Sport & Leisure

Kings of the Ring return to the MECA

By Swindon Link - 11 October 2018

Clubs & ActivitiesSport

From left to right: Bradley Townsend, Max Mudway, Paddy Fitzpatrick, Ryan Martin, Mark Nielson, Harry Webb, Bec Connolly and Shaun Lambert Photo by Point 5 photography.

A selection of the Town’s best professional fighters are in action on 8 December.

By Will Hale

Welterweight prospect Ryan Martin returns to action over eight rounds in headlining a night of boxing at Regent’s Circus. The Paddy Fitzpatrick-trained man hopes that a further win will pave the way to contesting domestic honours in 2019. Ryan, who has an excellent record of ten victories against only two defeats, clearly feels he is capable of rising through boxing’s paid ranks.

“We are looking to get a title shot early next year. I have had two wins since my loss in Leicester [against Craig Morris for the IBO Continental title] and they have both been strong performances. I know on December 8th it’s going to be another good performance in my hometown. I’d like to go the traditional route of Area, English and British titles but I just want to get a belt under me and start moving towards TV shows and boxing at a level where I know I belong.

Walcot’s Said Eltuyev makes his Swindon debut on the card. Said, who formally studied at New College, boxed at the highest level in 2016.

“The most prominent of the moments was the World Amateur Championships in St.Peterburg. I gained experience in sparing with boxers from many different countries. So if I reach international level in professional boxing, that experience will help me a lot.”

Also boxing on the card is Swindon’s game Bec Connolly, who was at the recent press conference having fought the previous night. And the fitness instructor is only too aware of the high standard of female boxing in the UK.

“There are very few female boxers out there. For the men, there are a few more fighters to go through to get to the big fights. But for the women, they all come to fight. We made the decision to not take easy matches and take harder fights straight away and jump in at the deep end.

There will also be a full supporting undercard including Swindon’s popular hard-hitting heavyweight Phil Williams. Tickets are available from neilsonboxing.co.uk.