This has been a remarkable year for Billy Corito, now a semi-professional fighter on the European Boxing Federation books since December 2011.
This year, the ‘Hitman’ featured in three fights, confronting Ian Toby in January, Davey Clarke in April and Eric Thompson in July.
These fights had a common outcome – the Maltese boxer powerfully knocking down his challengers in all three instances and in so doing stretching his record to nine KO victories out of ten fights with the other bout won on points.
Corito is the holder of the EBF intercontinental heavyweight belt and ranks sixth in the federation’s rankings for the category.
On December 7, Corito faces what is being des-cribed as his most difficult fight yet when he takes on 6’ 3” Dutchman Harry Duiven Jr whose impressive record reads – 23 fights with 15 wins (KOs 13), seven lost (KOs five) and one drawn.
Duiven, who ranks fourth in the EBF list, was also champion of The Netherlands in kickboxing and Thai Boxing.
He is an experienced K1 and MMA fighter with a predominately positive winning record.
Duiven has only ever fought the best within the EBF ranks with his losses coming to Mark Potter, Chris Bacon, Daz Davies and Dominic Negus, who have all been ranked no.1 in the European list at some time in their careers.
Meanwhile, the organisers of next month’s Boxing Spectacle at the Dolmen Hotel, Buġibba, the EBF in conjunction with local promoter Paul Borg, have announced the names of the foreign boxers and their Maltese challengers.
Further to the main fight on the card, made up of six three-minute rounds, another attraction on the night will be the EBF Super Middleweight title fight between Dione Galea and Jason Curtis (UK).
The rest of the programme will feature the following bouts – Tyrone Borg vs Jack Butler, Justin Grech vs Morgan Jackson, Ronald Tabone vs Joseph Quayle, Etienne Spiteri vs Lawrence Fitzpatrick, Brandon Borg vs Luke Bennett, Lydon Chircop vs Raja Afzal and Carl Spiteri vs Daniel Helwitt.
A limited number of tickets for the Boxing Spectacle will be selling at €30 (VIP), €20 (seated) and €15 (standing).
These are available from the London Butcher, Gżira, Art of Fighting Kick Boxing Club, Fgura, and TeamSport outlets in Birkirkara and l-Iklin.
The main sponsors of the Boxing Spectacle will be RE/MAX, Fortina Hotel, the Party Bus Malta and MedAsia Playa.
Other support is extended by Golden Harvest, Badass Burgers, Barcelona Lounge and London Butcher.