Tonight at the Barnsley Metrodome in Barnsley, England, super flyweight Andy Bell aims to succeed where fellow Doncaster native Jamie McDonnell failed by beating Chris Edwards to become the first British champion to hail from the South Yorkshire town since Jon Jo Irwin was the domestic featherweight ruler back in the late 1990s.

The bill has dubbed “Northern Rock” by promoter Frank Maloney and is televised live by Sky Sports.

31 year old Edwards, from Stoke, won the inaugural 115 Ib Lonsdale belt last December by narrowly squeezing past McDonnell and it was a result that greatly astounded Andy Bell.

He told local press: “To be honest I thought that Jamie would beat Edwards and I was surprised that he didn’t. I went to Wigan on the night and I felt Jamie boxed the wrong fight. Apart from experience, Jamie looked to have everything in his favour. But Edwards was in the great shape and he kept going for the full 12 rounds.”

Edwards, a pro fighter for almost ten years, didn’t have the greatest of starts in the paid ranks. After winning by second round knockout out on his debut, the little man from the Potteries didn’t taste victory again for over two and a half years.

A lot fighters would have turned in the game but, in the mould of Steve Robinson and Johnny Nelson, he’s shown great determination and achieved things that many people thought would be simply beyond him. He’s going to have to give his all tonight if he wants to hang on to the position he has worked so hard to acquire. More…

Stoke’s 31 year old British super-flyweight champion Chris Edwards put the finishing touches to his training schedule last night with a light run and is now relaxing before the first defence of his title on Friday night.

Edwards became the first Potteries based boxer to secure a Lonsdale belt for 85 years when he defeated Jamie McDonnell in Wigan last December. At Barnsley’s Metrodome on Friday night he will face Nottingham’s Andy Bell, the current English super-flyweight champion, in a twelve round defence of his title. More…

This Friday, March 28, 2008 sees Chris Edward’s first defense of the newest title in British boxing, the super flyweight, against English titlist Andy Bell at the Metrodome in Barnsley, England. This fight between the smallest active champion in Britain has caught the public’s imagination and the venue is already 85 percent sold out on a bank holiday weekend.

Honest hardworker Edwards has risen from the ranks of journeymen in similar fashion to current British bantamweight champion Ian Napa and will give 110 percent to outwork the taller, more skillful Andy Bell, who has been sparring in Tenerife with super bantamweight prospect Danny Wallace. More…