Boxing back on the bill in Portsmouth

Professional boxing returns to Portsmouth for the first time this year on October 15th when local promoter Simon Williamson stages a nine-fight bill at the Liquid Nightclub.

Super middleweight Paul Morby (6-6-1) is in action for the first time since losing the Southern area belt to Daniel Cadman back in May at the York Hall. He takes on Doncaster's Jason 'Daddy Cool' Ball (3-3).

Bognor Regis welterweight Liam 'Bucko' Griffiths (0-1) will be in against seasoned southpaw journeyman Johnny Greaves (3-65), who is well due his yearly win in what will be his seventh fight of 2011 (not busy enough by his standards - he'd had 14 fights by this time in 2010). 

Middleweight Alex Gibbons, also from Bognor Regis, makes his debut against Guilford's Louis Byrne (2-21), and Portsmouth's light heavyweight prospect Joel 'El Toro' McIntyre (2-0) takes on Doncaster's James Tucker (3-41-3).

Also in action will be Fareham lightweight Floyd Moore (3-2), light middleweight Mark Coombes (3-0), lightweight Matty Tew (7-0) and unbeaten Hampshire light middleweight Wayne Goddard (9-0), who is taking part in Prizefighter the month before on September 15.

It will be the first professional boxing staged in the city since former British light heavyweight champion Tony Oakey lost a ten round points decision to Michael Banbula in May last year, which was to be Oakey's final fight.

Local trainer Michael Ballingall, who has worked with Rendall Munroe, Craig Watson and Tony Oakey, is heavily involved in the show. He told the Bourne Local: "This is a big deal and it’s really exciting. Since Tony Oakey went, it has gone a bit quiet in Portsmouth. But we’re trying to build things back up. We want to do the city proud and get the boxing bandwagon going again."

Tickets for the event on October 15th at the Liquid Nightclub, Portsmouth, can be purchased direct from the fighters - click here for details