Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn continue to stage the biggest boxing events in recent years – with the help of Turki Al-Alshikh, but Warren has certainly not forgotten about his responsibilities to help boxing in the United Kingdom – announcing an additional event for the end of next month that is a little closer to home.
Fresh from the announcement of a third ‘Magnificent Seven’ card in Birmingham, Queensberry have confirmed that they will return to Belfast to stage a ‘Belfast Brawl’ , headlined by up-and-coming super-lightweight Pierce O’Leary (14-0) – who defends his WBC international title against Darragh Foley (22-5-1).
O’Leary secured a career-best win over Hovhannes Martirosyan (16-0) last time out, which saw him break into the top 15 in the WBC rankings. Meanwhile, Foley offered a spirited performance against Jack Catterall in his most recent appearance but ultimately lost a wide unanimous-decision, that contest coming just two months after he knocked out Robbie Davies Jr. in Liverpool.
In the co-main event, Belfast native Conor Quinn (9-0-1) will challenge English flyweight champion Conner Kelsall (11-0) for the vacant Commonwealth title, after a host of Warren’s new signings appear on the undercard, including highly-rated Cuban Jadier Herrera (14-0), Liverpudlian bantamweight knockout artist Jack Turner (6-0) and much-lauded Cork amateur Steven Cairns.
Upon the official announcement of the bill, Frank Warren declared that there will also be a plethora of local talent on the card, whilst revealing his excitement at the opportunity to witness the latest members of his stable on their respective Queensberry debuts.
“I am very much looking forward to returning to Belfast where, most recently, we staged hugely successful shows headlined by Carl Frampton,
“I am very happy to be going back and showcasing the talents of Queensberry’s Irish contingent, headed up by Conor Quinn and Pierce O’Leary, with both in big fights and Conor in what should be a classic collision with the English champion, the highly-rated Conner Kelsall.
“There will be lots of local talent on the card – including a number of our new signings – and I am particularly looking forward to seeing Steven Cairns in action for the first time under the Queensberry banner, plus Jack Turner, who comes with an already formidable reputation.
As far as Belfast fighters are concerned, Conor Quinn will be joined by Colm Murphy (11-0) – who fights Scotland’s Jack Turner (6-1) in the featherweight division, as well as undefeated local southpaw James McGivern (8-0), who competes at lightweight against Rashid Omar (6-0).
The event will go ahead live on TNT Sports on Friday June 28th at the SSE Arena – a venue that Frank Warren and Queensberry have not staged a card since June 2018 – where Michael Conlan headlined against Adeilson Dos Santos and Jack Catterall defeated Tyrone McKenna by a close unanimous-decision in the co-main event.
The likes of Sunny Edwards, Lewis Crocker, Padraig McCrory and Gary Cully also appeared on that bill, and Warren will be hoping that his current prospects on his latest Belfast card can emulate a similar level of success to those names on the previous one.
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