Barnsley Boils Over For Munroe vs. Martinez Rematch

In the short hours leading up to tonight’s big triple championship boxing bill at local venue The Metrodome, the town of Barnsley, England has been flooded with fans who have invaded “The Tarn” for the European super bantamweight title rematch between reigning champion Rendall Munroe and the man he beat for the title, Kiko “La Sensacion” Martinez.

The crowds in Barnsley are split between various camps as the Munroe faithful from Leicester mingle with Martinez’s small but passionate contingent from Spain along with the vocal supporters of popular undercard combatants such as 2008 Olympic Bronze Medallist Tony Jeffries, who will be making his much anticipated professional debut.

The fans have given the local economy a much needed shot in the arm and considerably livened up the nightlife in this South Yorkshire town, located 30 miles east of Manchester and roughly between a triangle formed by Sheffield, Leeds and Doncaster.

While “Boxing Binman” Munroe, 17-1 (8), started out a sizable favorite to turn back the dangerous Martinez, 20-1 (15), once again, the odds have lowered considerably with whispers of the big punching Spaniard flattening durable veterans during sparring sessions since recently arriving in England.

With a possible world title opportunity awaiting the winner of this European title bout, competition is expected to be fierce in this mouth-watering rematch.

In another red-hot matchup on the bill, Commonwealth light welterweight champion Ajose Olusegun, 25-0 (12), will almost certainly be pushed hard in his title defense against towering English beltholder “Super” Scott Haywood, 19-2 (4), in a contest that could steal the show.

Defending the Commonwealth crown and a number six ranking in the WBC as well, “The Nigerian Nailer” has the difficult assignment of not only defeating the very awkward six footer Haywood but to look good while doing so in hopes of gaining a shot at the winner of the upcoming Timothy Bradley vs. Kendall Holt 140 pound WBC/WBO unification bout.

The vacant Celtic lightweight title will be up for grabs in a showdown between busy Welshman Gary “Dynamo” Buckland and Scottish hard man Craig Docherty, in a true crossroads fight.

Buckland, 14-1 (5), previously held the title until giving it up for a brief foray at light welter while former Commonwealth super feather champion Docherty, 22-4-1 (9), is looking to regain the form that saw him narrowly miss winning the European title.

As the first of Britain’s highly successful Beijing Olympic contingent to step into a professional boxing ring, Tony Jeffries will look to make a big splash against Minsk based spoiler Aliaksander Vayavoda, 5-12-1 (3), who has already upset four promising novices in his homeland of Belarus.

The buzz around Jeffries is immense as the former amateur light heavyweight made the surprising announcement that he will drop down to campaign as a super middleweight along with another Olympic Bronze Medallist in promoter Frank Maloney’s stable, Irish sensation Darren Sutherland.

The undercard bouts are full of promise with a quartet of six rounders on tap.

A light middleweight clash pits experienced Leicester stylist Kevin Concepcion, 14-1 (3), against hard punching Sheffield slugger Jezz Wilson, 5-0 (4), while Irish super bantam champ Paul Hyland, 13-1 (4), will swap punches with granite-jawed Ukrainian journeyman Nikita Lukin, 8-16-2 (2), who has never been stopped.

In a pair of prospect battles, light welter Jamie Way, 8-0 (1), of Newport, Wales comes to grips with Derby based Dave “Rocky” Ryan, 7-1 (1), while flashy bantam Ross Burkinshaw, 5-1-1 (3), shoots it out with
Liverpool’s Mike Robinson, 4-0 (0).

In a four rounder, six foot Huddersfield teenager Tyrone Nurse, 5-0 (0), scraps with Coventry veteran Baz Carey, 11-39-4 (3), at lightweight and Derby flyweight Usman Ahmed, 4-1-1 (0), will also make an appearance on the bill.

Frank Maloney Promotions presents Rendall Munroe vs. Kiko Martinez for the Super Bantamweight Championship of Europe with full supporting undercard at the Metrodome in Barnsley, England on Friday, February 27, 2009.

Tickets are priced at £75 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.