Debut boys ready to put on a show

GOOD SPARRING . . . Jack Kilgannon

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ROYTON pair Jack Kilgannon and Joe Eko are in great shape ahead of their professional boxing debuts at the Oldham Sports Centre on Saturday.

The VIP Promotions showcase is heading for a sell-out as the cream of the local fighting crop head to town.

Middleweight hopeful Kilgannon (21) will hope to take an amount of frustration out on his opponent on the night, Kettering's Daniel Spencer.

TAPERING

His 'Old School Boxing' gym trainer, Ben Lancaster, said: "Jack is looking really good at the moment.

"Training has gone really well. This week we're just tapering down in the run-up to Saturday.

"Jack's so looking forward to it. To be honest he's been looking forward to this night for two years now.

"It was getting tough for him in the amateurs as we struggled to get him fights, so turning pro has been the best decision he's ever made.

"He's also had some good sparring lately with Jack Flatley and Nathan Cartwright.

"He's sold around 100 tickets already, so he'll have great support in there."

Lancaster's second debutant Eko is also busting a gut to get into the ring with tough journeyman Kristian Laight, from Nuneaton.

Eko (24) will go in at light-welterweight on Saturday, with a view to fighting at lightweight further down the line.

Lancaster said: "Joe has prepared so well for Saturday, and he's also got in some quality sparring.

"He's had a tough eight-week training camp, but everything has gone well and he also looks in terrific shape.

"It's a cracking bill all round, and it's great to see Jack and Joe so excited to be making their debuts on it. It's going to be a great night."

A third Lancaster charge - Danny Wright - will also be featuring on Saturday in his home town.

His big fight preview will feature in Thursday's Chronicle.

Attention then switches to Mark Heffron on Friday.

The Shaw-based, Ricky Hatton-trained super-middleweight prospect tops Saturday's bill as he bids to stretch his perfect professional record to 17 wins from 17 fights.

Just a few tickets, priced at £35 (standard) and £60 (ringside), are still available for the show, which also features Liam Taylor, Jack Flatley, Shakeeb Ali, Qasim Niaz, Luke Willis, Lee Oldham and Rasheed Mohammed.

Log on to: www.vipboxing.tv for the link.

FELLOW Lancaster-trained prospect Jack Rafferty, whose father Dave coaches at 'Old School Boxing', will make his professional debut in September in Manchester.

He has signed up with London-based promoter Jason McCrory.