BOXING: 'Bang Bang' aims to put on a show (From Wiltshire Times)

BOXING: 'Bang Bang' aims to put on a show

12:00pm Saturday 28th January 2012 in General Sport By Dan Barnes

TROWBRIDGE’S Nick Blackwell is relishing the prospect of making the long-awaited first defence of his English middleweight title in front of his home crowd when he goes toe-to-toe with Martin Concepcion at the Civic Centre in March.

Blackwell, 21, who has won 10 of his 11 pro bouts so far, was originally due to take on Leicester’s Concepcion (18-9) in his home town last December but a knee injury delayed the 28-year-old’s title challenge.

‘Bang Bang’ became the youngest-ever English title holder when he won the middleweight belt by beating Harry Matthews in November 2010 and the Contender Gym fighter is anticipating an exciting year in his ring career.

“It’s been a while coming so hopefully the fight can happen this time,” said Blackwell, who beat Slovakian Robert Blazo to lift the International Masters belt in Trowbridge in December.

“Fighting in Trowbridge again is spot on. It’s great for the new Civic Centre and I’ll have a great support there because in the past, people have come to watch me in Swindon and up in Wigan but this time it’s on their doorsteps.

“But he’ll bring a big crowd with him too so the atmosphere should be mental.

“Because I’ve had the belt for so long, I’ve had people like (Peterborough’s) Cello Renda calling me out and I could fight Billy Joe Saunders in the future, so there should be some exciting fights for me this year.”

In February, Blackwell is jetting to New York with trainer Mark Kent, as he gets in some top-notch sparring at world-renowned gyms Gleason’s and Kingsway.

He was training with world super-middleweight contender Brian Magee in Belfast this week.

Concepcion meanwhile, admitted: “This is another massive night for me. I can’t afford to lose to Blackwell and if I do, it’s probably over for me as a fighter.’’

Local fighters Liam Richards, Aaron Fox, Dan Blackwell and Gareth Heard are all expected to feature on the Trowbridge undercard, while 19-year-old welterweight Liam Hudson, from Bradford on Avon, could also make his debut.

For information on tickets for the March 3 bill, contact Church Street’s Contender Gym on 01225 761166.