Danny super-fight is on major O2 show!
Poster for the Quartermaine - Barney-Smith battle
IT’S been a frustrating wait, but Danny Quartermaine at last has his big title fight.
The Leamington hurricane will defend his IBF and WBO European super-featherweight titles against Royston Barney-Smith on October 25.
And the setting for the clash couldn’t be any bigger. The pair meet on the mighty O2 Arena show headlined by heavyweights Fabio Wardley and Joseph Parker.
You can be sure Quartermaine will have noisy support on the night: the 28-year-old has a huge following.
The mouthwatering battle between Danny, trained by Edwin Cleary, and Barney-Smith was originally scheduled for July, but injury forced the Southampton prospect to pull out of the Bournemouth bill.
It’s the most high-profile night of Quartermaine’s 14 bout career, the only minor blip being a technical draw with Jack Bateson last year, a clash of heads leaving both men badly gashed in the second round. He last fought in June, at Birmingham’s Holiday Inn, and kept the ring rust at bay with a shut-out points win over Jayro Duran.
For Barney-Smith, Danny represents the first real acid test after 14 straight wins, seven inside distance. It’s a fact acknowledged by the 21-year-old and Frank Warren, whose Queensberry Promotions stage the show. He described the showdown as Barney-Smith’s “toughest test to date”.
There is, refreshingly, plenty of respect between the two fighters, judging by the comments they made before July’s cancelled encounter.
Danny told Queensberry: “Royston came and approached me about the fight in a very respectful manner. With the way he did it I thought why not give him that opportunity? Boxing is about opportunities and I am more than willing to put my belts on the line and fight a good level of opponent.
“People have seen me in the past coming forward, being aggressive and putting it on my opponent. In the last couple of fights I think you have actually seen me box as well.
“I’ve got a jab in my repertoire and I do use it when I can. I think the mix of styles could be very interesting or it could be boring. I don’t think it will be one of those fights between me and Royston, I think it will gain the crowd’s attention and there is a lot to fight for.”
Barney-Smith said: “I have been trying to get one of these fights for a long time now and, thankfully, Danny has allowed me to fight for his two belts and they do look very nice over there. “I am coming for them. He is a champion, he is going to come and defend his belts, so I will rise to the occasion and do the job.
“He is an aggressive fighter and he does a good job at it, a great job. I am looking forward to exploit him in ways I know I can and I know I will.”