MTK Global has announced three, highly competitive fight cards for its return to boxing after the intervention of the Covid-19 Pandemic. All three events will be held behind closed doors at the LS-LIVE in Wakefield, in keeping with current regulations.
The first show takes place on August 11, as former IBF super-featherweight title challenger Jono Carroll (18-1-1, 4 KOs) faces steely veteran Maxi Hughes (20-5-2, 4 KOs).
On the undercard, Belfast 140lbs hope Sean McComb (10-0, 5 KOs) meets former Southern Area champion Siar Ozgul (15-4, 3 KOs); unbeaten super-lightweight Craig MacIntyre (11-0-1, 4 KOs) takes on hard-hitting Darren Surtees (12-1, 8 KOs); Sahir Iqbal (7-0, 1 KO) and Maredudd Thomas (11-0, 2 KOs) lock horns for the WBC Youth welterweight crown while Dublin 140lbs prospect Pierce O’Leary (4-0, 1 KO) steps up in class against fellow unbeaten Harry Limburn (6-0, 0 KOs).
In the second event on August 25, unbeaten Lewis Crocker (11-0, 6 KOs) headlines against Southern Area champion Louis Greene (12-1, 7 KOs) for the vacant WBO European welterweight title.
A strong supporting cast sees British and Commonwealth bantamweight king Lee McGregor (8-0, 6 KOs) face Southern Area super-bantamweight champion Ryan Walker (11-1, 2 KOs) at 122lbs; undefeated Irish lightweight champion Gary Cully (10-0, 5 KOs) meet Welsh champion Kieran Gething (9-2-2, 2 KOs) at 140lbs plus Blane Hyland (3-0) and debutant James McGivern against selected opposition.
The final show on September 1 is led by the British and Commonwealth super-lightweight title fight between gifted challenger Akeem Ennis Brown (13-0, 1 KO) and reigning British champ Philip Bowes (20-3 3 KOs).
On the undercard, Dan Azeez (11-0, 7 KOs) defends his English light-heavyweight title against Andre Sterling (11-2, 4 KOs) while Darren Tetley (20-1, 9 KOs) fights Liam Taylor (21-1-1, 10 KOs) in a British 147lbs title eliminator. Also on the show, super-middle Padraig McCrory (10-0, 4 KOs) meets Mickey Ellison (12-2, 4 KOs) while Elliot Whale (2-0, 0 KOs) faces fellow unbeaten Corey McCulloch (4-0, 0 KOs).
The three cards will be broadcast in the US on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank and worldwide on IFL TV.
MTK Global Chief Strategy Officer Paul Gibson said: “It feels good to finally be able to announce the return of MTK Fight Nights with these three exciting shows. There are a lot of unique challenges to pulling a card together in the current climate but these fifteen matches guarantee some cracking fights.
“The remit was to make as many quality 50-50s as possible and the fact we’ve been restricted to matching domestically only adds to intrigue of the contests. It’ll be action from first bell to last.”