Second World Title Tilt For Magee
10 June Jonny Stapleton
Brian Magee will compete for his second world title in less than a year and will fight Jaime Barboza for the vacant WBA super middleweight interim title on July 30.
The 35 year old, who was stopped by IBF champion Lucian Bute in Canada last time out, is on the road again and will have to travel to Costa Rica for his clash with the 33 year old.
Magee, however has proved he rarely suffers from travel sickness having won away before on numerous occasions most notably in a European title fight in Denmark, and has no qualms about fighting in South America.
In fact despite being the away fight the former European and British champion will be favoured to collect the world belt.
Barboza, who will appear in the top 15 of the revised world rankings for the first time, hasn’t fought anyone of Magee’s ilk or experience. As a result manager Pat Magee is confident his charge can collect a world title at the second time of asking.
“We are very confident. Barboza has a reasonable record but most of his fights have come at a lighter weight. Brian will be a clear favourite,” Magee told Mirror Sport yesterday. “The only thing Barboza has is home advantage, but Brian has no problem travelling and has proven that in the past. We had no hesitation in taking the fight. Brain has mixed with a different class of fighter and has more experience. We didn’t want to go back to domestic or European level Brian is a world class and world ranked fighter and this is were he belongs. Having an interim title is better than a world title eliminator. You have the belt to defend and become number one for the real belt.”
Indeed it appears the Bernardo Cecha trained fighter may upgrade to WBA regular champ before August 20.
Reigning title holder Dimitri Sartison ,who Magee held extensive negotiations with earlier in the year, has been ordered to defend Stanyslav Kashtanov on August 20.
However both fighters are injured and if one fails to get fit in time, the former Holy Trinity amateur, as interim champ will be next in line.
Indeed if both fail to make it the likely hood is the German will be stripped and Magee will be promoted to WBA super middle weight champion of the world.
Sartison and Kahhtanov aside, pat Magee believes a victory will ensure more big fights for his charge.
“The list will be endless for Brian. James DeGale, George Groves, Arthur Abraham, you name them they all covet world belts.”
 
 
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