MASOUD, CONWAY, MIDDLEMISS, RAFFERTY AND CROFT JOIN UNDERCARD FOR HEDGES VS BROWN AT MANCHESTER’S CO-OP LIVE ON SEPTEMBER 19 – LIVE ON DAZN

A huge night of Championship boxing is in store at Manchester’s Co-op Live on Saturday, September 19 – live worldwide on DAZN – as Eddie Hearn today announced an exciting undercard featuring Shabaz Masoud.

John Hedges and Pat Brown headline at the state-of-the-art venue when the two undefeated rivals collide for the British and Commonwealth Cruiserweight Titles.

And the unbeaten ‘Maverick’ Masoud moves up a weight division as he challenges Argentina’s Ckari Mansilla (19-4, 13 KOs) for the vacant IBF Intercontinental and WBA International Titles.

The Stoke star was sensational in his last outing back in December last year when he overcame Peter McGrail for the European Super Bantamweight crown with a classy, unanimous points victory.

Now the 15-0, 4 KOs, fighter – who is trained by Ben Davison – is looking to rise up the rankings and challenge for honours in the 126lbs division.

Another fighter looking to make his mark at a bigger weight division is Northampton’s Kieron Conway.

Conway (23-4-1, 7 KOs) returns to the ring for the first time since last October when he bravely surrendered his British and Commonwealth titles in a stoppage defeat by George Liddard at York Hall.

But he is bidding to campaign for the prestigious Lonsdale belt once more at Super Middleweight when he steps up to challenge former English Super Middleweight ruler Mark Jeffers in a British title eliminator.

The ‘Wigan Warrior’ Joe Howarth (15-2, 4 KOs), in his first fight since February, is back too as he takes on Lancashire’s undefeated Josh Holmes (18-0, 7 KOs).

Manchester’s own Alfie Middlemiss – trained by Jamie Moore – looks to extend his impressive start to life as a professional when the 23-year-old 6-0 charge faces Ireland’s ’Short Fuse’ Featherweight Gerard Hughes (6-1-1).

Another local lad in Lancashire’s Tom Rafferty (187-0, 7 KOs) is out to ensure he maintains his 100 per cent record too when the Middleweight prospect takes on Ireland’s ‘Kingdom Kid’ Liam Walsh (9-1-2, 4 KOs).

And exciting Welsh youngster Garan Croft, who trains out of former World Champion Anthony ‘Million Dollar’ Crolla’s Manchester gym, joins the card as the 6-0, 2 KOs Middleweight hopeful bid to continue his flourishing career with his seventh career victory.

Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn said: “Hedges versus Brown is one of the best domestic showdowns of the year – and now we have an undercard stacked with some of the country’s most promising young talent and seasoned campaigners.

“Shabaz Masoud was excellent in Monte-Carlo last December. He’s had back-to-back statement wins over the likes of Peter McGrail and Liam Davies. Now he’s jumping up, I fully expect him to be a handful at Featherweiight.

“Kieron Conway, also moving up in weight, needs no introduction and his opponent Mark Jeffers will provide a great challenge in what will be a brilliant eliminator for the British Super Middleweight Title.

“And we’ve got some exciting young talent in the form of Alfie Middlemiss, Tom Rafferty and Garan Croft all out to stretch their winning records.

“You’d pay to see the Main Event alone, but this entertaining undercard is guaranteed to provide proper value for money at the Co-op Live on September 19. Be there or tune in, live on the Global Home of Boxing, DAZN.”

Tickets are on sale now. For more information, head to matchroomboxing.com