BBN Exclusive - First Team Boxers get Vegas Chance by Tom Podmore Oct 31st 2007

Unbeaten Black Country pair Dean Harrison and Martin Gethin get the biggest opportunity of their fledgling careers when they box on the famed settings of the Las Vegas strip on December 7. The Paul (PJ) Rowson-promoted, Errol Johnson-trained light-welterweights are likely to box over six or eight rounds against Mexican opponents at the MGM Grand in the small hours of December 8 (UK time). Walsall's Gethin, 10-0-1 (4), holds the Midland Area lightweight strap and is a former holder of the British Masters title at light-welterweight. The 23-year-old gets this chance on the back of a three-round stoppage of Darren Broomhall in Birmingham earlier this month. The only blemish on Martin's eleven-fight record is a controversial draw with Wolverhampton puncher Carl Allen – a man he'd previously defeated. However, the youngest of the three fighting Gethin brothers looked a clear winner in their six-round rematch earlier this year, even if the referee didn't share the same opinion. Twenty-four-year old Harrison, 9-0 (1), recently outscored Ukrainian war-horse Rakhim Mingaleev in his home-city of Wolverhampton last Thursday and gets to live-out one of his dreams in only his tenth paid fight. Well-schooled Harrison is being touted as a future world champion after measured performances that have seen him drop only two sessions in over 40 paid rounds. Promoter PJ Rowson, who's been putting on well-matched cards since his debut show in the early part of 2006, said: "We are grateful for this opportunity for two of our brightest hopes to be fighting in Las Vegas on this monumental" "Both lads are the brightest ten-stone boxers in the Midlands and they have a huge chance to make a name for themselves on this international stage in America. "Dean, one of the most skilful fighters in the Midlands, did some training with Hatton and his team in Manchester before his last fight and can make more waves with the whole of the boxing world watching. "Martin has power in both hands and has an all-action style that will endear him to the US fight public. He won't let this chance go begging and hopes to raise his profile in the process." The Golden Boy-promoted bill will be the culmination of an exiting two weeks for promoters Rowson and Johnson – the number one promotional outfit in the Midlands. The Black Country pair, who put on 17 shows last season and had 11 champions at their Wednesbury gym, promote three cards in three nights at the end of November and start of December. The second card (Friday, November 30) is still to be finalised, but they promote a British Masters light-heavyweight fight involving Jonjo Finnegan against Jamie Ambler in Burton on Thursday, November 29. Steve Bendall, Duane Parker and Jack Perry also box. The final card (Saturday, December 1) sees two title fights at the Oakengates Theatre, Telford. Mark Lloyd, 9-0 (1), makes the first defence of his International Masters title against Martin Marshall, Sunderland, and unbeaten Tristan Davies, 11-0 (0), fights for the vacant British Masters title at ten-stone. Telford's Shaun Walton meets Birmingham's Anthony Hanna, who will reach a milestone of 100 paid fights at the Oakengates Theatre. Exciting times ahead for the Midlands and the Black Country.

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