Ricky Hatton says Richard Towers and Lucas Browne’s Heavyweight battle will be a showstopper at the Hull Ice Arena on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.
Towers and Browne clash in an eliminator for the Commonwealth title, and as promoter of both men, ‘The Hitman’ knows exactly what to expect with the stakes so high – and that’s fireworks.
“It’s a great fight, a great clash of styles,” said Hatton. “Being the promoter of both, it’s a little bit upsetting to see them fighting each other. They’re two of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet, but there’s nothing nice about the way they fight.
“This is great opportunity for them both. Lucas has a WBC ranking of 15th, which is a scalp Richard will be after. If you get to 15th in the world, things open up so it’s a big, big fight and it’s going to be very interesting.
“Lucas always uses the gym when he comes over and he’s been looking really good. He’s a big puncher, he’s very, very powerful, but Richard Towers has got the style to cause Lucas problems.
“I think everyone is looking at Richard’s last performance when he was shaken up quite badly and that’s the worst thing anyone can because Towers has the style cause absolute murder for Lucas. He’s got the height, the reach and the boxing ability. Having said that, Lucas, with his punching power only needs one chance so I’m unsure which way it’s going to go.”
The unbeaten duo share 26 KOs from 31 wins, but Towers has not boxed since June 2012 when he stopped Gregory Tony in the ninth round of their EU Title clash. ‘Big Daddy’ Browne has racked up four wins and 33 competitive rounds while Towers has been on the side-lines, and while Hatton admits ring rust can be a factor, he believes the Sheffield man has benefitted from top class sparring.
“It can be a factor, he could have a bit of ring rust but look at the spars he’s had,” said Hatton. “He’s sparred David Haye, he’s sparred with Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder. If you’re getting the quality in the gym, it doesn’t really matter about the fights. Of course everyone would like to have a fight and progress record building but ultimately you won’t get fights at the level he’s had in sparring.
“If Richard wins this it puts him back up there, puts in the world title stage and if Lucas wins it, the buzz continues. He’s got a perfect record and a big knockout percentage. It’s going to be a great fight.”
Saturday’s winner will be on the hunt for a shot at current champion David Price. The popular Liverpool fighter holds that and the British belt but hasn’t fought since his second defeat to Tony Thompson in July. Price has since switched trainers to David Haye’s man Adam Booth, and Hatton believes a fight for either man with the Scouser would be a cracker, and has backed Price to bounce back.
“Only Price and his team know [if they’d take the fight],” said Hatton. “Lucas would have it because he’s fearless. Richard, if he wins, won’t be scared of facing David after David’s last couple of performances, but like people are looking at Richard’s last performance and writing him off, people don’t want to do that with David Price. It was only a few fights ago that people we’re talking about him as a future world champion and he still can be.”
Towers and Browne are a big part of a cracking line-up of action in Hull as Luke Campbell MBE fights for the third time as a pro and the second time in his hometown, with Lee Connolly taking on the Olympic Gold medal hero and Hull’s Lightweight talent Tommy Coyle faces former British and Commonwealth Featherweight champion John Simpson for the vacant IBF International title.
Driffield Lightweight Curtis Woodhouse returns after his Commonwealth title challenge, former World title challenger Rendall Munroe continues his comeback and two more Hull favourites are in action – Light Welterweight Zak Collins and Lightweight Joel Haigh.
Tickets are on sale priced at £40, £60 and £100, with VIP tickets priced at £150 – all tickets are available from Matchroom Sport at www.matchroomboxing.com and on 01277 359900.
