Booth to face Maludrottu for European super-bantamweight title

Nottingham’s Jason Booth has been ordered to face Italy’s Simone Maludrottu for the European super-bantamweight title following Rendall Munroe’s decision to vacate. The EBU has set a deadline of 13 May for agreements to be finalised or for purse bids to be submitted.

Munroe made five defences of the 8st 10lbs European crown, which included a hard-fought unanimous points win over Maludrottu last November. The Leicester binman will now challenge Japan’s WBC super-bantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka after winning his world title eliminator against Victor Terrazas last month.

Reigning British and Commonwealth super-bantamweight king Booth has challenged unsuccessfully for European honours on three separate occasions down at flyweight earlier in his career, all on foreign soil. The Nottingham stylist, 35-5 (15), is on an impressive run of form though having won his last eight and will fancy his chances against Maludrottu if promoter Frank Maloney can secure him home advantage.

The 31-year-old Maludrottu, 30-3 (11), hasn’t fought since losing to Munroe but has previously reigned as European champion at bantamweight and also challenged for the WBC bantamweight title against Hozumi Hasegawa, losing unanimously on points in January 2008.

The Italian is no stranger to British shores and was famously gifted a points win over the unfortunate Damaen Kelly in Belfast four years ago. Maludrottu set the record straight in their rematch however, despatching Kelly in three rounds in his homeland. The Italian also successfully defended his European crown on points against common opponent Ian Napa in Dagenham in March 2007.