Birmingham boxing royalty out in force by Tom Podmore Nov 13th 2007

Birmingham's finest are to be present for Pugilist Promotions' (former pro bantamweight Jon Pegg and Chelmsley Wood ABC head honcho John Costello) debut show at the Custard Factory on Sunday afternoon (November 18). Hall Green ABC's World amateur champion Frankie Gavin, who's won 100 of 121 amateur outings, British middleweight champion Wayne Elcock, 18-2 (8), and British middleweight title contender Matthew Macklin, 20-2 (16), are all confirmed to be in attendance at the show in Birmingham city centre. Undefeated Commonwealth lightweight champion Amir Khan, who defends his belt against former world title challenger Graham Earl in his hometown of Bolton on December 8, may also make a surprise guest appearance. But it's the three Brummies, all of whom are making national headlines at the moment, that bring the glamour to proceedings. Yardley lightweight Gavin, 22, became the first Englishman to capture gold at a World Championships and is expected to add an Olympic medal to his collection in Beijing next year. The Brummie southpaw scalped Russia's former European, World and Olympic champion Alexei Tishchenko on the way to his famous gold medal win. Impressively skilful Tishchenko hadn't sampled the bitter taste of defeat for over four years, interestingly, and was also the undisputed world number-one at nine-stone-nine. 33-year-old Shard End middleweight Elcock won the Lonsdale belt with a unanimous points decision over two-time world title challenger Howard Eastman in September and meets unbeaten German-based Armenian Arthur Abraham for the IBF title in Basle, Switzerland, on December 8. Solihull puncher Macklin, 25, is fast closing on a shot at the British title at middleweight and the former Irish champion continues his advance with an eight-rounder in Dublin on December 15. He is expected to fight in Birmingham in the New Year. The debut promotional show from the Chelmsley Wood-based pair promises to be a unique and exciting event. Even though it will be a separate card – in the eyes of the BBBofC at least – for the same ticket price you'll get to see thirteen amateur contests involving the impressive stable from Chelmsley Wood ABC and four professional bouts involving fighters trained by former WBC world champ Riche Woodhall. Seventeen professional (D Mitchell, Thomas Costello, Eddie McIntosh, Tommy Owens) and amateur scraps for a bargain price of £30 at the Rojac Building in Digbeth. The doors open at 1pm for a 1.30pm start. After the amateur action has concluded – approximately 4pm – there will be a one-hour break and then the professional action will swing into action at around five. Some of the talented amateur boxers on the show include (all home boxers from Chelmsley Wood Amateur Boxing Club, by the way): Thirteen-year-old Ryan Kelly (eleven contests, eight wins, three losses), who is the Junior Midland ABA champion at 40kg. Sixteen-year-old Antonio Counihan (35 contests, 27 wins, eight losses), a tall 57kg stylist. He is down to box a Young England international. Fifteen-year-old Ashley Silver, unbeaten, promising prospect at 56kg (seven contests, seven wins). Unbeaten 37kg brothers Tion, 12, (two contests, two wins) and Cori Gibbs, 14, (two contests, two wins). Exciting fifteen-year-old Jordan Clayton (one contest, one win), who boxes at 64kg. Joe Costello, the 13-year-old European 43kg Cadet champ (18 contests, 17 wins, one loss – defeat avenged), and Francis Bennett (20 contests, 14 wins, six losses) were originally down to box, but are fighting for England in a few weeks and had to pull out. A limited amount of tickets are still available from Jon Pegg on 07939-007588 or John Costello on 07949-812948.

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