Walk Through The Flames: Edwards vs Bloy

The British and Commonwealth flyweight titles are on the line tonight at Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke-On-Trent, England, compelling divisional rivals Chris Edwards and Wayne Bloy to each pledge that they will stop at nothing to put ownership to these vacant belts.

There are two crowns on the line but only one man can emerge victorious from the cauldron that promoter Frank Maloney has named “Stoking The Fire”.

The pairing has filled Fenton Manor to the brim with the devoted fans of local hero Edwards but a hardcore band of Bloy followers have made the 130 mile trip from Grimsby and will occupy a corner of the arena to spur their man on.

The two flyweights hit the scales yesterday in preparation for tonight’s fireworks with Edwards weighing in at 109.5 pounds and Bloy tipping the beam at 110.75 pounds.

The chief support bout features an intriguing eight rounder at light middleweight pitting Lincoln man Kevin Hammond against Stoke native Jimmy “The Whirlwind” Doherty.

Hammond went on record at 155.5 pounds, as did his fellow combatant Doherty, as they ready for what promises to be a classic slugger vs. boxer showdown.

The undercard is stocked with action, headed by Stoke’s own popular English lightweight champion Scott Lawton, also the bill’s co-promoter, facing Johnny Greaves in a six round non-title affair.

Red hot flyweight Ashley Sexton meets Fikret Remziev Kurdov while welterweight Scott Miller goes up against Tomasz Mazurkiewicz in six round bouts.

A raft of four rounders round out the fight card as bantamweight Paul Edwards duels Elmir Rafael, heavyweight Larry Olubamiwo confronts Mihai Iftode, cruiserweight Jon Lewis Dickinson opposes John Anthony, heavyweight Alex Ibbs encounters Steve Bodger while featherweight Samir Mouneimne grapples with Steve Gethin.

Frank Maloney Promotions presents “Stoking The Fire”, featuring Chris Edwards vs. Wayne Bloy for the vacant British and Commonwealth flyweight championships along with full undercard support on Friday, January 23, 2009 at Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke, England.

Tickets are priced at £70 and £35 and are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508.

Sky Sports will televise the action live on SS1 starting at 10PM.