Liam Walsh and Frank Buglioni have had their challengers confirmed for the O2 arena show on Saturday February 28th, serving as chief support to Tyson Fury’s fight against Christian Hammer and Chris Eubank Jr’s challenge against Dmitry Chudinov.
Undefeated Walsh will put both titles on the line against old Manchester rival Joe Murray in a rematch, whilst Buglioni makes the first defense – in his second reign as champion – of the title against Ivan Jukic.
For Cromer star Walsh, he believes that the public will see a much better fighter than in the first fight in September 2013 when he comprehensively outboxed Murray on the judges scorecards, but feels it was one of his worst performances.
“Murray personally asked me for the rematch after the first fight and I promised that I’d give him a chance in the first opportunity and I’ve now honoured that,” Said Walsh.
“The first fight was close, but without making excuses, I feel that I wasn’t at my best that night and I made plenty of mistakes, in fact I cringe when I watch the replays as I was so bad,”
“I promise this time around I will do a much better job on Murray and the public will see the real me, 100% and ready to put on a career best performance,”
“Since the first Murray fight I’ve taken myself to an overseas training camp in Tenerife and it’s given me an extra lift which has resulted in better showings against Kevin Hooper and Gary Sykes,”
“So the rematch against Murray doesn’t feel like I’m going over old ground, it’s a completely new fight for me, I’m a totally different fighter and if he’s preparing for the old Liam Walsh he’s in for a big mistake,”
“I’m maturing mentally and physically as a fighter, I’m 28 now, this is the time to step up so people can start seeing the best of me,”
“Whilst I’ve been out with injuries, I’m now fighting regularly, the Sykes fight was three months ago and I’ve barely stopped training since,”
“I don’t want it to be a 12 round bore fest, I want to put in an exciting performance and I’ll do that against Murray.”
Enfield ace Buglioni is excited to return to action and defend his title against tough Croatian Jukic following his brutal battle with Andrew Robinson last November to reclaim his belt.
“It’s the start of a busy year for me and I’m going to keep on the course that I’m on and picking up the titles and working my way to one of my ambitions of winning the Lonsdale belt,” Said Buglioni.
“I’ve been working hard in Ireland with my trainers Steve and Paschal Collins and I believe that I’m improving with every fight, although there is still a lot of work to be done,”
“The Robinson fight was a tough one, but I enjoyed it in there and gave the crowd plenty of action and I got the result and the belt,”
“I’m not making the mistake of taking Jukic lightly, to me he’s just as dangerous as the best fighters at the weight out there and I need that frame of mind to make me focus and do a job on him,”
“It’s a first for me fighting at the O2 arena, it’s a fantastic venue where some of the best British fighters have fought so I’m looking put on a great performance there and show that I’m one to watch this year.”
An action packed show also features Bradley Skeete returning to action and challenging for the Vacant WBO European Welterweight title; Erith talent Lewis Pettitt defending his WBA International Super-Bantamweight Championship; plus exciting welterweight Ahmet Patterson defending his English Welterweight Championship against Sunderland’s undefeated Glenn Foot that will also be an Eliminator for the British Championship; plus exciting Manchester light-heavyweight Dempsey Fury and the pro-debut of Chingford super-featherweight Boy Jones Jnr.
