Martin Lindsay v Jamie Arthur
DATE: 3/19/2010
TITLE: British Featherweight Title
VENUE: Indoor Sports Centre, Leigh, Lancashire, United Kingdom
PREDICTION: Martin Lindsay
A very interesting contest, after suffering 2 nasty cuts which cost him two losses against limited opposition former amateur star Arthur retired from the sport in 2005, in 2008 he decided to make a return and has stormed through the rankings winning 7 fights in a row, including an British title eliminator against the formely undefeated prospect Akaash Bhatia, he now faces the toughest challenge of his career against another undefeated fighter Martin Lindsay, the prize awaiting is the vacant British title. Lindsey at 15-0 has got less amatuer experience and less pro fights than Arthur, however he has competed at a higher level and holds some great wins over great fighters himself, he exploded onto the scene with a tremendous stoppage win over former British champion Derry Mathews, he then went on to destroy on of the hottest prospects in the division Paul Appleby who has not been seen since. I think it should be an interesting clash of styles and a fairly decent fight, neither of these guys are big punchers, but Lindsey is the harder hitter of the two, a lot depends on how the face of Lindsey holds up, he is always at risk of cuts but barring injury this fight should be decided by the judges, I think Lindsey is one of the hottest prospects in the country at the weight and will be tough to beat it would take a career best from Arthur to win this fight, don't rule him out but I would go for a points win for Lindsay.
Krzysztof Bienias v Kell Brook
DATE: 3/12/2010
VENUE: Echo Arena, Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
PREDICTION: Kell Brook
Big step up in class for the unbeaten prospect Kell Brook, Bienias has won his last 17 fights and his only 2 losses have come to former world champions Junior Witter and world title challenger Oktay Urkal, Brook has looked great so far and has yet to be really pressed despite sharing the ring with some of the best domestic fighters. Both fighters will be looking to compete on the world scene with a win here, Bienias looking for a route back and Brook looking to get there. From what I have seen from Brook I have been impressed he has a few ajustments needed to enable him to bridge that gap to world level but he is progressing well and i think he will come through this challenge well, he may have to go the distance with the tough Bienias but I fancy the stoppage will come in the middle rounds.
Paul Smith v Tony Dodson
DATE: 3/12/2010
TITLE: British Super Middleweight Title
VENUE: Echo Arena, Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
PREDICTION: Paul Smith
What should be a fairly routine defence for Smith, Smith is not as good as his record suggests he was rather fortunate to win last time out against Tony Quigley, Quigley stopped Dodson in their fight and I would be surprised if this fight goes any different to that, I think Smith will take over in the mid rounds and get a late stoppage or a decent win on the cards, Dodson has lost on the occassions he has stepped up in class and this should be no different.
Gary Sykes v Andy Morris
DATE: 3/5/2010
TITLE: British Super Featherweight Title
VENUE: Leisure Centre, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, United Kingdom
PREDICTION: Gary Sykes
Following the reinstatement of the title fight for Ricky Burns, Any Morris has stepped in at late notice to take on Gary Sykes, Morris has competed at a higher level than Sykes, but he is the smaller man and has been stopped twice before at a lower weight. Sykes is not really a puncher but I think he might be a bit too much for Morris especially with the short notice. A lot depends on how much preperation Morris has had, Sykes will be hungry to keep his undefeated record and has be listed to fight for sometime against Ricky Burns so you can guarentee he will be in shape, it should be a good fight.
Chris Edwards v Abmerk Shindjuu
DATE: 2/19/2010
TITLE: Commonwealth Flyweight Title
VENUE: Fenton Manor Sports Complex, Stoke, Staffordshire, UK
PREDICTION: Chris Edwards
An interesting clash, Edwards has a terrible record of 13-14-3 but he is lot lot better than that record suggests. He was once 1-6, he has turned things around and picked up a British title and a Commonwealth belt. He lost a narrow decision last time out to Shinny Bayaar but he will be looking to bounce straight back with a win here. Shindjuu is a good fighter, again better than his record of 7-2-2 suggests, and is coming off 3 decent wins. He hasn't competed at the same level as Edwards but I think this one could be a close fight and will be decided by the judges. I am favouring Edwards mainly due to his experience but it is not with a great deal of confidence.
Scott Lawton v Leva Kirakosyan
DATE: 2/19/2010
TITLE: European Super Featherweight Title
VENUE: Fenton Manor Sports Complex, Stoke, Staffordshire, UK
PREDICTION: Leva Kirakosyan
Coming off a career best win Lawton takes a big step up in class against the former European champion Kirakosyan. Lawton has fallen short on the occassions he has stepped up in class, against the likes of Amir Khan, Jon Thaxton, and John Murray, but he showed a new lease of life last time out when beating Derry Matthews. A lot depends on how much Kirakosyan has left, he has shared the ring with the likes of Juan Urango and Sergey Gulyakevich, he also destroyed decent domestic fighter Carl Johanneson twice. I think this might be too much of an ask for Lawton if Kirakosyan comes in form. Look for a mid round stoppage win for Kirakosyan.
Gary Buckland v Sam Rukundo
DATE: 2/19/2010
VENUE: Fenton Manor Sports Complex, Stoke, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
PREDICTION: Gary Buckland
Buckland is quickly establishing himself as one of the top players in the division, wins over the likes of Craig Docherty and Henry Castle recently has moved him into a position to challenge for the British title. First he has to get through the tough unbeaten Swede Rukundo, at 15-0 his record is impressive but he has fought at a very low level and this is a huge step up in class for him. Buckland should be too experienced and too strong and come through with a mid to late stoppage, never rule out an undefeated fighter but this is a big ask for him.
Danny McIntosh v Tony Oakey
DATE: 2/19/2010
VENUE: Fenton Manor Sports Complex, Stoke, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
PREDICTION: Danny McIntosh
This is actually a very good fight, McIntosh fell short last time out when fighting Nathan Cleverly and looked to be a little out of his league, Oakey is another step up in class for McIntosh but it will be very interesting to see how he has progressed, Oakey has competed at a high level and has always been known to be a tough campaigner, but recently he has looked lacking. He won the Prizefighter last time out at light heavyweight, but at 5'8" cruiserweight might be a big ask. Oakey will be giving away over 5" in height and a decent amount of reach. I think Oakey is the favourite going into the fight but I have a feeling that McIntosh may have learned a lot about himself in the Cleverly fight and as long as he can last the distance he may be able to out point Oakey especially if Oakey is no longer at him best.
Martin Murray v Shalva Jomardashvili
DATE: 2/19/2010
VENUE: Fenton Manor Sports Complex, Stoke, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
PREDICTION: Martin Murray
A good step up and test for Murray, Jomardashvili is 23 years old and is coming off his first loss, at 26-1 he was being preped for bigger and better things, all of his fights to date have been in his home tome of Georgia, but now he has lost it looks like he is being let lose and travels to the UK to take on prospect Murray in a make or break fight. Jomardashvili is a an unknown source, he holds wins over a couple of decent Georgian fighters but how good he is will only be determined after this fight. Murray is a highly regarded fighter and they would not be risking him here unless they were confident he could win, I think Murray will come through on the cards but don't rule out a shock of the Georgian is better than expected.
Scott Quigg v Nikita Lukin
DATE: 2/19/2010
VENUE: Fenton Manor Sports Complex, Stoke, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
PREDICTION: Scott Quigg
Quigg is in need of some rounds under his belt and there is no one better than Lukin to ensure that happens, he has not been stopped in his 29 professional fights and has squared up against a number of very good fighters. Quigg is a hot young prospect who is being brought along nicely, despite his poor record of 10-17 Lukin poses the biggest threat to Quigg to date, Quigg should come through well but is likely to have to complete the full 8 rounds for the first time in his career in order to win.