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Showtime beckons for Hughes' boys

15/ 1/2003

COLLYHURST and Moston Gym's raft of fighters are in great shape for Saturday's showdown at Preston's Guild Hall.

Thomas McDonagh, Michael Jennings, David Barnes and Matthew Hall all star on the undercard of Michael Gomez's WBU middleweight title defence and trainer Brian Hughes reports all are raring to go.

McDonagh faces eight rounds against adopted Londoner Thomas Da Silva, who he drew with in November - the only bout of his 19-fight career so far not to register as a victory. And while it is an important fight in its own right, it will also serve as a handy warm-up for McDonagh's shot at an Intercontinental world title at the Manchester Evening News Arena in April.

Jennings will also have eight rounds to prove himself, this time against tough Birmingham competitor Carl Taylor. The Brummie is an experienced fighter and should prove a decent test for Jennings, who is also unbeaten in his professional career.

Said Hughes: "They will be hard fights, but they are the right kind of fights for them at this stage."

Barnes - who is considered by many top pundits to be the best prospect in British boxing - has won all 10 of his paid fights so far and will be looking to extend his record over six rounds at Preston.

And for 18-year-old Matthew Hall, who is the youngest professional in the country, his clash with Michael Johnson from London represents only his third big-time bout. "It will be a good test for Matthew again Johnson," said Hughes, "and will show us how he is developing."