Boxing: Wilders' big chance

Noel Wilders has somehow slipped under the boxing radar. Even though he is unbeaten in 23 fights, he is one of the sport's least known champions. Wilders, who defends his European bantamweight title against the Frenchman Frédéric Patrac at the Rivermead Leisure Centre, Reading, tonight has held the International Boxing Organisation title and, briefly, the British championship.

When Wilders won those titles in 2000, it seemed likely that the Castleford southpaw would make his mark but, for a variety of reasons, he has remained obscure. In January, he travelled to France at short notice and won the belt he is defending tonight, and the list of British boxers who have returned from Europe with the title is a short one.

If Wilders retains his belt, there are one or two reasonably important domestic fights he could choose from, which, even at the age of 28, could significantly raise his profile.

However, Wilders has fallen out repeatedly with promoters and in the modern business of boxing, where promoters are tied to different TV companies, it is essential that a boxer displays loyalty. Tonight's is the first of three fights with Robert Waterman and it will be interesting to see what Wilders does after that.

The nominal main event is the heavyweight fight between Mark Potter and local man Michael Sprott for the Southern Area title, but the real prize is a place at the top of the list for a challenge against the British champion, Danny Williams.