Tag: newport

ANGELO DRAGONE

Post author By f/s
Post date August 20, 2019

“Winning is everything for me. There is no room for second place in boxing. People only see you fight, they don’t see the sacrifices I make during my camps so there is no better feeling for me than getting my hand raised.”

FIGHT SCENE CATCH UP WITH ANGELO DRAGONE

The tale of the Italian Welsh boxer is hardly an uncommon one, with prior world champions such as Enzo Maccarinelli and the great Joe Calzaghe making a large indent on the sport. Angelo Dragone, ‘The Italian Stallion’, will look to follow in the footsteps of these great fighters and leave his own mark on the sport.

Dragone had always been a working man prior to his career in boxing, having worked as a milkman for family business Nigel’s Dairy. While his career has changed, the aims remain the same. Providing for his family and securing the future of his two children is still the main priority. Dragone’s progression through the pro ranks has meant that the milkman business has been put on hold in favour of pursuing a potentially fruitful boxing career.

After a relatively short amateur career of just 24 fights, Dragone turned over to the pro ranks in August 2018 at the age of 28 and has fought five times since, maintaining a 5-1-0 record. Dragone has put in dominant performances and is showing himself to be a level above his current opposition. The first knockout is surely imminent!

“With all of my fights so far I’ve stepped up each time. I feel like I’m improving fight by fight and haven’t put a foot wrong yet. I’m happy with my progress and the improvements are showing in and out of the ring.”

The Carmarthen based fighter now trains with head trainer and manager Richie Garner in Llanelli, and Swansea. The Welshman operates on an intensive schedule, training in the gym four days a week from the early hours of the morning. Dragone is no stranger to the early morning start though, having been conditioned for this from his life as a milkman. No breaks are allowed on the weekends either which are filled with road running and sparring which has seen granted Dragone experience against many top Welsh prospects including Kieran Gething, Rhys Edwards, and even British and recently crowned Commonwealth champion Chris Jenkins.

Richie Garner: ‘It was a year ago this month that Angelo made his debut. Back then he was a very raw boxer with a heart filled with dreams of being a Welsh Champion.

For the past year, Angelo has worked tirelessly to realise his dream and push forward to achieve it.

He has improved immensely, and has such great energy and enthusiasm

We don’t take any opponents lightly, I am hoping Angelo will bring the intensity he can’t cope with.

We have been sparring Newport, Cardiff and even the prestigious Peacock Gym in London to make this happen. Gary Lockett has offered the most sparring and Rhys Edwards has been an invaluable asset for us in sparring.

Angelo is a popular fighter and we are training with the assistance of Jason who runs Jack To A King Boxing Club in Swansea, in addition to the Robert Davies Gym, Llanelli offering different facilities. We get the best of both worlds!

We have a great Team with lots of support. It’s a great bill. The ticket allocation has almost gone! If people want to see It, they will need to get in touch ASAP!’

“Winning is everything for me, there is no room for second place in boxing. People only see you fight, they don’t see the sacrifices I make during my camps so there is no better feeling for me than getting my hand raised.”

Dragone has displayed a preference to fight on the front foot and with a tight guard and is known for his high punch output and quick combinations. The speed and variety of his combinations have become a hallmark of Dragone’s style, as well his likening for a lead uppercut.

As would be expected, Dragone is a big fan of fellow Welshman Joe Calzaghe and credits him for putting Welsh boxing on the map. Dragone is also a fan of Ricky Hatton due to his high octane and front foot style of boxing.

“Calzaghe put Wales on the world map for me. His high work rate, variety and skill was unreal. I love Ricky as well for his come forward aggressive style and body punching and that he’s just so down to earth.”

While maintaining a 5-1-0 record, Dragone is looking to put a signature win on his record.

“I take one fight at a time and don’t look that far ahead. I want to just keep winning and moving forward in boxing and life”

Buy tickets for Angelo’s next fight HERE

DANIEL BARTON

Post author By f/s
Post date June 17, 2019

“Myself and a couple others started going along to the training and when I sparred for the first time I loved it, and everything snowballed from there. Where some at a young age took a different path, I chose boxing.”

Boxing is a discipline that teaches its combatants to persevere through the most treacherous roads, whether that be inside or outside the ring. It’s a sport that will weed out the quitters in an instant and leave the spotlight for the fighters who are willing to go through anything to have their arm raised in victory. In some ways boxing is a cruel and ruthless sport, but in others it’s a test of one’s courage and strength that will one day bring them to the top of the world.

For Undefeated Super-Middleweight Daniel Barton (3-0-1), boxing has been a passion which has helped him through battles inside and outside the squared circle.

Barton made his debut back in April 2017 in his native Newport and won in emphatic fashion with a TKO victory. After a promising start to his professional campaign with three wins and one closely contested draw, Barton suffered a period of ill health with sepsis/pneumonia and was forced to put his career on hold.

“It’s been a long road to recovery for me but I’ve no doubt ill be back bigger and better. All I can say is thank you to every one of my fans who’ve shown support.”

During an incredibly difficult time for Barton he was able to reminisce to the time where it all began, and where his road to today started.

“When I’d walk back from school the older kids would go straight to Wilson’s Gym and spar with each other. There wasn’t a great deal of ability or intention to learn, they just used to go for the love of beating each other up.”

After getting the “bug” for the sport as a young boy, Barton would quickly realise his blind love for the sport could go much further than sparring his friends for bragging rights and began developing a skillset that has cast his crowd-pleasing style. He describes himself as a boxer-puncher, a blend between crafted technical ability and a no guts no glory mentality. Crediting his admiration for the great Sugar Ray Leonard for his stylistic conventions, it’s everything a fan of the sport could want from a fighter and Barton hopes it will only continue to pocket him the heart of the fans and the eyes of the nation.

“Boxing is my hobby. I don’t do it because I have to, I do it because I love it. I am and always will be competitive, I like to get stuck in and I’m always looking for the knockout. People should come and watch me fight because I’ve still got plenty of years left in me and all I can promise is explosive nights!”

It’s this love for the game, an unjust discipline to persevere through life’s curveballs that has brought the 29-year-old to where he is today. After a 10-month absence, Barton is finally fit to return to duty and resume his professional campaign after batting with illness. At just shy of 30 years old, Barton still has a promising career ahead in the prizefighting domain and looks forward to challenging for silverware in the near future and giving the spectators memorable nights of championship boxing.

“In five years’ time I want to be retired British Champion. I am a realist, I know I’m not the best but I’ll do whatever it takes to be the best. Everything I do in life is to win. As for my opponents, its only business. I have to win, I can’t lose.”

The undefeated Welshman’s resilience to overcome his foes inside and outside of the ring is perhaps the strongest indicator of the manner of his intentions in the sport moving forward. Paired with a style which can only bring excitement to his nights under the lights in which he will continue to dare to be great like his idol Sugar Ray, Daniel Barton will continue to chase a boyhood dream and become the future British Champion, and it’s pretty hard to doubt a man who simply “can’t lose”.

Daniel Barton has a message for his fans:

Thank you so much for the support everyone has shown me through out my career, I’ve got a few years left so please stick by me and all I can promise is explosive nights!

And would also like to thank his sponsors for the continued support:

Light Source Limited, Moorland & Mayfair Wealth Management, Premier Copier Solutions Limited, Howses Traditional Homes, Leeway Motor Company

McGOLDRICK: I HAVE A NEW LEASE OF LIFE

Post author By f/s
Post date March 8, 2019

NXTGEN PROMOTION YORK HALL, BETHNAL GREEN,LONDON PIC;LAWRENCE LUSTIG Super-Bantamweight contest SEAN McGOLDRICK v CRAIG DERBYSHIRE

“I definitely have a new lease of life. I’m excited to go to the gym and I’m always looking forward to the next session with all of the boys. Everyone trains really hard and pushes each other on. It’s a happy place to train and I feel like I’m in a great place.

McGOLDRICK: I HAVE A NEW LEASE OF LIFE
Welsh star eyes first title after Jamie Moore link up

Sean McGoldrick says he is feeling revitalised after teaming up with BBBofC 2018 Trainer of the Year Jamie Moore at the V.I.P Gym in Astley, Wigan.

The 2010 Commonwealth gold medallist fights for the first time under his new trainer in a six round Super-Bantamweight contest against Liverpool’s Sean Cairns at the Copper Box Arena on March 23, and the 7-0 Newport talent believes a good showing in London will strengthen his title credentials.

“I felt like I needed a change,” said McGoldrick. “I went to see Jamie and clicked with him straight away. Everything in the gym has been going really well. We’re gelling on the pads and he’s already taught me lots of little things that have improved my game. Hopefully I can display everything that I’ve learnt when I face Sean Cairns on March 23.

“Both Jamie and Nigel Travis are fantastic coaches and I’m confident they can help me achieve what I want to achieve in boxing. The gym standard is high and it makes me want to raise and improve my performances. I like to sit back and watch the other guys in the gym spar. I’m always picking up on the little things they do differently. I feel like I’m learning off all of them too.

“I have to earn the right to fight for titles. Hopefully I can put on a solid performance at the Copper Box and that will push my name up there for title opportunities. I want to be pushing towards titles but I understand that I’ve got to earn these opportunities, I can’t just expect them. That being said, I’ve got a great team behind me and a title shot at the back end of the year isn’t unrealistic.”

McGoldrick vs. Cairns is part of a huge night of boxing at the Copper Box Arena.

Main event sees Croydon’s Charlie Edwards make the first defence of his WBC Flyweight World title against Spain’s Angel Moreno.

Rising Light-Heavyweight star Joshua Buatsi takes on former English Champion Liam Conroy for the vacant British title in his tenth fight.

London Cruiserweight rivals Lawrence Okolie and Wadi Camacho collide with the British and Cruiserweight titles on the line.

Watford Bantamweight talent Shannon Courtenay makes her highly-anticipated professional debut.

Lewis Ritson makes his eagerly-anticipated return to the ring after suffering a first career loss to Francesco Patera last October and Newport Bantamweight talent Sean McGoldrick fights for the first time under new trainer Jamie Moore.

Tickets are available to purchase through StubHub (www.stubhub.co.uk), See Tickets (www.seetickets.com) and Matchroom Boxing (www.matchroomboxing.com).

SHORE, PIMBLETT PLUS MORE CONFIRMED FOR CW100

Post author By f/s
Post date October 3, 2018

Cage Warriors promise to stage the biggest event in the promotions history for CW100, already confirming first names names Paddy Pimblett, Jack Shore, Nicolas Dalby and more for December 8th.

After 16 years of events across the world, it’s almost time for Europe’s leading MMA promotion to mark their 100th event with the biggest names they’ve ever put together on one night.

CW100 will take place on December 8th at Cardiff’s Ice Arena, the venue that recently played host to a sold out crowd at CW97. Results and summary of CW97 can be seen HERE

After talks with the venue and local authorities, Cage Warriors are delighted to announce they will open the arena up to its absolute maximum capacity to meet the high demand for CW100 and are expecting another quick sell-out. For a very limited time only, tickets have been released with a 20% off early bird discount.

Welsh super-prospect Jack Shore, now unbeaten in 12 amateur and 9 professional fights, will fight for the world bantamweight title.

“I can’t thank the Welsh fans enough for the support they’ve shown me throughout my career, and now its time to finally bring the title home for them,” says Shore. “Cage Warriors in Cardiff was an unforgettable night and CW100 will

top it. I’ll make sure of that.”

Another of Europe’s most talked-about young prospects is Paddy Pimblett, who will also appear at CW100. Pimblett has provided Cage Warriors fans with some of the craziest memories in the promotions 16-year history, and is ready to step up for their biggest night yet.

Pimblett said: “Cage Warriors 100 is a historic night for European MMA and so they need the Baddy there. The Welsh fans always show love so I can’t wait to put on a show for them. Like everyone already knows, I’m never in a boring fight.”

Also confirmed for the CW100 card is the return of UFC vet and former Cage Warriors champion Nicolas Dalby, Northern Irish lightweight Joe McColgan and Welsh fan favourites Josh Reed and Kris Edwards.

The night will also feature a title fight between the finalists of Cage Warriors’ featherweight title tournament, to be decided at CW98 this month. That’s at least two title fights confirmed for December 8th!

“I’m going to have to turn my phone off, because every fighter on the roster is calling me up wanting a piece of CW100,” said Cage Warriors President Graham Boylan. “I can promise fans a night like no other for this one. This event is for everyone who’s followed us on the Cage Warriors journey until now.”

Many more big names are still to be announced. Tickets for CW100 are on sale HERE, with a very limited run of early birds at 20% off. Joint tickets to both CW100 and Polaris 8 (which takes place on Sunday 8th) are also available at a discounted price.

Confirmed names

Jack Shore – Bantamweight Title Fight

Aidan Lee/Paull McBain v Dean Trueman/Lewis Monarch – Featherweight Title Fight

Paddy Pimblett

Nicolas Dalby

Joe McColgan

Josh Reed

Kris Edwards

More TBC.

Tags abertillery, Cardiff, Ireland, London, newport, Swansea

Boxing News

CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING RETURNS TO NEWPORT

Post author By f/s
Post date September 18, 2018

Sanigar Events and S4C are proud to announce a stacked night of Championship boxing at the Newport Centre on October 27th. In the headline event reigning Commonwealth Super-Bantamweight Champion Ashley Lane will take on former champion Robbie Turley in an exciting contest that could propel the winner on to add more prestigious domestic titles to their collection. Turley won the title in sensational fashion with a TKO over Bobby Jenkinson back in April 2017, he then vacated the belt allowing Ash Lane to win the vacant championship on points against South African Michael Ramabeletsa. Both men are hungry to push their careers forward and the boxing community is split on who wins this intriguing match up.

There are two Welsh Title fights supporting the main event. In the first, Mountain Ash’s road warrior Tony Dixon will box Pontypool’s Kieran Gething for the Welsh Welterweight Title. This will be Dixon’s first bout since a brave points loss to highly rated Ted Cheeseman at the York Hall. Gething by contrast has boxed twice in 2018 and extended his unbeaten streak to 6 fights, putting to bed an early loss to Bristol’s Aaron Sutton.

The second Welsh Championship is a highly anticipated contest between two come forward brawlers, bragging rights will be on the line when Newport’s undefeated puncher Daniel Barton collides with Abercregan’s tough guy Geraint Goodridge. The prize at stake will be the prestigious Welsh Middleweight title and fans are expecting a fight of the night encounter.

Gavin Gwynne will make a big step up against undefeated Myron Mills from Derby as the reigning Welsh Champion squares off against the reigning English Champion in a British Title eliminator. Gwynne has impressed since his 2016 debut, racking up 9 straight wins and capturing the Welsh title against the durable Henry Janes last year. Gwynne will need to utilise all of his ring craft to outbox Mills who boasts an impressive 50% knockout record stopping 4 out of his last five opponents. The collision of Wales vs England/ Boxer vs Puncher will be a fight not to miss.

Olympic silver medallist Fred Evans steps up against Ryan Toms in a 6 round contest, Fred is keen to build momentum towards the end of this year and hunt down titles in 2019. Cardiff light heavyweight Nathan Thorley will also feature, Nathan is now working with experienced trainer Gary Lockett and will look to try out an improved style on October 27th. Swansea featherweight Kristian Touze aims to get back to winning ways after a surprise draw with Alec Bazza in April.

Robbie Vernon will face Barry’s Joe JD Jones in his debut contest. Fellow welterweight debutant Jake Tinklin from Risca begins his journey as a professional and Sion Yaxley 2018 Welsh Champion complete the line up. Yaxley will be the first boxer from North Wales to fight live on S4C and Sanigar Events are excited to be signing fighters from all over Wales as they continue to work closely with the channel.

Tickets are available on the door and are priced at £75 VIP Ringside & £50 Ringside, £35 Unreserved Seating. Under 16’s £10 accompanied by an adult.

Media enquiries please contact james@westcountryboxing.com

Tags Cardiff, mountain ash, newport, pontypool, Swansea

Fighters

LANCE COOKSEY JR

Post author By f/s
Post date June 12, 2018

“I can box, I can fight & Ive got an exceptional engine… I’m on this journey to take titles.”

FIGHT SCENE CATCH UP WITH LANCE COOKSEY

When the Cooksey family decided to up sticks and leave Cardiff, it almost seemed like fate that their new home would be a stone’s throw away from Rhoose Amateur Boxing Club, it was a blessing in disguise for a young Lance Cooksey Jnr.

Either by design or by confidence Lance Snr was igniting in his son the fire which had burned in his own belly as a young fighter.

As Lance Jnr told fightscene:

“The family moved to Rhoose when I was ten and the boxing gym was just a few minutes from my house – that’s where it all started. My father had me boxing from a young age as he was a boxer himself, he won many Welsh titles and two British titles as an Amateur.”

But it isn’t just his father’s influence that has driven Lance to an unbeaten record of 10-0 as a professional and progressing from Rhoose ABC to Pontypridd Boxing Club, and from there to Tony Borg’s champion-churning St Joseph’s in Newport. The young boxer credits his family for his triumphs.

“Having a close-knit family makes things much easier for me as a boxer, it takes a lot of pressure off the fight. Family is everything. My friends and family are my inspiration. I’m lucky that I’m surrounded by good people that push me to achieve my goals.”

And perhaps his younger brother will follow the same path of success, since Lance gave him special credit for playing a lead role in his choice to adopt boxing as an occupation.

Lance admitted, with a tone of comedic reluctance, owed to sibling rivalry:

“Me and my little brother used to love the Rocky films. My earliest memory of boxing has to be when we put on a pair of our father’s gloves and sparred a couple of rounds. We must have been around six and four at the time and he was a bit tougher than me back then.”

Lance Jnr has become part of a huge surge in the growth of Welsh boxing, which is refreshing for the likes of Cooksey and is something that he speaks fondly of:

“Boxing is at an all-time high in Wales, the younger generations are transitioning from amateur to professional faster than ever before. As an amateur, I didn’t want to turn pro, but now it seems to be the opposite and it seems that publicity plays a big part in this. There are a lot more shows being put on by the likes of MTK as well as other promotions. There are more opportunities now.”

2018 proved to be a huge year for the Welshman. The boxer took on four opponents throughout the annum, with the final fight of the year proving to be the most memorable. Lance Jnr faced off against Jordan Ellison at Llandarcy Academy of Sport, Neath in a battle that altered the Welsh boxer’s fighting mentality.

“First of all, every fight is a learning curve, you take away experience from each fight you have, but one that stands out is my fight against a lad called Jordan Ellison. I was cut in the first round after a clash of heads – I knew it was a cut because of the blood and naturally I started to panic, Ellison then tried to get me out of there, but I was able to hang on and calm down and a few rounds later I’d won the fight. This taught me a lot about keeping my head and staying focused in the ring.”

As well as the Ellison fight, Lance Jnr holds his bout against Aleksandrs Birkenbergs in high regard, the Welshman brought the York Hall crowd to its feet with an emphatic first round stoppage.

“One of my biggest moments came when I fought at York Hall. I remember the fight being stopped 40 seconds in after I’d landed some heavy shots to his body. My fans had to travel for four hours to witness 40 seconds of action, but they were still happy with the performance.”

Lance Jnr now follows a strict training regime in order to perform to the best of his abilities.

“I train everyday before work, which is early in the morning. I try to fit in two hard sessions of boxing or cardio, it’s a case of trying to fit in as much training as possible in the time that I have, because I want to be in the best condition.”

Lance trains alongside compatriots Gavin Gwynne and Jordan Withers, which according to Lance helps provide an extra boost in the gym:

“I train in the gym with Gavin and Jordan as well as a few other lads. I think its good to have this environment, because we’re like teammates, there’s a lot of respect between us all and we’re all friends that push one another to achieve the best”

“Earlier on in my career I’d have said I want to fight one of the top fighters, now I want to win titles, so whoever is holding the titles, I want them.”

And with his final words, this multi-faceted Welsh boxer shows that he’s determined to take fight scene by storm:

“I’ve done my apprenticeship in boxing, I’m ready to step up and I’m ready for titles.”