Past, Present, Future Of Welsh Boxing Collide In Newport

The past, present and future of Welsh boxing all feature in an action packed night of Championship Boxing at the Newport Centre on Friday 30th October broadcast live on Eurosport.

The Past: Former Commonwealth Super-Bantamweight Champion Jamie Arthur (18-6-4 KO’s), ends three years of inactivity and will return in the super-featherweight division in a six round contest. Jamie has rarely been out of the gym during his inactivity and looks in great shape for his return to the ring as he looks towards winning another major title.

The Present: Cardiff’s Craig ‘The Kid’ Kennedy (12-0-6 KO’s) will continue his quest towards a British title against hard hitting African Benki Mwakalebela (13-1-10 KO’s). Kennedy, 30, overcame Liverpool’s former Olympian Courtney Fry in his last contest, taking a unanimous decision in an eliminator for the British Title to record the best win of his two year career.

Promoter Jamie Sanigar confirmed, “It’s been a frustrating time trying to secure an opponent for Craig, initially we aimed to secure a final eliminator for the British title but British boxer’s Jon Lewis Dickinson, Stephen Simmons, Wayne Adeniyi and Tony Conquest all turned down the opportunity to box Craig. Craig needs stern tests as we move closer to his first major title shot and Benki Mwakalebela represents a dangerous challenge to Craig’s unbeaten record.”

The Future: Wales’s most successful amateur boxer Andrew Selby will feature on home soil for the first time as a professional against Tanzania’s Haji Juma (15-7-5-0 KO’s). Juma enters the fight in good form following a ten round win for the UBO African Flyweight Title.

Andrew’s manager Chris Sanigar confirmed “We are currently in talks with major promoters in the UK and USA we hope to have an announcement in the very near future. I expect Andrew to make his debut prior to the 30th October Newport show but I felt this was a great opportunity for Andrew to box in front of the Welsh fans, especially for those who may have not had the opportunity to see Andrew box live. Andrew’s fight will be broadcast live across Europe on Eurosport so it gives him good exposure.”

Second time lucky, Ferndale’s Barrie Jones (21-10-8 KO’s) will make a rescheduled defence of his Welsh Area light-middleweight title against Swansea’s James ‘Lights Out’ Lilley (7-5-2 KO’s). Lilley was frustratingly forced to withdraw from their June date just days before the bout due to a back injury.

Welsh and Celtic super-bantamweight champion Robbie Turley (15-5-3 KO’s) of Cefn Fforest will keep busy as he looks towards a major title fight later this year. After two fights in London and a niggling hand injury that’s now fully healed, highly rated young cruiserweight Danni Griffiths (6-1-0 KO’s) returns to the ring as he looks to enter the top ten of the exciting domestic cruiserweight scene.

Aberdare’s heavyweight Dorian Darch aims to continue his good form on Welsh soil with his sole defeat coming in a brave challenge against the formidable Heavyweight sensation Anthony Joshua. Dorian will face Big Larry Olubamiwo and that’s sure to be an action packed four rounds.

Sanigar Events first ever female signing, 24-year-old Ashley Brace from Ebbw Vale, will make her professional debut in a four round bantamweight bout and become the only active professional female boxer in Wales.

Light-heavyweights Nathan Thorley and Jermaine Asare, who both won bronze medals for Wales at the 2014 and 2010 Commonwealth Games respectively, will make their third professional outings. In an all welsh clash Pontypridd’s Kyle Jones, trained by Tony Borg will face Cardiff’s Ameen Alkailany and Bridgend’s welterweight Richie Canning complete the twelve fight event.

Tickets £30 Unreserved Seating, £50 & £60 VIP Ringside are available from all boxers or call the Box Office 0117 9496699.