OPENING NIGHT IN DERBY

ON SATURDAY EVENING we make a maiden visit to the Vaillant Live in Derby with a triple-header of domestic crackers.

Shows such as this one on a smaller scale than usual, where promising talents get the opportunity to showcase themselves, are a vital part of the boxing infrastructure and a big part of what we are about at Queensberry.

We have so many elite-level prospects, but they need experience and they need testing at the right time. It is so important to give them a taste of what it is like to feature at the top end of a card, plus all the media and broadcast demands that go with it. It serves them so well for when they do it for real further down the line.

For us as promoters it is important too. We need to see the levels our young fighters are operating at and what they are potentially capable of.

I believe the three fights at the top of the card on Saturday will deliver maximum entertainment and, as we all know, you don’t usually go wrong by having a British title banger as the main headliner.

That is what we have got with the British and Commonwealth welterweight title collision between Owen Cooper and Constantin Ursu.

As we like to say in this business, this is the sort of fight you could put on in a phonebox. These two will get up close right from the off looking to take each other out. It is going to be that sort of fight and I would imagine tactics and game plans will be abandoned pretty quickly.

I am thrilled for Owen getting to fight for these two treasured and coveted titles. He deserves it because he challenges himself all the time and doesn’t take any shortcuts or easier routes. He wants to fight the best available opponents and put on a show for his army of fans who follow him from Worcester.

Taking on the toughest fights is a theme that continues into Saturday because in Constantin he is up against very dangerous, big punching opposition. The Moldovan who has made Plymouth his home has worked his way into a position where he cannot be ignored and I believe we have got a true even-money fight on our hands.

Also in tough, 10-round tests are Northampton super welterweight Ben Fail and Sunderland super lightweight Luke McCormack.

Both have big reputations from the amateurs and have built up impressive unbeaten records as professionals. Now we get to see how they respond against opposition who have ambitions of their own and who are coming to spring a surprise or to say ‘you shouldn’t have risked your boy against me’.

Ben goes up against Kane Gardner, the big puncher from Manchester who always carries a threat, while Luke takes on Mason Cartwright, who was in similar shoes just a few years ago when he was a young fighter coming through with big hopes of stardom.

It didn’t quite go to plan for Mason and he has had a couple of unsuccessful challenges for the British title, but he is one tough customer who will punish any vulnerability.

Tune in to DAZN from 7.30pm for all the action from Derby.