Vacant Commonwealth Welterweight Title - Denton Vassell vs Lee Purdy

Robin Park Arena, Wigan
Friday 16th April 2010

Denton Vassell (14-0) has been given a surprise shot at the Commonwealth welterweight title and faces Lee Purdy (13-1-1) for the vacant belt on April 16th.

The bout will co-headline with Thomas McDonagh against Gary Woolcombe forthe vacant light middleweight title at Wigan's Robin Park Arena and go out liveon Sky Sports' Friday Fight Night.

The 25-year-old Denton Vassell is undefeated in fourteen professionalcontests and most recently scored a stoppage win over Kevin McCauley on theundercard of Matthew Hatton against Gianluca Branco. This will be the firsttime Vassell is scheduled to go twelve rounds and has not yet gone beyond sixrounds in his three and half year career.

Although Lee Purdy began his career just after Vassell he has slightly moreexperience, having successfully won and defended the Southern Area welterweighttitle. Purdy, 22, lost on points to Peter McDonagh in 2008 for the SouthernArea title but got revenge ten months later outpointing by McDonagh andsuccessfully defended the title against Mark Douglas last Novemeber.

Thomas McDonagh (34-3-3) meanwhile will get his Commonwealth title shotagainst former British champion Gary Woolcombe (28-2).

In his last fight 29-year-old McDonagh was narrowly outpointed by AnthonySmall for the British and Commonwealth titles, in a fight many at ringsidethought he had won. McDonagh has previously held the WBU International lightmiddleweight title and lost to current British light middleweight champion SamWebb, on points 96-95, last year.

Gary Woolcombe won the British light middleweight title in 2007, stoppingMarcus Portman after eight rounds. However, the 27-year-old was defeated in hisfirst defense against Ryan Rhodes.