Boxing News Boxing News
The Yanjing Fight Night at the University Arena in Limerick on Saturday, November 14 is shaping up to be a huge night of live sport for the sports mad city.
Not only will fight fans get to see local hero Andy Lee taking on reigning European Union and French Champion Affif Belghecham but they will also get their sporting kicks when the crucial World Cup playoff match between Ireland and France is shown live in the big screens in the arena.
It won’t be the first time that a major match has clashed with a big fight night. Back in March fans at The O2 in Dublin got to watch Ireland win the Grand Slam on the big screens before Bernard Dunne capped a famous day for Irish sport by winning the World title in a sensational fight with Ricardo Cordoba.
Fans in attendance at the University Arena on Saturday week will be hoping for a similar double as both the Irish soccer team and Andy Lee attempt to topple the French. Promoter Brian Peters believes that the Ireland and France game will whet the appetite nicely for Lee’s clash with Belghecham.
“With Limerick being such a sports mad city we didn’t want people having to choose between Andy’s fight and the Ireland match so the game will be live on the big screens so that people don’t miss out on any of the action,” said Peters.
“Hopefully it will be just like that Saturday back in March when Ireland won the Grand Slam and Bernard won the World title. I don’t think anyone who was at The O2 will ever forget that night so hopefully Andy and the Irish team can make it another night to remember on the 14th.”
Other facilities in the University Arena will include a full bar and food court and Peters believes those in attendance are in for a great night out. “We’ve taken on board feedback from previous shows in Limerick so for this event we will have a full bar and food court in place thanks to the support of our sponsors, Yanjing.
“The facilities really promise to be top class so it should be a night with a bit of everything and hopefully Andy can do the business to make sure everyone goes home happy.”
Peters is under no illusions about the threat that Belghecham poses to Lee’s European and World title prospects. “It’s going to be a very hard night’s work for Andy,” admitted Peters “Belghecham is rated ahead of him in both the World and the European ratings and he is the current European Union and French Champion so you cannot disregard that kind of pedigree.
“He’s a very capable fighter and he’s in the best form of his career right now but home advantage is always crucial and Andy will be a very hard man to beat in Limerick.”
Limerick will have no shortage of local heroes to cheer on at the University Arena with city natives Jamie Power and Willie Casey also in action on the card.
Tickets for the Yanjing Fight Night priced from €40 are available from Ticketmaster (phone 0818 719 300 or visit ticketmaster.ie), The George Boutique Hotel in Limerick and all usual outlets.
