British hero Lenny Daws aims to finally capture the EBU European Super-Lightweight title when he challenges undefeated Swedish star Anthony Yigit for the Vacant title on his third attempt at the title on Saturday 17th December at the Westcroft Leisure Centre, Carshalton.
Daws v Yigit will headline promoter Mick Hennessy’s top-class event titled ‘EuroFighter’ that will feature an action-packed undercard with some of the best up-and-coming talent in the sport. Tickets are priced at £40 and £100 are available to now on www.ticketmaster.co.uk.
“Lightning” Lenny, a former two-time EBU European Union and British Champion, was ‘robbed’ twice previously of the title against Ruben Nieto and Michele Di Rocco and is now looking to unleash vengeance on Yigit to finally claim the prestigious and historic blue belt.
The all-action fighter from Carshalton controversially lost his second European title challenge against Spaniard Nieto last December when he was disqualified after an accidental clash of heads that opened a bad cut over Nieto’s eye that was ruled as an intentional head butt by the referee Freddy Rafn. The ruling was a bitter blow to Daws as he was ahead on all three judges’ scorecards going into the tenth round and was on course to claim the title in a fight of the year contender.
He was also the victim of a highly contentious points decision loss in Italy when he faced Di Rocco in June 2013 in his first challenge for the European title. Despite cutting him early in the fight and then dropping him in the eleventh round, which was ruled as a slip, Daws firmly believes he had done more than enough to be declared the winner.
Working-class hero Daws, a big favourite with fight fans’ and TV viewers’ because of the unrelenting pace he sets and his thrilling style, is fired up to put on the best performance of his career against Yigit and claim what he believes is rightfully his.
“I’m thrilled that the date and venue is confirmed and now I can face Yigit and finally right all the wrongs that have been done against me and get that European title around my waist,” Said Daws.
“I should have won the last two times I challenged for it against Nieto and Di Rocco, but I believe in fate and it’s definitely third time lucky for me,”
“Everyone knows that I was the victim of a terrible decision last time against Nieto with the referee ruling it a head butt when it wasn’t. Then the time before that against Di Rocco I was blatantly robbed by the judges’ after dropping him only for the referee to call it a slip,”
“Anyway what’s happened has happened and I can only look forward and know that victory against Yigit and holding that European title aloft on December 17th will be the sweetest reward for me after everything I’ve been through,”
“I know that I’ve got to do a good and thorough job on him and not leave it in the judges’ hands to decide so I’m aiming to stop him before the end. The fight’s on my turf at the Carshalton Sports Centre and I’ll have my fans driving me on to a memorable win,”
“Yigit’s a good kid, he’s tough strong and hungry but I’ve got the experience to take him out into deep, deep water. I’ll now go into more great detail studying him with my trainer, get all the right sparring in and do everything I can to make sure I come out the winner on the night.”
Daws will have to use all of his 16 years and 34 fight experience against the young and hungry challenger who is yet to taste defeat in 18 fights. The dangerous southpaw from Stockholm, now based in London, is promoted by Sauerland Promotions and has won the WBC Baltic title at both super-lightweight and welterweight.
Yigit said, “I’ve wanted to fight for the European title for a very long time now, and I’m happy to finally get the opportunity to do it. I know it will be tough fight. Daws is a good fighter with a lot of experience. He’s fought for the European title before, and was winning his last fight against Ruben Nieto before the disqualification, so in my eyes, he’s the guy I need to beat to prove I’m the best,”
“This is what I’ve trained for and winning the title will be the result of all the hard work I’ve been putting in over the years. I can’t wait to claim my position as the top fighter in Europe and then move on to challenge for the World.”
He added, “I’ve been living and training in London for the last year and I’ve made myself at home here. We might be fighting in Daws’ backyard but don’t think for a second that I’ll feel like the away fighter come fight night,”
“I’m very happy for the opportunity to fight in England. There are a lot of devoted boxing fans here so I can’t wait to go up and perform in front of them. As always, I want to put on an explosive performance and I hope the fans can dig my style!”
Promoter Mick Hennessy, who won the purse bid to stage the fight and get Daws the crucial home advantage, said, “It’s a travesty what’s happened to Lenny in his two previous European title challenges and I’m delighted that I won the purse bid to ensure that he gets home advantage for his third opportunity for the prestigious European title against Yigit,”
He added, “I’ve been with Lenny a long time and I’ve never seen him as fired up, determined and focused for a fight and after everything he’s been through he’ll be like a man possessed on the night. We’ve done everything to get him the fight here and he knows what he’s got to do in the ring.”
