Fury Belfast Bound To Face Rogan At Odyssey Arena

Over the weekend, Hennessy Sports have announced that the undefeated former British and Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury will face tough Belfast brawler and crowd favourite Martin Rogan at the Odyssey Arena on the 14th April in Fury’s first fight of the year.

The 23 year old Fury has not fought since stopping the Canadian Neven Pajkic in three rounds in Manchester in what was in his only defence of the Commonwealth title that he won after coming off the canvas to defeat Derek Chisora at Wembley Arena on points in July last year.

Fury has since vacated both titles after former amateur rival David Price become his mandatory challenger upon knocking out former Fury victim John McDermott for the then vacant English Heavyweight title which also doubled as a final eliminator for the British Heavyweight title in Price’s home city of Liverpool.

This decision by Fury to vacate these titles was met with not much surprise and plenty of disappointment within the trade as it would have provided British Boxing with an exciting match up that would have generated substantial press coverage and would have generated substantial ticket sales in a manner similar to George Groves’ match up against James DeGale.

The popular former PrizeFighter champion Rogan, whose big hearted come forward brawling style has made him a crowd favourite, has also been inactive having not fought since November 2010 after defeating German journeyman Werner Kreiskott on points in a six round fight over in Castlebar, Ireland.

Rogan, like Fury, is also a former holder of the Commonwealth title after springing an upset win over Bedford’s Matt Skelton with an 11th round technical knockout at the National Indoor Arena back in 2009, only to lose the title in his first defence against Norwich’s Sam Sexton with an eighth round stoppage loss.

Fury would have all the advantages in height, reach and power over Rogan, plus has the better boxing ability of the two men along with the superior quality of opposition on his resume having fought Chisora and McDermott at Championship level.