Team Tenny to pull the purse strings – Assassin’s team win bid to promote Evans British title eliminator

James Tennyson [24(20)-3(3)] has taken another big step toward a shot at Matchroom star Joe Cordina and his British lightweight title.

Irish-Boxing.com can confirm that Mark Dunlop and Matchroom have won purse bids for the British Boxing Board of Control ordered final eliminator with Craig Evans [20(3)-2(1)-2].

The BBBofC initially ordered Tennyson and Gavin Gwynne [10(1)-0] fight a final eliminator for the Lonsdale belt, but the Welsh fighter has agreed to fight Cordina for the strap at the O2 at end of this month. 

As a result, WBO European rankings title holder Evans was bumped up and both he and former European super featherweight European champion Tennyson will duke it out for the right to fight the British lightweight strap.

As the teams couldn’t agree terms, the fight went to purse bids which were won by MHD Promoter Dunlop and Matchroom.

The fight has to take place before the end November and is now most likely to play out on a Matchroom show.

Belfast is an unlikely destination for what looks an exciting fight, but considering Dunlop’s relationship with Matchroom and the fact Evans is a Frank Warren fighter recent world title challenger ‘Tenny’ will effectively be the home fighter.

Irish fight fans will be well aware of Evans due to his fights against Stephen Ormond.

The 29-year-old beat the Dubliner at the Waterfront Hall back in June of 2017 and was the popular ‘Rock’s’ final opponent in June of this year.

The winner of the fight will be mandatory for the British title at lightweight. The strap is currently held by 2016 Olympian Joe Cordina who defends against fellow Welshman Gavin Gwynne on the 31st of this month.

‘The Assassin’, a two time Irish champion has fought for the British title at featherweight losing out to Ryan Walsh before moving up to win European and Commonwealth honours in dramatic fashion versus Martin J Ward.

Now up at lightweight, Tennyson is looking strong and powerful ahead of his first major fight at the weight.