Portsmouth receptive to Fratton stadium fight as they welcome Mark Chamberlain to Millwall clash
The Waterlooville banger stunned Dublin’s Pierce O’Leary in August - and will parade his IBO title at Fratton Park with ambitions of a Portsmouth stadium fight next summer.
Mark Chamberlain is set to visit Pompey tomorrow as he outlined hopes for a Fratton Park stadium fight next summer.
And The Waterlooville knockout merchant believes the dream of a title fight at PO4 is now a realistic prospect, as he prepares to step on to the Fratton turf.
Chamberlain: ‘People in Portsmouth get behind their own.’
Chamberlain is set to parade his IBO super-lightweight title won in spectacular fashion against Ireland’s Pierce O’Leary, before tomorrow’s lunchtime kick-off with the Lions.
The News understands Pompey are receptive to the prospect of staging a show and are open to discussions with the 27-year-old’s promoters Queensbury Promotions.
Chamberlain is confident that exciting prospect can become a reality and hopeful his home city will back their fighter as his career storms to new highs.
Chamberlain said: ‘I’m really looking forward to going to Fratton Park - I can’t wait to go out there on the pitch.
‘I’d love to see the city get behind me the way they do Pompey.
‘The supporters come out in numbers to support their team and it would great to have that sort of backing.
‘We’ve obviously had Tony Oakey and Michael McKinson went across the pond and had a right go at Vergil Ortiz Jr.
‘But I don’t think anyone has quite reached this level and I feel like things are different for me.
‘This is what I’ve worked for all my life and it’s a dream come true to achieve these things.
‘I 100 per cent feel I’m flying the flag for the area, so the more the people get behind me the more likely the dream of fighting at Fratton Park will come true.
‘I want to be the first one to do that - and make it a night for everyone to remember.
‘I know the football club are open to Queensbury coming forward and having a chat.
‘I know they’ve relaid the pitch and have the chance to do more big events - so hopefully we can be the first big boxing event in Portsmouth.
‘There’s a lot of work involved, but I believe if it makes sense for everyone we can make it happen.’
Chamberlain revealed a rematch with O’Leary has now bitten the dust after his stunning demolition job on the then unbeaten Dublin man in August.
The former Team Wiseman amateur told how O’Leary has backed out of a return, but Chamberlain is confident there could be opportunities on the horizon for him.
He added: ‘The O’Leary fight is not going to happen, he’s pulled out of the rematch.
‘I’m not shocked he’s not taken it, because the same thing happens and he’s got nowhere to go. At least they can rebuild him from here.
‘The fight took a lot out of him. It’s all the training, build-up and dieting and then he got taken out like that - it has a knock-on effect.
‘I’ve lost and I know it affects you and can knock your confidence.
‘But I’m looking for big fights, big opportunities and to keep moving forward.
‘If I can have a big fight and then come back for a fight at Fratton Park next summer that would be the dream.’