British Scene Weekend Preview: Martin Rogan vs Sam Sexton

Sky's Friday night boxing show will be at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast for Joe Rogan's Commonwealth heavyweight title defense against challenger Sam Sexton.

Matt Chudley has the preview.

Saturday May 16 Martin Rogan vs Sam Sexton By Matt Chudley This Friday's Sky Sports card sees the return of the ever popular Martin Rogan to his hometown of Belfast. With Irish boxing on a high following big wins from the likes of Bernard Dunne and Martin Lindsay, Rogan will look to continue the momentum against fellow Prizefighter winner Sam Sexton. A cabbie by day, Rogan burst onto the scene in April of last year, claiming Barry Hearns' inaugural Prizefighter tournament. The format which consists of 8 fighters competing in a elimination style tournament over 3 rounders saw Rogan demonstrate his now trademark toughness and fighting spirit. After stopping Alex Ibbs and winning a unanimous decision over Dave Ferguson, Rogan bested bookies favourite David Dolan in a thrilling final, clinching it with a knockdown in the final round. Subsequent gutsy upset wins over the heavily favoured Audley Harrison and Matt Skelton have seen the Ulsterman achieve cult hero status and capture the Commonwealth title. The challenger, 24 year old Norwich prospect Sam Sexton won the 2nd Prizefighter heavyweight tournament held last September. Entering on the back of a loss to the highly touted Derek Chisora, Sexton came through an arguably weaker field than Rogan did to take home the £25,000 first place cheque. Having never been beyond 6 rounds, and coming into the contest with far less big fight experience, Sexton will be firmly up against it, fighting a scheduled 12 rounder in hostile territory. The undercard… Amongst a bevy of local talent on a busy undercard, Frank Warren's prized trio of Olympians makes their second foray into the professional ranks. After a lackluster debut, Gold medalist James DeGale has been matched against the 5(3)-0 Jindrich Kubin in the hope that a more aggressive opponent will bring a better performance out of the counter-punching Londoner. Former amateur world champion Frankie Gavin goes against 2-3 Frenchman Mourad Frarema, while Billy Joe Saunders takes on 2-1 German Ronny Gabel. In the most evenly matched fight on paper, local favourite and former British welterweight champion Neil Sinclair takes on the Chicago based Henry Coyle over 10 rounds with the Irish light-middleweight title on the line, in what could well be the fight of the night. e-mail Matt Chudley