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O’Donnell And Barker Also In Domestic Championship Contests
Five Hennessy Sports team members are to contest the prestigious British title over the coming months. Lenny Daws takes on Nigel Wright for the vacant light welterweight crown at the York Hall in Bethnal Green on May 12th following the promotional outfits successful purse bid for the Championship. The co-headline feature on the Sky Sports covered event sees team-mates Lee Meager and Dave Stewart put their friendship to one side for 36 minutes to contest the lightweight belt. Then, two weeks later at the same venue, Carl Froch puts his super middleweight title on the line in a grudge match against long term rival Brian Magee.
Billy Corcoran, who like Froch and Meager was a member of Hennessy Sports “Real Class of 2002,’ was added to this list yesterday. Following Alex Arthur’s decision to vacate the British super featherweight title, the Boxing Board of Control nominated him as a co-challenger alongside Carl Johanneson. The duo are set to go at it in Leeds in July in what promises to be a barnstormer. “It’s a cracking, well matched fight,” said Hennessy Sports head Mick Hennessy, who promotes in association with Rick Manners, the manager/promoter of Johanneson. “Billy and Carl are both exciting to watch. They like to come forward and both have power. No one’s going to have to go looking in this one. This is going to be a fantastic event for Leeds, I am looking forward to working closely on it with Rick Manners. He’s done a great job for Carl.”
Manners, from the area, is also looking forward to a big night of traditional boxing. “It’s a great contest between two young kids, proper gunslingers,” he began. “I’m honoured that we have been able to stage it in Leeds with Hennessy Sports. It’s great to be working with them on this, a real opportunity. There was some hard bargaining involved, but the result has been fair, unlike when you deal with most promoters. Leeds is a vibrant City. It’s always had football heroes and now it has a new boxing hero to get behind. We are not underestimating Corcoran at all, he has got where he is today for a reason. I promised Carl the British title and have delivered it for him. Now he’s got to deliver. This is all or nothing.”
Corcoran earned this opportunity by claiming the English title last October with a sensational stoppage of former British champion Roy Rutherford after just three rounds. His nomination, made after his case was put forward by Hennessy Sports, is a ringing endorsement for the genuine title path so often ignored by domestic fighters.
“Like all of my Hennessy Sports team mates, I want to fight for traditional titles,” said Corcoran. “Carl (Froch) and Junior (Witter, former British and current Commonwealth and European light welterweight champion) have set an example I want to follow. I’m not going to go about things like Kevin Mitchell, who I believe has swerved me for the English title, a genuine title. I am proud to be English champion and he should have had the guts to challenge me for it. As should have Femi Fehintola. I want to compete against the best at the level I am at. That’s why I fought Roy Rutherford at English title level and that’s why I’m fighting Carl Johanneson for the British.”
The Leeds based fighter, who had his first 16 fights in America, similarly deserves his opportunity. He was in pole position after blitzing previous victim Andrew Ferrans in two rounds last time out in a final eliminator. In a 23-fight career Johanneson has fought successfully at Championship level on five occasions and has lost just twice. He is understandably confident. “This is a big opportunity for me and I’m going to take it,” said the 27-year-old. “I’d like to thank my promoter Rick Manners and Hennessy Sports for making this happen in Leeds. Billy is a good fighter and I respect him, but that will all stop when we are in the ring. It’s nothing personal, its just business.”
Naturally, Corcoran sees things differently: “I’m confident in my ability and so is my team. I know a lot of people may pick Johanneson over me, he is a tough operator, but I will win the British title. I think I will stop him.”
Two other Hennessy Sports fighters set to compete at Championship level are Commonwealth Games gold medallist Darren Barker and Junior Olympic gold medallist John O’Donnell. Both have caught the eye with a string of outstanding performances and received significant praise from Sky Sports pundits.
An agreement has been reached for Barker, from Barnet, to fight Darren Rhodes in an eliminator for the British title currently held by Jamie Moore on the May 12th “TWENTY:FOUR’ event at the York Hall, which is already on the verge of selling out.
The 20-year-old O’Donnell meanwhile has been installed as the mandatory contender for the English welterweight title. As such the winner of the May 13th fight between current champion Ross Minter and former champion Alan Bosworth will have to meet him within 90 days.
Tickets for “TWENTY:FOUR’ at the York Hall in Bethnal Green are now on sale with Ticketmaster on 0870 060 1795. For the latest bill please visit www.HennessySports.com.
