A NEW deal is poised to propel York's Jamie Warters to a year 2000 title triumph.

The self-styled Yorvik Warrior has signed an 18-month contract with Frank Maloney, currently Britain's premier promoter.

Maloney, himself crowned Europe's leading promoter last year, has guided Lennox Lewis to world heavyweight fame and fortune and is presently applying the same expertise to Scarborough's European featherweight king Paul Ingle.

Now Warters has linked up with the Maloney stable and he believes he has the back-up muscle to launch his own title ambitions.

The 18-month deal with Maloney's Panix Promotions will mean more fights and greater television exposure for the 24-year-old light-heavyweight, who has targeted next year's turn of the century to wrap a title belt around his waist.

The first fruits of the Maloney match-up is a six three-minute round contest on a bill at the Elephant and Castle Leisure Centre in London on March 6. As yet his opponent has still to be confirmed, but the bill will be screened on Sky Sports television.

Enthused Warters, who is remaining with respected Leeds-based trainer Terry O'Neill: "I am absolutely thrilled by the deal with Frank Maloney. "He has promised me more fights and the best part is that it will be at top venues and on good cards. The television exposure will be even better for me.

"I just cannot wait to get going again. This is the shot in the arm my career needs."

The Yorvik Warrior revealed that Maloney wanted him to sign a three-year deal, but he opted for 18 months during which time he hopes to have completed a championship conquest.

"I want this year to be my year to consolidate so that I am on course this time next year to be looking at gaining titles," declared Warters.

"Boxing is a short career and you cannot mess around, so I'm going for it this year."

Warters' March 6 date at the Elephant and Castle will be his first outing since his York debut at the Barbican Centre last September when a badly gashed eye halted his fight while he was way out in front against Welsh opponent Tim Brown.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.