Impact Boxing: Doherty Out Johnston In

Luckless welterweight boxer Jimmy Doherty has been forced to withdraw from Impact Boxing’s next promotion scheduled for 1st March at Stoke’s Kings Hall. The popular Tunstall based fighter has injured the same right hand that forced him out of and earlier show at the Kings Hall last September.

Doherty, now undefeated in his first seven pro contests, was looking to step up in class and was hoping to secure a significantly more testing opponent for his next outing. Doherty’s plans are now on hold and his next contest is now likely to be his first on the road.

The withdrawal of Doherty has presented Cobridge’s Danny Johnston with the opportunity to make his first appearance in the ring since being narrowly defeated on points by, the Oliver Harrison trained, Thomas Mazurkiewicz last May. Light-middleweight Johnston has registered four wins and three losses since turning pro in 2004 and despite long periods of inactivity remains an exciting young prospect.

“My confidence took a bit of a knock last time,” said Johnston candidly,” I wasn’t at my best last time and I feel that I let my fans and myself down. I was suffering with a cold at the time and, whilst I’m not using at as excuse, I feel that it effected my performance.”

“It’s heartening that Impact have stuck by my me and given me phenomenal support, as a result I’m back on track and fully focused now. I intend to step up and start to live up to the promise that I showed as an amateur.”

An avid Stoke City fan, Johnston commented: “With City now sitting third in the Championship with a real prospect of getting promotion it’s given the whole of the Potteries a boost, me included. I hope that I can harness some of that ‘feel good factor’ and use it to my benefit. I expect to be on top form on the 1st and promise to put on a show for the fans.

Mick Carney, Johnston’s manager, added: “I’m bitterly disappointed for Jimmy that he can’t box in front of his home fans on the 1st but every cloud has a silver lining and I am delighted that Danny has been able to step in.”

“Danny hasn’t come anywhere near to fulfilling his potential yet and, so far in his career he has only shown us glimpses of what he his capable of. Danny is not only a very talented boxer but he also has a style that pleases the crowds; he comes forward constantly and he possesses a fearsome punch. He is always capable of knocking an opponent out.”

“I remain confident that we will have seven bouts on the evening and although we are not ready to announce any opponents yet I can confirm that negotiations are nearing their conclusion and the card should take shape in the next few days.”

Fellow Potteries based boxers Scott Lawton, Scott Miller and Alex Ibbs will also appear and the talented Chester trio of Kevin Buckley, Chris Goodwin and debutant Paul Economides will join them.

Tickets priced £25, £45 and £10 for under 14’s are available from Impact Boxing on 0845 156 7168 or by visiting www.impactboxing.com