RISING Aussie star Cameron Hammond is promising to dust off the cobwebs with an explosive performance when he returns to the ring next month.
 
The 2012 Olympian has had some time off due to injury, but is raring to go again and is looking to stamp his mark on the welterweight division.
 
He will make the second defence of his WBA Ocenia title against Sydney-based Fijian Jess Ravudi at the Sands Tavern in Maroochydore, Queensland on May 23, and victory should help him move further up the world sanctioning body's rankings.
 
"I can't wait to get back in the ring and show people what I can do," Hammond said. "Six months is a long time in boxing, but the lay-off has served me well. I had 11 fights in less than two years, which was great, but I'm fresh and ready now.
 
"Ravudi is a good, tough fighter who is capable of causing an upset. He won't get one against me, though. I'm ready for anything he's got.
 
"My last two fights have been ten rounders and I'm fit and strong enough to go that distance again if needed, but I will be looking for KO if the chance comes.
 
"My promoter, Ricky Hatton, has brought me on at the right pace and I think after a few more of these kinds of fights, we'll be ready to start looking at the really big match-ups."
 
Hammond's manager, Matt Clark, said: "Cameron is getting used to the longer distances now and I'm looking forward to this bout.
 
"Ravudi is a tough, confident fighter in his own right and he's determined to take Cameron's WBA Oceania title."
 
He added: "I'd like to thank Ricky for his help with this co-promotion. We intend on raising some money for the Cancer Council and you won't find a more worth-while cause than that. It's going to be a great night of domestic boxing.
 
"The main event is former two-time Olympian Brad Hore, who is a Sunshine Coast local, facing Afrizal "TNT" Tamboresi. This will be supported by former European middleweight champion Kerry "The Great" Hope. Kerry has recently relocated to Brisbane from Wales and this will be his first bout in Australia. He's facing Jamed Jalarante of Indonesia over eight rounds."
 
The bill on May 23 is a co-promotion between Xcite Fight Promotions and Hatton Promotions. Tickets are priced at $40 (general), $60 (ringside) and $150 (VIP ringside). Bookings: 0411 393 534 or info@xcitefight.com .

Champions TKO's Jerome Haywood is set to face Scunthorpe’s Matthew Pepper on the Mark Lyons and Billy James-Elliott Wise Guys Promotions LORDS OF THE RING event, which takes place at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 2nd May 2015.
 

Jerome will be making his return to York Hall, the scene of his successful professional debut in October last year, where he scored a well earned points victory over Rolandas Cesna

Back in October, after a slightly hesitant start, Haywood soon settled down and took the fight to his more experienced opponent, pressuring the big Lithuanian with stiff jabs and heavy rights to the body.

Haywood’s work to the body began to take a toll on Cesna, so much so that by mid way through the third Cesna was clearly struggling to cope with the constant punishment to his ribs.

In the fourth Haywood stepped up the pressure even further, which in turn forced Cesna to cover up to protect his bruised and battered ribcage.

After four excellent rounds Referee Alf Sprung scored the bout 40-38 in favour of Haywood.

Haywood’s opponent on May 2nd is Scunthorpe’s Matthew Pepper, who will be making his first visit to the famous home of boxing in the Capital City.

Following a training session, under the watchful eyes of his coach Brian O’Shaughnessy at the Champions TKO gym in Hackney, Haywood spoke briefly about the upcoming showdown with Matthew Pepper.

“Glad to be fighting again, it’s been six months since my debut fight.

After my last fight, I was hoping to get out again as soon as possible and I should have, I was due to fight in March, but had to pull out of that one as I came down with a bug about a week or so before I was due to fight.

My first fight, yeah I enjoyed that, I was well prepared for it, he was tough but nothing I couldn’t handle.

I don’t know too much about Matthew (Pepper), but we’ve been working hard in the gym, so hopefully I’ll put a good performance in for my fans, who I can’t thank enough for their fantastic support.”

Dynamite-punching Southampton prospect Joe Pigford is aiming for an explosive performance on his Queensberry Promotions debut at the SSE Arena, Wembley, on Saturday 9th May.

Light-middleweight Pigford will feature on the undercard of a title packed show, live and exclusive on BoxNation.

The red-hot 21-year-old has a massive fan base who follow their hero around the country to be thrilled by his all-action, hard-hitting style.  He has halted six out of his seven opponents with all of his stoppages coming inside three rounds and has only gone the four round distance once.

In his last fight earlier this month, Pigford blasted out Lewis van Poetsch in just 1:46 of the first round, showing the considerable power in his right hand to drop Poetsch twice before the referee waved it off.

Pigford has now signed a promotional contract with Queensberry Promotions that sees the hammer-fisted youngster join top undefeated 154lb talents: Liam Smith, the new WBO Intercontinental Champion, Commonwealth Champion Liam Williams, plus Joe Selkirk, Lloyd Ellett and Gary Corcoran, under the same banner.

He will face Simone Lucas in a four-round contest at the SSE Arena and aims to show he’s championship material as he looks to target domestic titles before working his way up the world scene.

“It’s a real honour to join Frank Warren at Queensberry Promotions and I’m looking forward to having my first for them at the SSE Arena, Wembley, with an exciting showing and moving on up towards my first title,” Said Pigford.

“Frank is the biggest promoter in the country and with the knowledge and experience he’ll get me to where I want to be in my career and to achieve my dreams,”

“I’ve got a reputation as a puncher, but I don’t go looking for the knockout or rely on my power to win fights.  I know that I can punch with both hands, but I’m looking to get as many rounds and as much experience as I can as I move up the ladder,”

“The light-middleweight division in Britain is looking really good right now and I’ve arrived at just the right time.  Liam Smith and Liam Williams are the top guys, and behind them are Selkirk, Ellett and Corcoran coming through.  They’re good names but I believe that I’ll be ready to mix with any of them in a few more fights,”

“The name of the game now is to keep active and keep the momentum going, I’ve got that now I’ve signed with Queensberry and it will be onwards and upwards for me.”

Tickets, priced at £40, £50, £75, £100 and £200 are available from Eventim on 0844 249 1000 or www.eventim.co.uk and SSE Arena, Wembley, on 0844 815 0815 or www.ssearena.co.uk (Disabled Line 0208 782 5629).

BoxNation will televise live and exclusive on Sky 437/HD 490, Virgin 546 and Talk Talk 525.  Subscribe at www.boxnation.com   Or watch online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android.