Burton’s Time To Shine – Million Dollar Crolla

Posted on by Dominic McGuinness

Anthony Crolla is backing Hosea Burton to upset the local favourite when he takes to the ring in Latvia on Saturday night. Burton takes on Ricards Botelniks in the semi-final of the 'Golden Contract' tournament in Riga.

Since hanging up the gloves, Crolla has been helping Joe Gallagher train his former stablemates along with coaching his own professional fighters. Speaking to Maverick Stars from the fight hotel in Riga, 'Million Dollar' reckons it's now Burton's time to shine.

"I've said it all along, if the best Hosea turns up he wins this tournament," Anthony said. "He has very very underrated punching power. Every sparring partner says the same thing."

The dangerous Botelniks beat Steven Ward with a first round knockout in his previous fight, but the big Belfast man was weight-drained.

"With Botelniks, he caught Steven Ward with a great shot but I think the weight played a huge part," Anthony explained. "There's no denying the weight played a big part in that.  On Saturday night, Hosea's got to be switched on from the very start, and that's put a little bit of fear into him. He always fights best when that happens."

With press obligations and the weigh-in, there's never much down-time during fight week, but Anthony, Joe, Hosea and his brother Chase have had chance to have a look around and take in a few of Riga's sights.

"It's a great city," said Anthony. "They've had a very low infection and death rate with COVID so things are pretty much normal here. I'm told it's a bit quieter with tourists and we're here on a job, but we are having a look around and it's a lovely city. The people have been great for us and I'm really looking forward to Saturday night. It's a massive night for Hosea Burton - the biggest night of his career."

 

 

Crolla Plea For New Gym

Posted on by Dominic McGuinness

Crolla Plea For New Gym

Manchester boxing legend Anthony Crolla has made a plea for help in finding a new home for his amateur boxing gym.

The building that housed Fox ABC was destroyed in a fire at the end of March this year. Since then, Crolla - in partnership with Maverick Stars - has been searching the Failsworth/Newton Heath areas for a suitable unit without success.

With young people facing issues such as anti-social behaviour, obesity and poor mental health, Crolla is desperate to provide a safe space once again. The former WBA lightweight world champion is calling on any business or individual with a spare unit, to contact Maverick Stars.

"Get in touch!"  Anthony said. "Hopefully something will pop up soon. We had a bit of bad luck with one place, we were doing all the checks but with the council, the ground rates were extortionate. It just made no sense at all. We viewed another place that would've been perfect, but that went.  Something will pop up hopefully!

"I just want to get the kids back settled somewhere," he added. "We want to establish a new home. Mental health's a very big subject at the minute and there are lot of kids that will be a lot better off being back [in a gym]."

 

Chantelle Cameron

Chantelle’s After All The Belts

Posted on by Dominic McGuinness 
Chantelle Cameron believes her WBC super-lightweight world title fight with Adrian Dos Santos Araujo is the start of her dominance in the ring.
The Maverick Stars ambassador has already won the IBO version of the world title, but this fight represents a significant step up both in terms of opposition and belts on the line.  Chantelle said: "It would mean the world to me to be able to call myself a world champion.
"Obviously I won my IBO belt in my fifth fight but the WBC is a major world title so it's going to be a dream come true. Fingers crossed I win this WBC world title and then I want to go for all the other belts; the WBA, WBO and IBF."
Despite this being Dos Santos' first fight outside of her native Brazil, Cameron knows plenty about her upcoming opponent.
"I can remember Adriana Dos Santos from the amateurs when we were on the same circuit," Chantelle said. "I can remember watching her and thinking she was tough, she's beat some top amateur names so I know that she's well schooled and got that amateur pedigree as well."
There is no doubt in the Northampton fighter's camp that this is going to be her toughest test to date, and they have been preparing diligently for the task ahead.
"I'm expecting a tough ten rounder," Chantelle explained. "Dos Santos is there to be hit and she can take a shot so I imagine she's gonna be there for the full ten rounds, and she's going to try and stick it on my chest and be in my face."
With the pandemic sweeping the globe, it's been a difficult time for everybody, in and out of the boxing ring. For Chantelle though, it could still be one to remember, and for all the right reasons.
"If I get to call myself a world champion on October 4, then it's going to be the best part of the year for me, that's for sure!

Leading the Way

Posted on by Dominic McGuinness

Leading the Way

Maverick Stars ambassadors Danny Wright and Aqib Fiaz have launched a new coaching initiative aimed at getting Salford kids fighting fit.

The initiative - based at Peel Park, Little Hulton and delivered in partnership with Salford CVS - is encouraging children aged 8+ to attend two free boxing sessions each week. Leading the way is former professional boxer Danny and current super-featherweight prospect Aqib.

Along with working with Maverick Stars, Danny also works for top promoter Steve Wood in his ViP boxing equipment business, while Aqib is preparing for his rescheduled fight with Kane Baker.

 

Helping the Next Generation

Posted on by Dominic McGuinness

Helping the Next Generation

Chantelle Cameron has the small matter of a world title fight to prepare for, but she's still finding time to help a star of the future. Ten-year-old Leah Paylor travelled from her Dorset home to meet her fighting hero in Salford.

Maverick Stars ambassador Chantelle is now mentoring Leah - a champion herself after winning gold at a pre-lockdown tournament in Sweden. The pair hooked up at the ViP Gym with Chantelle putting Leah through her paces.

Meanwhile, Chantelle is set to fight Adriana Araujo for the vacant WBC belt after beating  Anahi Ester Sanchez last time out in November.

Brazilian Araujo is a 2012 Olympic bronze medallist and is sure to be the toughest test of Chantelle's professional career to date.

Click below to watch the full video.....

Derry’s Fit and Fed

Posted on by Dominic McGuinness

Derry's Fit and Fed

A Maverick Stars Fit and Fed programme has been an overwhelming success in Liverpool. Based at Derry Mathew's gym, the initiative proved so popular that extra sessions had to be scheduled.

The scheme was launched to ensure young people received a nourishing meal each day combined with social-distanced training throughout the summer. Many who initially turned up at the gym just to get fed, have since been bitten by the boxing bug and are now attending regular sessions.

It's a busy time for Derry who's combining his duties as an amateur coach, with helping Jazza Dickens prepare for the biggest fight of his life against Ryan Walsh.

To watch the full interview, click below.

Crolla’s Latest Gym Blow

Posted on by Dominic McGuinness

Crolla's Latest Gym Blow

Anthony Crolla's hopes of rebuilding his old amateur boxing club have been dealt a huge blow. The Manchester boxing legend's gym - Fox ABC in Failsworth - was destroyed in a fire in March.

Working in partnership with Maverick Stars, Crolla had earmarked a property to rehouse the the club, but his plans have now been scuppered. It's back to square one as the former world lightweight champion and his Fox colleagues search for new premises close to the old site.

(pic: Fox ABC founder Jimmy Lewis with Anthony Crolla)

Click below for the full story.....

 

Lyndon’s In The Corner For Others

Posted on by Dominic McGuinness

Lyndon's In The Corner For Others

Manchester's light-heavyweight champion Lyndon Arthur is preparing for a big return to the ring, but is still finding time to mentor the next generation.

The 29-year old defends his commonwealth title against Dec Spelman behind closed doors on Friday, 31 July. In between training sessions, he's also heading up the Maverick Stars 'in Your Corner' mentoring initiative, working with young people. Lyndon's providing support for those in need of a 'big brother' figure including 16-year old Nissar, who said: "It's good, we've been doing different things like basketball and stuff like that. It's been eight weeks now."

Boxing helped steer Lyndon down the right road after tragedy struck his family. He was just ten years old when his older brother Zennen was shot and killed. Like so many before him, the discipline and support he found at Collyhurst and Moston ABC has helped shape his life. Lyndon's now keen to pass on his experiences and has found the mentoring process to be mutually beneficial.

"I guess it helps in different aspects of life. It probably helps you grow up a little bit," he explained. "It might sound strange saying that, but it can make you see things in a different light. I know what I've been through and there's certain things in my life that could've made me go down a different path. It could be easy for Nissar to do the same thing. I just try and give him knowledge about what's right and what's wrong."

Along with mentoring, the unbeaten 'King Arthur' faces his next career challenge against Scunthorpe's Spelman at the end of the month. Lyndon said: "It's been good to get training and dieting again and I'm excited to get in there. He [Spelman] seems like a cool kid and I know what I'm going to get with him. Like every fight, I have to get over the line and be victorious."

Rebuild Edges Closer

Posted on by Dominic McGuinness

Rebuild Edges Closer

After years of red tape and bureaucracy thwarting plans for an extension, Timperley ABC can finally see light at the end of the tunnel.

The club, located on the Broomwood estate, has been forced to turn young people away due to the gym's small space within the community Wellbeing Centre. Now, with the gym close to reaching its fundraising target, it's hoped the first spade will go into the ground at the end of August.

Maverick Stars Trust has helped fund the build and is the driving force behind the project. It's now hoped the shortfall will be met by local businesses keen on forming a mutually beneficial alliance with the club. Timperley ABC head coach Mark Davidson said:  "There's a chance for some big businesses to get involved. They might not even know we're here!

"Anyone who wants to donate - we need it. We're also looking to do a 'buy a brick' project. We're going to have other sports in the building too, not just boxing, as there's nothing on this estate."

If you'd like to get involved and help sustain this vital provision, please contact:

enquiries@maverickstars.co.uk

 

 

Derry’s Gym Teams Up With Maverick

Posted on by Dominic McGuinness

Derry's Gym Teams Up With Maverick

Former British and Commonwealth lightweight champion Derry Mathews has joined forces with Maverick Stars to launch a series of community initiatives.

Located in Liverpool city centre, 'Derry's Gym' is currently waiting for the green light to re-open following lockdown, but in the meantime, the former world title challenger is working with Maverick Stars to help tackle issues such as homelessness and knife crime.

"There's a lot of boxing clubs out there all doing tremendous projects,” Derry said. “It's about time our boxing club got involved and we move down the right path. What Maverick [Stars] are doing is superb. I'm so proud to be part of it and I'm looking forward to the future with them.”

Watch the full video with Derry below.....