BT Sport Boxing Launch Night - Lomachenko v Sosa, Smith v Williams, Flanagan v Petrov

Big time boxing arrives on BT Sport on Saturday April 8 as we host a massive show from the Manchester Arena.
All the action is live on BT Sport 1 from 8.30pm and will also be available to watch right here on BTSport.com and via the award winning BT Sport App.


In what promises to be a dramatic night of action, WBO world lightweight champion Terry Flanagan tops the bill as he defends his belt against tough Russian Petr Petrov in front of his home fans.
The stacked card also sees domestic rivals Liam Smith and Liam Williams clash for the interim WBO world super welterweight title, while double Olympic champion Nicola Adams and the highly rated Daniel Dubois makes their professional debuts.
Then, later that evening, BT Sport Pack subscribers will be able to catch Vasyl Lomachenko’s defence of his WBO world super-featherweight title against Jason Sosa live on BoxNation as part of the ground-breaking deal that sees the UK’s only specialist boxing channel made available to BT Sport Pack subscribers at no extra cost.
And if you are not yet a subscriber to BT Sport we can set you up in just 15 minutes here.


Terry Flanagan v Petr Petrov
Terry Flanagan defends his WBO world lightweight crown when he faces Madrid-based Russian Petr Petrov over 12 rounds.
Undefeated Flanagan (32-0, 13 KOs) holds the longest current unbeaten run in British boxing and will be making the fifth defence of his crown since winning the vacant belt by stopping Jose Zepeda in July 2015.
Since then the 27-year-old has grown into the role of champion and convincing wins over Diego Magdaleno, Derry Mathews, Mzonke Fana and Orlando Cruz have seen him become one of the biggest names in the division.
The Manchester City fanatic has been vocal about his desire to face the best and is targeting a showdown against pound for pound king Vasyl Lomachenko at the Etihad.
However, before such an outing is possible Flanagan will need to get past the tough and underrated Petrov.
Petrov (38-4-2, 19 KOs) has twice challenged for the world title before and his only two defeats since 2007 came to Marcos Maidana and Dejan Zlaticanin. The 33-year-old is the WBO’s second-ranked contender behind Felix Verdejo.

Liam Williams v Liam Smith
The potential fight of the night sees Liam Williams face Liam Smith in a mouth-watering domestic clash for the interim WBO world super welterweight title.
However, bragging rights will be just as important on the night after the pair heavily goaded each other in the build-up – with Smith especially vocal in his opinion that he is class above his Welsh rival.
The 28-year-old Liverpudlian has certainly boxed at a higher level having previously held the WBO world super welterweight title before facing Saul ‘Canelo’ Alverez at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Although Smith was knocked out by a body shot in the eighth round he wasn’t outclassed and believes he will have far too much for a still green Williams.
Williams, unsurprisingly, sees it differently. The 24-year-old won the vacant WBO European super welterweight title in his last outing – an eighth round stoppage win over Gabor Gorbics in Cardiff last November - and also holds a win over the previously undefeated Gary Corcoran.


The professional debut of Nicola Adams
Two time Olympic champion Nicola Adams needs no introduction to fight fans who witnessed her skill and power at the London and Rio de Janeiro Games.
The 34-year-old rejected the chance to make it a hat-trick at Tokyo in order to give herself the chance of emulating her hero Muhammed Ali and winning a world title in the paid ranks.
Expect the fighter – who veteran promoter Frank Warren admits has changed his opinion about women boxing – to be fast tracked to elite level.


The rest of the undercard
There is an intriguing crossroads clash as the undefeated Jack Catterall steps up in class to face the experienced Martin Gethin for the WBO inter-continental super lightweight title.
Catterall, who made his name by knocking out London 2012 Olympian Thomas Stalker, has looked imperious in his last few fights and will be keen to make a statement against former British champion Gethin.
Former Tyson Fury sparring partner and amateur champion Daniel Dubois makes also makes his professional debut on the card.
Dubois tipped as a potential Tokyo 2020 medallist hopeful but instead opted to chase his dream of becoming the youngest ever British-born heavyweight world champion.
The impressive Zolani Tete, who ended Paul Butler’s unbeaten run in 2015, faces Arthur Villanueva.

Full card:
Terry Flanagan v Petr Petrov (lightweight) for the WBO world lightweight title
Liam Williams v Liam Smith (super welterweight) for the interim WBO world super welterweight title.
Nicola Adams v TBA (flyweight)
Jack Catterall v Martin Gethin (super lightweight) for the WBO inter-continental super lightweight title
Daniel Dubois v TBA (heavyweight)
Zolani Tete v Arthur Villanueva (bantamweight)
'Jimmy' Kilrain Kelly v Rick Godding (super welterweight)
Steven Lewis v Andy Keates (super welterweight)
Mark Heffron v TBA (super middleweight)
Zelfa Barrett v TBA (super featherweight)
Mason Cartwright v Justin Menzie (super welterweight)
Jordan Thompson v TBA (cruiserweight)
Anthony Leak v TBA (middleweight)




Vasyl Lomachenko v Jason Sosa
Vasyl Lomachenko defends his WBO world super-featherweight title against Jason Sosa at the MGM National Harbor in Maryland.
The Ukrainian, who knocked out the previously undefeated Nicholas Walters in his last outing, takes on New Jersey’s Sosa – who himself relinquished the WBA world title in order to allow the contest to go ahead.
Lomachenko, a double Olympic champion and widely regarded as one of the best amateur boxers to ever lace up a pair of gloves, has looked imperious in his last few contests after jumping straight into the elite level of the paid ranks.
The 29-year-old fought for a world title in just his second contest as a professional and, while that effort ended in a split decision to an overweight Orlando Salido, won the title in his third bout against the then undefeated Gary Russell Jr.
Victories over Suriya Tatakhun, Gamalier Rodriguez and Romulo Koasicha followed before he jumped up a weight division to knockout Roman Martinez for the WBO world super featherweight title.
The breakdown of the hard-hitting Walters cemented his place in the pound for pound listings and it is surely only a matter of time before ‘Hi-Tech’ again moves up in weight to challenge the very biggest names in the sport.
However, he has a very dangerous opponent in Sosa to deal with first.
The American stunned the world last June by dethroning Javier Fortuna in Beijing with a dramatic late stoppage victory, handing Fortuna his first loss and collecting his first world title in the process.
In his maiden defence, Sosa convincingly beat popular Liverpudlian Stephen Smith over 12 in Monte Carlo to set up this huge clash.

Do you think they will start doing PPV when they get enough interest?

It's Boxnation basically but free to BT customers so hopefully will just continue as normal :cool:

Just watched this little documentary about Lomachenko, it reveals that his Dad (said to be one of the best trainers in the world) started teaching him to box at age 4 - 9 then took him out of boxing and made him go to dancing lessons from 9 -14 then took him aside and said now you have the footwork you can go back to being a boxer.

Genius!!! and fuck me it shows as Lomachenkos foot speed is insane

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDvDbP8K4Yw

The whole idea is so Warren can do PPVs, he even held a press conference about it.

i'm not sure warren has any PPV worthy fighters at the minute tho

does he?

Saunders v Golovkin which should happen might be the starter?
I remember when they first announced the BT/Boxnation deal Warren and BT released this so i'm still clueless as to how it will work?

I've been watching Boxnation for free through BT Sports for about 2 months now and have already seen some big fights, im wondering if these 10 "further events" are only to be shown to actual Boxnation paying members meaning for me as a BT customer i'll have to pay per view to see them?

:confused:

• From 2017, Frank Warren will promote 20 UK events a year, Live on BT Sport

• The 20 UK events will also be shown Live on BoxNation

• From 2017, BoxNation will be included in BT Sport’s pack of channels and available to all BT Sport customers

• Frank Warren will promote a further 10 events, in the UK per year, Live and Exclusive on BoxNation

• BoxNation customers can still look forward to over 30 events per year from around the World, including output deals with the biggest Promoters in the USA, Top Rank and Golden Boy.

• A total of 30 live televised boxing events will see Frank Warren as Europe’s most active Promoter

• Deal will mark the start of a new era for Boxing in the UK

Hall of Fame Promoter Frank Warren and his pioneering boxing channel BoxNation have signed a multi-year deal with the multimedia and telecommunications giant, BT.

The landmark deal will see Warren promote 20 premium live boxing events a year that will be simulcast on BT Sport and BoxNation.

The ground-breaking deal will see a further ten events per year, including top tier pay-per-view events and other high-quality domestic shows broadcast, exclusively on BoxNation.

A total of 30 live televised boxing events per year will see Frank Warren cement his place as Europe’s most active Promoter.

BoxNation, the UK’s first and only dedicated boxing channel, will be now be included in BT Sport’s pack of channels and made available to all new and existing BT Sport customers as part of their subscription.
The pioneering deal offers Frank Warren, BT, EE and BoxNation the chance to work collectively in expanding the popularity and customer reach of boxing in the UK.

With BoxNation being added to the BT channel pack, all BT Sport and BoxNation customers will now be able to enjoy the very best international and domestic live fights, classic fight footage from Warren’s 40 year archive, award-winning documentaries, originally produced content, weekly magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

The Channel of Champions, BoxNation, is currently available on major platforms including Sky, Freeview, Virgin, TalkTalk, online and apps, for just £12 a month showing the very best live fights both internationally and domestically, as well as non-stop 24-hour quality boxing programming.

Since its launch in 2011, BoxNation has grown to become one of the of the World’s major boxing broadcasters.
The channel has consistently showcased the very best live fights from at home and around the world led predominantly by Frank Warren’s UK promoted events and complimented by premium international events from overseas suppliers including Top Rank, Golden Boy, Showtime and HBO.
BoxNation has shown some of the biggest fight nights in recent history, including Haye v Chisora, Mayweather v Canelo, Saunders v Eubank, Khan v Canelo and many, many more.

BT and EE’s mobile customers will also be able to watch on the BT Sport App, and this will mean Frank Warren’s events are able to reach an unrivalled audience in the UK.
In addition to the huge distribution growth this new partnership will deliver, Frank Warren and BoxNation are set to propel their business to a new level after this monster deal with the largest multimedia and telecommunications company in the UK.

This ground-breaking deal, combined with BoxNation’s existing PPV functionality, is set to give the channel the ability to deliver the very biggest and globally significant boxing events and stars to the UK.


Delia Bushell, managing director BT TV and BT Sport said: “BT’s mission has always been to make top tier sport available to more people, offering unbeatable value.”

“Our expanding list of sports rights will now include BoxNation and access to boxing world title fights on BT Sport channels, all included in the price of the BT Sport subscription. We are taking the fight to our rivals in 2017 and we’ll be in great shape.”

Frank Warren, Hall of Fame Promoter and Chairman of BoxNation said: “I’m delighted that I have signed a deal to bring boxing to BT Sport. This is the beginning of a new era for the sport in this country and I am delighted to be working exclusively with a broadcast and telecommunications powerhouse in BT.
Iconic fight nights have the ability capture the imagination of the public, and I am looking forward to building some fantastic events with BT Sport.

"This long-term deal will give BT Sport customers access to BoxNation and my talented stable of fighters and we are delighted to be giving BoxNation, a channel we have worked so hard to build, the vast distribution it deserves.

"I am looking forward to doing what I do best, building boxing stars and promoting memorable events. 30 events a year across both BT Sport and BoxNation will allow me to give my fighters the contests and exposure to become household names.

"This deal is the beginning of a new era not just for me, but for British Boxing and I cannot wait to get started. Roll on 2017!”

George Warren, CEO of BoxNation said: "We are delighted to sign this ground-breaking deal with multimedia and telecommunications giant BT. Since the inception of the channel five years ago we have worked diligently to grow the business by consistently staging and televising the best domestic and international fights.

“With BT Sport, we now have the platform to take the channel to new levels and to continue growing BoxNation and the sport of boxing in the UK.

“We look forward to delivering BT an excellent schedule of events that will get the pulses racing.”

Details of an unmissable first quarter schedule of live action that BT Sport’s and BoxNation’s customers can look forward to, will be announced in the near future.

I'd sooner pay for this card than AJ-Wlad. In fact, i'm more looking forward to Smith-Williams than the Wembley fight.

Smith-Williams doesn't need any explaining, as long as you're not one of those British weirdo fans that think boxing is pony unless it's in America. I think Williams will prove to be a future "world" champ in-waiting.

Flanagan-Petrov: Warren had a pop at Flanagan's manager and trainer for going against his advice by insisting on this fight. I also saw some American writer/comms (clued up ones that know all about world boxing not just yanks) nonchalantly pick Petrov to beat Flanagan as though he was the hot favourite. The bookies make Flanagan a 1/8 cert, Petrov a 5/1 dog. 5/1!!! (11/2 best). What!? A!? The fuck!? Where's the betting slips...

Tete-Villanueva - these two have some mental sparkos between them. Tete is mustard (although listening to BoxNation is galling, as they make him out to be Sugar Ray). Check out Villanueva-Juan Jimenez 1 for the best headbutt sparko ever. Brilliant.

Just found some details of the Lomachenko v Sosa undercard fights



Undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) cruiserweight world champion and Olympic gold medalist OLEKSANDR USYK and NABF light heavyweight champion and Olympic bronze medalist OLEKSANDR GVOZDYK will be defending their titles against MIKE HUNTER and YUNIESKYI GONZALEZ, respectively, in all-action co-main event battles, Saturday, April 8, at The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD. The Lomachenko, Usyk and Gvozdyk championship Ukrainian tripleheader will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.
The six televised championship fighters boast a combined record of 80-4-4 (62 KOs), good for a winning percentage of 91% with over 3/4 of those victories coming by way of knockout.


“I’m very happy to fight on the same card with Vasyl Lomachenko and Oleksandr Gvozdyk, this is something we’ve been talking about since we were amateurs -- to have three members of the 2012 Ukrainian Olympic Team in the same event," said Usyk. "It’s fantastic to be able to do this. I would like to thank my promoters Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, Alexander Krassyuk and Tom Loeffler from K2 Promotions along with my manager Egis Klimas and HBO, and also Bob Arum and Top Rank for adding me to this show. Michael Hunter is a tough, undefeated opponent and I’m certain that this will be a great show for the fans in attendance and those watching on HBO.”
“I’m excited for this fight because I asked for it. If I don’t knock him out, I’ll be surprised," said Hunter.
"I'm happy to know the name of my next opponent. He is a strong fighter and a new challenge for me," said Gvozdyk. "Thanks to Top Rank and HBO to making this happen.
“I'm very happy to be back on HBO thanks to Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, and my management team," said Gonzalez. "I'm training hard at Mundo Boxing Gym and I'm going to be ready to win this fight”


"Top Rank is very proud to present these two compelling co-main event championship fights featuring Oleksandr Usyk, with K2 Promotions, and Oleksandr Gvozdyk," said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. "In a historic first, HBO World Championship Boxing will present three title fights, featuring three Ukrainian champions defending their titles, and within eyesight of the Nation's Capital."
“We’re very excited to bring Oleksandr back to the United States and for this world title defense to be telecast on HBO,” said Tom Loeffler, Managing Director of K2 Promotions. “Both Oleksandr and Michael Hunter were 2012 Olympians who are undefeated as professionals. This is the second cruiserweight world title fight HBO has telecast recently and we’re honored to work with Peter Nelson and HBO on showcasing this division. Not since the epic battle between James Toney and Vasily Jirov in 2003 has the cruiserweight division been showcased on HBO and we’re very proud to present fans entertaining fights in this weight class.”
"We are very grateful to our partner and close friend Peter Nelson for giving the U.S. fans such an opportunity to watch this upcoming star, Oleksandr Usyk, live on HBO. It will be a unique event in the history of Ukraine when three Ukrainian boxers battle on the same HBO fight card,” said Alexander Krassyuk of K2 Promotions Ukraine. “Oleksandr Usyk is an absolutely extraordinary boxer. We expect a spectacular show and of course a flawless victory against the undefeated contender Michael Hunter. The whole country of Ukraine is looking forward to watching this event live.”
“I’m very happy and thankful to K2 Promotions and Top Rank along with HBO to be able to present Lomachenko, Usyk and Gvozdyk on one special night,” said Egis Klimas, manager of Usyk.
"So happy and thankful to our promoter Top Rank and HBO for bringing Gvozdyk back in the ring on April 8th," added Klimas, who also manages Gvozdyk. "In his last fight, on HBO Pay-Per-View when he fought Isaac Chilemba, Gvozdyk proved he was a quality fighter who belongs on TV battling the best fighters in the light heavyweight division. Gonzalez is a good fighter, fans will see good show and Gvozdyk will be able to show everyone his world-class skills."
”I am looking forward to April 8 and this exciting HBO show," said Joe DeGuardia, promoter for Gonzalez. "Yuniesky Gonzalez once again will be stepping into the ring with a world class and very dangerous light heavyweight in Gvozdvk. However, Yuniesky is one tough, fan-friendly fighter and, with his new trainer Pedro Diaz, he is a very confident. Yuniesky will be appearing for the third time on the HBO network and you can be sure that everyone will be in for one heck of a fight”.
Usyk (11-0, 10 KOs), from Kiev, Ukraine, and a 2012 Olympic gold medalist, captured the WBO cruiserweight world title in his 10th professional bout, a division record for winning a world title in the fewest fights. Usyk dethroned Krzysztof Glowacki via unanimous decision on September 17, 2016, ending the undefeated defending champion's two-year reign. In his last fight, on December 17, Usky made his U.S. and HBO debut, successfully defending his title by knocking out world-rated contender Thabiso Mchunu in the ninth round. Considered the class of the division, Usyk trains in Oxnard, Calif. under the tutelage of Anatoly Lomachenko, father/trainer of Vasyl Lomachenko.
Hunter (12-0, 8 KOs), of Las Vegas, Nev. and a member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, has won five of his last seven bouts inside the distance. He scored a career-best victory in his last fight, on May 13, 2016, winning a 10-round unanimous decision over the previously undefeated Isiah Thomas to capture the NABO cruiserweight title. Hunter is currently world-rated No. 9 by the WBO
Gvozdyk (12-0, 10 KOs), from Kharkiv, Ukraine, enters this fight having won 10 of his last 12 fights by knockout, including all three of his NABF light heavyweight title fights. A bronze medalist at the 2012 Olympics, Gvozdyk captured the vacant NABF title with a second-round knockout of Nadjib Mohammedi on April 9, 2016. He successfully defended that title twice last year scoring a sixth-round TKO of Thomas Karpency on June 23 and an eighth-round stoppage of Izek Chilemba on November 19. He enters this fight world-rated No. 6 by the WBO and the World Boxing Council (WBC), and, No. 7 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF).
Gonzalez (18-2, 14 KOs), a native of Pinar del Rio, Cuba, who lives and trains in Miami, Fla. with Pedro Diaz, has collected his last nine victories by way of knockout. His only blemishes are a very disputed decision loss to former WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal and a majority decision loss to Vyacheslav Shabransky in 2015. Last year Gonzalez won both his fights by stoppage.
The non-televised undercard will feature undefeated No. 1 super middleweight contender JESSE "Hard Work" HART from Philadelphia, PA., and local favorites from the metro Washington, D.C. area, including undefeated prospects MIKE "Yes Indeed" REED and PATRICK HARRIS in separate bouts. Full details on the undercard will be announced at a later date.

A very good solid card. Apart fro the Loma fight I feel all the other bouts will be highly competitive.

Terry Flanagan: Anthony Crolla bout possible but unification fight a priority

WBO lightweight champion Terry Flanagan is open to a bout with Anthony Crolla but believes he "will have bigger fish to fry" if he beats Petr Petrov.

Flanagan, 27, will defend his title for a fifth time when he meets the 34-year-old Russian in Manchester on 8 April.

He then hopes to fight WBA champion Jorge Linares, who beat Crolla for a second time in six months on Saturday.

"I think I can beat Linares," Flanagan told BBC Sport. "I think I have the style to beat him."

"Anthony Crolla was made for Linares. I wouldn't be walking in like Crolla was. I truly believe I'm the best in the division.

"If people want the Manchester showdown with Anthony that is possible if the money is right but first and foremost I want the unification fights."

http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps...nnoreuters.jpg

Flanagan - who went to the same Manchester high school as Crolla - believes his promoter Frank Warren offered Linares more money to face him than Crolla, adding the Venezuelan "took the easier option".

Since Crolla's defeat in the rematch with three-weight world champion Linares, Warren has said he would need to win "at least two non-championship fights" in order to be ranked sufficiently with the WBO for any meeting with Flanagan to take place.

Crolla's promoter Eddie Hearn has stated Flanagan does not have the necessary profile to form part of a bout which would create a sufficient payday for his fighter.

"With me and Anthony having rival promoters it's hard to make fights," Flanagan told BBC Radio 5 live Breakfast. "At the minute I've got bigger fish to fry, the likes of Linares. I've got options, first and foremost get this one right.

"Petr Petrov is in the prime of his career and we're in for a tough one, we have to be 100% on it or those big fights in the summer would be out the window."

Flanagan goes into the bout unbeaten in 32 fights, while Petrov boasts 38 wins and two draws from 44 contests.

http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps...0_football.jpg

Terry Flanagan: Anthony Crolla bout possible but unification fight a priority - BBC Sport

Makes sense. A win over Petrov puts Flanagan square in the mix with Linares and Garcia. Crolla needs to work his way back.

Flanagan is the least known Brit "world" champ ever. Bet most on this forum haven't got a danny who he is.

He and his team were moaning about Sky ignoring him the other night even though he was mentioned lots of times. Selective hearing. For him to get any big fight he'd need to dump Warren and spend a year getting the Eddie/Sky treatment, or accept the peanuts that he's worth instead of playing the everyone is swerving him spiel (that's a pop at his promoter not him).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fenster

Flanagan is the least known Brit "world" champ ever. Bet most on this forum haven't got a danny who he is.

He and his team were moaning about Sky ignoring him the other night even though he was mentioned lots of times. Selective hearing. For him to get any big fight he'd need to dump Warren and spend a year getting the Eddie/Sky treatment, or accept the peanuts that he's worth instead of playing the everyone is swerving him spiel (that's a pop at his promoter not him).

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Do you think he could get an unification with Easter?

That's the last fight I would expect as Easter is an "unknown" title holder like Turbo. Flanagan will continue to defend his belt against solid/obscure opponents whilst claiming all the big names are swerving him (that's his promoters m.o.)

Warren having a dig at "Mr Stubhub" aka Hearn

Much as it was a scrap we were extremely keen to put on for the British fight fans, it looks like the Manchester lightweight derby between Terry Flanagan and Anthony Crolla has gone by the board – for now, at least. Twice we have tried to tempt Crolla to the table with offers to fight his city rival in a fight which would have resonated far beyond the Manchester boundaries, but both times he opted for the challenge of attempting to overthrow the Venezuelan stylist Jorge Linares. Unfortunately, he has twice come up short and I am afraid that Terry is nobody’s consolation prize.
In any case, Turbo Terry has got serious business of his own to attend to before we make definitive moves regarding his next fight – and he can’t afford to misfire. Petr Petrov provides a genuine threat to Terry’s unbeaten record on April 8 at the Manchester Arena. He wanted a test and, believe me, he has got one on his hands with Petrov. Crolla suffering back-to-back defeats is the reason his team now appear prepared to talk turkey. Were he still in possession of a belt I am sure they would’ve carried on as if Terry didn’t exist. Much like the Sky commentary team and assorted pundits. Professionally – if you can call them professional – the lack of recognition for a genuine world champion is disgraceful. If Crolla had come away with the spoils at the weekend, all the subsequent rhetoric would have been about Mikey Garcia and a jaunt over to Vegas. Now he remains beltless, the post-fight briefing to the press was all about how he might be willing to step in with Terry if I am prepared to pay him a million quid. Market values don’t generally go up so sharply following bad defeats, so it will be interesting to see if he commands such a fee should he go in with say Ricky Burns, as was suggested. Crolla might win popularity contests in Manchester, but Terry wins fights and that is what it is all about at the end of the day. Terry doesn’t need to take any backward steps now and wants to be in fights that will increase his stock. Linares might well be mandated by the WBC to face the champion Garcia and sort out this nonsense with the ‘Diamond belt’ at the same time. However, an alternative for Linares is a unification against Terry and that is what we are exploring at the moment, while not taking the threat of Petrov lightly. Terry is a far more wily and cunning customer than Crolla, who Linares seemed able to pick off with considerable ease. To my mind, Terry has got more about him and is not one to just walk onto repeated punishment as Crolla did when he was outclassed by the super-slick Linares that Joe Gallagher wanted to pull him out at the end of the eleventh. Crolla, to his credit, showed grit, guts and determination to make it to the final bell and can take pride in giving it his all. Linares would be a great fight for Terry and one I am hopeful we can put together. First things first though and we have an absolute bonanza of boxing to look forward to on April 8, with quality fights from top to bottom of the card. It was somewhat bemusing to hear that Eddie Hearn was attempting to underplay the public interest in the show with spurious claims of how many tickets have been sold. It was a stupid claim and one that I am not really going to get into because everyone will see on the night how many people are there. Perhaps it was just a typically childish reaction to seeing three of his fighters suffering chastening defeats. Anyway, it is all a bit rich coming from Mr StubHub, friend of the fans. At least our tickets are available at the box office as opposed to the secondary market sponsor! Our Manchester show features a clutch of fights that, on any other platform, would come at a cost of 17 quid to the TV viewer and I believe the fans are in for a treat. Whichever way you choose to watch it you are onto a winner – be that box office, BT Sport or BoxNation. Take your pick and enjoy.