Frank Warren's big year is good news for Birmingham boxers

Dec 19 2009 by Ian Johnson, Birmingham Mail

PROMOTER Frank Warren went out of 2009 with a spectacular bang with the Amir Khan bill in Newcastle and plans to start 2010 in the same style which is great news for the Birmingham boxers in his care.

Frankie Gavin is now a major attraction after winning all of his first five fights and says that if he continues to make progress at the same rate he will be looking for a British title challenge by the end of the year.

And for Don Broadhurst and Thomas Costello it will be a big year. Broadhurst has to bounce back big-style after losing his Commonwealth title to British champion Lee Haskins.

For Costello, hailed by many as one of the best prospects in the Midlands, it needs to be an action-packed year. He has not fought for almost a year because of injury and while there are no plans to rush him forward he does need to catch up.

And so Warren will start the new decade with a blockbuster show on Saturday, February 13 in London.

The venue will be announced shortly, but the main event will be the big heavyweight clash between British champion Danny Williams and Commonwealth king Sam Sexton.

Chief support is the long-awaited British welterweight championship showdown between reigning champion and outright winner of the Lonsdale belt, Kell Brook, and the former champion Michael Jennings.

The Olympians James DeGale, Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders, who all won in Newcastle, will open their 2010 campaign that could see them challenge for titles before the year is out.

Hall of Fame promoter Warren, now entering his fourth decade as a licensed promoter, said, “I’m delighted to bring such a fantastic show to the capital for my first show of the year.

“I promoted Williams for many years and the one thing he can do is produce an upset, but he faces the rising young star of the domestic scene in Sexton, who recently defeated Martin Rogan for the second time.

“Our unbeaten Olympians DeGale, Gavin and Saunders have had a great first year in the pro ranks and next year is going to be a big one for all of them.

“British boxing is on a high at the moment and this card is an example of that and we will be announcing more big shows for 2010.’’

But the New Year kicks off with Stourbridge’s Rob Norton making the second defence of his British cruiserweight title, and the first of his Commonwealth cruiserweight title, when he faces David Dolan in a highly-anticipated rematch on January 15.

The tasty event will go out live on Sky Sports’ Friday Fight Night as Ricky Hatton returns to Altrincham Leisure Centre in Manchester.

The last time they met at the Villa Arena the pair shared a total of five knockdowns, with Norton eventually retaining his British title by unanimous decision. Highly entertaining stuff!

And tomorrow the successful Eastside ABC stage an amateur dinner show at the Birmingham Holiday Inn.

Organiser Paul Counihan has a cracking line-up and late ticket information is available from him on 07976 735729.