GETHIN WITHIN TOUCHING DISTANCE OF WORLD TITLE

Lightweight ace Martin Gethin is one step away from a dream world title shot, but first he has to get through tough Panamanian Ammeth Diaz on Friday 31st May at Walsall Town Hall.

Gethin, 29, has home advantage in the crucial showdown promoted by Frank Warren in association with Errol Johnson’s NEWOB Promotions which will be televised live and exclusive on The Channel Of Champions BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546).

The Black Country hero won the British title with a sensational ninth round stoppage of Ben Murphy in January, his fourth stoppage win in a row that includes an 11th round stoppage of former British Champion Carl Johanneson.

He faces a massive test against the vastly experienced Diaz from Panama City who has racked up 43 fights in a near 13 year career with 31 wins and 22 KO’s.  He pushed the current IBF World Champion Miguel Vazquez the distance in January last year, losing on the judges’ scorecard and came storming back in September with a fifth round stoppage of Stanley Mendez.

A win for Gethin will secure him the mandatory challenger position to Mexican Vazquez.

“This is a massive opportunity for me. When I first heard that there may be a chance of this coming off, I was speechless to be honest! As a boxer you always dream of fighting for a world title. I didn’t think my chance would come so soon,” Said Gethin.

“When I won the British title, that was an amazing feeling. It was the pinnacle of my career and worth the wait. Now though, I’ve got this chance to fight Diaz and then, hopefully, Miguel Vazquez,”

“I’ve waited a long time for a chance like this. Now it’s here. I had to wait years for a shot at the British, then it came along. I used to be an ‘away fighter’ too, so to get that shot, and now this one, in my hometown of Walsall in front of my fans, family and friends, is a dream come true.

He added, “They call me the Quiet Man but, but like the show says, I’m Ready To Silence The World on May 31st.”

An action-packed undercard on “Ready To Silence The World” features a top quality line up of local talent, including Walsall’s unbeaten cruiserweight prospect Chris Keane; former British welterweight title challenger Jason Welborn; the professional debuts of Wolverhampton super-featherweight Dezzie Bowater and West Bromwich welterweightTom Stokes; plus undefeated Stafford super-middleweight prospect Grant Cunningham.  Also featuring on the card is top Welsh super-featherweight Craig Evans; unbeaten light-heavyweight prospect Calum Johnson from Boston and the return of former Commonwealth Welterweight title challenger Ronnie Heffron.

Tickets, priced at £40 and £75 Ringside, are available from Walsall Town Hall Box Office on 08451112900. Doors will open at 6pm and boxing will commence at 6.30pm.

Gethin v Diaz will be televised live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546).  Join at www.boxnation.com