Promoter Steve Wood says his show in Bolton next month will be the biggest ever put on by his VIP Boxing company.

The North West fight figure is no stranger to putting on events in the town and around the North West.

But Wood, who also manages world featherweight champion Josh Warrington among others, says home favourites Jack Cullen and Jack Flatley fighting for English titles at the Bolton Whites Hotel on May 11 will top the lot.

Little Lever’s Cullen challenges Reece Cartwright for the middleweight strap in a clash originally set to take place in March while Farnworth’s Flatley will take on Craig Morris in a crunch super-welterweight scrap.

“May 11 will be the biggest show VIP has done without the help of Sky or other people we’ve done events with,” said Wood.


“Independently it will certainly be the biggest one we’ve put on.

“It’s two English title fights with both lads fighting in their home town.

“I’m just working on finalising the undercard as well.

“It’s going to be a great one. The problem I’ve got is everyone wants to jump on this show!

“We’d have 20 fights if I put everyone on.”

Both Cullen and Flatley face tough tests as they look to win major domestic titles and continue their rise up the rankings.

The former, who has 15 wins and one defeat, takes on Leeds champion Cartwright with the 24-year-old title-holder having lost just one of 23 professional fights.

Unbeaten Flatley, 14-0-1, is fighting for a vacant title against Shropshire’s Morris who has lost two of his 14 contests.

One of those came against rising star Scott Fitzgerald, Morris ahead on the judges’ cards before being stopped in the final round in Birmingham last September.

Fitzgerald hit the headlines recently with an impressive win against Anthony Fowler in an eagerly-anticipated domestic clash, Morris’ performance against the Commonwealth Games gold medallist showing just what kind of threat he will pose. 

“It’s not a gimme for either of them,” said Wood.

“Reece Cartwright is the champion and Jack Cullen’s challenging him.

“Jack Flatley’s is a vacant title but we’ve not been able to pick an opponent for him, Craig Morris has been mandated by the British Boxing Board of Control.

“He deserves it and is a good opponent.

“We’ve seen how he was in front against Scott Fitzgerald until Scott pulled one out in the last round.”

Flatley, who works under Alex Matvienko at Elite Boxing, warmed up for his English title fight with a points win against the durable Serge Ambomo at the Whites Hotel back on March 9. 

Cullen was also supposed to be on that bill but the Tommy Battel-trained fighter first saw Cartwright pull out of their original fight injured before problems finding a replacement meant that a 10-week training camp ended without a meaningful contest for the Little Lever Meat Cleaver. 

That means a knockout win against Tomas Bezvoda in December was his last fight, a third-round stoppage seeing him register a 15th professional victory. 

Confirmed undercard fighters include Clitheroe’s former Elite fighter Luke Blackledge, the 28-year-old former Commonwealth super-middleweight champion having also come up short in a bid for the British title in a 33-fight career. 

Oldham’s Jack Kilgannon, Wigan’s James Moorcroft and Andrew Fleming, Preston’s Damian Chambers, Leigh’s Kyle Lomotey and Manchester’s Kane Gardner are also in action. 

Tickets priced, £35 standard or £60 ringside, are available from the fighters, online at vipboxing.tv/shop or by calling 01942 874241.