Theophane was left without an opponent for this Saturday’s title defence of his British Light Welterweight Lonsdale Belt after Steve Williams pulled out on Monday complaining of a chest infection.
This is the second time in a row that Theophane’s mandatory fight has been called off days before the fight was due to take place. Bristol boxer Darren Hamilton has stepped up for the fight with 4 days notice with a record of 11 wins and has lost 2, but if Theophane wins this fight then he gets to keep the Lonsdale belt outright.
Promoter Frank Maloney wanted to match Theophane against Adil Anwar who boxes on the bill, but the champion declined the offer.
Maloney said: “I wanted to make Ashley against Adil, which would have been a tremendous fight.”
“Unfortunately Ashley didn’t want it and although that is disappointing I cannot force him into a fight.”
“He will fight Darren who won’t make it easy in his quest to win a Lonsdale belt and I am sure fans will see a good contest.”
“Darren was in training for a Southern Area title defence, and deserves a lot of credit for stepping up to the plate.”
Theophane said: “First of all I didn’t turn down Adil Anwar, Darren Hamilton has the most accomplished record out of the two. I want to fight the best fighters available and I feel Darren will be the better test.”
“I’ve beaten Jason Cook and Lenny Daws so turning down Adil Anwar is fiction as they are better and have had a more successful career than him.”
“Darren Hamilton has beaten a two time British challenger in John Watson just a couple weeks ago, and is the Southern area champion and the only man to stop Peter McDonagh. McDonagh beat Curtis Woodhouse who is fighting Dale Miles in an eliminator and Darren beat Dave Ryan who is fighting Adil Anwar on the same show as me.”
“Adil has only won the Prizefighter so that in my opinion doesn’t rate him higher than what Darren Hamilton has achieved in his career. Darren Hamilton is the best candidate for the job.”
The fight takes place at Aintree Equestrian Centre on May 19th on the undercard of David Price and Sam Sexton’s British and Commonwealth heavyweight title fight.
2 of Britain’s former champions rekindled their special friendship (NOT) during their press conference at West Ham FC’s ground earlier today. Former WBA World Heavyweight Champion David Haye and former British & Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion Derek Chisora, were separated only by a 7ft high steel fence and 10 security guards during the face off to avoid any repercussions of the altercation that took place in Munich earlier in the year.
The fight has been licensed by the Luxembourg Federation due to the BBBC not reinstating Chisora’s British license. Frank Warren went to the Luxembourg Federation only because the ritish Boxing Board of Control will not look at Chisora’s case until later in the Summer meaning that he might not fight until the end of the year. The Luxembourg Federation is recognised by the BBBC through its membership with the WBC, WBO, IBF and WBA and is also a member of the European Boxing Union.
No love was lost as both boxers continued their hate campaign for each other niether with any real regret for what happened in Munich. The fight will take place on Saturday, 14th July at West Ham United FC, London with the winner possibly fighting one of the 2 ageing Klitschko brothers.
Recently, British Boxing Promoter Frank Maloney announced the upcoming and anticipated bout between West London’s British Light-Welterweight Champion Ashley Theophane, and Wallasey’s challenger, Steve Williams.
Williams recently beat Karl Place inside two rounds to earn his second shot at The British title, where Theophane had a more grueling match against the self stick beating Ben Murphy, beating Murphy by TKO in the 11th. The 2 fighters are former sparring partners having trained together last year.
The Fight takes place on Saturday 19th May at Aintree Racecourse, along with the British and Commonwealth Heavyweight clash between David Price v Sam Sexton. On the same night, Amir Khan will also have his chance to win back his WBA and IBF Light-Welterweight belts in Las Vagas against Lamont Peterson. All fights can be seen on Sky Sports 1.
Londoner Derek Chisora will take on Vitali Klitschko at the Olympiahalle Munich in Germany on February 18th in an attempt to claim his WBC Super-Heavyweight Belt. Former British and Commonwealth Champion Chisora, 27, has a record of 15 wins with nine KO’s and is in the top 15 of the WBC world rankings.
In Chisora’s last fight, he clearly won his European Heavyweight title challenge against Robert Helenius in Finland, but was controversially “robbed” of the title by a dodgey points decision to the hometown fighter.
Chisora was scheduled to fight Vitali’s brother Wladimir, the IBF/WBO/WBA Super champion, twice last year, but Wladimir pulled out with injuries.
“The Klitschko Brothers have ruled for too long and it’s now time to start smashing down the iron curtain of heavyweight boxing, starting with Vitali, and I’m happy that people will see me do this live on Boxnation,” said Chisora.
Klitschko, 40, has a record of 43 wins and 40 KO’s with only two defeats, and he’s only the fourth heavyweight boxer in history along with Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis to win a heavyweight championship belt 3 times.
This fight does not have the same appeal as last years super heavyweight clash between Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye but should still be an interesting spectical for a fading division in boxing.
What an eventful year 2011 was for me in regards to taking pictures. I’ve been lucky with the opportunities I’ve had this year and have tried not to let any slip under the radar.
2011 started of well with a few days at the O2 in London taking pictures during The JLS Tour supported by one of the U.K’s most recognisable rappers, Tinie Tempah, followed by “MTV Brand New Band 2011″ at KOKO’s in Camden, London. Most of my concert work was possible as I was on an on-going project for BIG MOUTH ENTERTAINMENT & Polydor Records to takes shots of one of their up and coming acts.
This year, I was also fortunate enough to take pictures for talkSPORT Radio of guest to be interviewed Live On-Air. There has been a wide range of guest both native to the U.K and International varying from Sport’s Personalities to Actors and Authors. The majority of my work was done on the “Keys & Gray Show“, and the “H & J Show“.
With the arrival of Richard Keys and Andy Gray in Febuary, this gave me the opportunity for my first national paper exclusive after their controversial sacking from Sky TV.
March saw the beginning of the “James DeGale vs George Grove” saga with a press conference at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London, in anticipation of the 2 unbeaten fighters, both defending their belts.
The Press Conference for the most eagerly anticipated Heavyweight bout in recent history took place during May in London between Britain’s former Cruiser weight and Heavyweight Champion David Haye and World Heavyweight Champion Vladimir Klitschko. This was as close as i was going to be able to get to these fighters as it was not possible for me to go to Hamburg for the actual fight.
This was the second press conference that the fighters had done in a few days and to be fair, it probably turned out more exciting than the fight itself.
The O2 hosted the British Super-Middleweight Clash between James DeGale and George Groves, with both fighter unbeaten as professionals, the pressure was on to retain their titles as well as their pride. Both men had fought in the Amateurs during a time when they attended the same boxing gym in West London, so Groves already had the mental edge over Groves having previously beaten him.
Groves won a closely fought contest on points becoming British and Commonwealth Champion leaving the door open possibly for a rematch in the new year.
Nathan Cleverley vs Aleksy Kuziemski was also on the same bill after Juergen Braehmer pulled out on the week of the scheduled bout and subsequently, the WBO stripped him of the Light-Heavyweight belt. Cleverley won the fight by TKO but did not convince me that he is a World beater having been rocked a few times by the last minute replacement.
In June, not long before his hair transplant, Wayne Rooney joined talkSPORT pundits Richard Keys and Andy Gray ahead of the Euro 2012 England vs Switzerland qualifier.
Former Girl Group RD, put out a track called “Do Myself” with Sneakbo featuring heavily on KISSFM, ChoiceFm and BangFM. The track would have been more successful if it had been pushed more by the label. Here’s a viral i put together:
JULY – SEPTEMBER
In July, The Klitschko Bros returned to London to rub salt in David Haye’s wounds by announcing the Vitali wanted to give Haye’s a smacking in a more convincing manner than his brother previously did by knocking out the former champ.
The Ukrainian brothers showed off their impressive collection of Super-Heavyweight title belts to the press and also hinted a possible match with British Heavyweight Derek Chisora.
The G-Shock East Session had been running for a year but I attended my first in July at the G-Shock Shop in Brick Lane, London hosted by Shadez The Misfit. It’s basically a Brand Awareness event where Urban UK Acts perform monthly to an in-the-know packed out audience. July’s Acts included Mdot-E, Rascals, Shadez, Roxxxan, Marvell, RD, Josh Osho, Sway and more.
Fashion Label Kenema, who specialise in European style Designs made from African Fabric, asked me to do a photoshoot for their Mende Collection due to be released in 2012.
I’m behind-the-scenes again but this time for RD’s official debut single “Got me Burnin” filmed in Hackney with the London Riots going on 3 miles down the road.
talkSPORT presenter Andy Goldstein asked me to take pictures during his interview with former Oasis member and Man City fan, Noel Gallagher. All my negative pre-conceptions form from reading crap in the press were quickly dashed once we met and found him to be friendly and very witty.
The Katie Piper Foundation held their annual charity Model Fight Night in September at The Forum, Kentish Town, London, where 16 professionally-trained models fought eight physically gruelling bouts in a Clash of the Titans-themed night of entertainment to raise money for The Katie Piper Foundation.
Every year around the time of 9/11, BGC hold an annual fund raising day to raise money for a variety of charities. Celebrities representing their charities get on the phons selling stocks and shares with all profits making up the hefty donation.
OCTOBER – DECEMBER
Every now and then, I get to meet a true legend and up until now, most of them have been boxers or singers, but, in October I had the great Honour of attending a launch event for a football boot by the Greatest Footballer of all times, Pele. The event was attended by Man Utd’s Rio Ferdinand, his brother, QPR defender Anton Ferdinand and Arsenal’s young starlet Alex -Oxade-Chamberlain.
With new material in the pipeline, I did a photo shoot for G-Shock host and South London rapper Shadez the Misfit.
Unknown to many at the time, Girl Group “RD”, presented their final live performance as group at R&B singer Keri Hilson’s concert supported by Angel and Starboy Nathan.
November, I took ringside shots at Wembley Arena, as George Groves defended his Commonwealth Belt against Paul Smith. Ricky Burns also defended his WBO Interim Lightweight belt against the durable Michael Katsidis.
Girl Group “RD” split after being dropped by Polydor. Th egirls are now working on solo career’s so I’m sure we will hear them again in the future.
And Finally…
In December, I once again attended to G-Shock East Session featuring Asha D and Loick Essien.
So as you can see, it’s been a very busy year and hopefully next year will be even more properous!
