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An interesting match for the new champion would be Dazzo Williams, who last Saturday defended his British Featherweight title against former champion Jamie McKeever. McKeever was always game but Williams, enjoying a resurgence of his short career as he approaches 30, boxed well to win the majority of rounds for most observers. Referee Ian John-Lewis had it seven rounds to four for the champion, with one even, which was a fair reflection of McKeever's effort against William's skill and effective punching.
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The highlight of the undercard is a potentially entertaining clash for the WBU middleweight title between holder Lawrence Murphy, who last time out beat Wayne Elcock to win the strap, and Anthony Farnell, the man from whom Elcock won the title last April. Following losses to Takaloo, Ruben Groenewald and Elcock, Farnell has found himself in danger of slipping into the journeyman role, but his aggression and strength always make his matches interesting.
Murphy is something of an enigma. Having progressed slowly to a 13-0-1 record since his debut in early 1998, he found himself in against Elcock clear of the hand injuries that had plagued his career to that point. With a three inch height advantage and a mix of styles which naturally exaggerates this difference, Murphy should use his strong boxing skills, built during an accomplished amateur career, to outbox the snarling Farnell. However, in a 12-round contest of decent national-level boxer-puncher versus belligerent brawler, each should give the other the opportunity to do some effective work and this match promises to be a better watch than the headline bout
Brian Magee's next opponent will be Nordin Ben-Salah, or Fighting Nordin as the Dutch puncher is known. The two will duke it out for Magee's IBO super-middleweight belt and Nordin's WBA International title on the 17th of next month in Belfast. On the same bill, Stockwell light-middle Richard Williams gets the chance to avenge his June 2003 defeat to underrated Argentinean Sergio Gabriel Martinez.
Glencoffe Johnson's manager, Henry Foster, is balking at Showtime's proposed August date for a match with Joe Calzaghe. Foster's opinion is that this is too long out of the ring for both fighters. Certainly neither have the time to hang around.
Carl Froch's March 12th challenge for Tony Dodson's British super-middle crown is on hold after Dodson pulled out with a rib injury. Froch is still looking for a replacement opponent.
Sad news from Belfast, where the career of former British light-welter and current WBU welter champion Eamonn Magee is in serious danger of being over following an assault on him last Saturday night. Magee, the only man to drop Ricky Hatton to date, was dragged from his car and attacked by a group of men. He suffered a punctured lung and underwent emergency surgery on his legs and chest. Magee is a true soldier of boxing, and we wish him luck in his recovery from this cowardly attack.