MTK Global: New Beginnings

MTK Global: New Beginnings

By Richard Lewis

As we roll into September and the start of another new Boxing season the popular MTK Global promotions come to Cardiff this Friday 7th hosting a first professional Boxing show at the Vale Sports Arena.

The card entitled ‘New Beginnings’ includes a plethora of Welsh talent headlined by former British and Commonwealth champion and interim World Title challenger Liam Williams. It is certainly a ‘New Beginning’ for Williams too with the popular man from Clydach Vale, who recently having had a long and successful partnership with trainer Gary Lockett has swapped that to further push himself on outside of his comfort zone, teaming up with Dominic Ingle, son of the famous and late Brendan of the Ingle gym in Sheffield. This will be the first outing for Liam since doing so and I’m sure that he will as always have plenty of fans cheering him on from ringside on the night as he takes on Nicaraguan challenger Edwin Palacios (12-6-1), knowing a win and good performance will help to set the ground running in his new partnership with Dominic Ingle as he looks to rebuild his career and challenge again for titles with a world title amongst his main aims and ambitions.

Also on the card is the tough and well supported Lightweight Craig Evans. Coming off a 9th round TKO loss to the hard hitting Russian Roman Andreev last time out doesn’t tell the full story with the Blackwood man ahead on all three judges scorecards at the time of the stoppage despite being the away fighter. Craig will be looking to put in a good performance and return to winning ways against domestic level opposition in the form of Brad Botham (5-5-1), knowing a win will keep him amongst the top 10 in Britain as he looks to push on with his career and hopefully challenge for domestic and European honours again in the not too distant future.

Having faced the toughest challenge of his professional career so far last time out against Irishman Dylan McDonagh on the Matchroom NXTGEN show last month in Cardiff’s Ice Arena, Newport native Sean McGoldrick is not hanging around, and he will have a chance to show his talent to his home crowd once again as he faces another Nicaraguan in the form of Cristian Narvaez (15-9-4). Many will know and recognise this name as he earlier this year fought and lost to fellow Welshman Jay Harris and also Londoner Sunny Edwards having gone the distance over 6 rounds on both occasions. The two time Commonwealth Games medalist under the tutelage of new trainer Gavin Rees, having previously been a part of Tony Borg’s gym, will be looking to continue his undefeated streak that has so far seen him amass an excellent 7-0 record, and is definitely one to keep an eye on to really push ahead in the next twelve months as he looks to challenge for domestic honours and above.

Also on the card is another undefeated Welshman, and another trained by former World Champion Gavin Rees, in the form of the highly touted Super Middleweight come Light-Heavyweight Kody Davies. The well mannered and softly spoken man from Pontllanfraith boasts an impressive record of 6-0 with two of those victories coming inside the distance, and can also call upon David Haye as a fan, with the former Cruiserweight king signing Kody to his promotional company Hayemaker Promotions. He meets Austrian journeyman Jevgenijs Andrejevs (10-98-3) in what will no doubt be another learning fight before he is given a major push towards domestic titles, bigger fights and tougher levels of opponent before too long.

Making up the rest of the card is Rhoose man Lance Cooksey, who trains out of the famous Tony Borg Boxing gym of Newport. He will be up against former Southern Area Champion and English Featherweight title challenger Jamie Speight (15-28) in what could prove to be the fight of the night and could certainly be Cooksey’s toughest test of his pro career thus far as he looks to protect his undefeated record of six wins and no losses.

Also we see the third outing for the exciting Cardiff Featherweight Jacob Robinson. Unbeaten in his first two fights with a superb stoppage victory on his debut, Southpaw Robinson has plenty of ability and power and with Dad Steve, a former European and World Featherweight Champion in his corner as his trainer he’s in good hands, and I’m sure plenty of Welsh Boxing fans are already sitting up and taking notice of him. This will be another chance for him to show his talent in his first six rounder as a pro as he meets Londoner Jules Phillips (2-20).

The undefeated Welshman theme continues with the highly touted Cardiff Light-Middleweight Jamie (JJ) Evans in against Dwain Grant (2-5-1), whilst another Darren Wilson trained Boxer in Jermaine Asare looks to return to winning ways at Light-Heavyweight having last fought in December of 2017, losing heavily by a 2nd round TKO to Nathan Thorley for the vacant Welsh Area title. His opponent as yet to be announced. Completing the card and lastly but by no means least is Maredudd Thomas who is trained by Gary Lockett and competes in the Welterweight division. At the time of writing his opponent also is to be announced but he will be looking to build on the 2-0 record he has gained and get himself in the frame for more fights as he builds his fledgling professional career.

I wish all the Boxers well and am personally really looking forward to attending this show and hope that it is a success and we see MTK return to Wales in the future, giving Welsh Boxing and the Boxers the promotion and push that they thoroughly deserve.