MTK Global is delighted to announce the signing of Randal Barlow as he turns professional.

Barlow has experience boxing as an amateur in both the UK and Ireland, and he’s excited to now be joining the paid ranks.

Barlow said: “I’m over the moon to sign with MTK. Everything I get from the team I’m going to give back tenfold and prove to everyone just what I can do.

“I’ve put a lot of time into boxing and have been doing it for 19 years now. I had an amateur career in Ireland then came to the UK and had some fights over here.

“I’m going to give this 100 percent. Training will step up and there will be some hard graft now. I want to hopefully get out three to four times this year.”

Promoter Lee Eaton added: “We’re thrilled to welcome Randal to the team as he makes his first steps as a professional.

“We’re going to keep him busy over these next 12 months and we’re excited to see what he has to offer when he makes his debut later this year.”

Hadi Srour (2-0, KOs) returns to the professional ring on March 2 at the SØR Amfi in Arendal to face Zoltan Szabo (25-15, 11 KOs) on the undercard of Kai Robin Havnaa’s cruiserweight showdown with Rad ‘Thunder’ Rashid.

Srour is one of Norway’s most exciting boxing prospects with over 100 amateur wins to his name, and has successfully transitioned to the professional ranks with stoppage victories over Michael Mooney and Artur Zemlianyi.

The Tønsberg-boxer will now test his skills against Hungary’s Zoltan Szabo, who recently went the distance with 2016 Olympic Gold medallist Daniyar Yeleussinov, has stopped Stephen Ormond inside five rounds, and proved a tough test for top UK prospects Ohara Davies and Robbie Davis Jnr.

Despite his opponent’s pedigree, the 23 year-old Srour says he is confident in his ability and plans to continue his one hundred percent stoppage streak, even going so far as to predict in which round he will end the fight.

“I’m looking forward to fighting in Arendal and performing in front of a packed out crowd at the SØR Amfi on March 2,” said Srour.

“Since my last professional fight, I've been to three international tournaments in Turkey, Finland and Serbia. I’ve boxed nine fights against top boxers and won seven of those. I’ve also knocked out two boxers in these tournaments, which shows how my style has changed since turning professional.

“I’ll be coming into this fight in my best shape ever, so expect fireworks. I started my training camp sparring IBF Youth World Champion Enock Poulsen, and next week, I’m starting an international training camp with some of the best boxers in the world, so I couldn’t ask for better preparations.

“Szabo is a huge step up for me, but everyone loves a gamble, and I trust my skill set, so let’s go. I like to take my time in the ring so I can showcase my skills. I will play with him for five rounds, then shut him down in the sixth. Get your tickets now and buckle up because it’s going to be a wild ride!”

Kai Robin Havnaa returns to the SØR Amfi in Arendal on March 2 to headline his hometown arena in his toughest career test against Rad Rashid.

Hadi Srour meets Zoltan Szabo in a six-round super lightweight contest.

Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.no or by calling (+47) 22 82 81 97.

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO- The WBO Latino champion at 126 pounds, Luis "Popeye" Lebrón will have the main turn at the start of the successful series "A Puño Limpio" in 2019 when he faces Josean "El Tren" Figueora this Friday at the Ruben Zayas Montañez Coliseum in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico in a presentation of PR Best Boxing Promotions (PRBBP) in association with Spartan Boxing.

"We start our A Puño Limpio series of 2019 with the WBO Latino featherweight champ Popeye Lebrón taking a new step in his career, since he will go down to 122 pounds to continue his career in that weight," said promoter Iván Rivera, President of PRBBP. "We will also have Puerto Rican prospects in another seven bouts to continue giving action to the Puerto Rican fighters on this platform."

San Juan native, Popeye Lebron (14-0-1, 7 kos), ranked #11 by the WBO at featherweight, fought five times in 2018 when he became the WBO Latino champion at 126 pounds making two successful defenses. On Friday he will fight against the experienced El Tren Figueroa (12-5-2, 9 kos), from Aguada, in an eight rounds scheduled bout at 122 pounds.

Full details of this show, which will be broadcast live on Facebook Live (www.facebook.com/PRBestBoxing), will be presented on Wednesday at the final press conference to be held at the Rubén Zayas Montañez Coliseum in Trujillo Alto.

MTK Global is delighted to announce the signing of former Commonwealth and English champion John O’Donnell as he looks to have a big impact in 2019.

O’Donnell (32-2) has mixed at title level for a number of years, and he has fired out a warning to the rest of the welterweight division as he prepares to make his return.

O’Donnell said: “I'm over the moon to sign with MTK. They’re doing wonders for boxing and they are one of the best teams in the business.

“I want to get in the ring as soon as possible. It’s been nearly two years since my last fight. I’m ready to get as active as I can and get some titles in the next 12 months and make a statement.

“After signing for a big company like MTK I’ve got the buzz back and the fire in my belly. I’ve been training hard over Christmas and New Year. Welterweights watch out, I’m coming.”

Promoter Lee Eaton added: “It’s great to welcome John to the team. He’s a great fighter and is a former Commonwealth and English champion who has been involved in many great fights in the past.

“After nearly two years out he will have one fight back and then will be straight back into those sorts of big fights.”

Undefeated featherweight Raza Hamza will be back in action on the MTK Global show at Manchester’s Bowlers Exhibition Centre on March 15.

The promising Birmingham youngster (11-0-1-KO6) joins the likes of Ben Sheedy, Macaulay McGowan, Craig Bunn and Mike McGoldrick on a busy night of boxing – live on iFL TV.

Hamza was last seen producing a crunching stoppage victory over Johnson Tellez in Leicester back in October and will be eager to take another significant step on his journey towards titles.

Bidding to bounce back from a title defeat is middleweight Sheedy (10-1-1-KO4), who was denied the Central Area strap by Matthew Wigglesworth in an entertaining to-and-fro battle last summer.

Returning to action after around 18 months out will be the promising super-welterweight McGowan (12-0-1-KO2), while light-heavyweight Bunn (9-1-2-KO2) begins the year keen to stay active.

Barrovian McGoldrick (3-0) continues to build in his first six-rounder on a card topped by the WBO European featherweight title fight between Mullingar’s undefeated Davey Oliver Joyce and Scotland’s Stephen Tiffney.

Lewis Benson is among a host of popular Scottish fighters confirmed for the undercard of MTK Global’s fight night in Glasgow on March 22.

 

Benson (10-2-KO2) returns alongside the likes of David Brophy, Michael McGurk, Reece McFadden and Jack Turner and is looking to make a statement after a razor-thin points defeat to Tyrone McKenna last time out.

With the domestic super-lightweight scene continuing to flourish, Benson will be keen to push himself into the title mix having been on the wrong end of close decisions against both McKenna and Johnny Coyle.

Another man eager to secure a shot at a title this year is Caldercruix super-middleweight David Brophy (21-2-1-KO4), who is aiming to run up a quick-fire hat-trick of victories at the arena on the night.

Also returning to action is former WBC world youth champion McGurk (11-0-KO3), who fights for just the second time in over a year having finally overcome a frustrating run of injuries.

Motherwell’s two-time Commonwealth Games medallist Reece McFadden will bring his noisy army of support back to the venue that hosted the bantamweight’s debut in November, and the promising Turner will make his professional bow.