Commonwealth Championship Update by British Boxing Jul 2nd 2008

A useful insight into what is happening with the Commonwealth titles at all weights. HEAVYWEIGHT Matt Skelton (England) This Division remains inactive while Champion Matt Skelton of England awaits his European Title challenge which has been delayed due to illness. CRUISERWEIGHT Troy Ross (Canada) Champion Troy Ross of Canada has failed to make any defence since winning the Title on the 19th March 2007 and this Title will almost certainly be declared vacant if it has not been defended by the 31st October this year. LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT Dean Francis (England) Dean Francis of England successfully the Commonwealth Championship when he defeated British Champion Tony Oakey on the 13th June 2008 in England when the Referee stopped the contest in Round 9. Francis becomes now British and Commonwealth Champion. SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT (Vacant) Following postponement and the withdrawal of mandatory contender Charles Adamu of Ghana through injury fellow mandatory contender Jermain Mackey of the Bahamas will face Ghanaian based Nigerian Michael Gbenga or fellow Bahamian Elkenu Saunders on the 19th July 2008 in the Bahamas. The winner will be required to defend in due course against Charles Adamu once his fitness to box has been confirmed. MIDDLEWEIGHT Darren Barker (England) Champion Darren Barker of England is expected to make a defence against a contender to be confirmed at the River Cree Resort Edmunton Canada on August 15th. LIGHT MIDDLEWEIGHT Bradley Pryce (Wales) Champion Bradley Pryce of Wales made a voluntary defence against Marcus Portman in Birmingham, England on the 21st June 2008 winning when the referee stopped the contest in Round 6. Pryce is now mandated to make a defence against on the listed challengers by 31st December 2008 at risk of the Title being declared vacant. WELTERWEIGHT Craig Watson (England) Champion Craig Watson of England made a voluntary defence against Matthew Hatton also of England in Manchester, England on the 24th May 2008 winning on points and will now be required to defend against Philip Kotey of Ghana by the 31st December 2008. This requirement may be subject to a separate agreement in which Watson will be permitted to make a further voluntary defence. LIGHT WELTERWEIGHT Ajose Olusegan (Nigeria) Champion Ajose Olusegan of Nigeria has the standard defence commitment to defend by the 31st December 2008. Emmanuel Lartei Lartey of Ghana will box Isaac Quartey also of Ghana in a Final Eliminator in Accra in July. LIGHTWEIGHT Amir Khan (England) Champion Amir Khan of England made a voluntary defence against Michael Gomez also of England at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham on the 21st June 2008 winning by referee stoppage in Round 5. Khan will now be required to make a defence against one of the listed challengers by the 31st December 2008. SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT Kevin Mitchell (England) Champion Kevin Mitchell of England is required to defend against mandatory challenger Yakubu Amidu of Ghana by the 31st December 2008 and this contest will be put out for negotiations/purse offers by the Hon. Secretary shortly. FEATHERWEIGHT Paul Truscott (England) Paul Truscott of England defeated mandatory contender Osumanu Akaba of Ghana on the 9th May 2008 in England to win the vacant Championship. The new Champion will be required to defend against one of the listed contenders by the 31st December 2008. SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT Anyetei Laryea (Ghana) Champion Anyetei Laryea of Ghana is required to make a defence against any of the listed contenders by the 31st December 2008 at the risk of the Title being declared vacant. McBute Sinyabi of South Africa has been mentioned as a possible challenger. BANTAMWEIGHT Jason Booth (England) Champion Jason Booth of England has a standard defence commitment to defend against one of the listed contenders by 31st December 2008. SUPER FLYWEIGHT (Vacant) Lee Haskins of England will box Colina Johnson of Ghana for the inaugural Super Flyweight Championship in Dagenham, England on the 4th July 2008 FLYWEIGHT (Vacant) This Championship is currently vacant with only four (4) listed contenders one (1) from England and three (3) from South Africa. With the recent appointment of Dr. Peter Ngatane, a former Director of the Commonwealth Boxing Council to the position of Chairman of Boxing South Africa it is to be hoped that at least one of the three South African challengers will feature in a match for the vacant Championship. OTHER GENERAL INFORMATION The Hon. Secretary has written to the new Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat, His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma by way of introduction. The Annual General Meeting of the Commonwealth Boxing Council is scheduled to take place on the 19th November 2008 at the Headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat at Marlborough House, Pall Mall, London. The Hon. Secretary has written a congratulatory letter to Dr. Peter Ngatane on his appointment as Chairman of Boxing South Africa. Dr. Ngatane has responded cordially and it is to be hoped that as a consequence we can look forward to the greater involvement of South African boxers in challenging for Commonwealth Championships. South Africa is one of the principal boxing nations, in terms of number of boxers and frequency of promotions, anywhere in the Commonwealth. It is always good to see former Commonwealth Champions winning and successfully defended a major World Championship and our congratulations go to IBF Junior Featherweight Champion Steve Molitor of Canada and Bantamweight Champion Joseph Agbeko of Ghana for their recent successes. Commiserations also to former Commonwealth Champions Clinton Woods of England who was recently deposed as IBF Champion and Junior Witter also of England who was recently beaten in a WBC Light Welterweight Championship defence. Both boxers achieved distinction in their reigns as World Champions.

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