History beckons for either Ashleigh Johnson or Victoria Perkins as Dan Francis and Richie Garner of Vote Boxing and Shadow Promotions present an evening of professional Welsh Boxing at the Selwyn Samuel Centre, Llanelli on Saturday night.
It’s been a great year for Welsh Boxing so far, Lauren Price paved the way after dethroning Jessica McCaskill back in May to claim the IBO Welterweight title, then Angelo Dragone and Jake Tinklin gave fans inside the Vale Sports Arena on June 1st a fight of the year contender, before Llanelli’s own Ethan George made a massive statement as he stopped Ryan Pocock inside one round to claim the Welsh Super-Middleweight title.
However, this Saturday is a little bit different as it will live long in the memory for years to come where everybody in attendance can say “I was there” as the first ever Female Welsh title is up for grabs. Scheduled for 10 rounds in the Super-Bantamweight division this is without doubt for both women the toughest test to date.
Trained by former WBO Cruiserweight Champion Enzo Maccarinelli, Johnson gave up being a nurse after working all the way through Covid to take up a plumbing job with the council so she can focus on training more. Having fought in Kickboxing, Muay Thai and K-1 where she picked up the British and Celtic title, “Sweet Posion” as she is nicknamed made her pro debut against Kerry Orton at the Brangywn Hall, Swansea where she won convinclgly.
Her opponent on Saturday Perkins has also got a lot of experience in the Mixed Martial World as at the age of 13 she won WCA (World Combat Arts) in a tournament that was for under 18s and her opponent in the fight was a lot older than the orthodox fighter. For a lot of her career to date, she has been trained by her father Kristian Perkins who runs the Western Dragons Martial Arts Academy in Pontardawe, however in her corner for Saturday night will be the well respected in the World of Boxing, Tony Borg. Perkins whose nickname is “VIP” made her professional debut back in November in Swindon and aims to add to her collection of boxing titles which include a British and a two-time Six Nations Champion.
Perkins has been the more active this year having fought on two occasions against Linzi Buczynskyj and Kerry Orton, whereas Ashleigh has only fought once against Nicaraguan Jamillette Janitza Vallejos in the Main Event at the Brangwyn Hall. It is most definitely a 50/50 clash as they go head-to-head to become the first Female Champion of Wales.
Also on the card, newly crowned Welsh Super-Lightweight Champion Angelo Dragone has his much deserved homecoming after claiming the title back in June as he takes on Bulgarian Ivelin Gitsov over four rounds. After making his professional debut in June, Lewys Parfitt looks to carry on the momentum against Rochdale’s Richard Helm over six rounds.
Super-Middleweight Willy Gilheaney steps up to take on Jackson Osaige, Connor McIntosh is in a very competitive fight as he goes head-to-head with Owen Durnan at lightweight with both fights scheduled for six rounds. Managed by Joe Cordina, JD Cuevo who was born in Bogota, Columbia makes his professional debut as he takes on the durable orthodox fighter Karl Sampson in a four round contest.
Lastly, Port Talbot’s Levi Griffiths fights for the first time in Wales as a professional as he takes on Nathan Darby who has only been stopped once in his 10 fights; this one is contested over four rounds.
Fight content; Check out The Punchers Chance Podcast YouTube channel where both fighters competing for the first Welsh Female title went head-to-head in “Talk the Talk”. Also available is interviews with the main guys behind the event Dan Francis and Richie Garner and also we caught up with Angelo Dragone.
https://youtube.com/@thepuncherschancepodcast?si=cCWR_hf_YWXg3MLq
The weigh-in for the Welsh title is open to the public and will take place from the Stallion Boxing Gym, Llanelli from 1pm on Friday afternoon.
Words By Harry Tovey
HTSPORTSNEWS 