MTK Global are delighted to announce that Paul Gibson has joined the company as Director of International Operations.

The appointment forms part of the recent Management Buy-In and Paul will play a key role in MTK Global’s future as it looks to consolidate and then build upon five years of rapid growth. He will be heavily involved in both the boxing and the commercial side of the business.

With over five years’ experience within the corporate banking sector in London, Frankfurt and Edinburgh, Paul brings a wealth of financial expertise to the table.

A lifelong boxing fan, he has more recently been working as a highly-respected journalist and author, covering the sport for outlets such as the Guardian and the BBC while publishing two books on fighters.

Having been based in Spain and Latin America for the past seven years, Paul is fluent in Spanish and has connections throughout the Hispanic boxing world. He has already tapped into this network to arrange top class sparring, source opponents and sign fighters.

Born and raised in Belfast, Paul’s longstanding relationships with MTK Global boxers such as Jamie and Michael Conlan and Carl Frampton make him a natural fit for the company and MTK Global co-founder Matthew Macklin believes there is no one better to fulfil the role:

“It is great to have Paul on board,” says Macklin. “I have known him for years through his media work and there is no doubt he knows boxing. The new management team head-hunted him and when I discovered his background in finance I knew he’d be perfect to help carry MTK Global forward onto the next level.”

Paul can’t wait to get started: “It was too exciting an opportunity to turn down. What MTK Global has achieved in such a short space of time is incredible and all the fighters I have spoken with have only good things to say about the company. There are some big plans being put in place for 2018 and I’m looking forward to working with the new management team and being part of the journey now.”

Further announcements on new management personnel will follow shortly.

 Sunderland hard case Glenn Foot intends to expose Josh Leather as a pampered pup when the north-easterners collide for the IBF European super-lightweight title, a world ranking, and crucial local bragging rights at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena on Saturday.

Guisborough’s gifted Leather, a former ABA champion, in unbeaten in a dozen as a pro with the final five all flattened inside schedule. Nevertheless, the 30 year old Foot is less than impressed.

‘So Josh is unbeaten but who has he boxed?’ asks the Wearside warlord who has won 21 of 23 (six quick) and already scalped seven unbeaten men in the pros.

‘I‘ve watched him and definitely don’t regard him as a top prospect. He does most things correct but he’s just a basic straight puncher. He’s easily beat(en).

‘There’s no way the Phil Sutcliffe fight should’ve been stopped. Leather got lucky there (rsc6) and, besides, there’s no way Phil and his team would’ve agreed to fight me. Look at how many unbeaten kids I’ve faced in my career. I’ve never dodged anyone.

‘Josh is IBF European champion but only till November 11th. He better enjoy his belt while he’s still got it. This is a 12 round fight and he’s still never been past round six!

The Tees-Wearside derby dust-up takes place on the banks of the Tyne but mighty Mackem Foot expects to be warmly received by the Geordie fight faithful.

‘Josh is from Middlesbrough way and there’s rivalry between our towns in the football but I think the fans will just view us as two north-east fighters,’ says the former Prizefighter and English champion.

‘Whenever I’ve boxed in Newcastle before, I’ve always received a great reception. The fans expect you to put on a show and I’m gonna give ‘em one, guaranteed. I’ve always had a good fan base and I’ve already sold about 250 tickets.’

The contrasting styles should mesh to provide a boxer-fighter classic for the fans and the feisty Foot predicts that his natural aggression and greater seasoning will ultimately prove the decisive factors.

‘I’m gonna put on a real exciting performance for the BT Sport and BoxNation viewers,’ he promises.

‘At the age of 30, I simply can’t afford to lose this fight. This is an opportunity to get me back up to where I should be.

‘Leather’s bragging that he’s gonna stop me in eight rounds with body shots. I’d love him to try. (Ex British and European welter king) Sam Eggington could dig but he couldn’t stop us.  Believe me, you couldn’t stop me if you were armed with a mell hammer!

‘But if Leather wants to be a man, stand toe to toe with us and put a show on for all these fabulous fans, good luck to him. Nah, he’s gonna run like a thief.

‘Clearly, his team thinks I’m done and dusted. He’s in for the biggest shock of his life. I win because I’ve got more skill, more heart, a bigger shot and I’m tougher and more determined.’

Main event on a huge evening of boxing in Newcastle sees former WBO Super-Welterweight World Champion Liam Smith (25-1-1) rematch with bitter rival and current British Champion Liam Williams (16-1-1)

Country Durham’s Thomas Patrick Ward (20-0) defends his British Super-Bantamweight Championship against Brimingham’s Sean Davis (13-1-0)

Ricky Hatton-trained Heavyweight talent Nathan Gorman (10-0) faces undefeated German Heavyweight Mohamed Soltby (13-0) for the Vacant WBC International Heavyweight title.

Explosive Super-Middleweight Mark Heffron (Oldham, 16-0) another of Ricky Hatton’s excellent young stable of fighters, takes on former Tommy Langford and Jamie Cox opponent Lewis Taylor (19-4-1); undefeated Jeff Saunders (11-0) of Sedgefield takes on undefeated Liverpudlian Steven Lewis (14-0)

In addition, local prospects Troy Williamson (Darlington, 3-0) Kalam Leather (Guisborough, 2-0) Joe Maphosa (Thornaby, 1-0) and Michael Watson (Sedgefield, Pro debut) will all appear on the bill.

Wolverhampton’s Antony Woolery “feels like a million dollars” as he prepares to put on a show for his supporters with his professional debut. Woolery will enter the pro ranks in the cruiserweight division on Saturday November 25 and has sold the best part of 150 tickets.

At the age of 32, time is not on his side so he’s looking to get going as quickly as possible, starting at the Imperial Banqueting Suite on Lichfield Street in Bilston, Wolverhampton.

The punching plumber features on Errol Johnson’s BCB Promotions show, having taken on Johnson as his manager and trainer with Paul Mann also coaching him.

He grew in Deansfield, but now lives in the Staffordshire village of Dunston. He’ll box a European opponent when he turns over.

He will face Latvia’s Dmitrij Kalinovskij, who has a chequered record of 11 wins, 38 defeats and four draws. The 25-year-old has scored five TKOs and been stopped eight times.

Woolery has amateur experience under the tutelage of ex-pro Richard Carter and won England Development area and West Midlands honours.

Belts are still very much in his thinking and, with the Midlands title at the weight currently vacant, there’s reason to get moving quickly.

Coventry’s Dilly Singh won a British Challenge strap inside four fights at cruiser earlier this year, so there’s a potential match down the line.

 “I want to get as many fights in as I can over the next 18 months and I’m feeling fitter than I’ve ever been,” he told bcb-promotions.com

“I’ve got a lot of people coming to watch me and I’m going back to the old Ant, which means I’ll be looking to knock people out.

“I’m not the silkiest or most skilful of boxers, but I can punch. I just want to challenge myself and go as hard and fast as I can.

“I’d love to fight for the British title and, if you look at the division, everything leading up to that level is pretty poor. It’s wide open, really.

“First thing is first, let’s get my debut out of the way and I might even look at doing a six-rounder for my second fight. I feel fit enough to do it.”

Woolery supports the main event for the vacant Midlands light heavyweight title, which will be contested between Tipton’s Ricky Summers and Coventry’s Joe Sherriff.

Jason Welborn and James Beech Jnr, who are both signed to the MTK Birmingham stable, also feature on the under-card, as do Stoke-based duo Luke Caci and Nathan Heaney.

BCB Promotions return to the Imperial two weeks later on Saturday December 9, for what will be a festive fight night. Black Country quartet Sam Evans, Tommy Ghent, Danny Ball and debutant Connor Lee Jones do the honours in the home corner that night, along with Irishman Steven Power.

Tickets for both shows at the Imperial are on sale now, by contacting the boxers or online at iboxingtickets.com.

They are priced at £35 standard and £60 ringside, the latter option to include food. It will be £40 entry on the door come fight night.

The Grosvenor Casino Walsall will sponsor the show and host the weigh in and after-show party (over 18s).