The Undisputed

Over the next month the lightweight division is definitely where it’s at. In a period where most of the world’s elite fighters in other weight classes are meticulously avoiding legacy defining fights, the 135 pounders (9st, 9lbs) are setting the standard.

The Ring magazine and current unified champion is American Devin Haney (29-0, 15 KO’s). He defends his titles against Ukraine’s double Olympic champion and two-weight pro world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KO’s), in an elite match on May 20 at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas.

First up tonight, also in ‘Sin City’ at the T-Mobile Arena, is the mouthwatering prospect of two of the top five world ranked lightweights meeting head on.  The contest held at a ‘catchweight’ 136lbs will pitch Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis (28-0, 26 KO’s) against Ryan ‘King Ry’ Garcia (23-0, 19 KO’s). Both have shown mutual contempt throughout the pre-fight build up.  Their lengthy verbal barbs on social media and numerous face-offs, peaking in yesterday’s public weigh-in, have added fuel to the fire.

Both, rare in this current era, bring in undefeated records and long term promise for the division. Davis, at 28, already an ‘achiever’ has won world belts in three weight divisions. From the US city of Baltimore, Maryland he is known for his tough upbringing and equally confident demeanour. To add, he’s a vicious puncher and is coming down from campaigning at a heavier 10st (140lbs).

Latino American, Garcia, featured on The Ring cover way back in May 2021 with a crown inked in and at the time was promoted as the youthful future of the division.  This was straight after he’d dropped and stopped former Olympic champion and world title contender Luke Campbell to legitimately announce himself. From then, he unfortunately was derailed by mental health issues and is now firmly on the way back. Over a number of months he’s almost goaded Davis into taking the fight. The Baltimore man has duly obliged.

Garcia holds a significant height advantage over the compact Davis, the latter who from his record and standout victories looks to have the greater power.

The fight is available on the DAZN streaming service and via the Sky network in the UK early hours and on Showtime pay-per-view in the USA. It promises much, to the extent that The Ring once christened it ‘A Matchmakers Dream’ and listed it as a ‘must see’ fight in 2022. Albeit a year late, it’s time for both to deliver.

Waiting in the wings is the Haney-Lomachenko victor and also the perceived future of the division, two-weight champion Shakur Stevenson (20-0, 10 KO’s). The American, an Olympic silver medallist in the Rio Games, and winner two weeks ago at 135lbs adds further lustre to the division.

Then there’s recent undisputed champion George Kambosos Jr. (20-2, 10 KO’s) who adds an Antipodean mix to the pot.  After losing back-to-back fights to Haney he is looking for some further redemption. Up and coming is also another American Olympic medallist from 2020 Keyshawn Davis (8-0, 6 KO’s). A big star in waiting.

 In terms of tonight’s routes to victory; if Garcia can use his long levers and keep Davis at range, backed by power shots, frustrating him as the fight progresses, then he can eek out a points decision.

In an ultimate ‘grudge match’ we though expect Davis to dominate on the inside. His superior power and downright toughness should be telling. We predict him to gradually unravel his Latino foe and win by stoppage anywhere from rounds 8 to 10.

It should be great whilst it lasts and as they say “Someone’s O’s gotta’ go’. Garcia is young and hungry enough to come again in future marquee fights and will make the lightweight division all the better for his continued presence. There should really be no losers tonight and enjoy the fireworks in a genuine peak match up.

‘Wrecking ball’ contest of the weekend should be at the Copper Box Arena on the London 2012 Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on Saturday. Two elite giants collide when Britain’s Joe ‘Juggernaut’ Joyce (15-0, 14 KO’s) faces Chinese, Zhilei ‘Big Bang’ Zhang (24-1-1, 19 KO’s) for the WBO world ‘interim’ heavyweight title.

The Queensberry and Top Rank promotion sees these huge men, both Olympic super-heavyweight silver medallists – Zhang at Beijing 2008 and Joyce in Rio 2016, collide. Both now as professionals are significant pieces of the muddled world heavyweight puzzle.

As current sanctioning body champions Oleksandr Usyk (IBF, WBA and WBO), Tyson Fury (WBC) and ex-champions Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder circumnavigate each other to delay coronation of the outright boxing king, it is now left to the next best to duke it out.

Joyce is the mandatory contender for the WBO title held by Usyk, is ranked #4 heavyweight by The Ring magazine, with Zhang just outside of their top ten.

The Chinese brings his enormous 6ft, 6″ frame, power, fast hands and an always awkward southpaw stance to the party. He boldly announced at yesterday’s London press conference “I am the Big Bang…I bang everything…I’m gonna’ land my shots”. Continuing he said “I’m not here in London to sightsee. I’m here to take things…I’m here for a reason – to be the strongest and best one”.

Zhang will be 40 years old in a few weeks and is coming off a much disputed points defeat to Croatian Filip Hyrgovic in his last contest, his sole defeat to date.

Joyce, age 37, and of similar physical stature, albeit taller, when questioned in the conference said “This is the calm before the storm…I’m a tough man”. He added, in reference to his contemporaries, “All the others (champions etc) seem to be running scared”.

On his opponent and fight strategy Joyce said “I respect Zhang’s power and won’t be going in there recklessly… “It could go twelve rounds, but I don’t plan on that”

It’s a contest that is sure to be explosive for as long as it lasts. The general  consensus is that Zhang will be dangerous early and fade in the second half of the fight due to his advancing years and his perceived low workrate. Zhang responded to this supposed flaw identified in defeat to Hrgovic, claiming he thought he was clearly ahead in the fight and he relaxed in the twelfth round.  In an intriguing match-up this should be fully tested tomorrow night in a scheduled twelve rounder.

The contest is considered high risk for both fighters due to their respective knockout ratios and what’s at stake in the world pecking order. Whether the ‘Big Bang’ can detonate or Joyce can safely negotiate the ‘Great Wall’ it should be a good watch.

We think the technical sniping will be high until the first big shot is landed by either man. It could be the Chinese’ fast hands will come as a surprise to the Briton early on, and if clubbed, Joyce may have to come off the canvas to win. We expect him to be victorious by registering a late KO in an attritional fight.

Joyce is known to be ponderous and methodical in his approach; advancing forward in straight lines, taking multiple shots, but his chin has been impervious to date. He will need to show a bit more savvy tomorrow to prevail. His elite amateur pedigree would indicate he does possess this.

At today’s weigh in Joyce scaled 18st, 4lbs (256lbs) compared to Zhang at 19st, 12lbs (278lbs). The Brit comes in almost 14lbs lighter from his previous contest last September against New Zealand’s world ranked Joseph Parker. So far, his standout victory.

Chief support to the big one is an interesting British middleweight (11st, 6lbs/160lbs) title contest between champion Denzel Bentley (17-2-1, (14 KO’s) and unheralded Kieran Smith (18-1, 7 KO’s). Bentley should have too much for his challenger, but is prone to switch off at times. His higher knockout ratio and mixing in better company should be the telling factors.

Also featured, at lightweight are Kent, England’s Sam Noakes (10-0, 10 KO’s) in a test against Indian national Kathik Sathish Kumar (10-0, 4 KO’s). This should be excellent between two undefeated fighters, with Noakes expected to prevail.

Plus, Kent’s young heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma (2-0, 2 KO’s) has his third professional fight. Much is expected of the 18 year old Itauma after a successful amateur career at youth level. Recently turning pro, he has a lofty ambition to become the youngest world heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson showed “Plenty at twenty” when spectacularly ripping the WBC ‘world’ title from Trevor Berbick in November 1986. That record still stands today.

Itauma should safely make it 3-0 against his Ukrainian opponent to remain on course.

The stacked event should be excellent and will be shown live in the UK on BT Sport 1 from 19:00 BST and selected contests on ESPN+ in the US. Settle in for a cracking night’s boxing.

Tomorrow night (Sat 8th), two of the brightest lights in world boxing take to the ring in Newark, New Jersey, USA on a Top Rank promotion.

Former WBC and WBO ‘world’ super-featherweight (9st, 4lbs/130lbs) champion Shakur Stevenson, and fellow USA starlet Keyshawn Davis showcase their undoubted skills, both at lightweight (9st, 9lbs/135lbs).

Both are also Olympic silver medallists, with Stevenson achieving his in Rio 2016 and Davis more recently at Tokyo 2020.

Stevenson (19-0, 9 KO’s), aged 25, is currently the more professionally advanced of the two, having already gained ‘world’ titles from 126 to 130lbs. Davis, aged 24 is yet to contest one.

They are the potential future of elite world boxing in the lighter weight classes, being charismatic individuals and multi-talented to boot. Their trajectory is very similar to those from the highly successful US Olympic team of Los Angeles 1984 which saw the rise of Evander Holyfield, Meldrick Taylor and Pernell Whitaker, amongst others. By coincidence, Keyshawn Davis is actually from the naval base city of Norfolk, Virginia made famous in boxing parlance by Whitaker, a dominant light to welterweight world champion and hall-of-famer.

Essentially Shakur’s and Keyshawn’s professional careers are only just beginning to break into the highest eschelons of the sport. For both, multi world titles and future superfights are expected if they continue their current form.

The lightweight division is one of the hottest in world boxing at the moment with major fights in the next few weeks and months. Unified champion Devin Haney meets Vasiliy Lomachenko on 20 May and there’s a big grudge match between multi-weight champion Gervonta Davis and talented Ryan Garcia on 22 April. All are potential opponents for Stevenson and Keyshawn.

Despite their obvious talent, the charisma and confidence of Shakur and Keyshawn is also reminiscent of a young ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard and team captain Howard Davis from the US 1976 Olympic team.

Tomorrow in Newark, Stevenson boxes a scheduled 12-round WBC title eliminator against Japanese Shuichiro Yoshino (16-0, 12 KO’s), and Davis a scheduled 10-rounder against Sweden’s Anthony Yigit (26-2-1, 10 KO’s). Stevenson will be boxing in his home city and promises much. In Thursday’s final press conference he pointed out “This dude (Yoshino) has been running around saying that I don’t have any power…Let’s see if he’s ready to go to deep waters with me. I’m going to drown him !”. Yoshino in response said “My trainer and I have been studying Shakur. We have a game plan to implement on Saturday”.

Stevenson, a slick southpaw, is the big favourite and with his reach and so far proven class he should have enough to advance within the distance, probably with a late stoppage.

In the Davis-Yigit contest, the latter has the far greater professional experience and with a southpaw stance will cause Davis some early problems. The American should though win over the 10 round distance, most likely convincingly on points.

The big story here is a further showcasing of the skills and future promise of the two quality US fighters, whom Top Rank have wisely invested considerably in. Look out for both to light up the coming years with their undoubted charisma and talent.

The event is broadcast in the US live on ESPN and on Sky Sports in the UK from 02:00 Sunday. The main events are backed up by a strong card featuring some good heavyweight contenders and other young talent. Enjoy their showcasing.

The cruiserweight picture is starting to look a little clearer with the announcement today in London at a BOXXER press conference of Lawrence Okolie defending his WBO world title against compatriot Chris Billam-Smith in the latter’s home town of Bournemouth, England on May 27.

Smith, known as ‘The Gentleman’ is one of a triumvirate of world ranked 200 pounders based in the UK. He is joined by the only man to beat him, Richard Riakporhe (16-0, 12 KO’s), who waits in the wings for the victor, or an alternative title shot.

Top man, as recognised in the division, is New Zealander Jai Opetaia (22-0, 17 KO’s). This by virtue of beating Latvian Mairis Briedis late last year and now the man with most of the titles, also considered by The Ring magazine as their champion.

‘Sauce’ Okolie (19-0, 14 KO’s) is a 2016 Team GB Olympian and has a 19-0, 14 KO record as a pro. He arrives quickly off a recent WBO title defence in Manchester against David Light which was heavily criticised for it’s lack of action. Okolie did though win a convincing unanimous decision and this will be an early chance for him to get everyone back on board.

Billam-Smith (17-1-0, 12 KO’s) recently fought in December 2022 in a comfortable home win and also brings the British and Commonwealth titles to the ring.

The fight will take place open air at the 15,000 Bournemouth Association Football Club, in a venue aptly named the Vitality Stadium. The pulling power of Billam-Smith will ensure a good turn out and raucous atmosphere. He knows Okolie well and claims to have sparred 300-500 rounds with him. Although they remain close friends; this will be put on hold for domestic bragging rights and a ‘world’ title. It promises to be an excellent contest and event in the UK early summer.

We live in an unforgiving and sometimes fickle and cynical world. This is shown in life, sport and too frequently in the boxing arena.

The same people who lauded British heavyweight Anthony Joshua for turning his life around from his difficult youth to become the 2012 London Olympic super-heavyweight gold medallist; a role model for youths from a similar background. To then, become a unified world heavyweight champion as a professional, and a millionaire face of the future, are now doubting his legitimacy and character.

Anthony Joshua (24-3, 22 KO’s) is a modern day success story as to how far sporting achievement can take a young man in the modern world. His face has adorned media outlets and billboards for much of the last decade. I recall browsing in Macy’s store in New York City in March 2017 to see the posters of him draping from the ceiling advertising the latest sportswear. He had landed globally.

What followed were more world titles, and then, he hit the canvas with a bump in the self same city in June 2019, losing shockingly and spectacularly to Mexican Andy Ruiz Jr.

The sponsorships and payments since have continued to roll in and having regained and subsequently lost versions of the world title he is now clearly a multi-millionaire. Despite this, he still feels he has to redeem himself. Foolish as this may sound to most mere mortals.

Tonight, (1 April) at London’s O2 Arena he faces heavyweight Jermaine Franklin. The American is a fringe contender with a respectable 21-1, (14 KO’s) record. 

In most people’s eyes Joshua is an outright favourite.  However, for most, a Joshua win is a ‘given’, but more importantly is how he looks. Coming off two consecutive losses to unified champion Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk and him having lost three of his last five outings, Joshua has to look good. The minimum requirement is to win, preferably by KO.

If Joshua can achieve this his shot at some form of redemption is possible. However, in the eyes of many, his lustre is tarnished and to rise to the same lofty heights is almost impossible.  He is considered what is known in the trade as ‘damaged goods’.

Maybe this view and the corresponding ridicule was a consequence of his pre- and post-fight utterances, which reached an embarrassing crescendo with his rant at the end of the second defeat to Usyk, denying the defending champion his moment in the sun.

In life now, the bigger someone becomes, the more of a target they are for trolls, cynics etc’. Then, the louder the laughs at their demise.  In many ways it’s borne of jealousy, in other cases it’s just wanting to see someone fall.  Anthony Joshua has done little to deserve this.

His story is remarkable and should be commended. But, we don’t need him to tell it, which he’s wanton to do, or his promoter to sell it.  Most, if not all successful boxers come from a background of adversity. It’s what makes them special in the first place. Joshua’s is just another story but so far one with a very happy ending.

His immediate professional peer Tyson Fury, in the eyes of many, now occupies the moral and successful high ground. His work for promoting mental health issues has been exemplary. He has also referred to making donations to charitable organisations, to be commended too.

Anthony Joshua can indeed invade and conquer this professional high ground, but first he has to defeat Franklin convincingly and likely has to go on to defeat anyone in the way, and ultimately, Fury or Usyk. Tonight he will remain active and attempt that ascent. Fury or Usyk have not fought for many months whilst they haggle over the financial split of a world heavyweight unification fight. We continue with that stalemate.

We expect this fight to be competitive in the early and mid rounds. The American is short and stocky in comparison to the Brit, but busy and a good inside fighter. Franklin weighed in yesterday just under two stone (24lbs) lighter and this could be a significant deficiency. Joshua weighed in a career high at over 18 stone (255lbs) and towers over his opponent.

Joshua has said he plans on not going back to his corner but plans on “taking him out”. He will be seeking to regain the moral high ground in any future attempt and ascent on the heavyweight crowns owned by Fury and Usyk.

Joshua could be shaken up a bit but we expect him to prevail, likely to be victorious in a clear points decision. Victory is expected and he should have enough left to deliver.

The contest billed as ‘New Dawn’ and promoted by Matchroom Boxing with associates, is available on the DAZN streaming site and via Sky platforms in the UK with pre-subscription. It is also on BBC Radio 5 Live with a 10 pm ring walk expected.

Enjoy and wait for significant post-fight announcements.

British light-heavyweight Dan Azeez (19-0, 13 KO’s) can now legitimately count himself among the best 175 pounders in the world after capturing the European title in Paris, France on Saturday night.

Azeez added the continent’s title to his English, British and Commonwealth 175lb (12st, 7lbs) belts. He joins the strong list of champions of yesteryear like Chris Finnegan, John Conteh and Dennis Andries to operate at world level and in a division that is ‘redhot’ in the UK.

The Lewisham, south London fighter, billed out of nearby Croydon, in defeating tall Frenchman Thomas Faure (21-5-1, 2 KO’s), was dominant and tidy throughout. Working off his excellent left jab and following up with strong rights he took the fight to the tall ex-champion and shook him up on a number of occasions. Most notably, in the eleventh, which Faure was fortunate to navigate.

Faure was spirited throughout, but the inevitable stoppage came after 0:50 of the final round when Azeez landed two strong rights consecutively. He was clearly ahead on points at the time and there was no protest from his opponents team.

In a surprise upset, twelve years older Carlos Takam (40-7-1, 28 KO’s) defeated 2018 Rio Olympic champion Tony Yoka (11-2, 9 KO’s) at heavyweight by split decision (96-94, 94-96, 96-94) over ten rounds. The middle card was a travesty on Takam’s dominance throughout. Yoka now has to bounce back from two consecutive demoralising defeats. He does though hold a win over Joe Joyce as an amateur.

Female 2020 Olympic champion Lauren Price (3-0, 1 KO) looked impressive defeating Naomi Mannes (6-2, 4 KO’s) by unanimous decision (80-72 x3) after eight one sided rounds at welterweight. Price is definitely looking one for the future and continues to grow as she steps up in rounds, this being her first eight rounder.

The middleweight contest between Macauley McGowan (17-3-2, 3 KO’s) and Farrhad Saad (8-0-2) on the BOXXER/All Star Boxing promotion ended in a controversial majority draw. McGowan looked to be denied a rightful victory.

Finally, on Sunday in London The Ring middleweight and world champion Natasha Jonas was named British Boxer of 2022 by the BBBofC (Board of Control). It capped a remarkable year for the likeable personality and fighter from Liverpool, England. She became the first female to capture the prestigious British award which has existed for many years.

Fight of the 2022 was the eleven round Leigh Wood – Michael Conlan WBA world featherweight contest held in Nottingham, England last March, also voted The Ring magazine’s world fight of the year.

With the ongoing ‘tennis match’ between heavyweight world sanctioning belt holders Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, the avoidance of a world welterweight unification between USA’s Terence Crawford and Errol Spence and, adverse opinions on welterweight Conor Benn’s frank interview on British TV this week, you could be forgiven for thinking the sport has become irrelevant, or in a perennial, incurable decline.

There is though hope tomorrow night in Paris, France as we focus on the big BOXXER/All Star Boxing promotion to be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK and Canal+ in France.

Headlining is the British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion Dan Azeez (18-0, 12 KO’s) facing Frenchman Thomas Faure (21-4-1, 2 KO’s) for the vacant European crown. Azeez from Croydon, England, threatens challenging for world titles and is now The Ring #10.

A throwback in attitude and appearance to the late, great Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Not folically challenged, but Azeez is working up the hard way from small hall shows to winning progressive titles, and even wearing a copy of his hero’s claret shorts. He should have too much quality for the Frenchman who is workmanlike but not a concussive puncher.

Azeez has recently been training in Florida under the tutelage of former elite welterweight/junior-middleweight James ‘Buddy’ McGirt and this should tell over the contest.

The light-heavyweight division is arguably the hottest in the UK and a number of fighters have either contested or are on the cusp of world honours. Azeez among them.

The co-main event features an all-French affair between 2016 Olympic super-heavyweight champion Tony Yoka (11-1, 9 KO’s) against perennial contender Carlos Takam (39-7-1, 28 KO’s).

Yoka controversially declared the victor over Joe Joyce in the Rio Olympic final is now trying to bounce back from a first defeat as a professional to Martin Bakole last year. He needs to get back into winning ways and a Joyce rematch is a natural meeting of top heavyweight prospects further down the line.

Yoka is only 30 years old compared to Takam’s 42, and although it will be interesting if Yoka tries to stop his foe, he should prevail over the distance. Takam has mixed in good company in the splintered heavyweight division; is very durable, but age and ambition should be the telling factors here.

The card also features Team GB 2020 Olympic gold medallist Lauren Price (2-0, 2 KO’s) who faces German Naomi Mannes (6-1, 4 KO’s). Price, from Wales and a welterweight, is facing a step up in opposition with a former European title challenger, but should be too classy and win convincingly.

British middleweight Macauley McGowan (17-3-1, 3 KO’s) also faces undefeated French prospect Farrhad ‘The Professor’ Saad (8-0-1) on the card.

It should be a good night’s viewing all round. Enjoy.

After the hype and passing interest by hardcore fans in the Jake Paul-Tommy Fury contest last weekend, and with no major event this weekend, regular readers in the UK have been asking me “what’s coming up ?”. This shows there is a genuine interest and hunger for quality matches to be made and broadcast.

Well here goes…

It’s disappointing that the Matchroom Boxing promotion scheduled for Liverpool, England next weekend (11th) has now been reduced somewhat by the injury of hometown headliner Callum Smith (29-1, 21 KO’s) who was due to fight proven Pawal Stepien (18-0-1, 12 KO’s).

‘Mundo’ Smith is one of the top light-heavyweights (175 pounders) in the world, ranked by The Ring magazine #3 and surely in line for a shot at one of the sanctioning body ‘world’ titles. Although the remaining bill should be of interest, now headlined by local men Robbie Davies Jr. and featuring Team GB 2020 Olympian Peter McGrail, it should be worth a watch.

On 11th and 25th March BOXXER has major promotions in Paris, France and Manchester, England respectively. In Paris, the British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion Dan Azeez (18-0, 12 KO’s) faces Frenchman Thomas Faure (21-4-1, 2 KO’s) for the vacant European crown. Azeez from Croydon, England threatens challenging for world titles and is now The Ring #10. The bill also features Rio Olympic super-heavyweight champion and victor over Joe Joyce, in the shape of Frenchman Tony Yoka (11-1, 9 KO’s). He needs to get back into winning ways and a Joyce rematch is a natural down the line.

Then, in Manchester, WBO ‘world’ cruiserweight champion and The Ring # 1 Lawrence Okolie defending against undefeated New Zealander David Light. The 200lb division is arguably the hottest in the UK with world ranked Richard Riakporhe (The Ring #6) and Chris Billam-Smith (The Ring #10) also lying in wait for world title opportunities. Both will be interested observers in Okolie’s performance and result.

Team GB Olympians Lauren Price, Frazer Clarke, and Kariss Artingstall will also feature over coming weeks.

Both BOXXER events will be televised in their agreement with Sky Sports live on Saturday nights.

Then coming into April it’s over to the heavyweights. On the 1st Anthony Joshua (24-3, 22 KO’s) and The Ring #3 has a date at London’s O2 Arena with American Jermaine Franklin (22-1, 14 KO’s). Allegedly tickets are selling slowly, unusual for a Joshua show, but this is a fight he must win, and win well. The bill also features world ranked light-heavyweight Craig Richards (17-3-1, 10 KO’s) and Felix Cash for the European title.

Finally, the biggest foreseeable contest to be held in the UK, certainly in terms of world significance regarding the big men, will be on April 15 at the Copperbox Arena, London. The Queensberry Promotion sees Joe ‘Juggernaut’ Joyce (15-0, 14 KO’s) and The Ring #4 facing Chinese contender Zilei ‘Big Bang’ Zhang (24-1-1, 19 KO’s). This is sure to be ‘bombs away’ with one likely winning by knockout. It will be supported by the usual array of Queensberry talent and broadcast live and exclusive on BT Sport in the UK.

Other news of interest will be if, and when, welterweight (147lbs) Conor Benn receives the green light from the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) to resume his professional career in the UK and hopefully challenge for world honours. Also, the votes tallied for the BBBofC awards luncheon for 2022 achievement. Promising junior-welterweight/lightweight (140-135lbs) Adam Azim (8-0, 6 KO’s) should feature high in the best prospect/young fighter category. The other baubles for best all round fighter and best 2022 contest should be up for grabs. This will be held at The Brewery in east London on Sunday 12th and is usually a well attended event.

Plenty to look forward to after a slight abeyance in the UK this weekend.

Mexico has a rich tradition of diminutive fighting men with punches that kick like a mule. Mauricio ‘Bronco’ Lara (26-2-1, 19 KO’s) lived up to his nickname and enhanced the national reputation. He excelled in sensationally flooring local man Leigh Wood (26-3, 16 KO’s) with a devastating left hook in the seventh to win the WBA world featherweight (126lbs/9st) title Saturday night in Nottingham, England.

The nature of the fight and ultimate victory was compulsive viewing on DAZN. The champion Wood making his second title defence was boxing well, was ahead, and seemingly stretching to a points victory, then BOOM ! Both fighters detonated left hooks on each other simultaneously, but the Mexican’s had the greater impact and Wood hit the canvas.

Rising on unsteady legs, referee Michael Alexander asked whether Wood was ready to continue, and looking as though that was possible the champion’s cornerman Ben Davison saw the danger and compassionately threw the towel into the ring. The fight was immediately waved off after 2:54 of the round.

Davison’s call was deemed by some to be premature and Wood instinctively protested, but no one can ever fault the safety of his fighter being paramount, saving the 34 year old ex-champion to fight another day.

As predicted on these pages it was a gruelling fight with Wood cut in the first from a clash of heads, some heavy exchanges and a knockdown to finish. The Matchroom promotion was enhanced by the electric atmosphere created by the Wood faithful in a sell out Nottingham Motorpoint Arena supporting their local hero with gusto.

The defeated Wood, The Ring magazine #5 coming in, still has plenty of options; a contracted immediate rematch or, a rematch with Irishman Michael Conlan who he stopped in the final round in March 2022 in The Ring Fight of the Year. He also has the domestic option of fighting former IBF world champion Josh Warrington, who was at ringside.

The new champion Lara, The Ring #3, and arguably now the best featherweight in the world also has similar options. He’s obligated to a Wood rematch but also has eyes on a Warrington trilogy fight. The money on offer in the UK may draw the new champion there again, and he will be more than welcome to visit those shores.

At only 24 years old and despite having some technical limitations he has a bright future ahead and that KO power will always be the leveller that may see him through to greater and more victories. At the end of the night you got the sense you’d watched another Ruben Olivares, Carlos Zarate, Julio Cesar Chavez or Marco Antonio Barrera; a Mexican now showcased to a UK audience, who could go on to be another to add that country’s glorious list of fighters. We look forward to watching his journey.

Nottingham, England is a sports mad city. It has venues for and hosts Premier League soccer, Test match cricket, and is also home to the National Water Sports Centre.  It’s a hard city, situated in the east Midlands, it has a tough underbelly and is a breeding ground for fighters. When they have one, or some of their own to support, they sure as hell get behind them.

In recent years it’s been rare for the city to host world championship fights. This writer though recalls the famous night of 26 May 2012, when local hero and soon to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHoF) Carl Froch, fought Canada’s Lucian Bute for the IBF world super-middleweight title.

Billed as ‘No Easy Way Out’ the Nottingham Arena was aptly a bearpit of intensity and atmosphere that night, which then champion and previously undefeated Bute just couldn’t deal with. Froch, backed by his rabid supporters and ‘The Cobra’s’ stone-like fists, simply overwhelmed Bute and the Canadian-Romanian would never be the same again.

Pre-fight, Froch was perceived to be in too deep with heavy hitting Bute. In five incredible rounds Froch overwhelmed his opponent and was famously crowned the new champion on an emotional night.

Tonight (Feb 18), in the same arena, and ironically also on a Matchroom Boxing promotion, local man Leigh Wood (26-2, 16 KO’s) defends his WBA world featherweight title (126lbs/9st) for the second time against tough Mexican puncher Mauricio Lara (25-2-1, 18 KO’s). It’s a contest between two excellent fighters that promises much, more than likely an intense battle with multiple knockdowns.

Wood, The Ring boxing magazine #6 beat Irishman Michael Conlan last time out in their 2022 Fight of the Year in March by eleventh round stoppage in a barnstormer. If Saturday’s fight is half as good we’re in for a treat.

At 34 years old, Wood is now facing a man ten years younger and with a big knockout percentage. He won his title in July 2021 by unanimously outpointing good Chinese featherweight Xu Can.

Lara, by comparison The Ring #4, surprisingly knocked out former IBF champion Josh Warrington in London in February 2021. A hastily arranged rematch in Leeds that September was adjudged a technical draw due to a cut from an accidental clash of heads. He was subsequently stripped of the IBF title due to inactivity. The Mexican is now seeking redemption by his potential winning of the WBA crown tonight.

The much anticipated contest also marks nearly 38 years from Irish hero Barry McGuigan dramatically defeating Panamanian legend Eusebio Pedroza for the same title in London, England. One that still holds a number of viewing records as it was broadcast live on BBC TV in a peaktime Saturday night slot. Some contest and event to live up to.

So, what can we expect tonight ?

Both men have been talking up a good performance and their victory coming in. Lara seemingly getting under the champion’s skin. Both fighters weighed in 126lbs (9st) on the limit at yesterday’s weigh-in which went without further incident.

The challenger’s greater power on record and being considerably younger is the clear favourite with the oddsmakers.  Wood, although closer to the end of his career than beginning is tough, as he undoubtedly showed against Conlan, rising from a knockdown to be victorious in a firefight. It ending in a twelve round stoppage of the Irishman. He holds more experience, is rugged and has a noticeable height advantage.

Lara still has something to prove that he truly belongs a this level, much of his status being gained from the first Warrington fight.  We expect it to be a gruelling fight with knockdowns, but on the night the size of Wood backed on vociferously by this local fanbase to prevail, and thus making a second successful defence of his title to set up a box office return further down the line with Conlan.

It’s sure to be some fight and the atmosphere electric, which will transfer well to those watching at home on the DAZN streaming site.

Last night at London’s famous York Hall, Bethnal Green on a Queensberry promotion rising British heavyweight David Adeleye (11-0,10 KO’s) scored an impressive technical knockout of previously undefeated Ukrainian Dmytro Bezus. The stoppage came at 1:38 of the second round after the 26 year old Brit had dropped his 6ft 6″ opponent in the first with a straight right jab. The finish was an impressive right hook to the body followed by left hook that flattened the Ukrainian giant before the referee stepped in. Adeleye who has recently been training in Florida, USA is starting to look the real deal and adds to the strong heavyweight mix in the UK.

In a night of good stoppage wins there was also a solid victory for unbeaten British lightweight Mark Chamberlain and junior-welterweight Henry Turner. The former halting ex-European featherweight champion Vairo Lenti impressively to go to 12 wins.

Finally, enjoy tonight’s DAZN world title broadcast from Nottingham which should be a real humdinger.