Sanigar Events team up with Cyclone Promotions to deliver a massive night of boxing

Today, on Thursday the 31^st March, Chris Sanigar and Barry McGuigan announced that on May 14^th, Lee Haskins will defend his IBF bantamweight title for the first time at the newly built Ice Arena in Cardiff. Haskins is the headline for a star-studded line-up including the likes of Andrew Selby, Craig Kennedy and Josh Taylor.

Southpaw, Lee Haskins, will make the first defence of his title against Mexican, Ivan ‘Nino’ Morales, a fighter 29-0-1 who comes from boxing ‘royalty’, as Barry McGuigan put it, being the brother of Erik Morales.

Haskins won the IBF title on the scales when Randy Caballero failed to make weight back in November. However he impressively stopped Japanese fighter, Ryosuke Iwasa, in the 6^th round which certainly earnt him the title shot against Caballero.

Haskins is certainly excited to be making his first defence:

‘It feels like a long time since I beat Iwasa in June in what was probably the best win of my career. Now that I am a world champion I feel it is right to show respect to the fans who have supported me throughout my career and that’s why I’m grateful to have this fight in the UK rather than abroad. It is really down to my team who have worked hard to make that happen. Once again it will be brilliant to box live on Channel 5, I just can't wait to get in there and show everyone that I'm world class.’

Also on the card is Welsh sensation, Andrew Selby, who will take on ex-English champion, Louis Norman. Everyone involved will be hoping that the fight is sanctioned for the British flyweight title. Selby was lined up to fight against exciting prospect, Charlie Edwards however Edwards withdrew from the fight when he realised that he would be fighting Selby for the British title.

14-0, Craig ‘the Kid’ Kennedy, will be taking on Belgium’s very own Joel Tambwe Djeko, in a cruiserweight fight which is for the IBF international title. This is Kennedy’s first opportunity to gain a ranking against a fighter who is 9-1-1.

Josh Taylor’s opponent has yet to be announced. The fighter from Scotland looked very good when he stopped Lyes Chaibi on the Frampton-Quigg under-card. Trained by Shane McGuigan, this is another very exciting prospect who is on the card and it will be great to see him in action.

The night will be shown live on Channel 5 and it is the first of a deal that has been made between Cyclones Promotion and Channel 5. With a stacked under-card, this promises to be a fantastic night of boxing and for only £30 a ticket it is definitely worth getting yourself down to the Welsh capital and seeing these fighters in action.

Tom Eckett

@boxingguru44

https://twitter.com/boxingguru44