Don't miss Chris on Steve Bunce's Boxing Hour June 2nd in the United Kingdom! He will be continuously discussing his upcoming fight, his career and future in the coming months.

HATTON PROMOTIONS' unbeaten heavyweight prospects Richard Towers and Lucas "Big Daddy" Browne will face each other Down Under this summer.

The exciting 12 round battle will take place on a show promoted in association with Barry Michael Sports at the Melbourne Pavilion in Flemington, Australia on Thursday July 25.

The pair were due to meet in Hong Kong last December, but Towers was forced to withdraw because of a perforated ear drum sustained in sparring.

"I believe this is a fight that boxing fans are going to enjoy," said Browne's manager Matt Clark. "Two big undefeated heavyweights going at it without a hint of trash talk.

"It's the kind of fight where anything can happen at any moment and that's what the heavyweight division needs.

"It's another great fight for Lucas to learn from and propel his career to greater heights. He's hungry to reach the top and to do that he needs to beat Richard Towers. I believe he will."

Browne will be on home soil this time, but he doesn't feel that will play a huge role in the outcome of the fight.

He does, however, believe a win will move him towards a potential world title shot.

"I'm so excited for this one and I just hope it goes ahead this time," Browne said.

"I'm sure Richard will be well prepared and will be ready so I don't think being at home will be a big advantage.

"Beating James Toney last time was the step forward I needed and it also gave me a little more exposure in the US.

"Now I've got a different challenge to overcome and I think if I win a legitimate world title shot is a year or so away, provided I keep learning and keep winning.

"I've got the WBF world title at the moment, but am chasing the big belts and big dollars."

Ryan Farrag is hoping to avenge his only defeat against new British bantamweight champion Lee Haskins in the near future, but first has to win at the Liverpool Olympia on May 24.

A stack of Merseyside talent - including future superstar James ‘Jazza’ Dickens – will be in action on the VIP Promotions show and, on the night, Ryan faces a tough test in Najah Ali.

Iraq-born Ali has only lost two of eight bouts, against former British champ Shinny Bayaar and highly-rated Michael Walsh, and holds a win over former Commonwealth ruler Don Broadhurst.

“I’ve only seen a little bit of him and he looks like a good fighter,” assessed Farrag, 25.  “So I’ve prepared and trained hard for this fight and I want to get him out of the way.  

“I won’t take it lightly; I’ll be going in and treating it as a title fight.  I’m always confident and go into fights thinking I’ll win.  I’ve got good people around me and the sparring’s been going well.  I’ve been hurting people with body shots and I’m feeling strong.  So I’m dead confident.”

Promoter Steve Wood is sure that Ryan is a future British champion.  The former amateur star holds an ABA semi-final win over Olympic gold medallist Luke Campbell, and as a pro is 8-1.  

If he keeps winning then Farrag is on a collision course with British king Haskins, who beat him in the Prizefighter format in 2011.  And, if it happens, the Scouser is confident he will get his revenge.

“The fact is it was in Prizefighter over three-threes, and I got a nasty cut which wasn’t good.  In my eyes it was quite a close fight and I’d definitely fancy myself to go in there and beat him.  I know he’s a good fighter, and I take nothing away from him, but he’s got that belt and I want it.”

The Olympia is a home-from-home for Farrag, who has graced the canvas there six times previously, and the Liverpudlian is looking forward to returning to the historic fight venue.  

Appearing alongside his talented VIP stable mates, Ryan is predicting an entertaining evening and a top atmosphere for North West boxing fans – including Ricky Hatton who will be at the show with his protégé, Ryan Burnett.  

“It’s a great show.  We’re all local lads, so it’ll be a good night for the city and hopefully people will come out and show their support.  

“Jazza has just won the English title and is going to go far without a doubt.  I’ve been watching Nathan [Brough] in the gym and he’s got a lot of potential.  I rate him very highly and he’s good to watch.  Steven Lewis as well, he’s just young but I fancy him to be a future champion.  So, there’s some real talent on this show and I can’t wait.”

‘Battle in the City’, at Liverpool’s Olympia on May 24, will be topped by English super-bantamweight champion, James ‘Jazza’ Dickens.  The undercard is packed with Merseyside talent including Ryan Farrag; Nathan Brough; Louis Cuddy; Wayne Adeniyi; Carl Dilks; Dean Swanson; Steven Lewis; Tom Carus, and Phil Smith.  Also appearing will be Belfast’s Ryan Burnett and Mark Dunlop.

Tickets, priced at £30 (General) and £50 (Ringside), are available from all boxers or at www.vipbe.co.uk

Keep updated on VIP Promotions’ news by visiting www.vipboxing.com or follow on Twitter @vipboxing and Facebook.  Currently, you can also watch free fights at www.vipboxing.tv

MASHANTUCKET, Conn. (May 18, 2013) - Massachusetts defeated New York, 9-3, in tonight's Battle of the Badges 5 (BOB5) at Foxwoods Resort Casino, pitting law enforcement amateur boxing teams in a fundraising event.  New York holds a 3-2 advantage in the BOB series.

"BOB5" was presented by National Public Safety Athletic League ("NPSAL") in association with Massachusetts Corrections Officers (MCO), Suffolk County Corrections Officers Association (SCCOA), and Foxwoods Resort Casino.

Trophies were presented for Fighter of the Night (Graham Trout vs. Terence Lyons), Fight of the Night (Ashley Moore), and Sportsman of the Night (David Salinas).

Medals were presented to all of the participating fighters. Special guest presenters included World middleweight champion (1979-80) Vito Antuofermo, World welterweight champion (1955) Tony DeMarco, World heavyweight title challenger Gerry Cooney, former Irish heavyweight champion Kevin McBride, 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason Estrada, former World light heavyweight title challenger John Scully, New England boxing promoter Doug Pendarvis, and World light welterweight title challenger Tony Petronelli.

Other boxing dignitaries attending BOB5 included former New England super featherweight and featherweight champion Mike Cappiello, and former New England middleweight champion Sean Fitzgerald.

Proceeds benefited Work Vessels For Veterans and NPSAL.

Complete BOB5 Results

SUPER HEAVYWEIGHTS (201+)

Matt Guerin, MA                                WKO1             Robert Vansyckle, NY

Will Faller, NY                                   WPTS              Shane Vale, MA                

Tim Gallagher, MA                             WPTS              Joe Diaz, NY

Jay Matthews-Dixon, MA                   WRSC1             Dennis Mahoney, NY

Roland Estrada, MA                           WDQ1             Jason Perna, NY


HEAVYWEIGHTS (200)

Paul Finlay, MA                                  WKO1             Alex Mylet, NY

Graham Trout, MA                             WPTS              Terance Lyons, NY


CATCHWEIGHT (180) Non-Team Scoring Match

Stacy Smith, NY                                WPTS              John Stein, NY


LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS (178)

Larry Wojtach, NY                             WPTS              Erik Cabral, MA      

Rian Torrance, MA                             WPTS              Dave Salinas, NY

Lawrence Wojtach, NY                       WPTS              Erik Cabral, MA


CATCHWEIGHT (170)

Michael Campbell, MA                        WTKO             Paul Melancowsky, NY


FEMALE FEATHERWEIGHTS (125)

Ashley, Moore, MA                            WRSC1            Danielle Bruard, NY

NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY ATHLETIC LEAGUE: "NPSAL" is committed to fundraising and promoting efficient techniques to promote recreation and sport/physical activities for youths and adults for the purpose of maintaining a healthy and positive lifestyle.

WORK VESSELS FOR VETERANS:  "WVFV" assists veterans returning to the United States as they being their civilian careers or continue their educational pursuits by donating to them the necessary start-up tools (laptops, vehicles, machinery, tools, commercial vessels, etc.).   The organization was started in 2008 with the donation of a commercial fishing boat to a returning veteran and to date has helped more than 500 veterans in their transitions.   www.wvfv.org

Thursday evening at BB King Blues Club in Times Square, Team Fight to Walk hosted their first ever charity Gala “FIGHTING FOR THE CURE” to raise money for spinal cord injury research and a pending trial to help cure Chronic Spinal Cord Injuries.

The packed house for this elegant black tie event was treated to special comedy acts from Artie Lange and Damon Rozier as well as a performance by rapper Professir X. Guests, including Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin, Steve “USS” Cunningham, Danny “Miracle Man” Jacobs, Luis Collazo, Junior Jones, Marcus Browne, and Kim G from the Real Housewives of New Jersey, partook in live and silent auctions throughout the evening. Jacobs, a well known boxer who fights for Golden Boy Promotions, also served as a guest speaker and put forth a speech from deep inside his heart, bringing members of the audience to tears.

Former Heisman Trophy Winner and New York Knick Charlie Ward generously autographing a football that was auctioned at the Gala

Emceed to perfection by renowned PA announcer David Diamante, the voice of The Brooklyn Nets at The Barclays Center, the evening’s theme was the Five Fighters, each of whom are affected by Chronic Spinal Cord Injuries or have major involvement with “FIGHTING FOR THE CURE”. The Five Fighters, Captain Boyd Melson, Dr. Wise Young, Major Max Brewer, Eric LeGrand and Christan Zaccagnino, spoke at length about the crucial importance of raising awareness and funds through events like the gala to help bring the procedures needed to America.

While the Five Fighters closed the evening by taking the stage together as a team, they each took turns sharing their hearts by speaking to the audience. It was at this time that Melson opened up his speech by taking a medal donated to him by Jill Diamond, President of The WBC Cares Program, and placing it around Eric LeGrand's neck.  The medal was a miniature version of the center piece of the WBC World Championship belt and Melson placed it around Eric LeGrand's neck as a gift from one friend to another thanking him for joining him in this fight.  

Melson closed his opportunity to speak by reaching to the audience and asking them to carry his words and loving intentions with them when they leave the night's events returning to their own lives. He charged them with the favor of picking one day of the week in their busy lives to remember his words, and use that day to try to contribute in any form to Team Fight to Walk's mission- raising the necessary funds to conduct this much anticipated Clinical Trial this fall in New York and New Jersey.

Overall, after covering the expenses to carry out the Gala, the event raised close to $40,000, with additional checks from the evening still coming in.  Every penny raised will be used to cover the costs of surgery in the Clinical Trial along with the minimum six weeks of physical therapy immediately after the surgery. With the trial hoping to include 40 patients at $100,000 per patient, a total of $4,000,000 is needed to begin the next critical phase of “FIGHTING FOR THE CURE,” which is the extremely promising Clinical Trial.

For more information or to donate, please visit Justadollarplease.org.