JAMES Tennyson will fight defending champion Kris Hughes for the Celtic Featherweight title on Saturday, March 28. The bout will act as an eliminator for a British featherweight title tilt and MHD Promotions have agreed terms with Morrison Promotions in Glasgow to stage it in the Andersontown Leisure Centre in west Belfast Hughes (17-5), from Bellshill in Glasgow, will play his part in an exciting match-up. The Scotsman will bring a classic southpaw style while Tennyson (11-1) is regarded by some as the hardest-hitting featherweight in Britain and Ireland with a 75 per cent KO ratio. Hughes (27) is a strong and durable former Scottish featherweight champion who has only failed to hear the final bell twice in 22 contests - against Commonwealth lightweight champion Richard Commey and Belfast's own IBF super-bantamweight champion Carl Frampton when they fought for the Commonwealth title back in January 2012.
Tennyson (21) became the youngest professional boxer in 60 years to win an Irish title when he did so at the tender age of 19 in only his fifth fight. He has boxed in Scotland, England, Hungary, Dublin, Dundalk and Belfast, gaining some valuable experience and nine impressive KO victories along the way, which have taken him to number four in the British rankings. The winner of this fight is guaranteed a shot at the winner of the Ryan Walsh v Samir Mouneinme British Boxing Board of Control-ordered contest for the vacant title. The exciting Andersonstown line-up will also feature undefeated prospects Paul Hyland Jnr and James Fryers, as well as the talented Irish light-middleweight champion Dee Walsh, with more names to be added in the next few weeks. Tickets go on sale next week, priced at £35 (unreserved), £40 (ringside) and £50 (VIP). Pre-orders are available from 07712473905 or by emailing mark@mhdpromotions.com.