Undefeated super-middleweight talent Tom Baker says he’s ready to storm to his first title when he challenges Kevin Greenwood for the Vacant Southern Area title on Friday 27th March at the York Hall, Bethnal Green.

Chingford ace Baker features as chief support alongside Miles Shinkwin’s Southern Area Light-Heavyweight title defence against Richard Horton with Ovill McKenzie’s British and Commonwealth Cruiserweight title defence against Matty Askin headlining an action-packed card, live and exclusive on BoxNation.

The hot prospect, trained by Mark Tibbs, is unbeaten in ten fights since turning pro in June 2012, following a top amateur career at the Repton and West Ham clubs, and trains alongside British, Commonwealth and European Middleweight Champion Billy Joe Saunders.

The 6ft 1in, 23-year-old, with a hammering left jab, believes that he’s now ready to begin his climb up the championship ladder towards bigger honours and Greenwood is a good starting point.

“I’ve served my apprenticeship for nearly the last three years, boxing my way up from four, six to eight rounds and I know in myself that I’m ready to go for my first title and win it,” Said Baker.

“I’m ranked at number 20 in the last British ratings and I know that I can beat anyone from 20 to 10 comfortably and I aim to work through some of these in the next year and, of course, English and British titles are on my agenda,”

“I’m still only 23 and I’ve grown physically over the last couple of years so I wouldn't be surprised if I ended up at light-heavyweight in the next couple of years, but for now I want to do the business at super-middleweight and clean-up domestically first,”

“I’ve been doing plenty of rounds of sparring with Billy Joe, plus Miles Shinkwin and Kirk Garvey who are both on the card and I know that I can do ten rounds easy.”

Ilford’s Greenwood is coming off a fourth round stoppage win in his last fight over Nikolay Kolyandov for the Vacant International Masters Bronze title and Baker says that his rival will be looking to cause an upset.

Baker added, “It’s going to be cracking fight between me and Greenwood at the home of London boxing and I know that Greenwood will be up for as there’s a bit of professional rivalry between us,”

“Without overlooking Greenwood, though, he’s a good test of my abilities at this stage of my career, he’s game, strong, and will looking to beat me,”

“But I know that I’ve got the boxing pedigree and I’ll have the edge over Greenwood to come out of the York Hall the winner.”

The York Hall undercard features a fantastic line-up of undefeated talent, including Mitchell Smith, the WBO European Super-Featherweight Champion, in a six-round contest; unbeaten Wembley light-middleweight prospect Gary Corcoran; Brighton light-middleweight Lloyd Ellett; Welsh light-welterweight Romeo Romeao; Wimbledon welterweight Louis Adolphe; Clapham light-heavyweight Kirk Garvey and the professional debut of heavyweight Nick Webb.

Counihan Ready For Liverpool Showdown With Walter This Friday

Birmingham Lightweight sensation Antonio Counihan is back in action this week, against Richard Walter, on the Stephen Vaughan promoted RED MIST event at the Grand Central Hall in Liverpool on Friday, 20th March 2015.

Since turning pro in October 2013 Counihan, the former England Amateur team Captain, has proved to be one of the UK’s top prospects of the Lightweight division, scoring five top class wins, four of these by stoppage finish, with Poland’s Marcin Ficner being the only opponent to go the distance with the young Brummie star.

On Friday Counihan will face Richard Walter, who stepped in at late notice after his original opponent was forced to withdraw with a hand injury.

Walter comes into the fight off the back of an excellent first round stoppage win over Rene Oravek in February, however that doesn’t seem to bother Counihan one iota, as he made clear when he spoke earlier today.

“Really looking forward to Friday, should be a very good night.

I have only just heard that I’ve got a new opponent, Richard Walter, don’t know much about him yet as this has just been announced.

I know he stopped his last opponent, so should be a good close fight, which suits me.

Have to admit I’m a bit disappointed with such a late change, but what can you do, fighters get injured in the gym all the time, I’ll just go out there and box the way I always do and if all goes well I’ll get another good win under my belt.

Had five fights now, won all of them, four of them by TKO, so am looking forward to moving up the rankings because I want a shot at a title soon.

Last time out had a real good fight with David Kis, I was really happy with the way that fight went.

It was a real good performance, I was happy with it, listened to my corner and did as they said and got him out of there in the third.

Hopefully I’ll put in a similar kind of performance on Friday, I’m not saying it will be another TKO win, but if it happens I’ll be well pleased, I just want to put on a good performance for the fans.

Talking about my fans, they really are fantastic, they travel to watch me fight every time, I can’t thank them enough for their support, I mean they’ve had to travel to London for four of my fights and now here we are on the road again, this time Liverpool and they’ll be there cheering me on once more, they really are brilliant.

I can only thank them properly for their support by keep performing well and of course keep winning.”

Antonio Counihan versus Richard Walter features on the Stephen Vaughan promoted RED MIST event at the Grand Central Hall in Liverpool on Friday, 20th March 2015.

Sanctioning for this event will be provided courtesy of the Malta Boxing Commission (MBC) – www.maltaboxingcommission.com

Tickets priced £30 and £40 are available direct from Antonio on 07535 806545 and will also be available at Grand Central Hall on the night.

Doors open 6:30pm first bell 7pm

Professional boxing returns to Walsall Town Hall on Saturday, 25th April thanks to Black Country Boxing’s bumper ‘A New Dawn’ show.

The show features a host of the Black Country’s favourite fighters.

Rowley Regis’ two-time British Title Challenger, Jason Welborn, now features alongside Stourbridge’s former Midlands Area Welterweight Champion, Steven Pearce, and Stafford’s recently crowned British Bronze Masters Welterweight Champion, Rob Hunt.

 

Welshpool ticket-seller, Warren Sinden, and Stoke’s highly-rated Josh McLaren also feature.

Two boxers – Wolverhampton’s Ben Wilkes and Burton Tom Shaw – make their ring return after lengthy absences whilst Wolverhampton’s Sid Bowater is set to make his professional debut.

“It’s shaping up to be a big show,” Manager, Errol Johnson, told www.uko-boxing.com . “It’s called ‘A New Dawn’ because we have at least one fighter making his debut and we also have two boxers in Tom Shaw and Ben Wilkes, making their long anticipated ring returns.

 

“It’s a big show and one that I’m really looking forward to.”

Tickets, priced at £30 and £60 Ringside, are available from Walsall Town Hall Box Office on 0845 111 2900.