From January 2008, Thomas McDonagh and Patrick Barrett will be in charge of the gym and hopefully bring back the glory days. We are going to look at getting top class amateurs again and putting Manchester back on the map. I will still be there but more in an advisory position.

We have a wonderful team of boxers with Michael Jennings, Thomas McDonagh and Matthew Hall and there are two youngsters coming through who I believe will cause quite a stir- Rhys Roberts and Scott Quigg.

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Scott and Rhys are travelling to America in August with one of our coaches, Michael Clarkin to benefit from some training sessions in New York gyms.

My ambitions are to produce more top class boxers who will enhance boxing in Great Britain over the coming years. Of course championships are the yardstick that managers and coaches are judged, I accept this and will try to instill into my lads that they must strive to fulfill their hopes and dreams.

FIGHT REPORTS- JULY 4th 2008

19-year-old Collyhurst and Moston Academy super-featherweight Scott Quigg shone like the brightest beacon on a very foggy night in his 6x3 round International contest against the 26-year-old classy Italian amateur champion Angelo Villani, who had lost only once in his eight bout professional career at the Everton Park Sports Centre in Liverpool on Friday night (4/7/2008) on this SKY TV in this seven-fight championship tournament.

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What a cracking contest this bout turned out to be!

It put the other contests on the bill in the shade for excitement. The taller Italian looked a class act as the bell for the first round sounded and he came out throwing a lovely left jab then hooking to head and body. Quigg, wanting to show that he was improved in his 8th contest traded punch for punch. In a split second he found himself on the floor looking up at the arch lights above the ring.

Villani caught the C/M youngster with a corking left hook that had 'finish' written all over it. Quigg fell backwards and another bright prospect looked to have bitten the dust. But the British boxer took an eight count and exchanged punch-for-punch much to the spectators delight and the cheering nearly tore the roof of the building.

Quigg would not be denied. The second round saw Scott attack in non-stop fashion throwing a beautiful old-fashioned straight English left jab which hurt and rocked the Italian's head back on his shoulders. These were mixed up with powerful-body punches that almost broke the Italian in half.

One of these rib-bending punches put Villani on the floor. The swarthy Italian was badly shaken and only just beat the count. But the young C/M boxer was like a lion after its prey as he attacked him remorselessly using two-handed combination punches. The crowd were stood on their feet screaming encouragement as Quigg drew his opponent to the ropes where he smashed him unmercifully with a combination before the referee jumped in and stopped the onslaught with Quigg the winner.

A truly brilliant and momentous victory. "This was a great victory for Scott," said Chief Coach Brian Hughes. "I didn't want him on television at this early stage of his development. But the Sky officials pleaded with us. These are the different levels these youngsters have to surmount if they are to progress further."

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Rhys Roberts is another of the talented prospects from the C&M gym. He boxed excellently against Delroy Spencer from Walsall, an experienced opponent having had over 100 professional contests, to beat him clearly on points.

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The crowd who had stayed behind were truely entertained and gave him a standing ovation.

Boxing officials and former world champion, Johnny Nelson, expressed the opinion that this was a star of the future and a champion in the making.

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Brian was delighted with Roberts' performance, and even though he had a five hour wait before he boxed he said, "His concentration and focus were first rate".

Hall Wins Sensational Fight In South Wales

23-year-old light-middleweight Matthew Hall, from the Langley Estate in Middleton, scored a wonderful victory at the Welsh National Arena, in Cardiff on Saturday night. (22nd March 2008)

 "This was the best, most exciting fight seen in Great Britain, or anywhere for that matter for a long, long time," said commentator John Rawlings.

It was an 'Us vs. Them' situation as Hall faced the unbeaten Kerry Hope, from South Wales and a member of the Joe Calzaghe stable. Hall, who has lost only once in 18 professional contests and was tipped to become a big star in British boxing, but certain influential people in boxing seemed to have lost faith in him after his surprise defeat last year to Martin Conception and seemed out of favour on future promotions. Gave all the doubters the message loud and clear - 'I'm back with a vengeance.' There was no argument that the Middleton lad had been selected for the Welsh star as a name opponent for him to make his name on.

Hope was a rising star, a member of the Calzaghe stable that produced winners, a southpaw and undefeated. From the first bell the action was fast and furious and non-stop action.

 The crowd were on their feet within the first few seconds and never sat down again until the eight round when the referee stopped the bout in Matthew's favour, with Kerry Hope helpless and wobbling on rubbery legs from the battering the smaller Hall had dished out for the entire eight rounds the bout lasted. Hall fought like a man possessed and his attacks were likes waves of punches pouring all over his opponent. Hope fought a completely different fight than what the Collyhurst and Moston camp had visualized he would fight. "In his previous fights, Kerry had boxed on his front foot, using his reach and height advantage and was known as a pure boxer. But against Matthew, he fought as if he thought, or been told, that if he fought Matthew he would stop him, how wrong this advice was," said Chief Coach Brian Hughes. The spectators nearly tore the roof of the building as these two courageous fighters stood toe-to-toe and slugged it out. Hall dug power-packed body punches into the Welsh lad's body then switched to the head. In the third round after connecting with a thunderous left hook he dropped the Welsh fighter for a count of nine. Only his bravery saw Kerry beat the count.

Both had success with body punches, but it was the Collyhurst lad who carried the dynamite in both fists. In each round Matthew was the aggressor and some of his moves and combination punching was simply - world class! He slipped the taller fighters leads and countered superbly.

Calzaghe and Enzo Maccarinelli were stood inches from the ropes banging on the canvas and shouting instructions to their stable mate. There were no warnings from BBBC officials to these two champions, but when Hughes shouted to his man "Turn him Matthew, turn him," he was warned several times. The two fighters never slackened their pace, and heads collided. Hall received a cut over his right eye because of a head but. In round six he received another but under his left eye which as Hughes said "It was deep and wide and in a very awkward place." Hall never stopped, never eased off, he was intent and his determination was unbelievable. Many were shouting to the referee to stop the fight, not because of Matthew's cuts, but because of the punches he was raining down on the game and brave Welsh fighter. After putting Hope down in the eight, Hall never stopped punching. With the crowd roaring themselves hoarse, the Middleton fighter was like a cyclone. Punching with both hands when the referee after giving Kerry every chance, finally halted the fight with Hall a blooded winner.

Reece Robertsfought a return against experienced Walsall's former ABA champion and a campaigner of over 100 professional contests to his credit.

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 Straight from the first bell Roberts, up on his toes, boxed superbly. Using two handed combinations he peppered his vastly more experienced foe with speedy punches. Spencer tried to intimidate the boyish-looking Collyhurst & Moston boxer but all to no avail. The 'Will-O-the-Wisp Reece was in and out and boxing like a canny campaigner. He was first to punch and last to deliver a scoring blow. Spencer, game as they come tried everything he learned in his over a century of fights but it was never enough to subdue the good-looking younger man.

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The crowd was very appreciative of Robert's brand of flashy but accurate boxing and gave him a standing ovation at the end of this six round entertaining bout. The referee had no hesitation in raising his hand with a score of 60-54 for Reece, which meant he won every round.

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Brian's view:

"Reece was much better this time, in their first bout Reece was a little nervous which was understandable being his first pro contest, but he was loose and relaxed for this one and boxed superbly. He will get better and better as he gains more experience."

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Scott Quigg gave a thundering performance of power-packed body punching to gain a 60-54 victory over Sean Walton from Walsall in another six rounder which though lopsided proved entertaining for the huge crowd.

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Quigg started fast by using a powerful left jab and hooked to the body with devastating effect and had the crowd oo-ing and ah-ing as Quigg unleashed ferocious body punches that hurt the game Midlander and saw his face squirming in pain. Although Scott won each and every round clearly the bravery of Walton made the bout interesting and saw the young Manchester lad display his brand of hard-hitting boxing which proved a joy to watch for officials and spectators. The more experienced Walsall fighter tried hard to knock his younger foe out of his style but every time he launched an attack Quigg countered brilliantly to both head and body with fast accurate punches.

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The referee was implored by a large section of spectators to stop the contest in the third and fourth rounds as the Collyhurst boxer attacked and connected superbly and saw Walton reeling on unsteady legs. But courageously he fought back and drew applause.

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Brian's View

"I thought I was transported back to the early sixties and watching the great Mexican bantamweight champion Ruben Olivares. This kids body punching was impressive I must say. What a great prospect." At the conclusion of the fight the crowd again stood and applauded both fighters. Scott was very impressive indeed and learned a great deal in this his third victory.

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"Both lads have a great deal to learn, we could have signed them on with more high profiled promoters but decided to go on the smaller circuit where like past masters they would learn their trade and box more often. They are a breath of fresh air to boxing. Both are eager to learn and like we said we are taking a different route for them. All the training is of no use if you are not boxing regularly. And this was why we chose a different plan for their future."