Chris Jenkins is ready to put ‘the hardest period as a pro’ behind him and claim the vacant British Light Welterweight title at the Manchester Arena on July 18, live on Sky Sports.
Jenkins moved to 16-0 in October as he continued to build on the momentum from his Prizefighter triumph and then landing the WBC International strap, but a run of bad luck has kept him on the side lines – and the Welshman is ready to unleash months of frustration in his first British title fight.
“In truth it has been my hardest period as a professional but I feel that things are on the up and I expect to come back with a bang against Tyrone Nurse,” said Jenkins.
“It’s been nearly 10 months out for me when July 18 comes round. I was close to boxing Tom Stalker before Christmas, then the Anthony Crolla show was cancelled due to his horrific injury where I was due to face Willie Limond for the British title on that card.
“We were supposed to fight again in Leeds in April for the belt and then I collapsed in the gym. I had picked up a stomach virus, had a slight headache and I pushed myself to go to the gym and looking back it wasn’t the greatest choice. I spent the night in hospital and initially they thought it was food poisoning but that wasn’t the case.
“I’m glad to be getting back in the ring in a big fight. Tyrone is a tall and rangy fighter, he’s a slick boxer but he showed against Dave Ryan that he can be beat.
“I always feel confident that a fighter can beat a boxer, I know what to expect and I’ll put the pressure on him. I’ll take him to places he hasn’t been before – I can tell he thinks he will simply just outbox me, but he is in for a shock.”
Jenkins’ clash with Nurse is part of a huge night of action in Manchester with two huge World title fights topping the bill as Scott Quigg defends his WBA World Super Bantamweight title against Kiko Martinez and Anthony Crolla challenges Darleys Perez for the WBA World Lightweight strap.
There’s another vacant British title on the line as big-hitters Sam Eggington and Glenn Foot tussle for the Welterweight belt with Eggington’s Commonwealth crown also on the line.
St. Helens’ Martin Murray boxes at Super Middleweight for the second time in quick succession as he targets some huge domestic battles at 168lbs, and there’s a host of young talent on display in unbeaten Gallagher’s gym duo Hosea Burton and Marcus Morrison, while there are outings for Prizefighter Lightweight champion Jono Carroll, former Team GB starlet Charlie Edwards, Sedgefield’s Jeff Saunders, Middleton’s Liam Taylor and Chapel-en-le-Firth’s Jack Massey.
Tickets are on sale priced £40, £60, £80, £100 and £150 through www.manchester-arena.com or by calling 0844 847 8000. VIP’s are available exclusively through www.matchroomboxing.com priced at £300.
