GLASGOW BLISS

WE ARE BACK on the Glasgow beat with a Friday Fight Night special on April 17 when Nathaniel Collins will take centre stage at the OVO Hydro.

On Wednesday we set the ball rolling on the promotion by bringing most of the fighters together and doing so illustrates just what a fine crop of young talents we are assembling north of the border.

I am so pleased that we are re-establishing a stronghold in Scotland and I’ve been thrilled with the reaction from the public, who really get behind their fighters in big numbers. A big fight night in Glasgow is quite some experience and, with our contingent of mostly young fighters up there, we are future-proofed for some time to come.

Of course, the natural headline attraction for April 17 is Nathaniel and his rematch against the European champion Cristobal Lorente. This pair of warriors fought to a compelling draw back in October so there is plenty of unfinished business to be settled.

Draws are naturally unsatisfactory for both fighters and both Nathaniel and Cristobal believed they had done enough to get the nod. The disappointment ran deeper because, along with the European title, the fight was also a final eliminator for a shot at the WBC world featherweight title.

The delay to obvious ambitions has been frustrating for both of them, but the status of the fight still stands so there is lots at stake at the OVO Hydro, where I am sure the local fans will get right behind Nathaniel and roar him towards potential world title glory.

We’ve got a cracking fight at middleweight on the card, with the Bad Man, Aston Brown, going up against Sam Gilley for the WBA International title.

Aston has really looked the business since returning to the fighting fold in 2023. In his last three fights he has been ferocious against a good level of opponents and not gone past two rounds.

Sam, however, even coming up from super welter, is made of sterner stuff and you just know we will have a firefight on our hands. Both these men only know one way and that is to entertain.

I am also very happy to deliver two British title fights on the card, with the vacant super bantamweight title to be fought for between the unbeaten Scot Dylan Arbuckle and Mansfield’s also undefeated Nico Leivars.

The Lonsdale belt, plus the Commonwealth title, will also be on the line at super featherweight, where elite young talent Royston Barney-Smith - fresh off a WBO and IBF European title double triumph over Danny Quartermaine - goes up against Conor McIntosh in another test of his credentials.

Then we’ve got the emerging stars and the future of Scottish boxing in Drew Limond, Reese Lynch, Alex Arthur Jr and Marcus Sutherland topping up their experience. I really like what I am seeing from these young men and I am delighted that they are providing the foundations for Queensberry to enjoy long-term success in Scotland.

OUR FIRST SHOW at the Vaillant Live in Derby last week lived up to expectations with the three cracking fights at the top of the bill.

Constantin Ursu showed why he is becoming a considerable force at welterweight with his British title triumph over Owen Cooper. The Moldovan Plymouth man really looks the part and we will work with him in taking his next steps.

I must say though, Owen is such a warrior and also a lovely lad who we think so highly of here at Queensberry. He just never knows when he is beaten and he always carries a threat. He is always in top fights and remains very much in our plans.

I believe we saw career-best performances from both Ben Fail and Luke McCormack, who scored highly impressive victories over Mason Cartwright and Kane Gardner respectively.

They have both demonstrated to us that they are ready to be significantly stepped up and be part of big fights from now on.

I was also hugely encouraged by the performance of Charlie Senior, who delivered a classy display on his way to a fifth round stoppage in just his fourth fight as a professional.

Like Ben and Luke, Charlie put his marker down in Derby and made people sit up and take notice.