European Boxing Champ Munroe Faces Maludrottu Nov 20

Rendall Munroe will make the fifth defence of his European super bantamweight title against Simone Maludrottu at Nottingham’s Harvey Hadden Sports Centre on Friday, November 20.

The banging binman has been handed home advantage after his promoter Frank Maloney won purse bids for the fight against his mandatory challenger.

Maloney will fly off to Jeju, Korea next month for the WBC Convention where he hopes to persuade the governing body to make the contest an eliminator for their world title held by Japan’s Toshiaki Nishioka.

The Leicester southpaw (19-1) is currently ranked at number two and Maludrottu 13th by the organisation.

Maludrottu (30-2) is a wily old campaigner who has held the European bantamweight title and challenged for the WBC crown.

The Sardinian won the European 118lb crown in September, 2004 and made eight unbeaten defences before relinquishing three years later.

Maludrottu, 31, is familiar to British fans having made seen off challenges from Damaen Kelly and Ian Napa while European champion.

In April, 2006 he was considered lucky to get a points verdict over Kelly in Belfast, but when they fought a rematch in Maludrottu’s hometown Olbia seven months later, the Irishman was stopped in three rounds.

Napa was next up in March, 2007, but was no match for the accomplished champion, going down clearly on points.

In January, 2008, Maludrottu was handed his world title chance, but like so many before him, found winning in Japan a bridge too far, losing on points to brilliant WBC champion Hozumi Hasegawa.

Since then, Maludrottu has had four non-title fights and promises to be Munroe’s toughest challenger to date.

Munroe, 29, won his Euro crown in March, 2008, when he defeated Kiko Martinez, but hasn’t boxed since February when he outpointed Issac Nettey to claim the Commonwealth title.

The undercard will be announced soon, but tickets, priced £35 and £85, can be purchased from 0871 226 1508 and www.frankmaloney.com.