London, UK (26 May 2019) Former World Heavyweight title challenger Hughie Fury halted the previously undefeated Chris Norrad inside two rounds at the Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, last night to put himself back on track towards a world title shot.

The Manchester star looked in sensational shape in his first fight back since his loss to Kubrat Pulev last October and knew that he had to put on a solid performance for the fans and viewers on Channel 5.

Fury took command from the start and was the aggressor as he landed with sharp jabs and unloaded with hard power punches to Norrad’s head and body, midway in the first round he landed with a hard right to the back of Noarrad’s head that hurt the Canadian.

In the second, Fury was on the front foot again and asserted his power and halfway through the round two big right hands dropped Norrad, up at the referees count of nine he was still hurt and it was waved off at 1:51.

Afterwards, Fury thanked his team of father and trainer Peter and renown strength and conditioner Kerry Kayes for transforming his diet and training, he said “I felt a lot strong and a lot fitter and I’m ready now to fight anyone. All the experience I’ve had including the losses is all experience, I’m young and making me the final article for the future.”

On the undercard, female sensation Savannah “The Silent Assassin” Marshall demolished Borislava Goranova – who had not been stopped in nearly seven years – in the first round with a hard left hook to the body that flattened the Bulgarian.  The WBA Intercontinental Super-Middleweight Champion from Hartlepool continues to close in on a mega-showdown against undisputed World Champion Claressa Shields.

In his first fight in the UK in for five and half years, exciting super-featherweight title contender Alex Dilmaghani became the first man to stop the tough Czech Martin Parlagi in the eighth round.  Dilmaghani credited his time in the hard gyms of Mexico that have turned him into a pressure fighter and he’ll now look to drop down to featherweight and face one of the leading domestic names.

Standout amateur and pro-debutant Michael Hennessy Jr. made a great start to his career when he outpointed 33-fight veteran Adam Grabiec.  The Seven Oaks hot prospect – son of promoter Mick Hennessy – passed the traditional four rounds entry for a pro debut and opted for the harder six-rounds.

FULL FIGHT CARD RESULTS 

10 x 3 International Heavyweight Contest

Hughie Fury WKO2 (Time 1:51) Chris Norrad

10 x 3 International Super Featherweight Contest

Alex Dilmaghani WTKO8 (Time 0:44) Martin Parlagi

6 x 2 International Super Middleweight Contest

Savannah Marshall WKO1 (Time 1:11) Borislava Goranova

6×3 Middleweight Contest

Michael Hennessy Jr WPTS6 (60-55) Adam Grabiec

6×3 Featherweight Contest

Marcel Braithwaite WPTS6 (60-54) Jake Pollard

6×3 Super Lightweight Contest

Kane Gardner LPTS4 (37-38) Des Newton

4×3 Welterweight Contest

Jake James WTD3 (30-27) Lee Hallett
Referee halts fight on doctors advice in 3rd round after Hallett cut above left eye in 2nd from a head clash 

4×3 Welterweight Contest

Connor Lynch WPTS4 (40-36) Dylan Draper

Ahead of son Hughie’s eagerly awaited ring return in a heavyweight demolition derby with undefeated Canadian tree-toppler Chris Norrad at Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse this Saturday night exclusively live on Channel 5, Papa Peter reveals how he has been converting his artful and evasive son from a dancer to a destroyer.

“It’s a MUST that Hughie shines now and he’s certainly got the ability to do so. Expect a performance from him next weekend that you’ve not seen before. 

Coming off a defeat (a 12 round decision to Bulgarian beast Kubrat Pulev in an IBF final eliminator in Sofia last October), it’s imperative that Hughie reminds everybody he’s a real threat within the heavyweight division. 

We’re working on being more attractive to the public, as well as winning fights to become a world class fighter.

On May 25^th, I expect to see Hughie totally in control, enjoying himself, oozing confidence. Using his boxing to set Chris Norrad up, then getting him out of there, in style. And I know he can do it. 

Training world class fighters, sometimes you have to unlock their minds as well as develop them physically. I’ve always maintained that boxing is 90% mental.  It takes time to develop genuine confidence. Now Hughie’s a little older and more experienced, hopefully, he’s finally turned that corner. He’s been pro over six years now. 

A lot of young heavyweights coming through only have hand-picked opponents before they challenge for titles but that certainly wasn’t the case with Hughie. He never had an easy ride. 

His losses have actually been a blessing. He’s benefitted so much; one controversial points loss in a world title fight and another fighting abroad with just one good eye against a monster no one else was prepared to fight.

Even in defeat, we took a lot out of the Pulev fight. Hughie was executing our game plan perfectly until he got a massive, deep, cut late in round two. The skin was flapping so, when the doctor insisted we were on borrowed time, Hughie went ‘all out’. The adrenalin we placed into the cut burnt his fuel taking his body into overdrive but he only had the vision of one eye. After five or six rounds he went totally flat.

Hughie’s the ultimate professional in and out of the ring. In the seven months since Pulev, we’ve been correcting a lot of stuff and now he’s really coming into his own. He’s in fine health, no issues, no excuses. We’re more than ready. I’m happy with everything. 

With the heavyweights, we all know you’re just one punch away from disaster. But Hughie possesses all of the tools, is naturally awkward and he’s very, very durable. No heavyweight alive is going to get rid of Hughie Fury quickly. He’s now a very serious player who can give anybody in the division a very hard night.

After this, we’ll be straight back in training, looking to keep busy. Mick (Hennessy, Hughie’s promoter) says Hughie will be out again in September, then put into a serious fight against a big name before the end of the year. He’s gone beyond British level. We’re only interested in European and World titles. 

Norrad’s a big heavyweight, who’s always in shape and brings an undefeated record. He’s spars a lot with (Quebec’s 16-1, 15 kayos) Simon Kean so is obviously a very durable guy. He’s not one who’ll be blown away in one or two rounds, that’s for sure. He’s someone who’ll fight back, exactly what we need. 

But I see Hughie on another level and once we get this one out the way and he’s off again.”

Seventeen and a half stone New Brunswick lumberjack Chris Norrad expects to be hollering ‘Timber’ over the crestfallen 6ft 6in frame of ex British champion Hughie ‘Fists of’ Fury when the juggernauts collide in what promises to be a high grade 12 round heavyweight showdown at Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse on Saturday 25th May, exclusively live on Channel 5.

London, UK (20 May 2019) The 35 year old former woodsman from the forestry community of Boiestown has already toppled 17 successive oaks of the cruiser and heavyweight divisions, with eight felled before the finish.

Now, in his first start outside Canada, the 6ft 3in ‘Boiestown Banger’ aka ‘The Natural’, has come to chop down local World Youth gold medallist and world ranked heavyweight contender Fury in his home yard.

‘I was a late starter, never really boxed amateur or ‘Tough Man’ contests,’ disclosed self-managed Norrad who trains at the Fredericton Boxing Club under the guise of the Storey brothers Dean and Dwayne.

‘But as a young man, I’d be fighting at the local dances and got myself into a stack of trouble with the law so figured I’d best start fighting legally. I wasn’t really bad tempered, I just got a little excitable. I kinda enjoyed fighting and I must’ve been fairly useful. I never lost any.

‘I was quite interested in boxing long before I became actively involved. I’d studied tapes of how guys like Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes would win with jabs and incorporated that into my street scuffling. It was pretty easy when the other fella’s just launching haymakers.

‘Around 2009, when I was working in the woods one day, Dean Storey came over and told me that his brother Dwayne was promoting ‘The Next Great Heavyweight’ tournament. Dean said he’d heard how useful I was with my hands and offered to train me. It started there.’

Crafty Chris, then 25, cantered to the crown then repeated the trick in a similar tourney for cruisers in 2010. However, his progression has subsequently been curtailed by lack of opportunity and he has started just seven times in the last seven years.

He explains: I suffered from several hand injuries over the years and broke the right hand very badly whilst winning a fight by stoppage in May of last year. At other times, I’ve been busy with work commitments. I recently started up in transportation.’

In addition to that brace of ‘Next Great….’ titles, he reigned on the NABA Canadian cruiserweight throne following a 10 round points win over Ontario’s Frank White back in 2012.

‘Working in the woods for 10 years built up strength and I possess a pretty powerful right hand,’ warns Norrad who has iced four foes inside the opening two rounds.

‘But I like to think my way through a fight. I’m smart and usually out jab the opposition. If you get the jab going it’ll win the fight for you.

‘There’s been a lot of talk recently of me challenging for the Canadian heavyweight title but I’m sure Team Fury will be screaming for a big money rematch, once I’ve defeated Hughie!’

Promoted by Hennessy Sports, Channel 5 and Infinitum, in association with VIP Promotions, Hughie Fury headlines an action packed show on Saturday 25th May at the Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, when he takes on undefeated Canadian Chris Norrad. Exciting super-featherweight Alex Dilmaghani faces the hardened Martin Parlagi. Female super-middleweight sensation Savannah Marshall returns to action. Steve Brogan defends his Central Area Lightweight Championship against rival Adam Hague and completing the card will be Matty Fagan, Connor Lynch and Marcel Braithwaite.

Tickets priced at £40 & £70 are available from http://vipboxing.tv/shop/vip-tickets/hughie-fury-saturday-25th-may-victoria-warehouse/ and 01942 874 241

couse showman Marcel Braithwaite promises to provide the glitz and glamour to proceedings at promoter Mick Hennessy’s blockbuster bill at Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse on May 25 on the undercard of Hughie Fury versus Chris Norrad, exclusively live on Channel 5.

The slick and stylish 25 year old super-bantam skilster returns to duty hellbent on atoning for the first setback of his eight fight pro career last time out – a six round points loss to English title challenger Brett Fidoe – and is threatening to sizzle.

‘I deliver entertainment. If fans like a bit of flash, they’ll love me!’ claims the self-proclaimed ‘Chosen One’

‘Fans can look forward to watching a classy boxer puncher; I’m a bit showy, lots of slick movement and defence.

‘There was a lot of mix-up with my preparation last fight. I was sick, got better, sick again, better again. Then they changed my opponent the day before and Brett’s a nightmare for anyone….very tricky.’

One of a brood of six, born and raised on the tough terrain of Toxteth, Liverpool 8, 5ft 2in Braithwaite learnt how to hold his hands up at primary school.

‘I’ve always loved fighting,’ confesses the personal trainer who is managed by Steve Wood.

‘I started Tae-Kwon-Do at four, kick-boxing at seven or eight, then settled on the boxing from the age of about 11. Mum and dad took me to the gym cos I was always scrapping at school or on the streets. I wasn’t a particularly bad-tempered kid. I just really enjoyed fighting. It brought me pleasure!’

‘I lost just seven of my 36 amateur bouts and competed against guys like (ex ABA champ) Lucien Reid, (European Senior medallist) Calum French and (Commonwealth Games and European Seniors champion) Peter McGrail.

‘I won a National Novice title for under 20 bouts and boxed for England twice, winning the Three Nations, then losing to McGrail, a very talented kid, in the GB final.’

Having entered the profession, aged 22, in November 2016, mobile Marcel mesmerised his first seven opponents, dropping just one of 30 completed rounds on official cards, prior to that stumble against Fidoe – a man he’d previously shut-out six.

Sidelined for nine months, Braithwaite has made crucial adjustments to his support system ahead of his comeback.

He explains: ‘For my last two fights I was at the No Limits gym but now I’m back at the (Golden) Gloves under Wayne Smith where I fought as an amateur, getting re-built from the ground up, revisiting the basics, getting the right lifestyle back. I like to enjoy myself and party away from boxing but I lead a healthy active lifestyle.

‘I turned pro to follow my passion and win titles. During my apprenticeship there was no point killing myself to make weight, to fight naturally heavier journeymen but I could definitely make bantamweight, possibly even super-fly, and when I finally get matches at my proper weight, I’ll be a lot more physical.’

On Saturday week, Marcel brings the distinctive Braithwaite brand to Manchester for a third time, where he will star in a six-rounder against a foe yet to be announced.

‘Rucking on the streets of Toxteth, you never got to choose the opponent!’ he quips.

‘Whoever it is, they’re getting done in. I’ve got my heart set on titles and, hopefully by the end of 2019, I can put myself into contention for a shot at the English title shot, perhaps even the British.’

Tickets priced at £40 & £70 are available from http://vipboxing.tv/shop/vip-tickets/hughie-fury-saturday-25th-may-victoria-warehouse/ and 01942 874 241

London, UK (8 May 2019) Hennessy Sports, Channel 5 and Infinitum, in association with VIP Promotions, are delighted to announce that former World Heavyweight title challenger Hughie Fury will make his long awaited return to the ring on Saturday 25th May at the Victoria Warehouse in Manchester, exclusively live on free-to-air Channel 5.

In the headline attraction the Manchester star will take on the undefeated Canadian Chris “The Natural” Norrad in a twelve round International Heavyweight contest, supported by rising star Alex Dilmaghani in an International Super-Featherweight contest and undefeated female sensation Savannah Marshall.

Fury has his first fight since his loss to Kubrat Pulev last October when he pushed the Bulgarian the full twelve rounds in Sofia – despite not been able to see out of his left eye from a cut in the second round – but lost on the judges scorecards. He will be aiming to return to the same destructive form that took him to the British title in May last year when he smashed Sam Sexton in five rounds.

This will be Fury’s first fight back in his home city of Manchester since his WBO World title challenge against Joseph Parker in September 2017 that ended controversially when many felt that Fury had beaten the New Zealander.

The 24-year-old, trained by father Peter, still has plenty of time on his side and aims to get back into World title contention, but first he must deal with Norrad from Boiestown, New Brunswick, who has amassed a perfect record of 17 wins, no losses and eight knockouts.

Fury said, “I can’t wait to get back into the ring in my home city of Manchester, I’ve missed fighting there and you can’t beat home support. It’s back to the drawing board, I know what I’ve got to do. The ambition to become World Champion is still burning fiercer than ever inside me and I believe that I will get there. It all starts again on the 25th May when I take on the unbeaten Norrad from Canada. It’s a crucial fight for me live on Channel 5 with millions watching and I know that a knockout performance will get the ball rolling again.”

Peter Fury added, “This is Hughie’s opportunity to show that he’s back and means business. We’ve been working very hard in the gym since the Pulev fight and we’re ready to go again. We need Hughie back to his best like he was against Sexton to really get his feet back on the comeback trail and banging on the door for a world title shot.”

Chief support on the card features the exciting and highly-avoided Alex Dilmaghani from Worthing, Sussex, who takes on the Czech Republic’s hardened Martin Parlagi. The 27-year-old southpaw has 18 wins and just one very early career points loss on his record and for the last five years has been plying his trade in Canada and Mexico – where he was Juan Manuel Marquez’s sparring partner for the Manny Pacquiao fights. He’s now ready to show just what he can do back on home soil as he pushes to get himself in contention for a world title opportunity.

One of the most exciting female boxers on the scene, the hard-hitting Savannah Marshall, makes her return to the ring as she edges closer to challenge for a World title. Marshall created history when in 2012 she become the first ever British female to win gold at the World Championship in China.

Also trained by Peter Fury, the 27-year-old from Hartlepool captured her first pro title last October when she defeated Yanina Orozco in Sofia to capture the Vacant WBA Intercontinental Super-Middleweight crown. Then in November she destroyed Klaudia Vigh in two rounds in Manchester to take her record to a perfect 5-0 with three knockouts.

A cracking trade fight on the card sees Skelsmerdale’s Steve Brogan defend his Central Area Lightweight Championship when he collides with Glossop rival Adam Hague.

Completing the card will be Ellesmere Port super-lightweight Matty Fagan, unbeaten Middleweight welterweight Connor Lynch and Liverpool featherweight Marcel Braithwaite.

Promoter Mick Hennessy said, “I’m delighted to partner with Channel 5, Infinitum and VIP Promotions for this show and it’s great to have Hughie back on the road towards the world title. I believe that he can be one of the very best heavyweights in the division and he has the tools, ability and youth on his side to become World Champion. He’s got an unbeaten fighter in Norrad in front of him and he’ll be coming over here up for the challenge and looking to cause an upset in defeating Hughie on his return. I’m really excited with the up-and-coming talent Alex Dilmaghani and believe that he could be a huge star and the talented and world class Savannah Marshall, is back in action and she is certainly one to watch. Finally, the show is backed up with Brogan versus Hague for the Central Area Lightweight title and Matty Fagan, Conor Lynch and Marcel Braithwaite on the undercard to make this a great night of boxing for the supporters.”

Tickets priced at £40 & £70 are available from http://vipboxing.tv/shop/vip-tickets/hughie-fury-saturday-25th-may-victoria-warehouse/ and 01942 874 241