CRUZ MISSILE MAKES CARDIFF SHOW EVEN MORE EXPLOSIVE
28.10.16

CRUZ MISSILE MAKES CARDIFF SHOW EVEN MORE EXPLOSIVE

By Frank Warren

Orlando Cruz

Those already in possession of a ticket for our nigh-on sold out promotion at the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena on November 26 have really hit the jackpot.

The show was originally conceived as a showcase for some epic British title action, with home favourite Liam Williams squaring off against the quick-footed stylist Ahmet Patterson in a battle of the unbeaten super welterweights, as well as Tommy Langford‘s mandatory challenge for the middleweight belt that was held by Chris Eubank jnr.

Well, there’s not much left to be said about Eubank because we all know how debilitating tennis elbow can be…

Sam Sheedy, who signed up willingly at short notice to face Langford for the now vacant title on the original date of October 22, has now had an additional month to prepare so we should be in for a real hard-fought, nip and tuck battle for the coveted belt.

Williams and Langford will account for the majority of the raucous support inside the arena on the night as they have both personally sold an incredible amount of tickets, which is testament to their development as fighters and ever-increasing popularity.

If you aren’t able to lay your hands on any of the few remaining tickets then I strongly suggest jumping aboard the BoxNation bandwagon because this is now also a night of double world title action.

The boxing world is already buzzing with the news that ‘Turbo’ Terry Flanagan is to make the fourth defence of  his WBO lightweight title against the pioneering Puerto Rican Orlando Cruz – the fight game’s first openly gay boxer – and WBO middleweight kingpin Billy Joe Saunders makes it a great world title double header with his match-up against Russian Artur Akovo before his anticipated blockbuster with either Canelo Alvarez or Gennady Golovkin next year.

There is further local flavour with Craig Evans challenging for the WBO European title held by Liverpool’s Tom Stalker. Hopefully it will be third time lucky when it comes to declaring a winner because both men have been rightfully frustrated by the two previous meetings being called as draws.

It is always a pain in the backside for all concerned when you have to push a show back, but I am sure you will agree with me when I say this one will be well worth the wait.

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Jamie Conlan and Paddy Barnes

BoxNation viewers are in for a double treat next week.

Over the course of Saturday evening on November 5 we are broadcasting our return to the fighting city of Belfast for a fantastic show headlined by the professional debut of triple Olympian Paddy Barnes and the always entertaining Jamie Conlan.

It will be an important stepping stone for Jamie and one he mustn’t trip up on because the stakes are high after we steered him into position for a final eliminator for a shot at the WBO super flyweight title.

When we are done in Belfast we head to the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas for the return to the ring of Manny Pacquiao to challenge Jessie Vargas for the WBO world welterweight title. Another great coup for the Channel of Champions.

Pacquiao- v Vargas

It should be a fascinating contest between the old guard and the new order and it is one I am delighted we are able to bring live and exclusive to BoxNation subscribers.

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Handheld brain scanners have been in the news recently and the question has been asked – could they be used in boxing?

The Infrascanners are being trialled by London’s Air Ambulance Service for head trauma incidents, with the devices reported to have an accuracy of 90 per cent in detecting brain clots and bleeds before symptoms such as headaches develop.

If the trial is deemed a success I would be fully supportive of the innovation being introduced to boxing. In fact, I would advocate their use both before and after bouts.

Any such advance in boxer safety would be fantastic and if we can speedily ensure that every fighter who enters the ring is in full health, then so much the better.

The British Boxing Board of Control is widely recognised as having the most stringent medical provisions already in place, but if it is possible to make the boxing ring a safer place then I am all for it.

Tomorrow in Hubbard’s Cupboard: Who will win the Great British Box-Off?

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