The Undisputed

Two standout performances over the weekend saw two young boxers take a step to world title challenge and potential stellar careers. The achievements both sides of the Atlantic were so different in so many ways.

British and Commonwealth lightweight champion Sam Noakes (14-0, 13 KO’s) from Maidstone, England continued his march towards world honours with an emphatic points victory against experienced Yvan Mendy. In doing so, also adding the European 9st, 9lbs (135 lbs) title to his expanding resume’.

Meanwhile in Brooklyn, New York City, on a much larger attended and profile card, junior-welterweight Ryan Garcia (26-1, 20 KO’s) dominated previously undefeated and two-weight world champion Devin Haney (31-1, 15 KO’s) to go pole position to challenge for the current sanction-body fractured (10st/140lbs) title.

Noakes at age 26 and Garcia at 25 are the potential futures of these two divisions on a world level, and may even meet further down the line.

One fight was a systematic points accumulation and victory, the other an assault and bashing up from the opening round. Ironically both went the distance.

Noakes, a technically sound and two-time British amateur champion, boasted a 100% KO professional record coming into Saturday’s fight in the iconic York Hall, Bethnal Green, London. Although he was forced to go the distance due to the 38 year old Mendy’s undoubted championship quality (being a two-time European champion) and, his resilience.

Noakes won convincingly and guided by a strong management team and promoted by Queensberry he looked the ‘real deal’. Post fight he honestly admitted he’d been extended (going 12 rounds for the first time) and against a good experienced operator, he went onto explain he needed a long rest. This was for Noakes a fight that may have shown us more than his thirteen to date, even though he didn’t get the KO he strove for. The contest ended 120-108 on all three cards.

Garcia on the other hand dropped Haney (31-1, 15 KO’s) three times en-route to busting up the previously undisputed lightweight champion and, still current WBC junior-welterweight champion – work that out ?

The fact that Garcia was indisciplined enough to be 3lbs over the divisional limit beforehand meant that the WBC title was not up for grabs. The fight though went ahead and Garcia was outstanding; launching an all out assault from the opening round.

Although the fight ended as a majority decision – 114-110, 115-109 and 112-112, Garcia enhanced his reputation as a hard handed left hooker with undoubted ability and charisma.

His victory was impressive to the extreme and after losing by KO to mutiple ‘world’ champion Gervonta Davis last year in his first and only defeat to date, the world is now again his oyster. The Los Angelean’s well publicised mental challenges and irrational behaviour online has drawn widespread criticism and concerned comment. But, when it comes down to it the man can fight ! He showed that on Saturday night and his blessed looks could lead to his claim of being “the face of boxing” no longer being hyperbole.

Noakes meanwhile, quietly goes about his business and capturing the European title completed what is the old, now non too-familiar way of working your way up to a world crown by winning all that is up for grabs along the way.

In an era of get rich quick, and likes online, this is a refreshing reminder of bygone times. The Maidstone man may reach the same heights though substance alone, and his fan appeal, albeit currently at a lower level, may even surpass that of the impressive Garcia in the end. His quality appears good enough to point to that or at least match this in ring accomplishment.

The journey and riches on offer will, for both, be fun along the way !

An action packed night was had on the ‘Knockout Chaos’ card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

Top billing and statement went to former two-time unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (28-3, 25 KO’s) in demolishing former UFC champion Francis Ngannou (0-2 as a boxer) inside two rounds.

The emphatic nature of the victory significantly announces Joshua’s right to now legitimately challenge the winner of the undisputed world title fight contested when Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 KO’s) and Tyson Fury (34-0-1, 24 KO’s) meet in the same territory ten weeks from now (May 18).

The performance and finish was very impressive, with the ex-champion dropping his man first in the opening round and finishing him off with two knockdowns in the second, including arguably the best right hand he’s ever thrown to finish it on 2:38 of that round.

Immediately on impact Ngannou slumped to the canvas and was worryingly left motionless as the referee waved the contest over.

The 34 year old Joshua’s victory contrasts sharply with Tyson Fury’s struggle against the same opponent last year, whom he narrowly defeated on a split decision after being floored himself. We considered Ngannou the narrow victor on that occasion.

After Saturday’s demolition the 37 year old Ngannou has shown enough in two contests that he should come again if he continues to pursue a career in Queensberry rules boxing.

First, Usyk and Fury have to duke it out in May to finally get our first undisputed heavyweight champion this century.

In what we considered the main event, continually improving New Zealander Joseph Parker (35-3, 23 KO’s) won a close majority decision against Chinese man-mountain Zhilei Zhang (26-2-1, 21 KO’s) . The Kiwi survived two earlier knockdowns himself, but looked impressive down the stretch as he earned and thoroughly deserved his points victory. Yes, we were wrong on that one ! Returned scores were 113-113, 114-112, 115-111 in the Kiwi’s favour.

Narrowly contending for ‘fight of the night’ was the WBC featherweight (9st/126lbs) clash between tall Mexican ‘world’ champion Rey Vargas (36-1-1, 22 KO’s) and Liverpool’s compact Nick Ball (19-0-1, 12 KO’s).

In what was Ball’s first world title challenge, he was impressive. Again there were knockdowns and Vargas built up a big early lead to slow down in the late rounds, but managed to cling onto his title with a controversial twelve round split decision draw. Scores were 114-112, 116-110 and 113-113. The nature of the fight and contention calls for an immediate rematch, most likely in the UK.

The whole event was a big success for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which added to their Riyadh Season immediately before Ramadan.

This has now become an annual feast of boxing as big finances of the Middle East dictate the direction of the sport and significantly enhance the earning potential of its top fighters. On this evidence the Season is a welcome addition to the boxing calendar, albeit the seismic shift sports eastwards understandably has it’s detractors. From our perspective the big fights are being made regularly which is all we can the fans and media can ask.

Next, Usyk and Fury duke it out in May to finally get our first undisputed heavyweight champion this century. That in itself is a prospect to cherish and behold.

Eyes and ears will shortly be on Riyadh, Saudi Arabia tonight.

Unfortunately for most, if curious, you have to pay once more for the privilege if you plan to watch. The event is available on pay-per-view/box office on either DAZN or Sky Sports in the UK. For others, you can tune in, almost free, to BBC Radio 5 for live blow-by-blow analysis of the chief supports and main event. The choice is yours.

Hidden behind the hype of a contest between a mixed-martial arts fighter with a Queensberry code record of no wins from one contest and a former two-time heavyweight title holder, there is a legitimate winner-take-all fight between two top ranked heavyweight contenders.

China’s Zhilei Zhang (26-1-1, 21 KO’s) will face New Zealander Joseph Parker (34-3, 23 KO’s) in what should be a final eliminator for the undisputed title to be later contested in the same desert city on 19 May between undefeated champions Oleksandr Usyk from Ukraine and Briton Tyson Fury.

The form guide for the chief support to the Joshua-Ngannou clash is that both Zhang and Parker are contenders on the up.

True, Joshua (27-3, 24 KO’s) has beaten Parker, but the Kiwi is a much improved fighter since with an almost perfect win record. One of his only other losses being to Joe Joyce, a fighter that Zhang convincingly beat over two outings last year.

Heavyweight boxing is an unpredictable thing. One big punch can ruin reputations and turn the form book on its head. Boxing history is littered with them – Tyson-Douglas, Lewis-McCall to name but a few. We only have to look recently to Francis Ngannou temporarily flooring Tyson Fury and ‘earning’ his top ten world ranking with an immediate fight against Anthony Joshua tonight.

Zhang, a 40 year old southpaw and standing six foot six, is rated #3 by The Ring magazine. He has already beaten Parker over the amateur code on points 13 years ago and this bodes well for him.

Parker is coming off arguably his biggest victory, a unanimous points decision victory over former WBC champion Deontay Wilder last December. Now trained by former world champion Andy Lee he looked a much improved fighter after a long period of being a perennial loser in big fights. It was his most impressive outing since losing the WBO title to Joshua some years before.

This really should be the fight of the evening. We pick Zhang to win late by KO as his fast and heavy hands take their concussive effect. Parker will be competitive throughout and bank on the much older man running out of gas but the Chinese has enough amateur experience to get his game plan right on the night.

Similarly in the main event we see the elite competitive pedigree of Joshua, London Olympic’s super-heavyweight gold medallist, to be the telling factor in defeating the strong Cameroonian who will also have good moments, maybe flooring the Londoner if he gets sloppy, but having he nous and skills to prevail unanimously on points. Then it’s onto the heavyweight queue to meet the new undisputed champ in the winter.

However you choose to watch or listen, enjoy it.

Vengeance is sweet !

In Oaxaca, Mexico, early Sunday morning (UK time) South Africa’s box-puncher Sivenathi Nontshinga defeated Mexico’s Adrian Curiel to regain his IBF light-flyweight (108lbs/7st, 10lbs) title. The classy Nontshinga (13-1, 10 KOs) from Reeston in the Eastern Cape lived up to his “Special One” nickname scoring a spectacular technical knockout at 44 seconds of round ten.

His win was notable and, some achievement, after his stunning defeat to the same opponent in Monaco last November, in what was arguably the knockout and a shock of 2023 world boxing.

Big things were expected of the South African before that defeat and Curiel was confident his win would be more emphatic in the rematch.

Both fighters, aged 25, had their moments in a highly competitive contest. Nontshinga boxed smartly from the opening round and opted for a ‘rope a dope’ tactic, conceding the ring centre and countering mainly off the ropes. Through the completed rounds it looked as though the home fighter was surging ahead and the South African would need to do more to wrestle the title from him.

In the seventh the challenger was deducted a point for head use as he tucked up and absorbed the Mexican blows, advancing forward with a low head and countering the champion. This was a clear 10-8 round to Curiel.

The strong champion from Mexico City, with a canopy full of his compatriots, tried his hardest to overwhelm the challenger, but couldn’t quite find the formula throughout.

The eighth was the best round of the fight as they exchanged blows standing toe-to-toe, almost as if in a phone booth (ala Jeff Fenech-Azumah Nelson I). Curiel took the round as the more come-forward fighter. The challenger continued to lose the initiative in the ninth but then had a big finish to the round landing a double left hook which visibly wobbled the Mexican.

Into the tenth, the ex-champion got caught with a big right hand mid-round and the challenger let his hands go and overwhelmed the home fighter. Referee Mark Calo-oy had no option but to wave the contest over to Curiel from further punishment.

The event promoted by Matchroom and shown live on the DAZN streaming channel showcased the lighter weights and quality fighters involved. Big things possibly await the slick and charismatic Nontshinga with a fight against British flyweight Sunny Edwards being mooted in the 4lb heavier division.

Curiel now drops to 24-5-1 (5 KOs).

Japanese stylist Kenshiro Teraji (23-1, 14 KOs) is recognised by The Ring magazine as the current king of the 108 lbs division. If the impressive Nontshinga chooses to stay in the lighter division, or step up, he will continue to be an interesting watch. Don’t though rule out a third ‘rubber match’ with Curiel. The South African’s stock is now fully restored and rising.

Performance and breakout victory of the weekend was by Ilford, London’s Hamzah Sheeraz on a stacked Queensberry promotion at the Copper Box Arena, Stratford, London.

The tall middleweight (160lbs/11st, 6lbs) impressively stopped Wales’ former title contender Liam Williams for the WBC silver and Commonwealth titles inside one round after an initial knockdown. The finish came with a good right uppercut off an impressive lead left jab and sustained array of punches, resulting in Williams’ trainer Gary Lockett throwing the towel in to protect his fighter. A good and compassionate call in our view.

Sheeraz (19-0, 15 KOs), at 24 years old, and ranked #10 by The Ring magazine is homing in on a world title challenge successfully defending his silver strap. Having prepared himself Stateside at the famous Ten Goose Gym, he was all business and not overawed by the experience of his opponent being his first serious test.

The 31 year old Williams drops his record to 25-5-1 (20 KOs). The Welshman who’s fought for a number of years in good company has never been beaten so convincingly and is likely to operate at domestic level from herein.

The card also saw world top ten ranked light-heavyweight Anthony Yarde convincingly stop Serb’ Marko Nikolic after a minute of the third round. Yarde rated #4 by The Ring in their 175 lbs (12st, 7lbs) category has failed honourably in two previous ‘world’ title shots but now is well placed for a third crack at either Russian Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol.

The two Russians are due to meet in Saudi Arabia on June 1st in a big unification clash. First up though is likely a domestic shoot out with London rival Joshua Buatsi who is also top ten ranked and coming hot off a victory against Dan Azeez last weekend. In doing so, he gained the British and Commonwealth titles en-route to a potential world title shot.

Last, but not least; Maidstone, England’s lightweight prospect Sam Noakes (13-0, 13 KOs) won the British and Commonwealth 135lbs (9st, 9lbs) titles by stopping Lewis Sylvester in four rounds.

In a packed Las Vegas weekend due to Super Bowl 58 in town, further victories were had by Teofimo Lopez in defence of his WBO 140 lbs (10st) ‘world’ title and, up and coming lightweight contender Keyshawn Davis. Lopez laboured to a unanimous points victory, but Davis impressively stopped former two-weight ‘world’ title winner Jose Pedraza in the sixth round.

As we’ve said on these pages Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Davis is one for the future, without doubt. He shows the full charisma and skills package to be a major addition to the elite of world boxing. Watch this space.

With most eyes this weekend on Super Bowl 58 held for the first time in Las Vegas, USA, big time boxing takes a back seat there, and likely worldwide. 

For this reason a tasty fistic world title showdown takes place, unusually on a Thursday (tonight February 8), in the same city, at the Michelob ULTRA Arena, Mandalay Bay resort and casino.

Talented American-Honduran Teofimo Lopez Jnr. (19-1, 13 KOs) faces Jamaine Ortiz (17-1-1, 8 KOs) in defence of his WBO and Ring magazine junior-welterweight titles over 12 rounds.

At yesterday’s weigh-in both came in at 139.6 lbs, four ounces within the divisional limit and with barbs exchanged pre-fight a tasty encounter is expected. One particular interested observer will be former undisputed ten stone (140 lbs) champion Josh Taylor whom Lopez ripped the titles off in June 2023. Added spice in the division is provided by undefeated American Devin Haney who holds the other belts. Potential superfights await, pending tonight’s outcome.

Lopez, at age 26, has the double Olympic champion and former undisputed lightweight champion Vasiliy Lomachenko on his resume and followed this up with his defeat of Taylor in the higher weight class. He was co-Ring magazine ‘Fighter of the Year’ with Tyson Fury in 2020 so his pedigree is solid. He has though been prone to periods of inactivity and disillusion with the sport. For now he appears to have his appetite back.

Lopez, a New Yorker, defeated the now 27 year old Ortiz as an amateur but the challenger has compiled a good record as a pro since. It should be a feisty and competitive fight, but if Lopez is switched on, he should win comfortably. When he’s good, he’s very good.

The chief support is promising and world ranked USA Olympian Keyshawn Davis (9-0, 6 KOs) who faces former ‘world’ champion and now ‘gatekeeper’ Jose Pedraza (29-5-1, 14 KOs) over 10 rounds at lightweight (9st 9lbs/135 lbs). Davis is exceptionally talented and has the charisma to match.

Pedraza, from Puerto Rico is well decorated and tested, but well in the twilight of his career. He’s mixed in good company and will provide a stern test for the American, establishing where Davis is at.

Davis, a product of Norfolk, in the state of Virginia (former home of hall-of-famer Pernell Whitaker) has all the tools to reach some of the heights that Whitaker reached, but at age 24 he needs to switch on and realise ‘the time is now’. He should though win comfortably when he catches up with the elusive Pedraza. If successful, again, for Davis, big fights await in the talented lightweight division.

The event promoted by Top Rank inc. will be shown live on Sky Sports Arena in UK from 01:30 GMT (Friday) and on ESPN in USA. Both main event and chief support are well worth a watch.

Highlight of the boxing weekend in the UK, with world title ramifications, is the big light-heavyweight (12st, 7lbs/175lbs) showdown between undefeated, ranked contenders Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez.

The long awaited clash between the two Britons, cancelled from October 2023, will now be held at the historic Wembley Arena, London, scene of many a memorable championship fight.

Both are resident south Londoners with 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Buatsi from Croydon, and current British, European and Commonwealth champion Azeez from nearby Lewisham. In all intents and purposes this could be a ‘turf war’. 

It is however, more a contest between opponents who are familiar with each other from hours of sparring and have utmost respect in each other’s abilities. Their friendship, at least until close to fight time with barbs exchanged in recent days, will be put on hold for the scheduled twelve rounds.

The problem, and attraction, is that both want the same thing – a world title !

The matchup is a throwback to the light-heavyweight contests of yesteryear in British rings; from Chris Finnegan versus John Conteh in the 1970’s to Dennis Andries against Tony Sibson in the 1980’s.

It’s a ‘trade’ fight that given the undefeated records, local rivalry, and obvious potential is expected to add to that long history.

Buatsi, age 30, with proud Ghanaian heritage and possessing their fighting spirit, has waited patiently for the opportunity to launch himself further into the mainstream and onto a world title fight. First he must clear up one of the outstanding domestic arguments.

Azeez (20-0, 13 KO’s), age 34, is the ‘blue-collar’ fighter of the two, with ‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler his inspiration. He has indicated, ala Hagler, this fight will be ‘War’ and is attempting to break through too and onto a world title challenge.

Azeez is the busier of both fighters, building his pace and momentum as his fights progress and wears his opponents down. Buatsi (17-0, 13 KO’s), is the more polished and so far world decorated of the two. They are ranked #5 and 6 by The Ring magazine, and recognised similarly by the multiple ‘world’ sanctioning bodies.

It will be a battle of mind as well as resilience, as both are talented and cerebral. Experience at the world level, which Buatsi possesses from the amateur code, may be the telling factor. We pick him to win a very competitive fight on a close points decision.

Top of the tree in this division are Russia’s Dmitry Bivol (21-0, 11 KO’s) and Artur Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KO’s) who seem on a domestic collision course of their own. No match has yet been made for them.

The Briton who emerges victorious over the next 12 months out of Buatsi and Azeez, two-time world challenger Anthony Yarde and a glut of other light-heavyweights will be top of the pecking order to challenge when the Bivol-Beterbiev dust has finally settled.

Saturday’s event is promoted by BOXXER and will be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK and on NBC’s Peacock streaming channel in the US. It’s also available on TalkSport radio in the UK.

The full card features a plethora of promising , undefeated talent, including such notables as Ben Whittaker at light-heavyweight, Adam Azim at junior-welterweight and female lightweight world title contender Caroline Dubois. All are entertainers and will be attempting to ‘steal the show’.

The night promises quality and potential fireworks all round !

Teak tough unified light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KO’s) from Dagestan, Russia, currently based in Canada, showed his undoubted class and superiority when successfully defending his multiple sanctioning body 175 lbs ‘world’ titles against England’s Callum Smith (29-2, 21 KO’s).

It took place in Quebec City, Canada on an excellent Top Rank show Saturday night (13^th).

Beterbiev, just shy of his 39th birthday, is a former amateur world champion who competed at the London 2012 Olympics, losing to eventual gold medallist and current unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. On Saturday, he further enhanced his awesome reputation with an emphatic victory.

The stoppage came on 2 minutes of round seven after Smith had been dropped twice in the round and with his chief second James ‘Buddy’ McGirt waving it off, the referee simultaneously stopped the contest. The official result was a TKO.

Smith competed well for the fully completed rounds but was eventually overwhelmed by the Russian’s intensity, momentum and punch accuracy.

The small 18 foot square ring proved no place to hide and almost restricted the rangy Smith to fighting in a telephone booth. The challenger’s body is such that he just couldn’t maximise the benefit of his long limbs to keep the required distance from the champion. After a competitive effort with bravery and some success, most notably rounds two and five, the challenger was simply overwhelmed in the end.

The impressive Beterbiev possesses the only 100% KO record of any current world champion and this was added to on Saturday.

The ‘Beast’ of the division, he is authentically tough, to the extent that he’s almost a ‘throwback’ fighter to a bygone age. This is complimented by his outstanding amateur pedigree, going over 300 fights undefeated and being a former world champion and Olympian in the unpaid code.

Beterbiev was simply too tough and technically sound for Smith to have any real prolonged success. On the fight’s conclusion being interviewed on ESPN, champion Beterbiev humbly paid his respect to his challenger and said amazingly, “It’s because of luck. It’s my coach (Marc Ramsay). My team works hard with me, too. Maybe that’s why, too. But I think it’s because of luck”. His understating of his dominance and nature of victory was refreshing but perplexing.

He continued, “We had a couple strategies. We always have more than one. We need to be prepared for several strategies. He gave me a good fight. He stayed strong. Thanks to him. Today, luck is on my side.

Attention now switches to a unification fight with fellow Russian, Dmitry Bivol (22-0, 11 KO’s) who holds the WBA title (the only one Beterbiev doesn’t yet possess). The taller Bivol is too at the elite level and was The Ring magazine fighter of the year for 2022. A ‘superfight’ potentially awaits and Top Rank CEO and hall-of-fame promoter Bob Arum is confident this will be after Ramadan and held in Saudi Arabia. All of boxing will hold it’s breath that this mouthwatering match comes off soon.

Finally, on being questioned on the prospect of facing his fellow compatriot Beterbiev added “Yes, of course {I want the Bivol fight}. I need another belt. It would mean a lot to me.”

Smith, only 33, from the English fight city of Liverpool, and a former 168 lbs super-middleweight unified champion was not disgraced and his stock was upheld by a brave showing under such firepower and class. He will though return to domestic level for the time being.

The division is red hot in the UK with world ranked Brits facing off and vying for superiority across the board. First up is Joshua Buatsi (17-0, 13 KO’s) against Dan Azeez (20-0, 13 KO’s) scheduled for January 27 in London, England.  There are also good fights to be had between these two, former double world title challenger Anthony Yarde and Manchester’s Lyndon Arthur.

On the undercard on Saturday was also a real ‘barnstormer’ with Australian Jason Moloney (27-2, 19 KO’s) retaining his WBO bantamweight world title with a majority decision over Saul Sanchez (20-3, 12 KO’s) in a back-and-forth tussle. One judge scored it 114-114, which was overruled by two scores of 116-112.

It was a brilliant contest and early contender for fight of the year.

The new boxing year gets off with a bang tomorrow night in Quebec City, Canada in the light-heavyweight (175 pound/12st,7lbs) division.

Current IBF, WBC and WBO champion Artur Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KO’s), arguably one of the finest boxers in the world, meets former unified super-middleweight (168 lbs/12st) champion Callum Smith (29-1, 21 KO’s) in an excellent match up.

Promoted by Top Rank it’s a world class contest almost a year in the making. The original fight date was postponed due to Beterbiev sustaining a jaw infection. The quality of both boxers though is undeniable and their differing physical stature and skillsets point towards an intriguing fight.

Beterbiev, age 38, from Dagestan but a naturalised Russian, is a former amateur world champion who competed at the London 2012 Olympics at heavyweight (91kg). He didn’t medal, losing to the eventual gold medallist and current unified professional world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. This was his last defeat.

The Russian’s pedigree before, and since turning professional, is outstanding. He possesses the only 100% KO record of any current world champion and is considered the ‘boogieman’ of the division, a real ‘beast’ of a fighter. His power is substantial and the nature of his emphatic stoppage wins prove it. He tends to meticulously work his way forward throwing power shots and either takes his opponents out with a single blow or eventually grinds them down.

He has though shown earlier fallibility by being dropped by another Briton Callum Johnson a few years ago. He did though get up to win emphatically.

To give Smith further hope, for a time in Beterbiev’s last world title defence against Anthony Yarde in London a year ago, his muscular opponent was able to withstand the Russian’s power before ultimately succumbing in the eighth round. Whether the challenger has he physical and mental toughness to do similar and prevail himself is the conundrum. Smith has power of his own and his big punch is the left hook which he lands from all angles, preceded by a strong jab which he maximises due to his 6ft 3in frame.

Smith, from Liverpool, England, at 33, is clearly the younger man, being effectively ‘born’ into the sport. He has a family of siblings who’ve all boxed at world level, some winning titles. He’s less miles on the clock than his opponent and this could be a factor. Whether it influences and determines the outcome is a key unknown.

Beterbiev, as dominant and imposing as he’s been in recent years could be close to the end of his professional career, but it would take a brave person to bet against him. Tomorrow the Russian has a chance to silence any doubters.

The ‘alternate’ WBA 175lbs champion is other Russian, Dmitry Bivol (22-0, 11 KO’s) who was The Ring magazine fighter of the year for 2022. A unification ‘superfight’ potentially awaits between both Russians, but is depended on Beterbiev being successful tomorrow. That, in itself, puts additional pressure on him going in but as of now he’s seemed undeterred by it, preferring not to look ahead.

At Thursday’s final press conference the height differential was noticeable with the Brit towering above the champion. Both fighters appear confident and in today’s weigh in both came in comfortably (Smith 174.6 and Beterbiev 175 lbs).

Beterbiev, after spending the first three weeks of training camp in the Russian mountains on arrival in Canada was honed by local trainer Marc Ramsey who’s been with him for the majority of his North American career. The Russian has earnt well but is now on the cusp of the Bivol showdown.

Smith has regrouped since losing his world super-middleweight (12st/168lbs) titles to modern legend Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. He has won two fairly non-descript fights since moving up a weight class. Now is the ‘acid-test’.

He was known for his toughness and concussive power as a twelve stoner and the key will be whether he can carry that up and absorb the older mans shots. He’s prepared for this fight with respected US trainer and ex-world champion James ‘Buddy’ McGirt who will have knocked off any edges Smith possessed and instilled in him a mental toughness and street mentality. Plus he will have devised an effective game-plan.

We see this being an excellent fight; developing by the mid-rounds into a toe-to-toe shootout with the tougher, attritional Beterbiev ultimately prevailing by stoppage. Smith will be ‘game’ throughout and have his successes, but the Russian will work to the Brit’s long torso and systematically break him down. We predict this by the ninth round.

The Liverpudlian will not be disgraced and come out of the contest with his stock raised further to keep him on at the elite level, albeit temporarily domestically.

The division is red hot in the UK with world ranked Brits facing off and vying for superiority across the board. First up is Joshua Buatsi (17-0, 13 KO’s) against Dan Azeez (20-0, 13 KO’s), scheduled for January 27 in London.  There are also good fights to be had between these two, former double world title challenger Anthony Yarde and Manchester’s Lyndon Arthur, among others.

By the early hours of Sunday morning (UK time) we will know how things have shaken out on the world level and whether Russia truly is dominant in this division. It will be fun whilst it lasts. Enjoy.

The event will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports (3am GMT) and on ESPN+ in the US.

It was a weekend when one fighter emphatically sealed his star status, one showed his grit and another took one more step towards potential stardom.

Main story of the weekend was the complete shutout by Devin ‘The Dream’ Haney in securing a ‘world’ title in a second weight class by defeating WBC super-lightweight (140lbs/10st) champion Regis Prograis in San Francisco, USA on Saturday. It was thought going in that the champion from New Orleans would provide a stiff test as challenger Haney had just stepped up from unifying the 135lbs (9st, 9lbs) lightweight division. The extra poundage and expected harder hitting from Prograis was never a problem though.

The 25 year old Haney (30-0, 15 KO’s) dropped Prograis in round three and from there on in the contest was effectively won. Haney dominated his southpaw opponent by following up his classy jab with straight right hand power shots, a clear way to victory against most southpaws. The always brave, but never effective Prograis, was simply unable to get in the fight. Haney won 120-107 on all three scorecards and the win and performance was so emphatic that he must be well in the pound-for-pound best mix.

The world looks to be an oyster for Haney as he seeks to secure further pay-per-view headline events, whereas the respected and magnanimous in defeat Prograis, dropped his record to 29-2 (24 KO’s). He’s likely out of future world title honours, having previously held the WBA title, narrowly losing it to Scotland’s Josh Taylor in 2019.

Haney made an big statement after looking even more impressive than recent wins against George Kambosos Jr. and Vasiliy Lomachenko.

On Sunday in Bournemouth, England, an attritional seven completed rounds resulted in Chris Billam-Smith (19-1, 13 KO’s) making a successful first defence of his WBO cruiserweight (200lbs/14st, 4lbs) world strap against Poland’s Mateuz Masternak (47-6, 31 KO’s). The Pole was ahead on two scorecards and the contest hotting up after a good Billam-Smith round in the seventh, before it was prematurely ended with Masternak unable to withstand a late body attack, despite a one minute rest. The contest was waved off when it appeared he didn’t want to come out.

The 33 year old Billam-Smith who was extended for the early rounds said post-fight “I made it hard for myself to be honest” but knew he’d hurt his opponent to the body in the seventh round and that the finish was nigh.

Watching ringside was the WBO number one contender Richard Riakporhe (the only man to defeat Billam-Smith) and a fight next between the two Brits is a natural. Both are promoted by BOXXER so it should be easy to make. The vocal Bournemouth crowd may result in it going there in summer 2024.

Knockout of the weekend was registered by Ben ‘The Surgeon’ Whittaker (5-0, 4 KO’s) who poleaxed Albanian Stiven Leonetti Dredhaj (11-3-1, 3 KO’s) with a straight right paw, concussive left hook combination after 0:54 of the fourth round. Whittaker was in a competitive contest for a few rounds as Dredhaj was high on agression but low on skill. the fight was extended four rounds probably as a result of Whittaker’s showboating and willingness to impress leading to a lapse in concentration. Once he got down to business it was ‘Goodnight Vienna’.

The Wolverhampton, England man Whittaker, continues to lay small foundation bricks to what promises to be an entertaining and title packed journey. The fact that esteemed trainer SugarHill Steward has been brought on board from debut emphasises Whittaker’s star potential. Enjoy the ride !