Scott Quigg will bring professional boxing back to Bury - 13 years after it was banned in the town.

Quigg, the highly-rated 21-year-old super bantamweight, will fight at the Castle Leisure Centre, May 29, after Ricky Hatton lobbied to have the ban lifted.

Prizefighting was banned by Bury Council in 1997, with Mike Tyson's infamous ear-biting of Evander Holyfield cited at the time as an example of the "unacceptable levels of harm" caused by the sport.

The decision was met with wide derision in the boxing community at the time, but has stood right up until now.

Hatton and the CEO of his promotions company, Gareth Williams, played a pivotal role in bringing boxing back to Bury.

"Gareth is from Bury and he has told me we should do a show there," said Hatton. "They have got a really bright prospect in Scott Quigg so it would have been a shame if his hometown had missed out on him.

"He has really impressed me with his attitude and ability and I have no doubt he can go all the way."

Williams added: "There is a tremendous interest in sport locally. We have been promoting boxing all over the country and I have been telling Ricky for some time that Bury would be a great venue.

"In the last 12 months under Scott has made great strides and I could think of nobody better to bring boxing back to Bury."

Quigg is ranked No3 in Britain and is set to fight for the European title later this year.

He said: "It is fantastic that the council have overturned the ban and I am so grateful to them.

"I have a lot of fans and I will get even more now that I can box professionally in Bury."

STOCKPORT's Paramount Amateur Boxing Club is staging a show on May 26 at the Masonic Guild Hall - rasing money for three separate charities.

Call Mick Kenyon on 07762 615 981 or Mike Bradley on 07703 821 025 for tickets.

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