Eddie Hearn announced Matchroom’s Christmas Cracker which will take place at London’s Olympia on December 8th and will feature a 12 fight card including 6 title fights and at yesterday’s press conference he gave us a taster of what to expect at the curtain closer for 2012.
Top of the bill will be Middleweight Darren Barker making his long awaited return to the ring against Kerry Hope following a long lay off due to injury Barker said”I’m glad to be getting back in there and taking the Middleweight division by the horns.”
Lee Purdy will defend his IBF International title against Carson Jones who took Kell Brook the distance earlier in the year with a win catapulting Purdy into the IBF top 5 and a possible big money world title fight. Purdy told DAILY SPORT “I love what I do and just want to please the fans on December 8th.”
Another clash on this action packed card is Gavin Rees v John Murray with Team Murray up for the fight and now just waiting approval from Murray’s promoter Frank Warren.
On fight on the bill sure to be a real crowd puller is the “Battle of London” a re-match between Chis Evangelou and Danny Cassius Connor for the Southern Area Light-Welterweight title, in their last, meeting on the 8th September Connor was the victor 98-94 on points in what a lot of people thought was a close one that could have gone either way. So now they get the chance to do it all again will both guys saying they will win on December 8th. Chris Evangelou told DAILY SPORT “I’m trained and ready for this one and there will only be one winner on the night”
The undercard will feature John Ryder in his first title fight when he faces Kreshnik Qato for the English Middleweight title. Also on the card will be Scotty Cardle and Kal Yafai plus a hoist of other Team Matchroom stars.
Eddie Hearn said”This is our way of saying a big thank you to the fans with a cracking night of boxing to round the year off.”