Tommy Langford Lands Big Opportunity On July 4th
A WBO Inter-Continental Title shot awaits for the talented 25 year old middleweight.
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Midlands boxer Tommy Langford 12-0 will challenge for his first professional title in his 13th fight on American Independence Day in Dublin.
The unbeaten 25-year-old will showcase his skills at the 2,000 capacity National Stadium in Dublin in what will be the biggest fight of his career to date as he contests for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental middleweight title against an opponent yet to be confirmed.
The title fight will take place on the undercard of Jamie Conlan’s second WBO European super-flyweight title defence.
“It’s going to be the biggest stage of my career so far and I expect the venue to be packed out, it’s going to be great,” said a delighted Tommy Langford.
On The Way Up
The six-foot tall Devon-born puncher impressed last time out when he provided chief support to the controversial Ormond v Flanagan WBO European lightweight title event at a raucous Wolves Civic venue by dismantling a game Wayne Reed inside five rounds on Valentine’s Night to safely secure his title shot.
There was certainly no love lost between the pair on this traditionally romantic night as they hammered it out at a high pace that resulted in Reed hitting the canvas twice in the fourth before referee Robert Chalmers had seen one too many grimaces from the face of the Sheffield boxer caused by the onslaught of Langford’s rib-breaking body shots to wave off the fight in the fifth round with less than 30 seconds remaining on the clock.
The victor worked it to the body and to the head, threw neat combinations, landed accurately and moved fluidly to avoid most of what Reed had to throw at him. From ringside, respected pundit, Steve Lillis told the Box Nation cameras that it was, “a perfect all-round performance.”
The last three fights on the Bideford boxer’s record are made up from the aforementioned fifth round stoppage of Wayne Reed in February, a shut-out points victory over the slick Gary Boulden in October last year, and a second round stoppage over Sussex southpaw Nicky Jenman three months earlier in August, all at the familiar site of the Wolves Civic.
A former England captain, Langford enjoyed a glittering amateur career, most noted for his victories over Commonwealth Games heroes, Callum Smith and Anthony Fowler, who hold a silver and gold medal respectively.
Also crowned the Midlands ABA champion for four years running from 2008-2011, he left with a fine record of 86 wins from 106 fights and made a seamless transition to the pro ranks in September 2012 successfully completing his pro bow with a shut-out points victory over Steve Spence at the HMV Institute in Birmingham.
Now punching for pay, the Weoley Castle resident has notched up 12 wins with three stoppages and is yet to concede even a single round to an opponent to date making him one of Britain’s hottest middleweight prospects.
The Tom Chaney trained talent counts England’s first ever World Amateur champion, Frankie Gavin as a stablemate and trains out of the Hall Green Boxing Club in Birmingham.
Bumper Bill
Langford’s maiden title test tops a star-studded cast with unbeaten prospect Jamie Conlan headlining the ‘New Beginning’ show promoted by Frank Warren featuring some of the best up-and-coming Irish talent including Belfast’s hot-shot bantamweight Ryan Burnett in his tenth pro outing, Dublin prospects Anthony Fitzgerald, Declan Geraghty, Brendan Fitzpatrick, and son of super-middleweight legend, Steve Collins Jr.
Belfast ace Conlan, known as the ‘The Mexican’ for his all-action style, returns to Dublin for the first time in over five years when he destroyed Itsko Veselinov in five rounds in his second pro fight and is regarded by many as one of the most exciting boxers coming through at the moment by thrilling fight fans and the media with his hard-hitting performances.
The 28-year-old seized the WBO European title in April last year, stopping Benjamin Smoes inside seven exhilarating rounds. He followed that up with a quick first defence against Gabor Molnar in June, halting the Hungarian in the third round demonstrating the firepower he carries in both hands.
In the 5ft 7” prospect’s last fight in September, he successfully dealt with his first Mexican test against Jose Estrella to outbox the tough veteran over ten rounds to capture the WBO Intercontinental title and elevate himself inside the top ten of the WBO World rankings.
Patrick Hyland and Ciaran McVarnock will also see action and another Birmingham prospect, unbeaten lightweight Michael Rooney, completes the card as he continues his development in a four-round contest.
Ticket Information
Tickets are on sale from Wednesday 20th May priced at €25, €40, €60, €100 & €150 and will be available from Ticketmaster on 0818 719 300 or online at www.ticketmaster.ie
Viewers can watch the show live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky channel 437/HD 490, Virgin channel 546 and TalkTalk channel 525).
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