Mancini: Berry will be in world’s top 10

Ray Mancini at the Premier Suite. He’s a VIP guest on Thursday

RAY “Boom Boom” Mancini reckons Chelmsley Wood’s Nyall Berry belongs in the world super-bantamweight top 10.

And Ohio’s former all action world lightweight champ has also predicted a glittering future for Birmingham’s Niall Farrell who is making waves at his old weight.

The 63-year-old is over here for friend and business associate Scott Murray’s Excelsior Sporting Club show this Thursday. Topping the bill at Cannock’s Premier Suite, Cannock, are River Wilson-Bent and Zach Evans.

It’s not the first time Ray has attended the glitzy, black tie sporting club and he’s watched both Berry, who fights for the IBF European title next month, and former amateur star Farrell in action.

“Nyall Berry should make it into the world top 10,” Ray told me. “He should be there in the future – if not, I want to know why. Niall Farrell is another good fighter.

“I like Berry, the guy can fight.”

Mancini, one of the ring’s true gentleman, praised Murray for his endeavours. Very much the new promoter on the block, Scott has breathed new life into the pro game in his hometown through the Excelsior and public shows.

Ambitious Murray plans to take the Excelsior brand to other cities.

“(What Scott’s doing) it’s good for local fighters, they don’t have to travel (to get work). It’s the fighters who are built up locally and kept busy who get the shot and Scott has the connections. Some of the best fighters in the States are just sitting in gyms because they can’t get a fight.

“In England, you have the big names like the Hearns, but there’s always room for another name.

“But if you don’t have a matchmaker to make the fights, the good fights, it doesn’t mean anything and Scott has a very good matchmaker in Jon Pegg.

Nyall Berry…unbeaten and fighting for first title next month

“I’d like to bring some fighters from the States over here and bring some of Scott’s fighters to the States. At world level, you have to have experience in the States.”

The boxing landscape has changed dramatically since Mancini ruled in the early ‘80s. Those changes are not for the better, says Boom Boom.

“It’s not the same,” he added. “In the States, the networks are not involved, the national networks. If you have network TV, you’re exposed to so many more people. Sixty million in America, 100 million globally.

“Wherever you went, people knew your face. Today, I know the names of the world champions, but I don’t know all the faces.

“The visibility factor has gone. Boxing is hurting worldwide, that’s a fact.”