Excited Essex boxer Darrel Church lands first fight on TV on Askin-Simmons event
Light-heavyweight Darrel Church (5-2-1) gets his next fight on TV on March 17 at the York Hall on the undercard of the highly-anticipated British cruiserweight championship contest between Matty Askin (22-3-1) and Stephen Simmons (18-2) on a Hayemaker Promotions show.
Church, 28 from Chelmsford, will tackle South Londoner Rikke Askew (1-2) over four-rounds at light-heavyweight at the iconic East End venue where the pair have already fought five times between them.
Hayemaker Promotions have yet to reveal the TV channel that will televise the show, but they only signed a three-year agreement with free-to-air entertainment channel Dave midway through 2017.
The Essex puncher aims to use the next fight as a warm-up for another shot at rival Jordan Joseph (7-2-1), claiming that they have unfinished business to settle after Church was forced to retire with an eye injury in the ninth-round of their Southern Area light-heavyweight title eliminator last November.
“I’ve just got to get another win on the record and then I’d want to fight Jordan Joseph again any time after that March show over the summer months,” Church asserted.
“Both Kevin [Campion] and Steve [Goodwin] know how much I want the rematch, but if I can’t get that, then I’d like another Southern Area title shot at super-middleweight as I’ve been told that could be an option for me.”
After Darrel’s Southern Area title light-heavyweight eliminator with the aforementioned Joseph was cut short in the penultimate round of their York Hall championship clash, he has been calling for the rematch to conclude their unfinished business.
Joseph has since suffered a loss to Olympic bronze medallist Joshua Buatsi, so will also likely need to chalk up another win on his record before entering another championship fight.
The painter and decorator refuses to overlook his forthcoming fight with Askew, however, “I’m not looking past my next fight and I have huge respect for all my opponents.
“The fact I’m looking towards another [Southern Area] eliminator or title shot shows how dedicated and determined I am to beating everyone in front of me, no matter who it is. I could have an 8-0 record right now if I wanted one, but I’m willing to take risks and fight anyone.
“I jumped up from four-rounders to a 10-round title eliminator, so I don’t want to waste time fighting easy opponents, I’m in the mix for the Southern Area now and the ultimate goal is the British.”
A father of one and a business owner, Church previously struggled to balance training with work and personal life, and withdrew from fights in the past when falling victim to illnesses and injuries brought on by exhaustion.
He slipped to an unexpected loss against Angelo Crowe (2-6) in 2015 after initially kicking off his pro career with two straight wins when previously signed to Carl Greaves Promotions.
Inactive spells spanning over 10 months were to blame for the defeat and a subsequent draw on his peppered record, but he followed that blip with three straight victories after signing with Goodwin Promotions.
Church is now looking forward to making the most of the TV exposure from his next fight to catapult him, along with his growing fan base, into a title fight in the summer.
Askin v Simmons
British cruiserweight champion Matty Askin (22-3-1 14KO’s) will face mandatory challenger Stephen Simmons (18-2 8KO’s).
The top two cruiserweights in the UK will reignite the ‘Auld Rivalry’ between Scotland and England on Ireland’s national holiday – St. Patrick’s Day.
There’s more cruiserweight championship action on the same night when Southern Area champ Wadi Camacho (19-7) clashes with Danny Couzens (10-10-2) for the “Macho Man’s” title.
33-year-old Couzens has challenged for the Southern Area strap three times already but has yet to hold the belt aloft. His last attempt was against the same man back in July 2016, ending in a sixth-round retirement.
That was the Titchfield man’s last defeat and has since won three on the spin, culminating in a wide points win over unbeaten Spiros Demetriou in a title eliminator last September.
Unbeaten prospects also in action are Nigerian middleweight Linus Udofia (7-0); Kentish Town welterweight Kian Thomas (8-0); 20-year-old Londoner Ricky Heavens (4-0-1); Wembley’s Youssef Khoumari (3-0); Aylesbury’s Adi Burden (5-0); Romford’s Mark Little (6-0); and Enfield’s Tunji Ogunniya (4-0).
For tickets to the show contact Team Church on 07938 878 962
Follow ‘Dazzling’ Darrel Church on Twitter @Darrel_Church89
Team Church would like to thank sponsors MB Surfacing and JA Contracts Landscaping and Agent Tim Rickson