PATTERSON WARNS WELTERWEIGHTS: I’M CLOSING IN FAST

Welterweight dangerman Ahmet Patterson says this is the year he’ll breakthrough and enter the top three in the domestic division.

Patterson next features on the huge O2 arena show on Saturday 28th February – as chief support to Tyson Fury and Chris Eubank Jnr. – when he defends his English title against undefeated Sunderland rival Glenn Foot.

The slick, hard-hitting, 27-year-old from East Dulwich has long been identified as the man-to-avoid, but came to prominence with a fifth round stoppage of Chad Gaynor to win the English belt last September and then inflicting the first loss to prospect Sullivan Mason in his last fight in November.

Britain’s 147lb division is currently headed by Kell Brook and Amir Khan, but Patterson says he wants to first pick-off any of the fringe contenders Junior Witter, Denton Vassell or Sam Eggington before dealing with his primary target Frankie Gavin for his British and Commonwealth belts.

“I’m looking forward to an exciting year ahead in my career with my promoter Frank Warren and the Peacock Gym backing me all the way to the top,” said Patterson.

“I feel that I’ve been avoided by the rest of the guys in the division and they would rather sidestep me than fight me, but now with my team behind me I’m forcing my way to the top so they can’t ignore me any longer,”

“Brook and Khan are world class and they’re two levels above me right now, but in a year or two I feel that I will be ready for either of them,”

“My target is the British title, I’ve got the English belt, but the British is next on my list and Gavin’s got that at the moment and I know that I’ve got the beating of him.  Once I get Foot out of the way then it’s all steam ahead for the Lonsdale belt which is my dream,”

“They’re the leaders, but underneath them are Witter, Vassel and Eggington and I’m confident that I can beat any of them right now.  They’d better be sleeping with one eye open and looking over their shoulder because I’m closing in fast.”

Tyson Fury’s European and WBO International Heavyweight title defence againstChristian Hammer, and Chris Eubank Jnr’s. challenge for the Interim WBA World Middleweight Championship against champion Dmitry Chudinov headlines an action packed show featuring the best of British talent, including: Cromer ace Liam Walshdefending his British and Commonwealth Super-Featherweight titles against Joe Murray;Bradley Skeete returning to action and challenging for the Vacant WBO European Welterweight title against Anzor Gamgbeli; big-hitting Enfield star Frank Buglionimaking the first defence, in his second reign, of the WBO European Super-Middleweight title against Ivan Jukic; Erith talent Lewis Pettitt defends his WBA International Super-Bantamweight Championship; plus exciting welterweight Ahmet Patterson defending his English Welterweight Championship against Sunderland’s undefeated Glenn Foot that will also be an Eliminator for the British Championship; undefeated Manchester light-heavyweight talent Dempsey Fury; plus the pro debut of Essex super-featherweight prospect Boy Jones Jnr. 

Tickets are on sale now for Risky Business, priced at £50, £75, £100 and £250 + booking fees, are available from www.eventim.co.uk and 0844 249 1000 orAXS.com or 08448 24 48 24.

BoxNation will televise live and exclusive on Sky 437/HD 490, Virgin 546 and Talk Talk 525.  Subscribe at www.boxnation.com  Or watch online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android.