Magee gets a date
Ulsterman Eamonn Magee will challenge Germany’s Oktay Urkal for the European light-welterweight title on May 3 in Germany.
Magee’s promoter Frank Warren today confirmed he had struck a deal with the champion’s camp, prior to the deadline for purse offers, and a venue will be announced shortly.
Warren claims that victory for Magee against Urkal, who has only lost once, would lead to a rematch with WBU light-welterweight champion Ricky Hatton or a shot at the undisputed world number one at 10 stone, Kostya Tszyu.
“It’s a great opportunity for Eamonn and although it’s in Germany I’m confident that he can win it,” said Warren.
“If Eamonn wins then we have to be looking at matching with the winner of Hatton and Junior Witter or a fight with Kostya Tszyu.”
Tszyu is the only fighter to have beaten Urkal, on points, and the Russian-born Australian champion is certainly the main target for ‘Terminator’ Magee’s manager Mike Callahan.
Callahan said: “Eamonn has the class to beat the best in the world and if he can beat Urkal who is ranked at four by the three main world governing bodies then there’s no reason why he shouldn’t get a fight with Tszyu.”
