Tonight, Sky Sports will be hoping that the main event is better than some of the
recent ones that have been on show. As a safeguard there is stacks of talent on the
undercard.
The main event is between the holder Jason “2 Smooth” Booth 34-5 (14) and Matthew Marsh 13-1 (1) for the British super bantamweight title. Booth is now 32 years old and after a few years in the wilderness due to personal problems is back to his best.
Marsh has also held the British title until losing it on the scales. Marsh is a likeable chap with a busy style and a big heart and will be desperate to regain his title. After being stopped by Derry Matthews in eleven rounds in 2007, has won 5 straight against some good opposition such as a faded Esham Pickering, Rocky Dean and Josh Wale.
Booth is a nice boxer with good movement and a lovely variety to his punching. After losing to Ian Napa in 2007, Booth rededicated himself to the sport and has looked better as each bout passes. He has beaten Matthew Edmonds, Lante Addy and Sean Hughes for the Commonwealth bantamweight title before moving up to super bantam and defeating Mark Moran, Rocky Dean and most recently Michael hunter for the British title.
A good bout should ensue tonight although neither fighter has a big dig. Marsh will definitely come to fight and will do his best for every second but this writer feels that Booth will be a level or two above him. The early rounds may be close but I feel Booth will step it up and either stop Marsh around the 9th or 10th or win a clear decision. I do not feel Booth will slip up now as he has a mooted European shot if he keeps winning.
Carl Johanneson 27-4 (19) is a big puncher with certain vulnerabilities of his own. He has been out of the ring since losing his British super featherweight title to Kevin Mitchell nearly two years ago. Johanneson is coming up to 32 years old so this could be his final chance to take a run up to domestic or higher honours. He should have too much for opponent Youssef Al Hamidi 6-23-2 (1) but it will be interesting to see what Johanneson has left. There are very few British fighters that are as exciting
Unlikely to be televised but a potential firecracker bout is at welterweight when popular Young Mutley 27-5 (13) takes on Scott Woolford 10-4 (3). Mutley look finished a year ago but fought well in the recent Prizefighter tournament whilst Woolford didn’t give an inch when stopping Scott Haywood in 6 rounds last time out. Plenty of punches will be thrown and it is tough to pick a winner in this one.
Martin Concepcion 15-6 (10) takes on Kevin Hammond 8-1-1 (4) for the Midlands Area light middleweight crown. Concepcion is a hit or be hit operator so nothing can be guaranteed. The winner of this bout gets the eighth and final berth in the upcoming Prizefighter light middleweight tournament at the end of this month.
At super flyweight unbeaten Paul Edwards 5-0 (1) takes on Andy Bell 11-4 (3). There are high hopes for the 23 year old Edwards but this is a big jump in class. Bell is a recent British champion and lost the title to Lee Haskins in his last bout. That was 15 months ago so ring rust may be a problem.
By JIMMY LAST (EDITOR)
