Promoter Dennis Hobson has warned that Tommy Frank faces a real threat from Luke Wilton, as the pair prepare to contest the vacant Commonwealth Super Flyweight Title on March 15 at Sheffield Ponds Forge Arena.
With TV exposure coming via Freesports (Freeview 64; Sky 422; Virgin 553; Freesat 252; TalkTalk 64; BT 64), local man Frank and Belfast’s Wilton will both be desperate to claim their first major title.
Frank, aged 25, may be the younger and far less experienced man heading into the contest but, unbeaten at 9-0 (1), has momentum behind him having decisively won a Commonwealth title eliminator in October last year against Tanzania’s Adam Yahaya.
Wilton has 20 wins from 26 fights but will be buoyed knowing he has been in with far better company than Tommy, having previously boxed – though lost to – current WBC World Flyweight Champion Charlie Edwards, former IBF World Bantamweight king Lee Haskins, and former British Flyweight Champ Kevin Satchell.
Hobson has an exclusive deal with Freesports and has served up some memorable matches already on the free-to-air channel including Liam Cameron’s demolition of Sam Sheedy in their Commonwealth Middleweight Title fight, Josh Wale’s British Bantamweight Title stoppage win over Bobby Jenkinson, and Jason Cunningham’s Central Area Super Bantamweight win over Paul Economides. With the first bell just hours away, Hobson is convinced that Frank versus Wilton will also be another TV spectacular.
“This is a potential banana skin fight on paper, and I don’t think you can say Tommy is a firm favourite,” said Hobson. “It’s more or less a 50-50. But I believe in Tommy, we all do – me, Steve [Crump] and Glyn Rhodes. We believe he can go onto higher levels. The Commonwealth is a big title that can get you onto the world scene, but he would have to consolidate at that level, and he’s got a big test in Luke first. It’s a big ask for him but if we didn’t think he could make that step, we wouldn’t put him in. Don’t forget Luke has just fallen short against the likes of current world champion, Charlie Edwards. So, Luke has quality and unless Tommy is the fighter we think he is, he will struggle.
“This will absolutely be a great TV fight for Freesports. It’s a great match up and we’ve delivered again. I’ll be extremely surprised if this doesn’t live up to all expectations. It’s a smashing fight, it’s free to view, and it’s there to challenge anything else you’ll be seeing on television. The last Sky TV show also featured a Commonwealth Title fight, and I think this fight is as good as what they’re putting on.”
“I’m very excited ahead of this show,” reiterated Steve Crump, Hobson’s boxing partner, “because we’ve got a couple of new fighters coming through on the undercard, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they perform and what they can offer in the future. I’m also really excited about the Tommy Frank fight and very confident he will become the new Commonwealth Champion.
“It’s a tough fight for Tommy, we all know that. We believe he can show his mettle though and come through, which is obviously the next step up for him. His opponent has a good pedigree but hopefully Tommy can make a statement by showing he can mix with these more experienced fighters, and deliver a win.”
Dennis Hobson Promotions, in association with JJ Crump, present an evening of boxing at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge Arena on March 15. Topping the bill will be Sheffield’s Tommy Frank and Belfast’s Luke Wilton contesting the vacant Commonwealth Super Flyweight Title.
Appearing on the undercard will be Manchester’s Michael Gomez Jr; Sheffield’s Kane Salvin, Keanen Wainwright; Chris Dutton, and Sufyaan Ahmed; and Sweden’s Redouane Kaya.
For ticket information, call 0114 243 4443.
The show will be televised live at 9pm on Freesports (Freeview 64; Sky 422; Virgin 553; Freesat 252; TalkTalk 64; BT 64).
