TORONTO, ON—Two of Lee Baxter Promotions’ stars will take significant steps in their journey towards world titles on October 25 at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto.

 

In the main event, super welterweight contender Stanyslav Skorokhod battles Races “El Faraon” Payano. Skorokhod returns to the site of his Canadian debut, where he knocked out Nestor Garcia back in 2017. Since then, he has gone 3-0 in his adopted “fighting home” of Toronto, and aside from a controversial decision loss to Aram Amirkhanyan in 2018, has been undefeated since 2015.

Skorokhod (18-2, 13 KOs) was a competitor in ESPN's prestigious Boxcino tournament, and had a lengthy and storied amateur career in his homeland, fighting in the same amateur system that has produced Vasyl Lomachenko and Oleksandr Usyk.

“If you look at Stan’s record, both of his losses were absolutely debatable. As far as he’s concerned, he’s an undefeated fighter,” said Baxter. “He has a style that fans love to watch, and it’s only a matter of time before he gets his big shot.”

In the co-main event, middleweight contender Patrice Volny clashes with Uriel Gonzalez. Volny is currently the No. 8 contender for the WBA title currently held by Canelo Alvarez, the No. 7 contender for Demetrius Andrade’s WBO title, and the No. 9 contender for the vacant IBF title which Sergey Derevyanchenko and Gennadiy Golovkin will fight for on October 5.

Standing in the way of all the potential colossal bouts is the upset-minded Gonzalez, who TKOd the previously unbeaten prospect Nicolas Masseroni in his most recent bout. Canadian fans will also be familiar with Gonzalez thanks to his 2017 Fight of the Year candidate with Francis Lafreniere in Quebec City.

“Middleweight is the glamor division in boxing right now, and Patrice has the talent and the personality to be a major player within it,” said Baxter.

The undercard will also feature undefeated light heavyweight prospect Nick Fantauzzi, who returns after a gutsy victory over Maximiliano Corso in March, in which he won a decision despite fighting with a broken hand.

“Nick is one of the most reliable action fighters in all of Canada, and particularly in Toronto, there are few fighters with as loyal a fanbase as him,” said Baxter. “When you see Nick Fantauzzi on the bout sheet, there’s a good chance he’s going to steal the show.”

In addition, undefeated featherweight prospect Ross Mylet will be in action for the third time in 2019. The former North American kickboxing champion will look to extend his flawless run against an opponent to be named later.

The card will also feature the pro debut of former Golden Gloves champion Tania Walters, as well as a light heavyweight slugfest between Devin Tomko and Marco Parente.

Joseph Laws is a rising undefeated star so popular in Newcastle one of his female fans streaked around ringside to mark his last victory.

 

‘The Benwell Bomber’ (6-0, 3 KOs) is back at the Eagles Community Arena on another #MTKFightNight on September 28.

 

An effervescent personality, Laws has defied a tragic start to his life – he struggled through a premature birth that resulted in the death of his twin to regain health and become a promising athlete.

Now with a growing fanbase on Tyneside, he’s determined to reach the limits of his potential; wherever they might be.

The 25-year-old Laws said: “I’m just myself all the time. Some fighters stop being themselves when they progress and act like someone they’re not. I won’t be doing that. Whether I’m playing badminton or chess, I’ll always be me.

“Obviously, sometimes that involves doing stupid things. A few people know that I knocked my front teeth out by going down the local theme park ride head first. There are lots of little stories like that and in general, people think I’m a bit crazy.

“I’m already a big ticket-seller but I don’t make any effort to do that – I’m just being me and people seem to like it. Up the north-east!

“These MTK Global shows are huge for the boxing scene here in Newcastle and I can’t want to be part of it again. I just want to be the best I can be – whether that is at domestic level or as world champion. I want to look back and say: ‘I gave it a go.’”

So… will we see a repeat of the celebratory nudity in the crowd that followed his shutout win over Geiboord Omier back in May?

Laws said: “I didn’t actually know the streaker thing was going to happen. I was stood there in the ring after my fight and I was happy to be announced the winner… then I saw that lass running around!

“For me, it was a good bit of publicity! She’s earned herself a free ticket for my next fight.”

Joining Laws on a busy bill in Newcastle are heavyweight Simon Vallily, world-ranked super-bantam Thomas Patrick Ward, Welsh wizard Andrew Selby and many more.

North-west fight fans get a second chance to savour the smooth southpaw skills of soaring super-featherweight Alex Dilmaghani when the fast rising star tops the Premier Suite, University of Bolton Stadium, Bolton on Saturday 28th September, exclusively live on Channel 5 from 9pm.

The classy 28-year-old from Crayford, Kent, who enters on an incredible eight and a half year unbeaten streak and who earned lavish plaudits when he returned to Britain from a five year campaign in North America - to defeat the Slovakian hard case Martin Parlagi at Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse in late May - shall be seeking to smash his way into the world rankings by neutralising Nicaragua’s nuclear hitting and two-time World title challenger Francisco Fonseca.

The high-grade contenders collide over 12 rounds for the Vacant WBA International belt – and a guaranteed world rating – in a salivating contrast of styles that stands as a world title eliminator in all but name. The show will be promoted by Mick Hennessy in association with Steve Wood VIP Boxing Promotions, screened live in the UK on free-to-air Channel Five and 5Spike.

Originally, Dilmaghani was scheduled to headline for the first time in his home county of Kent but due to unforeseen venue difficulties with The Mote Park Theatre, promoter Hennessy has switched to where dazzler Dilma was so well received in late spring.

The frighteningly focussed Southampton University law graduate who took himself to Mexico to learn under legendary trainer Nacho Beristain and alongside the great Juan Manuel Marquez is unlikely to be unsettled by the late switch, but promoter Hennessy tendered the following explanation.

‘We apologise to the fans who were expecting Alex to headline in Kent for the first time, but at this short notice we have had no alternative but to move the fight,"

‘Nevertheless, we’re delighted to work again in association with renowned promoter Steve Wood and his VIP Boxing Promotions team who already had a great show in place for that date and now with Dilmaghani v Fonseca added as the main event, together we are thrilled to present a fantastic evening of Championship Boxing, live on Channel 5,”

‘Alex will get a fabulous opportunity to show why he is the dangerman in the 130lb division and why he has been avoided like the plague by his rivals.  This is a real fight for Alex against a hard and experienced fighter in Fonseca who only has two very competitive losses against elite world level fighters in Gervonta Davis and Tevin Farmer.  I’m seriously excited about this fight and I can’t wait to see Alex perform to his best and show precisely what I have been talking about - that’s he’s boxing's best kept secret.”

Chief support on the talent stacked undercard sees undefeated starlets Jack ‘The Giant Killer’ Flatley and Harry ‘Hammer Time’ Scarff fight it out over 10 rounds for the former’s English super-welter title. Bolton wonder Flatley, a former national amateur finalist at both junior and senior level, is yet to be beaten in 16 but the ex-England international can expect to be stretched right to the limit by 7-0 Derby six footer Scarff in a mouthwatering match-up.

Wood is thrilled to add the premium Dilmaghani-Fonseca title showdown to top his already quality stacked show and deliver fans a thrilling night of action.  He said, “It was short notice, but I’m pleased that VIP Boxing Promotions could assist Mick Hennessy and Channel 5. We’re excited to add the International title fight between Dilmaghani and Fonseca to the show that will compliment the English title showdown between the unbeaten contenders Flatley and Scarff, plus some of our best young talent will get tremendous exposure on 5Spike.”

Promoter Hennessy’s son, Michael Hennessy Jr, an all action middleweight who is undefeated in two, is set to feature in a six rounder and a full undercard featuring several of Steve Wood’s rising talents is set to garnish an unmissable night of entertainment.

Passions are sure to run high when Darwen’s robust Mickey Ellison (9-2) locks horns with Manchester technician Charlie Schofield (unbeaten in 16) in a seriously spicy looking eliminator for the English super-middleweight belt.

Popular Wigan welterweight James Moorcroft and Oldham’s turbo charged Andy Kremner will be banking to triumph in separate six rounders before clashing against each other back at the Bolton Whites in December. The former goes up against Manchester circuit fighter Sam Omidi whilst the returning Kremner seeks to become the first to stop Cannock tough man Lee Gunter.

Prestwich pressure fighter Sean Ben Mulligan, beaten just once in 11, endeavours to edge yet further up the domestic super-welter rankings by prevailing in a Roses rumble with 71 fight Driffield warmonger Danny ‘Lethal’ Little.

Wigan lightweight Rhiannon Dixon debuts over four rounds against nine fight Lithuanian Vaida Maseokaite, a regular visitor to these shores.

Stretford’s Bradley Rea, Wigan’s Andrew Fleming and Stockport’s Jack Booth are three local lads who’ll be seeking to extend their perfect slates. Middleweight Rea, described as ‘a serious talent’ by promoter Wood, will be hoping to go seven-up in an Anglo-Scottish affair with Stranraer’s significantly more seasoned Paul Allison. Also over six, Fleming, a strong super-lightweight southpaw, intends to stretch his streak to eight against an opponent still to be announced while Matthew Hatton’s all-action super-middle starlet Booth will be looking to defuse ‘Baltic Bomber’ Genadij Krejevskij from Lithuania in an intriguing international four-rounder.