UK Weekend Roundup

On Friday night, Derby’s Ovill McKenzie (appropriately named ‘The Upsetter’!) successfully defended his Commonwealth (British Empire) Light-Heavyweight Title by a controversial second round stoppage of Swansea man – Enzo Maccarinelli.

Liverpool’s Paul Butler made lightening quick work of John Donnelly by first round TKO to win the vacant British Super-Flyweight Title and Liam ‘Beefy’ Smith won on points over Gary McMillan to win his British Light-Middleweight Title Eliminator.

The Queensberry Promotions fight-night also featured three undercard bouts.

In Sheffield, local man Sam Sheedy scored a first round TKO over Doncaster’s Jason Ball to win the Central Area Light-Middleweight Title. The Glyn Rhodes promoted fight-night also featured eight undercard bouts.

Chris Male lost on home-turf when he faced Leeds man Josh Warrington at The Venue, Dudley, on a PJ Rowson Promotion. Warrington won the vacant English Featherweight Title on points.

On Saturday, at the Norwich Showground in Norfolk, Ronnie Clark of Paisley, Scotland and Ryan Walsh of Cromer, Norfolk, drew on points when they fought for the vacant British Masters Super-Featherweight Title.

There were four undercard bouts on the show hosted by Shamrock Boxing Promotions.

Across the pond, Welsh Boxer Nathan Cleverley successfully defended his WBO Light-Heavyweight Title with an eighth round TKO over Shawn Hawk of Atlantic City. Cleverley of Cefn Fforest, Wales, was fighting at the Staples Center, Los Angeles.

Female fighter – Russian born Angel McKenzie of London, lost out to Swedish – Mikaela Lauren, in their six round Light-Middleweight bout in Sweden.

In Germany, Rick Godding of Bolton faced Polish Boxer – Rafal Jackiewicz, in a ten round Welterweight contest which resulted in a draw. Godding was on the undercard of the Wladimir Klitschko v Mariusz Wach Heavyweight contest at the O2 Arena in Hamburg.

Ukrainian Klitschko won by Unanimous Points and retains his four Titles.

On Sunday, Clifton Mitchell Sports Promotions hosted an afternoon of boxing at Hermitage Leisure Centre, Leicester, which saw a clean-sweep for the home boxers. There were eight contests on the Bill entitled ‘Remembrance Sunday Service’.

And David Haye has begun his stint on ‘I’m A Celebrity – Get me out of here!’ Heavyweight Boxer Haye was seen last night entering the Australian jungle alongside his four team-mates: Charlie Brooks of Eastenders fame, Comedian Brian Conley, Birds of a Feather star – Linda Robson and Coronation Street’s Helen Flanagan. Said Haye – “I usually deal with confrontation with a right hook!……..and I’ve got a phobia of losing”.

Taking charge and leading the red team successfully to an awaiting helicopter ensured the fab five spent a night of luxury in a villa rather than bedding down – as the opposing blue team did – on the jungle floor. “I don’t need to prove myself” Haye confirmed before being promptly volunteered for the first bush-tucker trial of the three week stint. A bug-infested ‘find the stars’ task while suspended in a crate high up over a valley seemed a ‘walk in the park’ for the Hayemaker, or was it the thought of mere rice and beans for tea that spurred him to victory. His Opponent in the Blue corner (!) was Hugo Taylor of ‘Made in Chelsea’ Fame who finished a close second (!)

Tea turned out to be Wallaby shanks which wasn’t well-received by the other camp members but Haye seemed to have a taste for it. Looks like the diet might suffer – he could be fighting at Lightweight by the time he gets out of there!