Exclusive:Portsmouth CEO Andy Cullen open to discuss Mark Chamberlain v Pierce O'Leary rematch at Fratton Park
Portsmouth pride Mark Chamberlain claimed the IBO super-lightweight title in a stunning victory in Dublin over the weekend,
Blues chief executive Andy Cullen has confirmed to The News the club is happy to discuss the possibility of big-time boxing being held at PO4 after the Waterlooville talent secured the IBO super lightweight title on a dramatic night in Dublin on Saturday.
The 18-1 southpaw picked himself up of the canvas in the seventh round to deliver a knockout blow to his opponent in the closing stages to secure the much-coveted IBO belt.
And having delivered a career-highlight triumph behind enemy lines at a 7,00-strong, hostile 3Arena and in front of a worldwide television audience, Chamberlain is targeting a return to home soil for any rematch.
The 27-year-old told DAZN Boxing: ‘Frank (Warren, promoter) said in there there’s the rematch. No problem! But he’s going to have to dig deep in his pockets, and I want it on my terms at home.’
That has paved the way for a potential Fratton Park fight night in front of a passionate Pompey crowd. And it’s something the Blues would consider hosting, with this summer’s £1.5m pitch work allowing for such an event,
Having played a key role in former club Norwich City staging Jon Thaxton's WBF lightweight showdown with Daniel Eduardo Roman in 2005, Cullen said he would be open to discussing the possibility of staging any Chamberlain v O’Leary rematch on what would be an historic occasion for all involved.
However, any date would need to align with Pompey’s schedule and Fratton Park obtaining the appropriate licences.
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The Blues chief executive told The News: ‘I certainly wouldn’t rule it out because one of the reasons that we put a new pitch down is that we can host different events, which probably gravitates towards concerts.
‘When I was at Norwich we had Jon Thaxton, who was British lightweight champion, he was a Norwich boy and we held one of his title fights at Carrow Road in September.
‘It’s an interesting one because it’s not just a commercial relationship between the promoter and the football club, it’s one that there are a number of other different licences which you need to get.
‘I have some experience in doing that, but it was in 2005, so it’s one of those ones at Carrow Road, the ring was on the pitch and we used one of the stands. We put that particular fight on.
‘It’s certainly something we would be able to discuss with all the relevant parties. No-one has been in contact with us yet, but it depends on a lot of things, it depends on the timing of the fight and how that works for the football club in terms of fixtures and planning.
‘That’s something we would have to look at, along with what the promoter requires as well and whether we can deliver that at Fratton Park.
‘Whether a licence would be granted for a boxing match to take place at Fratton Park (remains to be seen), because that has its own idiosyncrasies. You also always need the appropriate licence.’
Fratton Park, which is 127 years old, hosted an international baseball game between an American army team and a Canadian army team in 1918.
In more recent years, pop band Madness played in front of 13,500 fans inside the grand old lady in 2015.
Warren added: ‘I promised him (Chamberlain) we’d have a fight at Fratton Park, which is what I want to do. So we’ll see.’