Eddie Hearn held a press conference at Newcastle United FC on Monday to unveil their latest addition to Matchroom Boxing – Bradley Saunders 10(8)-0-0, and the announcement that he had been added to the undercard of Cleverley-Bellew II on November 22nd in Liverpool.
The hard-hitting WBO Inter-Continental light-welterweight champion then jetted off to Ireland the following day to spar the current WBO European lightweight champion, Stephen Ormond 17(8)-1-0 at his gym in Dublin.
While Saunders used the sparring session as preparation for his next fight in under two weeks time at The Echo Arena in Liverpool; Ormond, 31-years-old from Dublin, prepares to defend his title against unbeaten Terry Flanagan 25(9)-0-0 in Sheffield on December 13th.
“The last few days have been hectic,” said Saunders. “I wish I got paid air miles but it will all be worth it in the end.”
On sparring with the WBO European lightweight champion known in Ireland as ‘The Rock’, Saunders went on to say, “Ste has been top sparring for me. He is looking at a world title next year and these are the ones that I want to be in there with – no less. I am looking forward to the 22nd now.”
Saunders’ coach from The MGM Gym in Marbella, Seamus Macklin has ulterior motives for travelling to his country of origin as older brother Matthew fights in Dublin at the weekend when he faces WBC International middleweight champion, Jorge Sebastian Heiland at The 3Arena, live on Sky Sports. The 32-year-old Mack the Knife meets the Argentine in a WBC World title eliminator in his first fight in Ireland since December 2009.
Saunders’ bow under Hearn comes on a huge night of boxing in Merseyside as Bellew and Cleverly meet in their long-awaited rematch, with Scott Quigg and Jamie McDonnell defending their World titles against Hidenori Othake and Walberto Ramos respectively.
