Golden Boy Promotions hosts one of the biggest events this year on Saturday at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, New York City.
Brooklyn is my home away from home as I have been staying there for training camps since 2005.
My old foe WBC world champion Danny Garcia is coming off a stunning knock out win of Britain’s Amir Khan.
Danny fights the Mexican legend Erik Morales who he won the title off at the turn of the year.
Their first fight was a cracker and I expect another spectacular fight.
The winner can look forward to fights against Brandon Rios, Juan Manuel Marquez and Lucas Matthysse.
Ricky Hatton comes back on Saturday 24th November in Manchester so I’m sure he will have his eyes on his former victim WBA Welterweight champion Paul Malignaggi. Paul fights Pablo Cesar Cano in the chief support bout. I sparred Paul years ago in Brooklyn. I enjoyed our sparring session at Gleason’s gym.
Paul has been in some great fights against Cotto, Diaz, Hatton and Khan. He should get past Cano as Erik Morales disposed up him very routinely.
There has been talk of me fighting WBA number six Johan Perez who Cano beat for the interim WBA 140lb title in his last fight. I’m just waiting on Hatton promotions to finalize the deal with Golden Boy Promotions.
Devon Alexander against Randall Bailey looks like a fight you don’t want to take your eyes off. Devon has great speed and skills but Randall has the one punch knock out power. He was losing against Mike Jones in his last fight but Jones took his eye off the ball and Bailey knocked him out. That’s what he does best. I was due to fight Randall Bailey in 2010 in an IBF 147lb world title eliminator. I beat world number 3 to get the opportunity. In the end I fought Lenny Daws for the British title as Mick Hennessey made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.
I beat Demarcus Corley after Devon Alexander beat him. I was at Madison Square Garden for that fight and I was impressed with Devon. I knew he would go onto win a world title. I thought he was a special talent after watching his performance.
Kell Brook will fight the winner of Alexander v Bailey. Kell has a good skill set but would he be able to take Bailey’s power and would he be able to match Devon’s skills and speed. I guess we will find out soon.
World title challenger Dmitriy Salita makes an appearance on the card. He is looking for another world title shot. He has Paulie in his sights. It would be a big fight for New York City with the Italians and the Jewish fans coming out to support their own. Dmitriy is undefeated since losing to Amir Khan. He has been preparing for this fight at the Kronk in Detroit. I have been training camp many times with him. Florida, Pennsylvania and New York are just a few of the places we have had our camps.
Former world champion Luis Collazo is another New Yorker on this amazing card. I’ve also sparred him. He has fought Andre Berto, Shane Mosley and Ricky Hatton. He has a tricky fight against hungry Steve Upsher Chambers. He will have to get past him to make another world title fight a reality.
Golden Boy have pulled out the stops for their first show at the Barclays Center.
I’ve sparred three of the fighters on this show, in Paul Malignaggi, Luis Collazo and Dmitriy Salita. I fought Danny Garcia and I was meant to have an IBF 147lbs world title eliminator with Randal Bailey. I also have a mutual opponent with Devon Alexander.
Amir Khan has fought Danny Garcia, Paul Malignaggi and Danny Garcia.
Ricky Hatton has fought Luis Collazo and Paul Malignaggi.
2013 will see some blockbuster shows at the Barclay’s center and us Brits could be part of it.
Boxnation TV will be televising the show in Britain and Showtime will be televising in the States.
It looks like an action packed event and I’m looking forward to it.
