Manchester's boxing fans are gearing up for a big night on Saturday – we report from the buzzing pre-fight press conference
BOXING fans in Manchester are in for a treat on Saturday night with a huge fight night taking place at the AO Arena.
It's an unmissable card from start to finish – with a lot to see early on in the evening as it builds towards the big name headline bout of Jack Catterall vs Harlem Eubank. At the press conference on Thursday afternoon, the Arena was buzzing with well-known faces from the boxing world (plus a surprise appearance from one of the UK's best-known MMA stars too).
Welsh boxing star Joe Cordina was there – he'll be making his return on Saturday after a year-long break when he takes on Mexican fighter Jaret Gonzalez for the WBO Global Lightweight Title.
Manchester's Olympic boxer Patrick Brown, alumni of Moss Side Fire Station Boxing, looked as imposing as ever in his face-off with Lewis Oakford.
The local derby between Oldham's Aqib Fiaz and Salford's Alex Murphy is shaping up to be one to watch. Stepping in as a last-minute replacement for Michael Gomez Jr, Murphy is determined to seize this opportunity to show what he can do on the big stage.
Manchester fans will also be hoping to see explosive young fighter William Crolla get another knockout. Big brother Anthony Crolla will be in his corner, hoping for the same.
Fans of women's boxing will be eager to see high-profile Australian Olympian Skye Nicholson back in the ring after her defeat against Tiara Brown.
The surprise appearance of Liverpudlian UFC star 'Meatball' Molly McCann was another highlight from the presser. We thought she was just there to soak up the atmosphere – then she announced she's signed up as a boxer with Matchroom. We can't wait to see her in the ring later in the year.
Another new signing on the stage was 18-year-old Leo Atang who'll be making his hotly-anticipated professional debut at Catterall-Eubank. Is this young Yorkshireman a star in the making? Let's see what happens on Saturday.
All that excitement even before the main fight. It's going to be lively. Chorley's Jack Catterall is coming off a defeat so he's fired up and ready to set his record back to winning ways. His opponent Harlem Eubank is equally hungry for the win. Not least because he won't want to tarnish his undefeated record of 21-0.
Both boxers spoke respectfully about each other – they're both very aware that they've got a tough fight ahead. The trash talk came from Harlem for Conor Benn when Eddie Hearn asked him if his family name is on the rise. He answered with characteristic Eubank modesty:
"Of course, it's Eubank supremacy. My cousin, by the end of this year, will have beaten the alleged drug cheat twice, and I will become world champion."
Before all that though, there's the big night of boxing at the AO Arena on Saturday – a venue that has seen so many huge fight nights in the past. Be part of the action this weekend by getting one of the last remaining tickets to see it firsthand.
Main image credit: Mark Robinson & Dave Thompson/Matchroom Boxing
