More top title fights lined-up by Board

Coley flanked by Anthony Manning and James Thomas. Pic: Gianni Basi

AGAIN, the Midlands arm of the Boxing Board of Control has unveiled some mouthwatering area title clashes.

Under Matt Harris, the governing body is ensuring titles remain live and active. Long gone are the days when champs could mothball their belts for 12 months.

Not all the bouts the Midlands board call for while happen. Promoters have to put in bids for them, some prospects may have no interest in an area title.

But you have to applaud Harris and his team for trying to give fans the fights they want to see. And there are truly explosive 10 rounders in the latest batch.

The proposed clash of Birmingham’s Brad Coley and Bradley Thompson, from Telford, for the vacant flyweight title stands out.

It’s a battle of unbeaten prospects: Thompson, brother of former world champ Liam Davies, is 6-0. Coley, from Erdington, is 7-0.

Coley’s trainer James Thomas wants a Midlands title fight for his boxer. “I think it’s a natural progression to be moving in that direction,” he said. “Bradley Thompson – anyone, it doesn’t matter who it is, the opponent is irrelevant. It’s something we have to do to move forward, that’s the process we have to go through.”

But Thomas stressed: “We have a meeting with (manager) Anthony Manning to see what the best step is for Brad.”

In another cracker, muscled Aston cruiser Traie Duberry – 5-0 – has been matched with Lincolnshire’s Tom Pogson.

Pogson, with one draw in seven, is a tough pro, although has not fought this year.

After only three bouts, Wolverhampton bantam Mia Holland has been put forward for a title fight. The Board want Mia to face Nottingham’s Sasha Booker for the vacant bantam belt. Sasha is even less experienced than Holland, with only two fights to her name.

The vacant welter title clash between Tyler Rivers and Elliott Sowe seems near nailed-on to take place. Both are guided by Jon Pegg, both want it. Birmingham’s Pegg told me: “We’ll do that.”