Local Lightweight prospect Chris Goodwin is set for his first significant title-opportunity on Saturday April 12, when he takes on Irish veteran Oisin Fagan for the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) Intercontinental title at the Northgate Arena in Chester, United Kingdom.
Now 17-2-1 (0), Goodwin lost his professional debut in 2006, but didn’t lose again until he came out on the wrong end of a split decision against Carl Johanneson in a British title eliminator more than five years later. He has since put together three straight victories, and is now ready to take the next step in front of his hometown fans.
Having spent most of his career in the USA, former Irish champion Oisin Fagan made his debut in 2003. He has been in the ring with big names such as Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Paul Spadafora and Amir Khan, and put together a stellar 27-8 (16) record.
In the evening’s second title bout, former British Masters Champion Paul “Spartan” Economides, 13-5 (0), is in with Hungarian David Kanalas, 14-10 (7), with the vacant WBF International Super Bantamweight championship on the line.
Both boxers will see this encounter as a big opportunity to get their careers back on track after recent set-backs, and both will know that a loss will likely mean the end to their ambitions of success above domestic level.
Economides was stopped in round seven, due to a swelling under his left eye, in a fight with South African Michael Ramabeletsa last December, while Kanalas is coming off a decision loss to compatriot Gabor Molnar in a title fight this past March.
The show will also feature a full undercard involving local boxers, including the debut of highly touted Nathan Russi, and promoter Mark McCormick of Fight Options is expecting massive support for the hometown fighters. Tickets are available via www.fightoptions.com
www.worldboxingfederation.net
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
