gill is 22-0 with six stoppages. Doyle is 17-3-1.

Ted Cheeseman won a 12-round unanimous decision over Asinia Byfield in a super welterweight clash.

In round five, Cheeseman dropped Byfield with a shirt right hand.

In round seven, Cheeseman started to bleed from his nose and also from around his left eye.

It was an exciting fight down the stretch, and Cheeseman won by scores of 117-110 and 117-111 twice.

Cheeseman is 15-0. Byfield is 14-2.

Isaac Chamberlain won a decision over Luke Watkins in a cruiserweight bout.

A huge combination from Chamberlain put Watkins down on his knee.

That was the difference as Chamberlain won by a 95-94 score, and is now 10-1. Watkins is 13-2.

Felix Cash won a 10-round unanimous decision over Stephen Danyo in a super middleweihght bout

In round three, Cash was cut over his right eye, but Cash was the more active fighter throughout the contest.

Cash won on all cards by 100-90 scores, and is now 10-0. Danyo is 14-2-3.