A Special Night Ahead

One of our most special occasions of the year takes place tonight (Friday 14th) when we get suited and booted and head to the Park Lane Hotel, Mayfair, for our annual charity dinner show, staged to raise funds for DEBRA.

The Debra Fight Night, a Black Tie event, is to generate finances and increase awareness of epidermolysis bullosa (EB), an extremely painful genetic skin blistering condition, for which there is sadly no cure.

It is a charity and an evening which is particularly close to my heart and I am honoured and privileged to be a Vice President of DEBRA.

Tonight we hit a milestone of the 20th anniversary of our DEBRA Fight Nights and, over this period of time, many millions have been raised to fund research and to try and make the lives of sufferers and those who care for them a little bit more comfortable.

These incredibly brave youngsters and their families never fail to capture your heart and we must keep on supporting them as scientists continue to strive for a breakthrough.

Until this happens, drug trials that can ultimately make a small but significant difference, take time and cost money. So every penny and pound counts in a big way.

At the Hilton tonight, three of our unbeaten fighters will be showcasing their talents and they are three that I believe possess enormous potential.

Sean Noakes is now 10-0 and comes into tonight’s fight off the back of three English title successes.

Frank Wood is 2-0 and the 21-year-old was previously a six-time National Champion and was ranked as No.1 fighter at his weight by GB.

Then we have young middleweight Joe Cooper, having his fifth professional fight at the age of just 19. He is another one making strong progress and learning his trade.

I have no doubt that these three young men will do Queensberry and DEBRA proud tonight.

Our entry into the Germany market with Agit Kabayel on January 10 at the Rudolf-Weber Arena in Oberhausen can already be considered as a resounding success.

All the tickets have been snapped up for Agit’s heavyweight test against the undefeated Pole Damian Knyba and we are not talking about a small venue here.

This is the start of very big things for Queensberry in a new territory with a rich boxing history.

Before I close, I would like to wish Ekow Essuman and Sam Gilley every success when they fight on the Benn-Eubank Ring Card at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday evening.

Ekow defends his WBO Global welterweight title against a former Queensberry fighter in Jack Catterall in a fight that can propel him towards a world title show, while Sam gets to fight for the vacant British super welterweight title against Ishmael Davis.

My money is on a win-double and good luck to both boys.