Skip to content

Chris Jenkins to face Tyrone Nurse for vacant British light-welterweight title

Image: Chris Jenkins (left) was due to fight champion Willie Limond

Chris Jenkins will face Tyrone Nurse for the vacant British light-welterweight title in Leeds on April 11, live on Sky Sports.

Live Fight Night

Unbeaten Jenkins was due to fight champion Willie Limond, but a shoulder injury has prevented the Glaswegian from defending his belt - prompting Nurse to step in.

Nurse, 25, bounced back from a narrow points defeat to Commonwealth kingpin Dave Ryan by stopping Radoslav Mitev inside four rounds in November, while Jenkins' last bout was an emphatic stoppage of Jacek Wylezol in October.

Promoter Eddie Hearn said: "This is a great fight and a huge opportunity for both fighters to pick up one of the most prestigious belts in boxing.

"Tyrone was due to box on the bill regardless and will have plenty of support from the Yorkshire faithful but Chris has been waiting a while for this opportunity and is in great shape. The light-welterweight domestic division is wide open and next Saturday's winner will be in pole position."

Leeds fighter Bob Ajisafe will also be in title action on the night after it was announced that he would face Daniel Wanyonyi for the vacant Commonwealth light-heavyweight title.

Ajisafe is on a roll after a hot 2014 where he picked up the British title against Dean Francis in March, before taking out Leon Senior and Matty Clarkson inside five rounds to establish himself as one of the top dogs in the division in Britain.

Latest Boxing Stories

Now Ajisafe is aiming to add the Commonwealth crown to his Lonsdale strap before moving onto more top honours, but he’ll face stiff opposition from 26-year-old Wanyonyi, who picked up the African title in June.

“This is a great chance for Ajisafe to pick up a major title in his first action of 2015,” said Hearn. “Wanyonyi is an exciting fighter who can really bang, but Bob will have huge support in his home city and is looking to make a statement in the division.”

Another stellar Fight Night also includes Josh Warrington’s showdown with Dennis Tubieron for the vacant WBC International featherweight title, Martin J. Ward and Maxi Hughes clashing in a British lightweight title eliminator plus super-middleweight Rocky Fielding.

Watch Fight Night, April 11 7.30pm, Sky Sports 2

Around Sky