Welcome to fight week !
This Saturday (28th) sees the big British heavyweight showdown between ‘Dynamite’ Daniel Dubois (15-0, 14 KO’s) and Joe ‘Juggernaut’ Joyce (11-0, 10 KO’s). The contest is surprisingly to be held in the historical Church House, Westminster, a stones throw from the Abbey and nearby Palace of Westminster.
The ‘House’ is also known as the place where Winston Churchill announced the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck in May 1941 in the early years of the Second World War.
So; fittingly an iconic venue set for a boxing match of national (and international) significance. Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions have excelled in securing this venue and holding the contest in these continuing difficult times.
It’s a fight that is eagerly anticipated and really whets the appetite between two undefeated boxers who must make this first step to settle a domestic squabble before hopefully ascending to world title contention. The loser can come again but it will be real setback at this stage of their careers.
In terms of the relative experience of both protagonists and significance it has shades of Gary Mason versus Lennox Lewis in March 1991 for the British and European titles. On that occasion Mason was the older established champion and Lewis the new ‘kid on the block’ with world title aspirations. Going in, supplement Joyce (35) for Mason, and the younger Dubois (23) for Lewis.
Enough of that for now though as the hype will inevitably build over the coming week. Watch this space for the Friday Faceup which will further preview the fight that will be UK televised on the BT Sport subscription channel, but importantly, non-Box Office.
Other key news over the last week was the announcement that The Ring magazine recognised pound-for-pound #1 fighter in the world Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez will meet The Ring super-middleweight (12 stone, 168lbs) champion Callum ‘Mundo’ Smith on 19 December in the San Antonio Alamodome, Texas, USA.
The Mexican, Alavarez has just reached a settlement with former promoter Golden Boy and streaming service DAZN which has released him from contractural obligations making him a free agent. This has helped make the fight possible and Alvarez being #1 and the biggest draw in boxing has effectively ‘cherry picked’ the man from Liverpool, England.
Smith (27-0, 19 KO’s) is no ‘patsie’ though with an undefeated record and being a genuine super-middleweight who won the World Boxing Super Series title by stopping former WBA world champion George Groves in September 2018. He’s made two successful defences of his world title, the last being exactly a year ago against fellow Brit John Ryder.
Credit Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KO’s) for taking the fight, as a man who claims to seek the toughest challenges, but this could be an absolute barnstormer. Both come to fight and Smith although vastly inferior in terms of big fight experience will come in super confident as the larger man.
Saturday (21st) saw an excellent outing and victory for British welterweight Conor ‘Destroyer’ Benn against German Sebastian Formella over ten rounds. Benn dominated the fight throughout against his teak tough more experienced foe. In a fight televised live in the UK on Sky Sports he topped the bill for the first time after the postponement of the Alexander Povetkin-Dillian Whyte rematch. Conor came through with flying colours and the son of former world champion Nigel Benn is steadily making a name in his own right.
Benn’s record rises to 17-0, 11 KO’s and he is strongly pushing for a big domestic showdown with Josh Kelly (10-0-1, 6 KO’s). In the post-fight interview he was very animated on this challenge and his urgency in securing it.
Self-confidence is definitely something in the Benn genes and Conor is sure to entertain on his potentially explosive journey to title contention. Look for his stock to rise over the coming months as he seeks that domestic challenge.
More to follow on the big Dubois-Joyce showdown later in the week.
The Undisputed 