Walsh makes first british title defence

Against undefeated scottish challenger Traynor

Ryan Walsh

History-making British Featherweight Champion Ryan Walsh will make the first defence of his title against Scottish challenger Darren Traynor on Friday 22nd January at the York Hall, Bethnal Green, on promoter Frank Warren’s first show of 2016.

The all-action Cromer fighter put his name in the boxing records books when he won the title in September against Samir Mouneimne to join twin brother Liam, the reigning British Super-Featherweight Champion, as the first ever set of twins to hold the prized Lonsdale belt simultaneously.

Walsh, 29, now looks to make Traynor the first notch of the belt, but the undefeated challenger from Aberdeen, known as the ‘Trayn-Wreck’, has his own plans of upsetting Walsh in his maiden defence, exclusively live on BoxNation.

“It took plenty of hard work, blood, sweat and tears to win that British title, so I’m definitely not losing it in my first defence to the likes of Traynor,” Said Walsh.

“Winning that title has put me onto another level in my career and I know that I’m going to have train and fight harder than ever before to keep hold of it, so Traynor can bring whatever he’s got to the ring on fight night, but he’s going to have the fight of his life trying to take it from me,”

“This is the first fight of the year for me and by the end of 2016 I want to have defended it three times and made the belt my own so I’ll be making sure Traynor doesn’t affect my plans.”

Trayner, 29, added, “It was like a fairytale story come true for Ryan when he won the title for him and Liam to be the first ever twins to hold British titles at the same time, but that page is getting ripped out when I fight him,”

“I’m on my own course to achieve my destiny and that’s to win the British title. Ryan’s a good fighter, he’s awkward and puts on plenty of pressure, but I’ve seen plenty of weaknesses and I know that I’ve got the tools to beat him.  Let’s see if his strength and speed can match mine, plus I have endless stamina,”

“For Ryan, this isn’t going to be a happy ending, I’m coming down to London to take that title from him and bring it back to Scotland.”

Chief support on the card sees Dulwich’s Ahmet Patterson face Ryan Aston for the Vacant IBF Intercontinental Super-Welterweight Championship; on the undercard Erith super-bantamweight Lewis Pettitt makes his comeback; Dagenham lightweight talent Ediz Hussein competes in a six rounder; West Ham super-welterweight Sam McNess; Chelmsford super-middleweight Billy Long; Chingford lightweight Archie Sharp; West Ham super-lightweight Ben Smith and Sidcup super-featherweight D.P Carr.

Tickets priced at £40 and £60 are available from Ticket Master at www.ticketmaster.co.uk and 0844 844 0444.

The Channel Of Champions, BoxNation, will televise live and exclusive on Sky 437/HD 490, Virgin 546 and Talk Talk 415. Subscribe at www.boxnation.com  Or watch online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android.