Boxing fans hope for new Rotherham v Sheffield title clash

Sheffield’s Sheedy controversially lost an epic ten-round English title fight to the Rotherham man last Summer. Promoter Dennis Hobson acclaimed the fight as one of the best of the year and would love to organise a second date.

Now that could be getting closer as Sheedy is in a final eliminator for the Commonwealth light middleweight title on February 6 and Mansouri fights for the same title - and the British belt - in Liverpool a week later.

Sheedy (W16 L1) faces Bristol’s Danny Butler (W25 L5) at the Magna. While Mansouri takes on Welshman Liam Williams, who holds the title. Sheedy’s trainer Glyn Rhodes concedes Butler has faced better opponents over his career - including the likes of Darren Barker, who lost an IBF title shot last month, Martin Murray and Martin Concepcion.

“This is a great opportunity for Sam against a fighter with a good pedigree” said Rhodes. “Butler has lost a few, but there is no disgrace in losing to top fighters. Butler will be the away guy at the Magna, but good fighters take those sort of opportunities. Sometimes there is more pressure on home fighters, although Sam is not the type to worry about that.”

Rhodes described Butler, who is a year older than 27-year-old Sheedy, as an “average, every day boxer” in style terms. “Butler has the IBO International title and I don’t know and I’m not really fussed whether he puts that on the line, to be honest...it’s not much better to a Central Area title.”

Mansouri (W15 L1 D2) aims to take the belt off Williams (W13 D1) at the Echo Arena. It’s the support fight to the Terry Flanagan v Derry Mathews WBO lightweight title scrap. Mansouri hasn’t boxed since beating Sheedy.