‘Ernie Smith’

‘Special K’ vows to wow home Sheffield crowd on June 25

Kell Brook says he will be the first fighter to stop tough Australian Lovemore N’dou when the pair fight in Brook’s hometown of Sheffield on June 25.

Brook admits this is the ‘toughest test of his career so far’ but the 25 year-old is determined to put on a great show at the Hillsborough Leisure Centre and extend his unbeaten record to 24 fights as he continues his quest for a World Title. More...

Tributes have been flooding in this week over the sad loss of boxer Ernie Smith. Smith aka 'Gypsy Boy' was a likeable and well-known boxer from Stourport, Worcestershire, England, who accumulated a staggering 161 fight record.

Well respected and always keen to fight - Smith took many bouts with little notice.

He was tragically found dead at a South Wales beauty-spot last week.

SaddoBoxing sends out its deepest sympathies to family and friends of Ernie Smith.

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

It was a typical English summer evening on Friday; rain, rain and more rain! But it didn’t dampen the spirit of fans enjoying an evening of boxing at Wolverhampton Civic Hall in the West Midlands.

PJ Rowson and Errol Johnson of First Team Promotions hosted a fight card which would see action from five bouts.

Rob Doody (Tipton) v Jason Nesbitt (Birmingham)
6 Round Light Welterweight Contest

There was good support for Doody, who used long-reaching left and rights to the head of Nesbitt.
At the end of round four, he lands two shots after being told to break. The second shot landed cleanly and he’s given a stern warning by referee Rob Chalmers. More...

**With Slideshow**

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Friday night at the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton, England, PJ Rowson and Errol Johnson of First Team Promotions hosted a fight night headlined by a female title bout.

The night should have been headlined by local-man Steve Savilles’ defence of the Midlands Lightweight title against Stoke's Gary Reid, but Saville pulled out last week with an injury.

Lyndsey Scragg of Wednesbury faced last minute opponent Kristine ‘Krissy’ Shergold of Paignton, for the Global Boxing Council Female Super-Featherweight title.

Scragg was originally scheduled to face Florea Lihet, but when Lihet pulled out, Shergold stepped in at short notice. More...

**With Slideshow**

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Sunday afternoon at the Meadowside Leisure Centre in Burton-on-Trent, England, PJ Rowson and Errol Johnson of ‘First Team Promotions’ hosted a fight card headlined by a British Masters title clash.

Robert Kenney (Wolverhampton) faced Dale Miles (Alfreton) in the main event for the British Masters Welterweight title.

It was a better start to the fight for Miles, in fact ‘Yam Yam’ Kenney didn’t really ‘pick it up’ during the fight. Miles’s corner shouts at him to ‘target the body!’ And he did land some solid body-shots in round five, which seemed to sap the Wolverhampton man, who has now sustained a cut under the left eye.

Despite Kenney’s corner urging him to go for the body - he didn’t, instead choosing to throw head shots, which weren’t having the effect. Southpaw Miles keeps up the body punches - landing while backing Kenney on the ropes in round six. More...

**With Slideshow**

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Last night at the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton, England, First Team Promotions main men PJ Rowson and Errol Johnson staged a fight night which was headlined by Rob Hunt of Stafford, who faced experienced Jason Nesbitt of Birmingham in an eight round welterweight contest.

Not the tidiest of fights - with Hunt getting a point deducted for holding and which he continues to do throughout the contest. There's a scrap at the end of round six as both men slug it out in the corner just as the bell sounds to end the frame. But, Hunt's long-reaching right punch and right hooks to body gave him the points win he wanted and ensure him a title shot early next year.

Hunt's record now stands at 11-0 (1). More...

Friday night, in a Matchroom Sports promoted fightnight at Eston Sports Academy, Middlesbrough, England, homeboy - Paul Truscott defeated Ghanaian - Osumanu Akaba to take the vacant Commonwealth Featherweight title.

This was Truscottʼs 11th professional win in less than two years as a professional and heʼd never previously fought past eight rounds!

Face bloodied as he finished the twelfth and final round, Truscott - stood with his glove raised aloft, as did Akaba, whilst he listened for the result. Ringside judges scored the contest 116-112, 115-113 and 116-112, all in favour of the local lad, who was clearly emotional on hearing the decision.

Punch stats revealed that although Truscott threw less punches - he had a better success rate than his opponent, landing 26% of punches as opposed to 21% for Akaba.

Also on the ʽfight cardʼ - heavyweight Chris Burton of County Durham, gained a points victory over Lee Swaby of Lincoln in an eight round contest. Burton has won all eleven of his professional fights. Swaby has lost his last six.

Yorkshireman, Gavin Reid, knocked out not-so-ʽDangerousʼ - John Donnelly of Liverpool in round four of their scheduled eight round super bantamweight contest. It was Donnellyʼs first loss in seven fights, while Reidʼs record moves to five wins and two losses.

Liverpudlian Nathan Brough kept his perfect pro-record, scoring a points win over Polish Boxer, Arek Malek, in a six round light welterweight contest. Broughʼs record now stands at five wins and no losses.

Craig Denton of Hartlepool knocked out ʽGypsy Boyʼ - Ernie Smith, in round two of their four round middleweight contest. Denton improves to six wins (1 by KO).

Bob Ajisafe of Darlington scored a points win over Yanko Pavlov in their four round light heavyweight contest. This was Pavlovʼs pro-debut. Ajisafe now has four professional wins.

The next Steve Woods/VIP Boxing event takes place on Saturday, April 26, 2008 at the Robin Park Arena in Wigan, England. Please note the change of venue - which was originally to be held at the GH Carnall Centre in Davyhulme, Manchester.

Featuring nine fights - this is sure to be another action-packed night of boxing!

The main event sees popular welterweight Mark Thompson fighting for the vacant Masters International title and promising Blackpool light middleweight Brian Rose, both against opponents to be announced.

Other fights on the bill include: More...