MTK Global’s undefeated ‘Magnificent Seven’ added to Frampton-Donaire undercard
Undefeated prospects Crocker, Joyce, Ward, McCullagh, Maxwell, Williamson and Dickinson will feature on action-packed April 21 bill
Seven undefeated MTK Global-managed prospects have been added to an already-stacked undercard for Carl Frampton’s April 21 headline bout against Nonito Donaire in Belfast.
Frampton and Donaire will clash in a much-anticipated featherweight battle on a Frank Warren-promoted bill at the SSE Odyssey Arena, live in Ireland and the UK on BT Sport and BoxNation.
Promoter Frank Warren last week revealed that the support bill will also feature three tasty all-Ireland battles – and another batch of up-and-coming talent has been now added to the card!
Four Irishmen – including two Belfast natives – and three English fighters are among MTK’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ unveiled today, with Lewis Crocker, David Oliver Joyce, Tyrone McCullagh and Steven Ward making up the home contingent while Troy Williamson, Sam Maxwell and Alex Dickinson will also feature on a bill brimming with future stars.
“This is yet another example of MTK Global’s ambition to showcase some of our best young talent in boxing,” said Jamie Conlan, MTK Global’s professional development coordinator. “We’ve worked together with Frank Warren to bring Belfast fight fans a fantastic bill and it’s really shaping up to be a great night.
“Running through the list of names on the undercard, there’s some of the best prospects from Ireland and the UK on there.
"Frampton against Donaire is a good enough match-up to sell a show on its own, but we’re delighted to take the opportunity to get some gifted young fighters on such a big bill and I’m sure that experience will stand to them," added Conlan.
Lewis Crocker, David Oliver Joyce, Steven Ward and Alex Dickinson all featured on last November’s ‘Frampton Reborn’ card with the trio set to return to the SSE Odyssey Arena on April 21.
Hard-hitting hometown welterweight Lewis Crocker (4-0, 4KOs) will be looking to maintain his knockout streak following his first-round stoppage win over Hungarian Gyula Rozsas two months ago, fellow Belfast native Steven Ward (6-0, 2KOs) is coming off the back of a six-round points win over Przemyslaw Binienda of Poland, while Rio Olympian David Oliver Joyce (5-0, 4KOs) delivered one of his most impressive pro performances so far last November when the Mullingar man halted Barcelona-based Nicaraguan Reynaldo Cajina.
Derry super-bantamweight Tyrone McCullagh (9-0, 5KOs) is the fourth Irish fighter to be added to the card and he will be aiming to follow up an impressive win over previously-undefeated German Tom Tran in Belfast last month.
Former Team GB amateur star Sam Maxwell (5-0, 4KOs) is one of three English fighters set to cross the Irish Sea and the Commonwealth Games medallist could be looking to record his seventh victory on April 21 as he was this week added to MTK Global’s March 16 ‘Mersey Beat-Down’ bill in Liverpool following his third-round stoppage victory in Germany last November.
Heavyweight Alex Dickinson (3-0, 2KOs) is also scheduled to box in Liverpool in March before fighting in Belfast where he recorded his last win on the ‘Frampton Reborn’ card, while Darlington middleweight Troy Williamson (5-0, 3KOs) makes up the undefeated MTK’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ added to the bill.
As revealed last week, April 21 fight night will also feature three tasty all-Irish fights as Dubliner Jono Carroll (15-0, 2KOs) clashes with Belfast’s Marco McCullough (18-4, 11KOs) for the IBF European super-featherweight title, Tyrone McKenna (15-0-1, 6KOs) meets light-welterweight rival Philip Sutcliffe Jr (14-2, 9KOs) in an all-MTK Belfast v Dublin battle, while WBO European champion Conrad Cummings (12-1-1) and Irish champion Luke Keeler (13-2, 5KO) will do battle at middleweight.
*A limited number of tickets for Frampton v Donaire are available to purchase from the SSE Arena Belfast Box Office, www.ssearenabelfast.com and 0044(0)28 9073 9074. Prices range from £40 (tier) to £400 (inner-ring hospitality). Tickets are also available from MTK Global fighters on the bill.