Golden Contract draw results – Interesting fights for DOJ and McCullagh
Both Davey Oliver Joyce and Tyrone McCullagh now know who they will face in York Hall this Friday after today’s Golden Contract draw concluded in London.
Eight featherweight hopefuls – Ryan Walsh, Davey Oliver Joyce, Leigh Wood, Jazza Dickens, Tyrone McCullagh, Hairon Socarras, Carlos Araujo and Carlos Ramos all assemble for a media workout for the innovative draw today.
The draw, which was streamed on YouTube and Facebook by Sky Sports, was conducted in the following way:
- Eight balls will be placed in a bag; four blue (numbered 1-4) and four red (not numbered)
- All eight fighters draw a ball from the bag in turn
- The fighters who drew blue balls (starting with the fighter who drew the blue ball numbered ‘1’) choose their opponent from the fighters who drew red balls.
Joyce pulled out a red ball and as a result was one of the fighters set to be picked. Surprisingly the Olympian was the first picked as Leigh Wood selected the Mullingar man as his quarter final opponent.
“Style wise and a few reasons I will keep to myself,” responded Wood when asked why he had chosen the Irish fighter.
A determined looking ‘DOJ’ had the following to say as they went head to head.
“It’s a pleasure to get into the ring and show my class on Friday night- and that’s what I am going to do.”
‘White Chocolate’ pulled out the Blue 4 ball meaning he was last pick, which effectively robbed him of making a choice- he was left with the unpicked red ball drawer. That looked likely to be Ryan Walsh, but the British champion and tournament favourite was chosen by third pick Hairon Socarras.
That meant the Derry fighter was left with Carlos Araujo of Mexico. McCullagh claims he didn’t want to have to make a choice so the match up suited him.
‘I wanted a red but Blue 4 is the same really,” he said before his opponent made sure to warn that he was ‘going to fight with a real Mexican,’ at the York Hall on Friday night.
The other quarter finals see Jazza Dickens take on EU Champion and a fighter recently linked to Eric Donovan, Carlos Ramos, while Ryan Walsh and Hairon Socarras will trade leather against each other.
In terms of Joyce and McCullagh they face interesting match ups. Joyce faces Commonwealth champion Wood. The Nottingham fighter had his pick of opponents, but went for the Irish man.
Wood is one of the more experienced operators, the 31-year-old has been in the ring 22 times and only lost once – and that defeat came against Gavin McDonnell as far back as 2014.
He comes into his fight with ‘The Punisher’ on the back of three stoppage wins, two of which came in Commonwealth title fights.
McCullagh takes a real step into the unknown as he was left with Carlos Araujo. The Mexican has never fought outside of his home country before and has only ever fought Mexican opposition. He has one defeat in 16 fights, but its the 12 knockout wins from 15 victories stat, that will peak the interest of coach Danny Vaughan.
