Tom McGuinness vs Colin Day set to lay it all on the line and promoter Steve Wood predicts a war
VIP BOXING PROSPECTS CLASH AT LIVERPOOL OLYMPIA SHOW
With boxing fans crying out for competitive fights; VIP Promotions have lined up what promises to be a terrific headliner at the Liverpool Olympia on November 30, with former Commonwealth champion Sean 'Masher' Dodd featuring on the undercard.
It’s unusual for prospects to be pitched against each other early in their careers, but Liverpool’s Tom McGuinness and Skelmersdale’s Colin Day will top the bill at the renowned fight venue, and promoter Steve Wood is predicting a war.
“Both men wanted this fight, and the winners will be the fans. Because of their styles, and with it being such an evenly matched fight, I think it’s guaranteed excitement. Colin is aggressive and will come forward all night, but Tom has shown some great skills, and will need them if he’s going to keep him at bay. I’m really pleased we’ve managed to put this fight together, and for anyone that can’t make it, we’ll be showing it live and free on vipboxing.tv.”
McGuinness is unbeaten in seven pro starts, with two early finishes and, at 23, is the younger man heading into the contest. A former Senior ABA quarter-finalist and England international, Tom had 54 fights as an amateur, losing just 11.
Day’s ledger is almost perfect, with just a single loss from six bouts. The sole blemish on the 28-year-old’s record came last year when he lost by a single point to experienced County Durham fighter, Jordan Ellison. With 20 wins from 30 contests, ‘Boom Boom’ also had a decent amateur career that saw him trialling for the GB squad.
Ahead of the contest, there is mutual respect between the pair, but both are sure of victory. Although they could have kept building up their records against journeymen, neither had any qualms about accepting the fight; knowing a win will move them onto a title opportunity. Importantly, both are predicting their fight will be great entertainment for the fans.
“Colin’s a good fighter. He’s a few years older than me, so I’ve always seen him box,” said McGuinness. “He’s impressive and always in exciting fights, and I think our fight will be exciting too. He’ll come and try to put it on me, and he’ll fancy his chances as much as I do. It should make for a great one to watch, but it’s one I need to win, and in style. But for as long as it lasts, it’ll be exciting.
“He can box as well as fight, and I can fight as well as box, and whoever is going to win the fight needs to do both. To win, I’m going to have to show I can fight as well as box, and he’s going to have to have another plan apart from just coming forward. I one hundred per cent believe I can win. It could be a tough fight, but I believe I’ll come out looking good. I want to win in style and want to win by stoppage.”
“He’s a good fighter. I believe he’ll have a standoff-ish approach, and I’ll probably be the more aggressive fighter,” countered Day. “I can box, but because of the size difference, everyone expects me to come and fight because he’s the taller man, but I can box too. I can probably win on points, if I stick to the plan.
“I took this fight because I work, and I don’t want to keep working and boxing – I want to box, or I want to work. If I don’t win then I’ll have to have a serious think about what I want to do, but if I win it gives me the incentive to move onto bigger things. I want to try and move as fast as I can, and fight for either the Central Area Title, or English. I think it will be a good, exciting fight to watch because we’ve both got to try and make a statement. I’m confident I’ll win, I think I’ll be too strong.”
VIP Promotions presents an evening of boxing at the Liverpool Olympia on November 30.
Headlining will be Liverpool’s Tom McGuinness versus Sklemersdale’s Colin Day.
Also appearing will be Liverpool’s Luke Willis, Sean Cairns, Marcel Braithwaite, Jay Farrell, Matthew Rennie and James Collins; Birkenhead’s Sean Dodd; Wales’ Cameron Halfpenny; and Warrington’s Mike Mckay.
Tickets priced at £30, £35, £40 and £60 (ringside) are available from all boxers, or at vipboxing.tv
The show will also be streamed live and free at vipboxing.tv
Keep updated on VIP Promotions’ news by visiting vipboxing.tv or follow on Twitter @vipboxing and Facebook. Subscribe to the VIP YouTube channel to get notifications about the latest videos.