Teams Announced For Sunday’s Boxers And Celebrity Football Tournament
Today Ultrachem TKO boss Johnny Eames announced the teams that will be taking part in the Celebrity Football Tournament, in aid of the Indee Rose Trust, at Brockwell Stadium, Canvey Island, Essex, this coming Sunday.
There will be ten teams taking part in the nine-a-side tournament playing under a two league format. All teams play four times within the league system followed by an eleven-a-side final between the winners of each league.
Ultrachem TKO Team 1, which is managed by head honcho Johnny Eames includes former undisputed Light Welterweight champion Ricky Hatton and WBA Heavyweight Champion of the World David Haye heading up a star studded lineup that includes David Haye's manager and coach Adam Booth, Razorlight frontman Johnny Borrell, Matthew Marsh, Derek Grainger, Wayne Elcock, Olympian Billy Joe Saunders, George Hillyard, Billy Morgan as well as a couple of ringers in former Crystal Palace footballers Tommy & Michael Black.
Ringers, in the form of ex-pro footballers seem to be quite a feature of the tournament. It appears that almost every team has secured a little professional assistance to ensure that the infamous Willie Limond's “Bravehearts” , who at the previous Ultrachem TKO Gym Charity Football Tournament fielded a team littered with former Scottish Premiership players, do not get to lift the trophy.
Prime example of the infiltration of former pro footballers is the Ultrachem TKO Team 2, which is managed by Craig Burns & 'Our' Monty. In all fairness though it should be said that the Ultrachem TKO Gym's second team was hastily put together, following Gavin Rees' Welsh Wizards having pulled out earlier this week. Gym owner's son Ritchie Eames, who played for West Ham, Tottenham Hotspurs and Barnet as a youth, and the aforementioned Monty, hit the phones to put together a replacement team, consisting of mainly Ritchie's former pro football mates, at very short notice.
Ultrachem TKO Gym/Indee Rose Trust Team, which is managed by Martin Stewart, has been a little better behaved and features a host of boxers and celebrities including former WBU Light Heavyweight World Champion Tony 'Oakey Kokey' Oakey, Lightweight Contender Kevin Mitchell, British Light Middleweight Champion, Sam Webb, unbeaten Light Middleweight 'Phat' Pat McAleese, 'Pretty' Ricky Boylan, George Keen, Lee Cook, former British Light Middleweight Champion Gary Woolcombe, Bradley Skeet, Akaash 'Kash The Bash' Bhatia, Mark Wingett (Jim Carver - The Bill), Andrew Tiernan (Prime Suspect, 300, Cracker) and Heavyweight Contender Ali Adams amongst others.
Another team not to rely on any professional assistance are the Sports Writers Team, lead by Player/Manager Steve Lillis (News of the World) and featuring top UK boxing promoter Frank Maloney, Sports Network's matchmaker Dean Powell, Sky Sports presenter Ed Robinson, Boxing News' Tris Dixon & Matt Christie, actors Gerald Kerns & Ciaren Griffiths (Shameless), Stephen Bell (former pro boxer now Coronation Street star), Olympic boxer Tony Jeffries plus a motley crew of top British sports writers.
Paul Smith's Mickey Mousers Team, who're managed by Paul Smith Snr, make the long journey south with a squad that includes Paul Smith (British Super Middleweight Champion), Stephen Smith (Commonwealth Super Featherweight contender), Callam & Liam Smith (Unbeaten pros), Paul Edwards (unbeaten Super Flyweight contender) plus a fair sprinkling of Scouse ringers.
Willie Limond's “Bravehearts”, lead by player/manager WBU World Champion Willie Limond, seems to again feature a selection of former Scottish Premiership players. Although in fairness Limond does include Kevin and Raymond Limond, Jason Hastie and British Super Featherweight Champion Craige Docherty from the world of boxing.
Graham Earl's House Of Champions, lead by player/manager former WBU Lightweight World Champion Graham Earl, are a bit more up front having named Lui Field & James Smith, (Luton Town Youth), Rory Smith (Dunstable Town), Alvin Rajadarmi (Greys Athletic), along with the cream of Luton, Bedfordshire's amateur boxing stars, in his squad.
Ireland's Team Alio, managed by “Iron” Mike Tyson's sparring partner 'Big' Joe Egan & Alan 'Alio' Wilton, have named Luke Wilton (British Flyweight Contender), Aran Wilton, Matthew Wilton, Stevie Quinn (former Super Bantamweight contender), Steve Quinn Jnr, Ben Little, Lloyd Abbott, John McCaughey, Garreth Thompson, Paul McCausland, Mark Gamble, James Paisley (Former Ultrachem TKO fighter) and a dodgy sounding (Jon Joe) Renaldo amongst the team to cross the Irish Sea to take part.
Jimmy Mack's Mashers, managed by Alec Wilkey, is heavily boxing biased with Lewis Pettit (unbeaten Super Bantamweight), Jimmy McDonald (former Featherweight World Champion), Cassius Conner (Unbeaten Welterweight) and Light Welterweight Ben 'The Entertainer' Day heading up their squad. Now whilst Mr Day may not technically class as a ringer, being a pro boxer, I have it on good authority that he chose boxing over a highly promising footballing career.
Last but not least Team Iron Maiden, who unfortunately will not be featuring the anticipated ringer of all ringers, former West Ham, Spurs, Man Utd and England striker, Teddy Sheringham due to him suffering a knee ligament injury, have left the organisers totally in the dark, and unable to check for suspected ringers, by submitting the following team list - R Wilson, N McCabe, C Rowlatt, J McCabe, V Nicoll, D Rowlatt, T Larkin, T Newton, R Verschoyle, K Hoad, G Harris, A Monagle, J Lovell, J Lovell, C J Rowlatt, J Mann, J Shakey, L McCabe.
Following the on-pitch action there will be a Boxing Memorabilia Auction - featuring items donated by the stars taking part as well as some of the famous boxers, such as undefeated and undisputed Champion of the World Joe Calzaghe, who were unable to make it on the day.
The Ultrachem TKO Gym Boxers & Celebrity Football Tournament, in aid of The Indee Rose Trust will be at the Brockwell Stadium, Canvey Island on Sunday 25th July 2010. Kick-off will be a 12:00 Noon.
Tickets are priced:
Adults: £10.00
Children: £5.00
Tickets are available on the day at Canvey Island FC and are also still available until 2pm Saturday from The Ultrachem TKO Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA - Tel: 0207 474 3199