British Champion Earl's Deadly Round of

Bela-Russian Roulette

By Curtis McCormack

In less than three short weeks, British and Commonwealth Champion Graham Earl will boldly come face to face with the most dangerous European fighter in the talent laden lightweight division, Yuri Romanov, as the two headline Maloney Promotions' exciting fight card from Goresbrook Leisure Centre in Dagenham, England on Friday, January 27th. Earl is coming off a riveting performance last summer that saw the Luton man outgun hardened campaigner Kevin Bennett to add the Commonwealth crown to his existing British title but this time Earl may have bitten off more than he can handle. The Eastern European titlist, Romanov has already seen off some of the best men at lightweight that the UK has to offer in the form of Bobby Vanzie and Steve Murray, and the Belarussian spoiler is determined to do the same to Earl in front of a nationwide audience that will watch the highly anticipated contest on Sky Sports. For Graham Earl, this isn't just a bout that will build upon his current # 9 ranking with the WBO and propel him into true world class standing but also a mission to defend the honor of boxing in the United Kingdom.

Earl registered razor thin wins over Vanzie in both 2003 and 2004, winning the British title on both occasions but in each instance the one point victories caused a great stir, sharply dividing the UK boxing community. Next came the second Murray fight for Earl but disaster then struck immediately afterward as the big hearted domestic titlist was shockingly outboxed by an unbeaten yet far less experienced Scotsman, Ricky Burns, in February of last year during a non-title bout. Afterward, Earl claimed that he was no longer able to motivate himself against lesser opposition such as Burns, who just a year later is now facing Alex Arthur for the European, Commonwealth and British Super Featherweight titles.

In stark contrast to Earl's tooth and nail struggles against the octopus-like Vanzie, Yuri Romanov, 17-1 (11), couldn't have dominated the Bradford speedster more completely. Six months before Earl defeated Vanzie for the first time, the relentlessly tough Belarussian, just twenty years old at the time, soaked up the best his opponent had to offer and simply beat "The Viper" from one side of the ring to the other, canvassing his adversary five times before the action was mercifully brought to a close by referee Micky Vann in the eighth round. Throw in a bruising ten round stoppage of Murray, and it's safe to say that the man from Minsk has no qualms about facing yet another Englishman on British soil.

By Curtis McCormack

With only New Year's Eve left to celebrate, British and Commonwealth Lightweight Champion Graham Earl is chomping at the bit for January 27th to come around so he can celebrate his holidays all in one go, roughly a month too late. And the Luton man is steaming about having to reschedule the time with his family.

The object of Earl's anger on that date will be world class Belarussian lightweight Yuri Romanov and the double champion knows that he cannot flinch in this clash with the dangerous Brit killer. Neither fighter can afford a loss on the Maloney Promotions card at the Goresbrook Leisure Centre in Dagenham, England as the winner of this genuine scrap will go onto meaningful world class fights while the loser will have no where to go.

Graham Earl intends to put a stop to Romanov coming to British shores and beating the top domestic lightweights "He already has the scalps of Bobby Vanzie and Steve Murray sitting on his mantelpiece but he is not going to get mine because if he does then he will be entitled to drape the Union Jack over his mantelpiece as well and claim that he owns our lightweight division," said the iron chinned British and Commonwealth Champion.

Earl went on to add "I have given up Christmas and the New Year and missed taking my family to a Christmas Pantomime; there is no way Romanov will get my scalp to take back to Belarussia!"

This contest has been rescheduled from October 05 due to a rib injury suffered by Earl but the extra preparation time has been a blessing in disguise. Earl's trainer Johnny Eames has said that the British public will see a much fitter, determined and classier fighter in Earl on the 27th of January.

"This time we have been able to concentrate on coaching and technique work, not just getting him fit to fight," said Eames.

This show will also feature what Maloney Promotions believe to be one of the best young stables in British boxing and the London based firm has gone as far as to say that three of the boys on this promotion will go on to become major players on the world stage in the very near future.

Tickets are now on sale for this real lightweight battle, which takes place on January 27th 2006 at the Goresbrook Leisure Centre in Dagenham.

For further information contact Maloney Promotions on 020 8692 6313.

All press applications must be received by Monday 23rd January 2006 at Jamesjrussell@btconnect.com.

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