English boxing’s ‘mecca’, York Hall will play host to a feast of pugilism on Saturday night, as Goodwin Promotions launches a thirteen fight extravaganza billed as ‘Back of the net’.
Top of the bill will be a bantamweight Commonwealth title between two undefeated prospects. Virtually untested Hackney fighter Matthew Chanda (7-0, 2 KO’s) is stepping down a weight to face the ferocious punching Ghanaian Duke Micah, who was won all of his eighteen fights, going the distance just once!
On the undercard, Leicester’s ‘smasher’ Jahmaine Smyle (13-4-6, KO’s) will defend his English Super-middleweight title that he won over Lee Markham, against former football star, Leon McKenzie (8-0-1, 4 KO’s).
Stepping Up
However the most mouth-watering clash to a lot of boxing experts is an English Super-Lightweight title between Gloucester’s Akeem ‘Riddy’ Ennis-Brown (6-0, 1 KO) and big punching German, Freddie Kiwitt (11-0, 6 KO’s). Brown was a top class amateur who won numerous western counties titles and was a national finalist, but the 21 year-old has stepped up very early and will need to utilise his height and range if he wants to stay undefeated. In the opposing corner stands the cool, calm and collected Kiwitt who’s persona shows no correlation to his spiteful, explosive style. Kiwitt is coming down from Welterweight so a lot rests on how hydrated he is.
Brown’s coach, Jon Pitman seemed confident about his man’s chances, “We have prepared very well for this fight had some great sparring. Riddy has also been working with strength and conditioning Coach Matt Ewin so he’s in top shape”.
Pitman paid respect to the young man’s mind-set, coming into the biggest fight of his life, “I don’t have to prepare Riddy mentally he knows how good he is and is a very confident person” said Pitman,
“What people don’t realise is he has a very good boxing brain and is a lot more intelligent that he lets on.”
Pitman also went on to talk about Kiwitt.
“We have watched a lot of Freddy on you tube we know what we’re dealing with, the question is does he?”
Pitman set up his own Gym, Pitmans Fight Factory Gloucester, in 2009. Since then the gym has gone from strength to strength with new faces coming through the doors, whether it be amateur boxers, professional boxers or keep fitters.
The members of the gym, described as ‘a big family’, have always been supportive of the boxers. When asked about the support from Gloucester for this fight, Pitman said, “The support is always important and I think when a fighter can hear his fans cheering it will give them a lift. We greatly appreciate everyone who has spent there hard earned money to support Riddy”
It remains to be seen whether Saturday will be a night of upsets, but it promises to be all action.
