Emerald Isles bill to remember at Scott’s Excelsior sports club

Liam O’Hare (left) after sparring session with Owen Cooper

CANNOCK promoter Scott Murray is a man making rapid strides in the business.

His red carpet Excelsior Sporting Club events, staged at Scott’s Premier Suite base, are a not to be missed blend of black tie luxury, fine dining, and fighting.

This year, he plans to stage public open shows and extend the Excelsior brand to London. He’s also hosting this month’s Midlands Boxing Awards.

Former amateur heavyweight Scott knows how to put on a show. He’s part of a new promotional breed that believe a boxing night entertainment should not be restricted to the ring.

Whatever you think of the man, fellow newcomer Anthony Manning also blends razzmatazz with the noble art on his fight nights.

Even by Scott’s high standards, the March 21 Excelsior Club’s St Patrick’s show, with Jon Pegg making the matches, looks something special – a Shamrock supershow.

It appears the Excelsior’s best night to date. For starters, former American heavyweight contender Irish Jerry Cooney, who had that famous world title clash with Larry Holmes, is among the VIP guests.

I’m itching to interview the man who struggled to free himself from a “great white hope” tag.

The night’s fight card is topped by the Excelsior’s first Midlands title fight. Hereford hope Liam O’Hare, unbeaten in seven and one of the game’s larger-than-life characters, will face Tom Brennan, a very solid pro from Dumbleton, Worcestershire, who has won six of 10 (one draw) and is coming off two victories.

Liam, aged 27, took the Midlands’ super-middleweight title last November by stopping Jack Hutsby. He is, he insists, a natural middle.

O’Hare, who, by day, works in the café of a charity for military veterans, is a work in progress, but, under the management of fight sage PJ Rowson, appears to be improving with each bout. PJ has matched him well.

I like the fellow. He’s free from the trash talk that has become an unwanted and boorish part of the modern game and he possesses an infectious belly-laugh.

“Tom seems like a good guy,” Liam told me. “He’s doing good work in the community and seems a good character. He had some tough fights early in his career and will have learnt from them. I think the fight will be a real learning experience and it will definitely go off on the night.”

I agree. It looks a great grass-roots battle.

Liam thanked Rowson for the opportunity.

“I think PJ knew what he was doing,” he said. “He was working on an angle and pulled it off, as he usually does. My last fight was at super-middle and I took it because it was a good shot. I’m looking forward to coming down to my natural weight.

“Before, I had a lot going on and I was quite up and down. Now I’m 100 per cent focused and things are coming together.

“What can I achieve? I feel the ceiling could be quite high. I have my eyes set on a British title and beyond.”

The Egland v Ireland undercard features Coventry hope Jess Barry who appears to have complex ancestral history.

She represented Scotland at the Excelsior’s St Andrew’s Night show last November. The fighter known as “The Banshee” does have more legitimate links to the Emerald Isles.

Kingstanding’s unbeaten and exciting lightweight Niall Farrell – from a well-known Irish boxing family – makes his third Excelsior appearance.

And Scottish heavyweight champ Nick Campbell – now guided by Murray – will make his sporting club debut.