The Monday LunchBox

After postponement mid-last week of the Joshua Buatsi v Dan Azeez light-heavyweight headliner by BOXXER promotions, a result of Azeez sustaining a back injury, there was still plenty of quality action over the weekend in British rings.

The remaining scheduled card for the O2 Arena was quickly shifted to the much smaller but atmospheric York Hall, Bethnal Green, east London, with an excellent main event.

This saw Isaac Chamberlain (16-2, 8 KO’s) defeat Mikael Lawal (17-1, 11 KO’s) by unanimous decision to win the vacant British and Commonwealth cruiserweight (14st, 4lb/200lbs) titles. Returned scores were 119-111, 118-111 and 118-111 in Londoner Chamberlain’s favour.

The division is hot in the UK at the moment with Bournemouth’s Chris Billam-Smith the current WBO ‘world’ champion and south London’s hard hitting Richard Riakporhe highly world ranked, among other domestic notables.

Up in Liverpool, north west England, Matchroom Boxing promoted an excellent international match-up at junior-welterweight (10st/140lbs) which saw England’s Jack Catterall (28-1, 13 KO’s) defeat former three division ‘world’ champion Jorge Linares (47-9, 29 KO’s), also by unanimous points decision. Returned scores were 117-111, 116-112 and 116-112 in the Englishman’s favour.

Southpaw boxer Catterall, at 30 years old, controlled the fight but always showed Linares the respect his record, skills and accomplishments warranted. The Englishman from Chorley, Greater Manchester now moves up the world rankings and attempts to gain a second crack at a ‘world’ title, after controversially dropping a decision to former unified champion Josh Taylor in 2022. Catterall is currently rated #6 by The Ring magazine which is a good guide of his class and promise. He remains the #1 contender for the WBO ‘world’ title.

Venezuelan Linares, now 38, and following his fourth consecutive defeat, announced his retirement after Saturday’s defeat. He contested many fights of world significance in many countries, almost becoming a modern day ‘road warrior’ and retires a decorated and respected former champion. We wish him well.