GROVES OUT OF STIEGLITZ WORLD TITLE CHALLENGE

George Groves has withdrawn from his WBO World Super-Middleweight title fight against champion Robert Stieglitz due to an injury sustained in his Cyprus training camp.

Groves, the current British and Commonwealth Champion, was schedule to face Russian Stieglitz on May 5th in Germany in his first challenge for a world title.

Promoter Frank Warren said; "I am bitterly disappointment for George as I was convinced he would have beaten Steiglitz and brought the WBO Super-Middleweight title back to it's spiritual home. Once George is fit a new date will be rescheduled as George is the mandatory challenger."

Hearn says Corley win could spark JMM clash in July

Paul McCloskey’s May 5 clash with DeMarcus Corley live on Sky Sports has taken a new twist after he was named as a possible opponent for Juan Manuel Marquez’s July 14 fight in Texas.

The WBO interim light welterweight champion takes over Cowboys Stadium that night and the four-weight king has been linked with a fight with Dudey after his promoter suggested his preference for a southpaw opponent.

McCloskey faces the former WBO champ ‘Chop Chop’ Corley on May 5 at the King’s Hall in Belfast in a huge night for boxing for the city, with the all-Irish middleweight Betfair Prizefighter, Martin Lindsay and Jamie Conlan all in action, and now McCloskey’s promoter Eddie Hearn says the show has taken on even greater significance with the former unbeaten European champion in the running for a shot at the pound-for-pound Mexican great.

“Paul’s name has been mentioned by JMM’s team in the last week and I reached out to Top Rank yesterday to let them know that we’d love the fight,” said Hearn. “I think we are in with a decent chance but a convincing win against Corley in front of a packed King’s Hall crowd would strengthen our case for a July clash with Marquez.”

McCloskey added: “It’s an honour to be linked with a showdown with Juan Manuel and it’s a dream fight for me. May 5 has always been a pivotal night for me as I aim to get back into World title contention, and this news has made a huge occasion even bigger.”

Tickets priced at £30 (unreserved), £40 (reserved balcony or unreserved floor), £60 (outer-ringside) and £100 (ringside) are available from Ticketmaster on 0844 277 4455 – UK/Northern Ireland customers, 0818 719 300 – Republic of Ireland customers and at www.ticketmaster.ie

VIP packages priced £150 are available from Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900 and at www.matchroomboxing.com

Paul McCloskey’s fans can also buy their tickets at the prices above from Eurospar Dungiven and any EuroXchange outlet.

CROLLA WANTS LONSDALE BELT BEFORE WORLD GLORY

ANTHONY CROLLA has targeted winning a Lonsdale belt outright before becoming world lightweight champion.

The popular Mancunian makes the second defence of his British crown against Derry Mathews (29-6-1) at Oldham Sports Centre on Saturday night (April 21).

If Crolla (23-2) beats his Liverpool rival he’ll be just one notch away from claiming a Lonsdale belt for keeps.

Hatton Promotions star Crolla, 25, said: “The Lonsdale belt is my absolute pride and joy. It means the world to me and my family are so proud of it.

“To have one for keeps on the mantel piece means the world to me. I always said when I came into boxing it was my ambition to win a Lonsdale belt.

“I boxed on an amateur show when I was a kid and saw one. Ever since those it has been a target.”

Crolla knows the world title scene is wide open. The WBA belt is vacant and Scot Ricky Burns is among the other champions.

Anthony added: “I am not distracted by talk of world title fights because the fight I am preparing for is the most important.

“If the next one goes wrong against Mathews talk of European and world title fights down the line go out of the window.”

Other Contests: Jon Lewis Dickinson v Matty Askin (10x3 cruiserweight), Stephen Foster Jr v Jose Antonio Elizabeth (6x3 super-featherweight), Jazza Dickins v Yuri Voronin (6x3 super-bantamweight), Lucas Brown v Paul Butlin (6 rounds heavyweight), Adam Little v Chris Jenkinson (6x3 welterweight), Tommy Stubbs v Gavin Reid (4x3 bantamweight), Ryan Doyle v Selected Opponent (4x3 featherweight).

Boxing starts at 6.15pm and tickets are on sale. They are priced at £35 general admission, £55 floor seating, £75 ringside and £100 VIP Ringside. You can buy by calling the Hatton Box Office 01925 755 222, Ticketmaster 0844 847 2500, Ticketline 0844 888 9991, any boxer on the bill or online www.hattonboxing.com