Hennessy Sports in association with GoldenPalace.net are proud to announce the all-Manchester showdown between Lee Meager and John Murray for the vacant British Lightweight title at the Robin Park Arena in Wigan on Friday, July 11, 2008.

The Hennessy Sports pair have been given their opportunity after Jon Thaxton was given another shot at the European title. More...

The action on Friday night in Scotland was at Glasgow's Kelvin Hall where Paul Appleby shed his prospect status by taking the British Featherweight title from John Simpson via a very close 12 round unanimous decision.

Appleby, 12-0 (8), employed superior boxing skills to pull ahead early, dropping his fellow Scotsman Simpson in the fifth to take a decided edge.

But Simpson, 17-6 (6), wasn't going away and fought a hard-nosed effort in this see-saw battle all the way through the final bell only to lose a decision on the cards 115-113 and 115-114 twice.

There may very well be a rematch ordered by the British Board as the crucial knockdown in the fifth will certainly be disputed by Team Simpson.

On the undercard, lightweight Ryan Brawley, 9-0 (1), stopped former British Featherweight Champion Jamie McKeever, 18-9-1 (6), in seven.

McKeever, of Birkenhead near Liverpool, has now lost four on the bounce while Scottish southpaw Brawley won his first contest of 2008. More...

Last night at the Royal National Hotel in London, JJ Ojuederie, 10-3-1 (2), picked up the biggest win of his career, as well as the British Southern Area Light Heavyweight title, with a ten round points verdict over Andrew Lowe, 16-4 (1).

Ojuederie had a tough start to his career, going 1-3-1 over his first four bouts before pulling off eight straight victories to force a showdown with Lowe for the Southern Area crown.

The 28 year old from Watford must keep on winning if he is to challenge for the English or British crowns, held by veteran rivals Peter Haymer and Tony Oakey, respectively.

Ex-British Super Middle and WBU Light Heavy Champ Matthew Barney, 25-6-1 (6), was also on the bill and won his fourth on the bounce by outpointing former Ghanian/West African Super Middle titlist Ayitey Powers, 13-13-1 (9), in an six round rematch. More...

On Friday night, in a Frank Maloney promoted fight night at the famous York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, Gary Woolcombe made his first defence of the British Middlweight Title against Ryan Rhodes.

Taller, younger, ʽHot Stuffʼ Woolcombe of Kent faced the more experienced ʽSpice Boyʼ Rhodes of Sheffield. Ironically, Rhodes won this same title - eleven years ago.

Rhodes seems to be having trouble getting a grip on the canvas as he slips two or three times in the opening minute of the first round. But despite being the ʽolderʼ guy - Rhodes looks in fantastic physical shape.

Rhodes looks sharper, quicker and more stylish than the younger Woolcombe. More...

Last night at London's historic York Hall, Ryan Rhodes kept his unbeaten streak at light middle intact by knocking out reigning British titleholder Gary Woolcombe in nine rounds on a Frank Maloney promotion.

31 year old Rhodes regained the British title despite not having actually fought at 12 stone/154 lb since 1997!

Against Woolcombe, the long experience of the tricky Sheffield southpaw came to the fore. In the early rounds, Rhodes lay back and was content to let Woolcombe set the tone, choosing his spots carefully and hammering the British champion with educated counter shots that Woolcombe rarely saw coming.

As Woolcombe started to run out of gas midway throughout the bout, Rhodes began to go on the offensive and scored effectively with power shots that had the Londoner in some difficulty.

Woolcombe was floored in the sixth but the big hearted 25 year old beat the count and managed to box on until he was caught with a perfect right hook to the temple in the ninth round was counted out. More...