Home-town title shot for Watson

WHAT A BELTER . . . Craig Watson is desperate to win back his British welterweight title at Oldham Sports Centre on July 16.

BOXING:

CRAIG Watson will attempt to regain the British Welterweight title belt from Lee Purdy on July 16 in Oldham’s first professional boxing show in more than four years.

Hatton Promotions, fronted by fighter-turned-promoter Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton, present the show at Oldham Sports Centre.

Negotiations with officials from the venue, Sky Television and police came to a successful conclusion last week.

It marks a dream-come-true for Northside star Watson (28), who will be headlining a show in his home town for the first time.

The bout hands him an instant opportunity to avenge the defeat inflicted by Purdy at the Manchester Arena in April, when he was floored by a vicious right hand in the fifth round.

Watson, who joined Hatton’s successful Hyde-based stable last year, said: “I cannot wait to fight in my home town of Oldham, especially in a British title bout.

"I know the venue will sell out and the atmosphere is going to be unbelievable.

"This is my chance to put right what went wrong against Purdy last time. I was winning the first five rounds, but I didn't have any pop in my shots.

"The power had gone and that was because I was run down, as I had not taken enough time off before it.

"This time I have been on holiday and relaxed a bit more.

"Ricky Hatton has done me a big favour here and I am not going to let him down."