Leeds lads all hungry for title success by Paul Concannon Jan 31st 2008

Leeds light-middleweight prospect Danny Reynolds goes gunning for his first title opportunity in March. The undefeated southpaw, known for his trademark combination punching, will face off against Doncaster's experienced Jason Rushton. The two Yorkshire lads will joust for the Central Area belt, on a Frank Maloney show at a date and venue to be confirmed. “He's a fair opponent, a fit lad with experience,” explained Danny. “I'm ticking over in the gym, working hard and the weight's nice and steady, I'm not too fat,” he joked, a reference to his wont of piling on a few pounds between bouts. The Rushton fight will be Reynolds' first ten rounder and represents a step up in class against an experienced opponent. Victory will edge the exciting Leeds fighter closer to his ultimate goal of a British title bout further down the line. Danny Wallace is another Leeds fighter with the Lonsdale belt in mind. The hard-hitting super- bantam marks time with a six rounder on the undercard of Rendall Munroe's European title fight with Kiko Martinez in Nottingham on March 8th. “There's no opponent just yet, but I will fight anyone – at this stage, on the verge of a title shot, I have to be confident I can beat anyone,” explained Wallace. Manager Frank Maloney agrees, “I'll be looking to step him up in class; I have spoken to the board about getting him a British title shot, or maybe a crack at the English champion next time out,” he told us. A shot at Esham Pickering's British title is a prospect that Wallace considers with relish, “You have to go back to the Michael Hunter fight to see Esham at anywhere close to his prime. “He's been looking over the hill recently. Esham's been a good fighter but was caught easily by (Sean) Hughes in both of their fights, and if Hughes and (Bernard) Dunne were punchers I think both of them would have stopped him. To be honest, I think if Pickering doesn't realise he's faded, he's probably telling himself porkys – in my mind whoever he fights next for the title will likely beat him, and that's not meant to be disrespectful – I just feel he's slowing down,” clarified Danny. With the domestic super bantamweight scene hardly awash with top-flight talent, Wallace feels he is perfectly poised to make some sort of title splash in 2008. “I think the British super-bantam scene isn't the strongest division at the moment. If you look at super-featherweight you have our Carl (Danny's brother Carl Johanneson), Alex Arthur, Kevin Mitchell, Ricky Burns, Stephen Foster, but at super bantamweight there's only really Rendall Munroe, Pickering and Mark Moran and he (Moran) has come back after a few years out; none of them are really punchers either,” added Wallace. An impressive win in Nottingham will do the Leeds fighter's title chances the power of good in 2008, a fact acknowledged by Wallace, “A good win could get me a fight with Pickering, and if that fight come off I'll be over the moon!” Leeds' British super-featherweight champion Carl Johanneson confirmed he is fit, healthy, and over the back injury that scuppered his British title defence and challenge for the Commonwealth belt against West Ham's undefeated Kevin Mitchell earlier in January. The bout now takes place on the David Haye - Enzo Maccarinelli undercard at London's O2 Arena on March 8th but only for Carl's Lonsdale belt. “Training is going good, I'm just looking forward to the fight,” said Johanneson. Not one for predictions or hyperbole, he added, “I'm just going to put it on him, make him fight my fight. He's been popping off a bit on the Internet, but that doesn't faze me at all. The fans like to see an exciting fight, and I gave them just that when I beat Michael Gomez (back in October of 2007), and it's going to be another exciting fight against Mitchell. I want to bring that Commonwealth title back to Leeds.” Carl is scheduled to travel to Portugal in the next few days for a fortnight's intensive training with manager Frank Maloney, before finalising his preparation back in Leeds with both Maloney and trainer Martin Williams. “I'm looking forward to this fight,” said Maloney. “Mitchell and his camp have been saying some horrible things about Carl's injury. “I think they've underestimated Carl and on March 8th they'll pay for that arrogance in the ring.”

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