Boxing: Conroy plots title route by Holborn
Promoter Tommy Conroy has rescheduled a prestige North East fight night so that he can devote all his energies to steering Paul "The Mackem" Holborn closer to an English lightweight title, writes GRAEME ANDERSON.
Conroy, has run his successful North East Executive Sporting Club nights in the city for years now but admits he was unhappy that his March show clashed with Paul Holborn's English lightweight title eliminator against Yorkshire's Stefy Bull.
And after considering his options, he has now put the Wearside fight night back a fortnight so that he can be there to support his boxer.
The fight night was due to go ahead on Thursday, March 4, at new venue The Pullman Lodge in Seaburn.
But Holborn's weigh-in was due that night with the 25-year-old due to fight 24 hours later at the Doncaster Metro Dome for the chance to challenge for the prestigious national title.
Conroy told the Echo: "When I first organised the club's fight night, Paul wasn't due to fight for the eliminator – in fact I had hoped to put him top of the bill at the Pullman Lodge.
"The chance to be involved in the eliminator came out of nowhere but we grabbed it with both hands because it's not often that you get offered a clear path to a title fight.
"It's a real opportunity for the lad but then of course I realised straight away there was a clash.
"I was torn between loyalty to the club's members and loyalty to Paul but in the end I know that the right thing to do is to reschedule.
"It wouldn't have felt right to have been hosting the boxing club night and leaving Paul to do his weigh-in alone down in Doncaster.
"I think it's important that a boxer gets all the help he can get in the run-up to a fight, particularly an important one like this and I know, as the lad's trainer, that I've made the right decision.
"This means that we can travel down together, we can be at the weigh-in together on Thursday, March 4 and I can be with him through the day and in his corner when the fight gets underway on Friday, March 5."
The Executive Sporting Club night has now been switched from Thursday, March 4 to Thursday, March 18 and will feature Conroy's newest recruit, Ashington's Ian Turnbull who will be having his first professional fight after a lengthy amateur career.
Hopefully Conroy will also be able to parade a successful Holborn on fight night too.
He said: "Paul is already the international masters lightweight belt holder but the chance to get another belt is something he's completely focused on.
"Bull will be a tough prospect on home territory but Paul has shown before that he can go away from home and get a winning result.
"Bull has been a good fighter but he's reaching the veteran stage now and Paul knows that if he gets past him, a shot at the the English title awaits.
"The home crowd will be as partisan as you'd expect but Paul's taking quite a few Mackems down with him so we know there will be plenty of people shouting for him too."
Holborn said: "I'm delighted Tommy's going to be there with me all the way through it. It's a big fight and you need all the support and help you can get.
"Bull's a difficult opponent but I'm convinced I've got the beating of him and I'd like to thank everyone who is making the journey down there because it's great when you hear people shouting for you when you're in the thick of it."
Anyone who wants tickets for Tommy's rearranged show or who would like tickets to support Holborn in Doncaster next month, should contact Tommy on 07850 434 457.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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