Peter McDonagh - the popular  'Cinderella Man' - is recovering after an operation to remove a brain tumour and boxing fans and friends alike are rallying to the cause.

The Irishman underwent lengthy but successful surgery and begins his rehabilitation in typically defiant mood.

McDonagh said: "I can't thank everyone for the support enough. It means so much and it seems I've got a few friends now!

"MTK Global have been like family to me and guess what - I can feel a comeback!

"A 15-hour operation is a walk in the park for 'The Cinderella Man'. I just can't wait to get back in the gym.

"It's not the size of the dog in the fight that matters. It's the size of the fight in the dog."

The Galway-born 'Connemara Kid' is a multiple Southern Area and Irish champion.

Unbeaten Lerrone Richards (11-0, 3KOs) will face former British and Commonwealth middleweight champion Tommy Langford (21-3, 6KOs) for the vacant Commonwealth and WBO International super-middleweight titles on April 27 at the SSE Arena, Wembley, live on BT Sport.

‘Sniper the Boss’ has only fought three fighters with winning records during his five-year pro career, picking up his first title in his second to last bout against Rhys Pagan (14-4) in 2017 in the form of the WBO European super-middleweight strap.

His last fight was in March 2018, meaning he would have been inactive for an entire year by the time he steps through the ropes to meet Langford, who has fought 30 rounds within that time.

Langford has spent the last decade of his punching career – spanning amateur and pro – at middleweight, but made the step up to 168lbs against Frenchman Baptiste Castegnaro (8-16) on March 9 at the Walsall Town Hall on a BCB Promotions event, titled ‘Pride of Midlands’.

‘Baggies Bomber’ Langford didn’t have it all his own way against the tough 28-year-old from southwest France with the six-round super-middleweight contest scored at 58-56 to the 29-year-old from Birmingham.

Back to back defeats to local rival Jason Welborn prompted the move up in weight for the former WBO #2, who recently revealed that he had been struggling to maintain his strength at 160lbs for much of his pro career.

Since stepping up to the division where his main sparring partner Callum Smith reigns supreme, he has been very vocal of his intentions to become a two-weight British and Commonwealth champion and makes the first step towards realising that goal in his 25th contest against Richards.

New Malden resident Richards will appear in the home corner, having been signed to Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions since August 2016 when he was just 4-0 as a pro. Langford was previously signed to the same Hall of Fame promoter during 2014-2016, but is now with Errol Johnson of BCB Promotions.

The winner of this tantalising contest will likely land a mandatory position for Zach Parker’s (17-0, 11KOs) British super-middleweight title next.

KYLE HAYWOOD WAS not about to let the opportunity of fighting on BT Sport for the vacant Midlands Area title against CJ Challenger pass him by without giving it his undivided attention.

For the 27-year-old from Leicester, who faces fellow local lad Challenger for the super welterweight strap at the Morningside Arena next Saturday (March 23), this included giving up the day job to focus fully on putting one over a home city rival.

When he first got wind of his big TV break, Haywood decided he needed to devote himself fully to the job in hand and resign his employment as a joiner.

"I've been a pro for two years now and I've worked full-time over that period as a bench joiner," reported the 5ft 9" southpaw. "When I found out about this fight I handed in my notice.

"You could say it was a brave move but, for me, jobs can come and go but opportunities like this don't always come about. I thought 'this is it', handed my notice in and we will see what happens.

"I'm in a great place now, the best I have ever been physically, mentally, everything."

Local bragging rights are on the line as well as Midlands Area honours on the night and Haywood is not unfamiliar with his Leicester adversary. While not friends, they did belong to aligned amateur clubs and know each other from the boxing circuit.

Now the Leicester Two will be shoved into the national spotlight and Haywood is naturally enthused by the prospect.

"Yeah man, we're both from a similar sort of area and we are both Leicester lads so, with Frank Warren putting on a show in Leicester, it will be about bragging rights - who is the best in Leicester?

"We are both unbeaten and it is a first real test for both of us. We both want to make a name for ourselves in professional boxing, so whoever wins this one will be propelled for future fights.

"We've both had learning fights and it will be the first time we have faced opposition with a winning record," added the Carl Greaves-trained prospect, who went to reveal that the fight has caused quite a stir amongst the local population.

"It has been mad, with people ringing and texting me, it has been all over social media and some of the lads I know he knows as well. He went to school with my younger brother as well, so everyone is hyped for it.

"It has not been a struggle to sell tickets, put it that way.

"I think he is similar to me in that he is not a trash talker and is not going to try and say things about me. I wouldn't say things about him, so it is quite tame on that side of things. It is a fight that sells itself and, around our area, it is one that everyone is talking about.

"It is brilliant, I still can't believe it now and have to pinch myself. Looking back to when I turned professional, Frank Warren wasn't really putting shows on in Leicester, but it has built up over the last couple of years and boxing in Leicester is taking off with some good fighters here now.

"Now I've got a TV slot and it is mad. It literally couldn't get any better."

Iain Butcher is looking to right the wrongs from his last fight at the Emirates Arena when he returns there next week to challenge Scott Allan for the Celtic bantamweight title.

Butcher (18-4) is in action at the Emirates Arena again a few months after fighting for the British bantamweight title at the same venue, and he plans on making amends for his last contest.

He said: “It’s great to be back at the Emirates Arena, and I’m hoping to overcome the loss from last time and right the wrongs. I’m confident of getting a big win this time and we’ll see why on the night.

“The fight is live on iFL TV and hopefully a lot of people tune in to see a great show. It’s good to be on these packed cards, and since MTK Global have started expanding and signing big deals, it’s helped to give the boxers some brilliant exposure.”

“Camp has been running very smoothly and I’ve been putting in the hard graft needed. I’ve been working on key things we need for the fight, and my fitness and technique is all up to scratch.”

Butcher’s showdown with Allan isn’t the only title fight on the bill in Glasgow, as Kieran Smith defends his WBC International Silver super-welterweight belt against Adam Harper.

There is also a packed undercard, featuring David Brophy, Michael McGurk, Lewis Benson, Reece McFadden, Jack Turner and many more.

SAM BOWEN IS relishing a second shot at top billing in his home county when boxing returns to the Morningside Arena in Leicester on March 23, but just don't expect him to show it until the fight has been called to a halt.

British super featherweight champion Bowen, who signed up with Frank Warren and promptly won the WBO Intercontinental title in October against Horacio Alfredo Cabral in October, is looking forward to bolstering his ever-increasing credentials on BT Sport, but won't allow himself to get carried away with occasion.

The 26-year-old makes a first defence of his Lonsdale belt against the Scottish champion Jordan McCorry.

"I sort of block out how big the event is for me and literally just concentrate on the fight," said Bowen, who was originally set to defend his title against Ronnie Clark before the Dundee man withdrew due to injury. "It could be in front of a million people or ten people and I treat it the same because if you treat it differently it can affect your mental state and you could get overwhelmed.

"That is the last thing I want to do and then mess up and get caught with a silly shot.

"I took it all in more once I had won against Cabral and you could see from my reaction that I was buzzing. Once it was done I could take it all in and that is when I thought 'this is mega' and when I had the interview after it made me realise what a step up it was from when I won the British, which was not on a TV and not in a big venue like that.

"So that is when I really took note of it all, where before I just treat every fight the same. That is how I deal with it and it is how I feel I get the results I need to progress."

The Argentinean Cabral proved a tough nut to crack for the 14-0 Ibstock man known as 'Bullet'. The more Bowen fired to the head, the more his opponent seemed to enjoy it.

"Yeah he was a fruitcake! I tried not to get drawn into his game because when I missed with one shot he looked where my hand went, to take the mick sort of thing.

"I needed to keep to my gameplan and not let him disrupt me. You've seen good fighters get hit at any level and get knocked out, so I had to concentrate on the fight. After the first round I toned it down a bit because I was a bit rushed and I enjoyed it myself too much.

"I said to Carl (trainer, Greaves) in the corner that if he wanted to do this for ten rounds then it would be a nice enjoyable win for me. I know my fitness is bob-on and I was winning the rounds comfortably."

The game-changer came in the fourth round in an unorthodox fashion when Bowen mixed up his attack and propelled himself into winging left hook to the body. It was game over.

"I sort of throw it without even realising. You don't plan every shot and it happened so fast and then he was rolling around on the floor.

"It was a good shot and I do land well with a left hook to the body. I'm happy it worked for me then."

The Leicester contingent is a growing band of boxers who are all determined to make the Morningside Arena a regular fixture on the fight calendar.

As well as Bowen, Lyon Woodstock is bidding to get back on track after a first career defeat to Archie Sharp last time out, while local lads CJ Challenger and Kyle Haywood meet with the vacant Midlands Area super welterweight title at stake.

"If there was only one fighter in Leicester it wouldn’t be so exciting, so it is good to have a few of us to make it happen," reasoned Bowen.

"My last one in October and this one in March will be two big shows in Leicester and it is great for our families and friends that we are able to box here and not have to travel to other places.

"A mate of mine has been sorting the tickets out at work and they are going mad for it because it is in Leicester - a lot more so this time than last because they saw it on TV and want to come now."

Scottish star Reece McFadden wants to be fast-tracked into title contention once he’s completed his whirlwind weekend that features a fight and his wedding in less than 24 hours.

Two-time Commonwealth Games medallist McFadden (1-0) makes his return live on iFL TV on an MTK Fight Night show at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow on March 22.

The following day, he is then set to get married to his partner Samantha, and he’s targeting big things later in the year.

McFadden said: “After this fight I get married and go on my honeymoon, and then once I’m back from enjoying my marriage I want to get fast-tracked to British and Commonwealth titles.

“I get married at 2:30pm the day after my fight, so I’ll be trying my best not to get any marks! My fiancé is fine with it though and she’s confident in my ability.

“Preparations have gone well for the fight. We’re at the stage now where training is starting to taper down, and things have been ideal for my second fight.”

It is a packed in Glasgow next week, which features Iain Butcher challenging Scott Allan for the Celtic bantamweight title, and Kieran Smith defending his WBC International Silver super-welterweight title against Adam Harper.

There is also a packed undercard, which features the likes of Lewis Benson, David Brophy, Michael McGurk, Jack Turner and many more.