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BRIAN MAGEE DEFENDS EURO TITLE WITH WORLD BOUT IN SIGHT
BBC
14:40 GMT, Friday, 10 September 2010 15:40 UK
Belfast boxer Brian Magee is preparing to face Roman Aramian in the
first defence of his European super-middleweight title
Brian Magee defends his European super-middleweight belt in Dublin on
Saturday knowing that victory is likely to land him a world title shot.
Magee put himself back in the world title picture with a surprise
stoppage of Mads Larsen to land the European belt last January.
The 35-year-old Belfast man defends his European title against
Armenia's Roman Aramian at Dublin's National Stadium.
Aramian has lost eight of his 38 bouts and Magee should take the
verdict.
Magee has been in the vicinity of earning world title fights before
only for his hopes to be wrecked by defeats at the hands of former
WBC champion Carl Froch and Vitali Tsypko.
The Belfast man fought superbly against Froch before being knocked
out in the 11th round in their 2006 bout.
A year earlier, Magee had been on the receiving end of a dreadful
points decision against Tsypko in a European title fight in Germany.
Magee's days as a super-middleweight seemed over as he moved up to
light-heavyweight but he shifted down again after a controversial
draw against Tony Oakey in a British title bout in Dublin.
In truth, Larsen was expected to comfortably handle Magee in Denmark
last January but the Northern Irishman produced the performance of
his life to reignite his hopes of a world title bout.
Magee insists that the prospect of a world title fight will not lead
to a failure of nerve on Saturday evening.
"Everything hangs in the balance yet again but I'm kind of used to
it by now," Magee told BBC Sport.
I believe I can be even better than I was against Larsen
Brian Magee "There is a brick wall if I don't get past him.
"I'm well aware of other boxers who were in similar circumstances
and then came a cropper because they looked too far ahead.
"I won't allow this to happen because I know that a successful defence
of my title will guarantee me a world title fight next time up.
"I've prepared well. I've been hard at it in the gym and when I go
into the ring (in Dublin) I will be 100 per cent.
"If the sparring I have had is any indication of my form and condition
then my fans are going to see something special again.
"I believe I can be even better than I was against Larsen.
"I feel that with Bernardo Checa's coaching I am still learning and
improving and I will demonstrate that on the night."
If Magee does take care of business in Dublin, a fight with Germany's
WBA super-middleweight champion Dimitri Sartison will be on the cards.
The Dublin bill will also feature a second European title bout between
Spain's Kiko Martinez and Arsen Martirosyan.
Martinez knocked out Bernard Dunne in one round to win the European
title in 2007 but then lost the belt in his first defence against
England's Rendall Munroe.
From: A. Papazian
BBC
14:40 GMT, Friday, 10 September 2010 15:40 UK
Belfast boxer Brian Magee is preparing to face Roman Aramian in the
first defence of his European super-middleweight title
Brian Magee defends his European super-middleweight belt in Dublin on
Saturday knowing that victory is likely to land him a world title shot.
Magee put himself back in the world title picture with a surprise
stoppage of Mads Larsen to land the European belt last January.
The 35-year-old Belfast man defends his European title against
Armenia's Roman Aramian at Dublin's National Stadium.
Aramian has lost eight of his 38 bouts and Magee should take the
verdict.
Magee has been in the vicinity of earning world title fights before
only for his hopes to be wrecked by defeats at the hands of former
WBC champion Carl Froch and Vitali Tsypko.
The Belfast man fought superbly against Froch before being knocked
out in the 11th round in their 2006 bout.
A year earlier, Magee had been on the receiving end of a dreadful
points decision against Tsypko in a European title fight in Germany.
Magee's days as a super-middleweight seemed over as he moved up to
light-heavyweight but he shifted down again after a controversial
draw against Tony Oakey in a British title bout in Dublin.
In truth, Larsen was expected to comfortably handle Magee in Denmark
last January but the Northern Irishman produced the performance of
his life to reignite his hopes of a world title bout.
Magee insists that the prospect of a world title fight will not lead
to a failure of nerve on Saturday evening.
"Everything hangs in the balance yet again but I'm kind of used to
it by now," Magee told BBC Sport.
I believe I can be even better than I was against Larsen
Brian Magee "There is a brick wall if I don't get past him.
"I'm well aware of other boxers who were in similar circumstances
and then came a cropper because they looked too far ahead.
"I won't allow this to happen because I know that a successful defence
of my title will guarantee me a world title fight next time up.
"I've prepared well. I've been hard at it in the gym and when I go
into the ring (in Dublin) I will be 100 per cent.
"If the sparring I have had is any indication of my form and condition
then my fans are going to see something special again.
"I believe I can be even better than I was against Larsen.
"I feel that with Bernardo Checa's coaching I am still learning and
improving and I will demonstrate that on the night."
If Magee does take care of business in Dublin, a fight with Germany's
WBA super-middleweight champion Dimitri Sartison will be on the cards.
The Dublin bill will also feature a second European title bout between
Spain's Kiko Martinez and Arsen Martirosyan.
Martinez knocked out Bernard Dunne in one round to win the European
title in 2007 but then lost the belt in his first defence against
England's Rendall Munroe.
From: A. Papazian