The MaxiNutrition Knockout: A new direction for Boxing

London (3 March) Hennessy Sports are proud to announce an exciting, brand new competition to put on the boxing calendar, the MaxiNutrition Knockout, live on Channel 5.

Starting on March 15 at Rivermead, Reading, eight boxers from the light heavyweight division will fight it out over four live events to become the MaxiNutrition Knockout champion and in doing so the British champion.

The eight fighters competing are Bob Ajisafe, Dean Francis, Danny McIntosh, Travis Dickinson, Matty Clarkson, Leon Senior, Lee Duncan and Tony Hill.

Ranging from up-and-coming stars with world-class ambitions, to former British, Commonwealth and European champions, the fighters give a fair representation of the hard-working, hard- training boxers who keep the British light heavyweight scene alive; offering them a deserved share of the television spotlight, as well as the chance for British championship glory.

They have been seeded and drawn into four quarter-finals, one side of the draw holding the coveted British and Southern Area light heavyweight titles and the other holding the prestigious English light heavyweight title.

Channel 5 will broadcast the quarter finals in 2 x two-hour programmes, each featuring two live contests, the first at Rivermead, Reading, on March 15th and the second on March 22nd live from Ponds Forge Arena, .

The winners of each quarter-final will be drawn to meet in two semi-finals, competing over 10 x 3 minute rounds for the English title and 12 x 3 minute rounds for the British, to be shown live in programme three.

The final will be over 12 x 3 minute rounds, broadcast live within six months of the series launch programme, as the British champion meets the English champion.

All contests will be under British Boxing Board of Control supervision, with a referee and three scoring judges.

The event will be completed over a maximum of six months and the contests will be over ten and the full 12 championship rounds – ensuring that this is a true test of boxing skill, toughness and endurance.

Each of the four live events will be supported by a quality undercard, to ensure maximum entertainment for the event spectators and, where necessary, for the TV audience.

FIRST SET OF QUARTER FINALS

RIVERMEAD, READING, MARCH 15 LIVE ON CHANNEL 5

BOB AJISAFE VS DEAN FRANCIS British Light Heavyweight title

LEON SENIOR VS TONY HILL Southern Area Light Heavyweight Title

SECOND SET OF QUARTER FINALS

PONDS FORGE ARENA, SHEFFIELD, MARCH 22 LIVE ON CHANNEL 5

DANNY MCINTOSH VS TRAVIS DICKINSON English Light Heavyweight Title

MATTY CLARKSON VS LEE DUNCAN English Light Heavyweight Title Eliminator

PLUS KID GALAHAD VS SERGIO PRADO Vacant European Super Bantamweight Title

Bob Ajisafe and Dean Francis clash for the vacant British light heavyweight title at Rivermead, Reading, on March 15th, live on Channel 5.

The English light heavyweight champion, Ajisafe, faces the former British, Commonwealth and European champion, Francis, with both men focussed on claiming the coveted Lonsdale belt and progressing to the next round of the MaxiNutrition Knockout.

Francis boasts 34 wins with 26 knockouts in a 39 fight career to date, which has seen him claim WBO Inter-Continental, British and European super middleweight titles, along with the English cruiserweight and Commonwealth light heavyweight championships.

The Basingstoke man fondly known as “Star” has experience on his side and is determined to prove he still has what it takes by winning his second British title and progressing to the semi final.

But Ajisafe, known as “Lionheart” will have other plans.

At 28-years-old he is an English champion, having won the belt against Darren Stubbs in Oldham and defended it against MaxiNutrition Knockout rival and formerly undefeated Travis Dickinson in Sheffield, Ajisafe has also traded leather with world title contender in a hard fought contest over 12 rounds.

Trained in Sheffield with the Ingles, the Leeds based Ajisafe will be looking to win his first British title and add another Lonsdale belt to the famous St Thomas Gym in Wincobank Sheffield.

Also scheduled to fight on the show is Leon Senior as he faces former Commonwealth title challenger Tony Hill over 10 rounds in the second quarter final for the Southern Area light heavyweight belt.

Former British light welterweight champion and European title challenger Lenny Daws will also be in action, along with former Irish lightweight champion Peter McDonagh, Reading’s own Tamuka Mucha, Ricky O’Brien, Thomas Jarvis and Slough’s John Brennan.

Accreditation

March 15th

For fight accreditation for March 15th please email: [email protected] for an application form.

Applications need to be submitted on or before Friday 7th March 2014. You will be notified of your accreditation status by close of business (5.30pm) on Monday 10th March 2014 via Email.

March 22nd

For fight accreditation for March 22nd please email: [email protected] for an application form.

Applications need to be submitted on or before Friday 14th March 2014. You will be notified of your accreditation status by close of business (5.30pm) on Monday 17th March 2014 via Email.

Ticket Information

March 15th

Unreserved tickets for March 15th are priced at £35, with ringside seating priced from £75 and are available to purchase from today by calling:

Sanigar Events box office: 0117 949 66 99. March 22nd

Unreserved tickets for March 22nd are priced at £35, with ringside seating proced at £100 and are available to purchase by calling 0114 223 3777.

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