Big fight blow for Magee

Eamonn Magee fights Ricky Hatton on 1 June

By Robert Baker BBC Sport

World title challenger Eamonn Magee has been dealt a major blow in the build-up to his big fight with Ricky Hatton.

The Belfast boxer will be without cornerman Dennie Mancini, a key member of his team, when he challenges for Hatton's WBU belt on 1 June.

Mancini will be in Germany working the corner of IBF world super-middleweight champion Sven Ottke who defends his title against Thomas Tate on the same night.

Mancini, who has worked with many of the big names in British and German boxing, including Nigel Benn and Henry Maske, said he was very disappointed.

"I helped in the negotiation stages to make the fight happen and would like to have seen it to the end," said Mancini.

'Tremendous occasion'

"But unfortunately I cannot be in two places at once and I have a contract with Ottke to work his corner.

"I think that the Magee-Hatton fight will be a tremendous occasion with an electric atmosphere from the packed house.

"It will be a great fight and I believe Magee has a real chance in causing an upset."

However, the blow to Magee is softened as Mancini will be replaced by the knowledgeable Panamanian trainer Bernardo Checa.

Golden days

Checa rejoined Magee's chief trainer John Breen recently and is now working with the hard-punching southpaw getting him ready for his Manchester showdown with Hatton.

Along with Breen, Checa produced a string of world champions from Belfast's Castle gym in the golden days of the of the Barney Eastwood stable.

Checa worked alongside Breen for Magee's commonwealth title defence against Jon Thaxton in February this year when he stopped the tough Norwich man in six rounds.