The Undisputed

Zhang v Joyce II – Five things we learned

1. The heavyweight division remains no place for porosity – If you’re going to walk in straight lines to a fighter with no lateral movement, drop your hands in exchanges or, get careless in any way then, the heavyweight division is the wrong place to be. No more was this true than on Saturday night at the London Wembley Arena. Heavyweight contender Joe Joyce was poleaxed with a right hook by Zhilei Zhang towards the end of round 3. It had shades of similar episodes at the same venue many moons ago when fellow Brit’s Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis were equally flattened by James ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith and Oliver McCall respectively. Both of those came again to win or regain world titles. In the lighter weights you can almost get away with a porous defence, but such is the concussive impact of a heavyweight (both came in over 20 stones (280+ lbs) that the end was inevitable. Joyce, was basically ‘too open’ and has been for the whole of his professional career.
2. Joyce’s chin is no longer impregnable – Joe’s famed punch resistance allied with his walk forward style was good to watch as he prevailed over lesser talented fighters and backed up his ‘Juggernaut’ nickname. The detonation on his jaw and subsequent result Saturday night proved that his previous impregnation is denuding. True, that shot would have poleaxed most heavyweights, with equal effect but, the best heavyweights over the last 50 years would have risen from it. Think Muhammad Ali when floored by Joe Frazier in ‘The Fight’ of 1971 and then into the 1980’s Larry Holmes rising from the bazooka of Earnie Shavers.
3. Speed was again the winner – That Zhang was able to land the right hook and over the shared nine rounds over two contests against Joyce, by his repetitive success with his southpaw jab and follow up blows was a testament to the adage that ‘speed kills’. In boxing faster hands than your opponent are a significant advantage. When this is so obvious as it was on Saturday and is backed up by the pedigree of the opponent (Zhang being a 2008 Olympic medallist and therefore elite amateur) plus having only one defeat as a professional, then it is a lethal cocktail for his opponent.
4. The Brit returns to domestic dust ups and should consider retirement – Given the later success mentioned under point 2 of Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis and many other fighters it might be foolhardy to suggest Joyce calls it a day. Retirement talk and subsequent closure of a career is a difficult pill to swallow. Heavyweights certainly do go on longer than the lighter weight fighters, but Joe has just turned 38 years old and it’s whether he really has more or better to offer. We suggested pre-fight that his ability to learn from a boxing perspective and change type may be limited. He will always try to bludgeon his way to victory and although showed a bit more movement than in earlier fights he should in our view consider calling it a day. He was though adamant post-fight that this wasn’t the end.
5. Anyone for a world heavyweight title fight in China ? The People’s Republic of China has at last count a population exceeding 4 billion. They have never had a World Heavyweight Champion or even witnessed one fighting for a professional heavyweight title. Zhang is ranked in the top six heavyweights in the world, whatever listings you tend to believe. China is a big market for any promoter, television network or sanctioning body. An event involving him would be colossal. Queensberry Promotion’s Frank Warren is already calling out for a Tyson Fury versus Zhang fight. The numbers generated would be phenomenal. More importantly, Zhang is 40 years old and deserves a shot. If Fury is not prepared to meet him for whatever reason then Oleksandr Usyk should be mandated to. The Chinese right to bid for the next World Heavyweight Champion is now !

Can an old or ageing heavyweight be taught new tricks ?

Tomorrow night (Sept 23^rd) at London’s Wembley Arena we’ll find out as Britain’s ‘Juggernaught’ Joe Joyce attempts to ‘right the wrong’ in losing his previously undefeated record to Chinese behemoth Zhilei ‘Big Bang’ Zhang back in April this year.

Both come in as elite heavyweights, certainly by virtue of their international amateur background and being high in the current world professional rankings. Rated top ten by The Ring magazine; Zhang at #4 and Joyce #6, the WBO interim title is up for grabs, whatever that may be !

More importantly, is the retention of their world ranking and the rights to challenge for the legitimate title(s) whenever they become available. The majority of sanctioning body titles are currently held by undefeated Ukrainian southpaw Oleksandr Usyk and, Britain’s undefeated Tyson ‘Gypsy King’ Fury. The latter being the so called ‘lineal champion’ as ‘the man, who beat the man etc’.

Joyce (15-1-0, 14 KO’s), from Putney, south London, has just turned 38 and for only the second time in his career he comes in as a betting underdog. The facts and consensus is he must improve considerably from the first fight to prevail against the huge and big punching Chinese southpaw. (25-1-1, 20 KO’s).

Joyce has never been hard to hit as he regularly plods forwards.

The Greatest Muhammad Ali playfully christened George Foreman “The Mummy” when he stepped forward. Joyce comparatively, makes Foreman look like Fred Astaire ! To prevail he must be more illusive, no doubt. Walking in straight lines to fellow heavyweights is never advisable or a winning strategy.

Joyce has to move his head more, allied with lateral movement to avoid some of the damage the Chinese will seek to offload on him again.

Zhang, aged 40, and at 6 foot 6 inches, is good and adds that southpaw style and fast hands to his arsenal. Age may catch up with him but given the short period between both fights that is unlikely. Tyson Fury is blunt in his strategy and assessment of Joyce’s chances. “Chop him down like an old Oak tree”. He added “If he doesn’t do something different this time, he (The Chinese) will beat him again”.

A recent rematch has bucked the general trend with Chris Eubank Jr. emphatically avenging his earlier loss to Liam Smith. That will provide additional incentive and optimism for Joyce to correct his wrong. Whilst we expect him to be more tentative than previously, now fully knowing and appreciating Zhang’s strength and skillset, We do though think Joyce will ultimately revert to type and not resist the temptation to engage. This may again be his downfall.

The Chinese’ fast hands will be the telling factor and we expect largely a repeat of the previous contest. The stoppage may come sooner, but it’s unlikely the right eye that was so marked up in the first fight will hold out, and the referee may step in during the mid rounds to leave Joyce to compete for domestic dominance before challenging again for world honours.

The full card and main event promoted by Queensberry will be shown live on TNT Sports (formerly BT Sports) in the UK from 19:30 BST. It will be televised on ESPN+ in the US.

It should be a good night’s action also featuring London’s two-time world light-heavyweight challenger Anthony Yarde (23-3, 22 KO’s) against late replacement Jorge Silva (22-8, 12 KO’s), but this should be a stoppage walkover for Yarde as he begins his step back to world title contention.

The card will also feature a mix of young starlets from nearby Kent in the shape of decorated amateur and undefeated professional Sam Noakes (11-0, 11 KO’s) at lightweight, and the promising Moses Itauma (4-0, 2 KO’s) who is impressing at heavyweight.

What’s sure is there will be fireworks during the evening. Both fighters in the main event have weighed in a career heaviest, being in excess of 20 stones. Official weights earlier today were Joyce – 281.2 lbs and Zhang – 287.2 lbs. On Saturday at least one world ranked heavyweight will go back to the drawing board but it should be fun watching who.

Tonight (Fri 18^th), the spiritual home of British boxing, the York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, is sold out and will be rockin’ as a potential new star faces his first legitimate test.

Dennis ‘The Menace’ McCann from Maidstone, Kent, England boxes talented Spanish-based Romanian Ionut Baluta in a promising twelve rounder at junior-featherweight (122lbs/8st,10lbs).

The 22 year old McCann has an impressive 14-0 (8 KO’s) record and amateur experience representing England in the European (Schoolboy) Games. He is well touted member of the Queensberry Promotional camp headed up by hall-of-fame promoter Frank Warren and good things for McCann are expected.

Baluta (16-4, 3 KO’s), at age 29, has mixed in better company to date than McCann, and is coming in as a bit of a ‘gatekeeper’ to progression in the weight class, certainly at a UK domestic level having fought on those shores a number of times recently.

The Romanian won on a split decision against the highly talented Andrew Cain from Liverpool in his last outing in March 2023. McCann won the Commonwealth crown in his previous fight against Joe Ham in November 2022. This though won’t be up for grabs tonight due to Baluta’s nationality.

Both McCann and Baluta have sparred many rounds in a Kent gym and consequently know each other well. McCann also being ringside at recent Baluta fights. They’ve been circling each other for some time.

Whilst the future looks bright for the charismatic McCann, Baluta should cause him to answer a number of questions. The Romanian is technically excellent and will trade on his durability and cunning. We do though expect McCann to come through with his youth, good technique and patience, and see a wide points victory.

‘The Menace’ is sure to exhibit his engaging smile and humour in the post-fight interview and will subsequently look to move onto bigger things.

Other fighters to feature on a good card include British featherweight (126lbs/9st) champion Nathaniel Collins (12-0, 6 KO’s) in his first defence against Raza Hamza (17-1-1, 7 KO’s), which is also for the Commonwealth title.  Plus, amongst others; Southampton puncher Ryan Garner (13-0, 7 KO’s) faces Spaniard Juan Jesus Antunez (12-1, 4 KO’s) at junior-lightweight (130lbs/9st, 4lbs). We expect the 25 year old Garner to win but may be extended more than usual.

The full card and main event will be shown live on TNT Sports (formerly BT Sports) from 19:30 BST. It should be a good night’s action.

As world ranked British heavyweight Anthony Joshua laboured and poked his cautious jab through the six completed rounds to find his way to defeat Finland’s Robert Helenius, (who’d taken the fight on six days notice), you couldn’t help thinking whether Joshua (26-3, 23 KO’s) still had enough to recapture past glories.

He has previously been an elite fighter as the 2012 Olympic super-heavyweight champion and two-time holder of world heavyweight sanctioning body titles. Now at age 33, definitely young for a heavyweight, has he still got it ?

The seventh round knockout of Helenius (on 1:27 secs) from a right hook was indeed spectacular, but it followed low action and a tentative approach from the Brit that resulted in a capacity London O2 Arena crowd sporadically booing the lack of action from the second round. Most likely a result of Joshua’s caution and an expectation of an early explosive knockout.

In a ‘damned if I do, or damned if I don’t’ contest, that Joshua got the job done with the minimum of fuss, is to his credit. It sets him up ‘contender-wise’ to a lucrative payday in the Middle East early in 2024 against former WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KO’s) who’d previously blown away Helenius (now 32-5, 21 KO’s) inside the opening round.

The odds will be heavily stacked against Joshua defeating the big punching American, but hey this is heavyweight boxing !

During Saturday’s proceedings you also couldn’t help thinking how Joshua would have fared against some top British heavyweights of yesteryear. Would he have beaten the often derided, for lack of punch resistance, but still former WBC champion Frank Bruno (40-5, 38 KO’s). And, would he have stood a chance against former and ironically the last undisputed world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis (41-2-1, 32 KO’s) ? A resounding ‘No’ by most observers and experts.

On the evidence from the O2 Arena Saturday, both these former champions would have beaten Joshua. Lewis almost certainly, and Bruno likely too by knockout. Bruno; from Wandsworth, south London,  certainly knew how to punch, and you wouldn’t have seen him delay a knockout of Helenius, as Joshua did.

Bruno would have likely blown the Finn out inside three rounds. One recalls his first professional contest in the USA against Mike Jameson in July 1983, and his 1:50 sec blow out victory over former WBA world heavyweight champion Gerrie Coetzee in March 1986 to earn his first of three world title shots.

Whilst it is convenient and good banter to compare boxers from different eras, it was a thought that sprung to my mind as I watched Joshua poke and probe his way in, always erring on the side of caution.

The shout for Joshua to return to his all out attack and destructive best is getting louder fight by fight, but, I fear we may have witnessed it’s final demise. In our view he has become a cerebral fighter with a safety first approach and, it will take much more than this to make a dent in Wilder, who sure can punch.

The fight will be big bucks, by virtue of being held in the desert and both boxers will undoubtedly add many more noughts to their already bloated bank balances. It will be hyped to the hilt, likely broadcast pay-per-view and watched by millions when it eventually takes place. But, whoever is victorious, will not really add much to their legacies or the annals of the Heavyweight Championship of the World.

We all know there are two other elite heavyweights out there in Oleksandr Usyk (20-0, 13 KO’s) and Tyson Fury (33-0-1, 23 KO’s) who are a notch above Joshua and Wilder and, until they meet, the real title of Heavyweight Champion of the World will be vacant.

I would dearly like to see, and importantly, believe it is possible, that Joshua can be victorious against Wilder, but a reset to his street fighting mentality is his only real route to victory. His support team, I hope, will finally accept this in preparing him for this and any future challenges. Whilst his record to date has to be admired, he will forever be defined by his next two contests.

We hope he rises to this.

We started last week with four elite boxers undefeated records at stake, two mouthwatering world title fights ahead of us and, the mythical ‘pound-for-pound (P4P)’ crown arguably up for grabs.

Today, after two dominant performances, the dust has cleared. The only thing still outstanding is the argument about P4P.

As emphatically impressive as Japanese Naoya Inoue was dispatching American Stephen Fulton inside eight brutal rounds, and in so doing winning his fourth divisional ‘world’ championship Tuesday in Tokyo, it is likely the P4P goes to American welterweight supremo Terence Crawford by dominating and dispatching Errol Spence in the ninth round in Las Vegas, Saturday.

The undisputed welterweight championship was at stake and, the match-up of the year being years in the making. It further showcased ‘Bud’ Crawford, who was sublime in victory. By exhibiting a boxing masterclass out of his southpaw stance, he totally dominated a man who was widely considered the legitimate welterweight champion by virtue of holding three of the world sanctioning body belts. The baubles are almost irrelevant and it was funny seeing the ‘head honchos’ again jostling for position post-fight to load their respective belt on the victor. The fighter exceeds the bauble on offer.

Crawford rose his exemplary record to 40-0 (31 KO’s) and looks forward to joining boxing legends in the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHoF) having now gained ‘world’ titles in three weight classes from lightweight to welterweight and ‘undisputed’ status in two of those.

Spence dropped to 28-1 (22 KO’s) in defeat.

Regarding the P4P argument, ‘The Monster’ Inoue, in totally destroying Fulton, raised his record to 25-0 (22 KO’s) and in the words of former ‘world’ champion and The Ring 2016 fighter of the year Carl Frampton, had “held the P4P title for 5 days” before Crawford’s victory.  Multi-heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk holds that distinction by that publication as I write, but that is likely to be redressed imminently.

Inoue was spectacular throughout his latest fight and every shot he landed seemed to pre-eminate an inevitable knock out conclusion. The question is how far can the Japanese’ continue to move through the weight divisions , retaining his power to capture further titles ? His ledger stands at winning ‘world’ titles from light-flyweight to junior-featherweight and is expected to continue upwards. Fulton dropped his record to 21-1 (8 KO’s).

Both Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue are fighters of this generation and will be revered in the trade when they have long hang up their gloves years from now. Enjoy them displaying their phenomenal skills whilst you can.

In the early hours of Sunday morning (UK time) we will have one Welterweight Champion of the World.

Whisper it gently, but believe it !

For the first time since November 1985, a mere 38 years ago, there will be no ‘if’s or but’s or false claims of who is the real champion. The winner of the big world title unification fight between American’s Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford will determine the king at 147 lbs (10st, 7lbs), beyond doubt.

For what is historically one of the original 8 weight classes in professional Queensberry rules boxing this has been a sad state of affairs. For too long this has been a source of annoyance and frustration for fans and media alike.  However, let’s just rejoice in that moment rather than on how we’ve got there.

The much anticipated contest will bring together a combined record of 67 wins and no losses, with 52 of those wins by knockout. The individual breakdown is Spence 28-0, 22 KO’s and Crawford 39-0, 30 KO’s. Both are undoubted elite fighters and ranked respectively #4 and #3 by The Ring magazine in their mythical ‘pound-for-pound’ ratings. This basically recognises they are the third and fourth best fighters in the world, regardless of weight class (i.e. the best of the best).

So rare is this sort of meeting in modern boxing that it is billed as ‘Undefeated. Undisputed. Unprecedented’ and will be a multi-million dollar affair played out to a world audience. The billing may be open to challenge, but it certainly has been a long time.

The contest promises much, and more !

It has taken years to finally get to this stage, and admittedly been prolonged by the COVID pandemic, but largely down to a lack of will by all key movers in the business (promoters, TV networks) and indeed, the fighters themselves. After marinating for the required period we’re now here.

Spence has been champion and largely, but not exclusively, dominant at 147lbs, after graduating from the US team at the London 2012 Olympics. He didn’t medal but has been winning and unifying ‘world’ titles since turning professional. The Texan , now aged 33, is ready to take that final step.

Crawford, by contrast, has moved through the divisions winning ‘world’ titles. He won the 135lbs (9st, 9lbs) lightweight title and then the junior-welterweight (140lbs/10st) title to ultimately win his third world strap at 147lbs.

Their meeting has similarities with the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao ‘superfight’ of recent years in that the industry and fans were crying out for it years before it was finally made. In the case of that fight it ultimately happened too late. Saturday’s meeting is different in that both boxers are still regarded as being at their peak, albeit not in the first flush of youth. We shouldn’t see a similar outcome to Mayweather-Pacquiao.

The hyperbole for this weekend’s fight has lent more to the welterweight unifications of yesteryear between ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns in 1981, and Donald Curry v Milton McCrory in 1985. It has been that long !

The former was rightly titled ‘The Showdown’, and a 14 round classic won by Leonard. The latter was a two round blowout by ‘Lone Star Cobra’ Curry. Both promised to deliver the real welterweight champion and did so emphatically. We hope the same this time.

In an era where heavyweights and other champions avoid each other like the plague, it is refreshing that the two fighters have signed to deliver something monumental.

We expect a very close contest; fought at, and exhibiting the highest skill level, which has been honed over a number of years both fighting at the elite level. Crawford holds victories over former ‘world’ champions Amir Khan, Kell Brook and Ricky Burns among others, and Spence has beaten allcomers, including many top names. One of the common opponents is Shawn Porter whom Spence beat by split decision in September 2019. Crawford was similarly victorious in November 2021 by an impressive tenth round stoppage. They both also hold impressive wins over Britain’s Kell Brook.

Being both highly skilled southpaws, able to mix it and take shots, we expect an intriguing chess-like contest, certainly in the early rounds. We do though see Crawford as the better of the two using his adaptability and experience more and being ultimately victorious. Our prediction; not with clear confidence, is that Crawford will make his home city of Omaha, Nebraska proud to finally be the legitimate welterweight champion of the world. We go for a 10th round knock out victory for ‘Bud’ Crawford.

The whole event will be available worldwide via Showtime PPV (pay-per-view) and can be watched in the UK on TNT Sports box office over the Sky satellite system. Tune in, we don’t think you will be disappointed.

If nothing else it will say once and for all who the best welterweight in the world is. That is a price worth paying for !

Hail to the little guys !

Tomorrow morning (UK time) sees a major fight take place in Tokyo, Japan with the much anticipated meeting between unified ‘world’ junior featherweight champion Stephen Fulton (21-0, 8 KO’s) and Japan’s three-weight ‘world’ champion Naoya Inoue (24-0, 21 KO’s). It promises much.

The Japanese is attempting to gain a ‘world’ title in a fourth weight class and build on his ‘pound-for-pound’ status, currently at #2 in the prestigious The Ring magazine rankings. Fulton, from Philadelphia, USA is an undefeated champion who looks the ‘real deal’ having recently unified the WBC and WBO world title straps.

In a bumper fight week it is arguably the second biggest event and one of the biggest fights to be made currently in the sport. The weekend’s Spence Jr. v Crawford welterweight unification takes top billing in the week. More will follow in our ‘Friday Faceup’ post.

As for tomorrow; the 122lbs (8st, 10lbs) title is up for grabs. It pits the adaptable champion Fulton, who’s good at infighting and also boxing off his jab at range. The ‘Monster’ Inoue is a concussive KO merchant who’s carried his power whilst moving through the weight classes. He won his first world title at light-flyweight (108lbs/7st, 10lbs).

Inoue clearly carries the greater power, with Fulton only registering 8 KO’s in his perfect win record. The big question is whether Inoue can continue to defy physics and carry his power up one more weight class. Our prediction is it will be fun watching and, in potentially a great fight, the Japanese will further secure his pitch to be ranked the #1 ‘pound-for-pound’ boxer in the world, thus overtaking Oleksandr Usyk at least until he fights Daniel Dubois next month.

The Fulton v Inoue contest will be available in the UK on Sky Sports from 9:30 BST tomorrow (25th). The renowned British fight publication Boxing News pronounce it as “Unmissable”, and they shouldn’t be far wrong.

Enjoy !

After a summer recess (fighters excluded; in training for their next outing) our website returns with a brief heavyweight division update.

Top of the agenda after the almost relentless ‘ducking and diving’ and financial shenanigans over what seems like months, is a return to significant action among the big men over the coming weeks.

With the exception of current WBC world and accepted lineal champion Tyson Fury (33-0-1, 23 KO’s), who’s opted for a cross code contest with an MMA fighter and, former WBC holder Deontay Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KO’s), all the major players have announced big fights over the coming months.

First up, will be an all British clash on August 12 between former unified champion Anthony Joshua (25-3, 22 KO’s) and former WBC #1 contender Dillian Whyte (29-3, 19 KO’s) in a Londoner’s rematch. Billed as ‘History of Violence’ and promoted by Matchroom it will be held at the 20,000 seater O2 Arena, London and shown live on DAZN pay-per-view. The fight is nearly eight years on from their first meeting at the same venue, won by Joshua by seventh round stoppage, before he later became a multi-organisational ‘world’ champion.

It will pit the 33 year old Joshua against a 36 year old Whyte in a tasty rematch with a lot of backstory. On the undercard will be highly ranked Croatian Filip Hrgovic (15-0, 12 KO’s), for him to hopefully build on his IBF world mandatory contender status.

Next, on August 26, The Ring magazine and unified champion Oleksandr Usyk (20-0, 13 KO’s) defends all his belts against WBA champion (of sorts) Daniel Dubois (19-1, 18 KO’s) in Wroclaw, Poland. For what it’s worth the WBO, IBF, full WBA and IBO titles will be up for grabs.

It’s an intriguing match up after the much bigger fight for Usyk against Fury failed to materialise. Derailed by the outbreak of war in his Ukrainian homeland Usyk has had to continue plying his trade on the road, Poland being his nearest destination to home.

Londoner ‘Dynamite’ Dubois is potentially a test; being significantly younger and a genuine heavyweight with concussive power. He was however dropped three times in his recent first defence of his WBA title so has his own vulnerabilites. He is though also a hungry fighter and it promises to be an interesting contest and let’s just be thankful a fight has been made and we see Usyk return to the ring. Write Dubois off though at your peril, this is after all the heavyweights !

Finally, but with equal interest, Chinese behemoth Zhilei Zhang (25-1-1, 21 KO’s) attempts to repeat his unexpected stoppage victory earlier in the year against Joe Joyce (15-1, 14 KO’s) with the rematch held at the Wembley Arena, London on September 23.

All the pressure will be on Joyce who needs to be victorious to leapfrog Zhang in the world rankings and reinstate his WBO mandatory status. The event will be promoted by Queensberry and broadcast live on TNT Sports (formerly BT Sports).

It promises to be an interesting six weeks and will be fascinating who emerges from the dust to ultimately call themselves the ‘real’ world heavyweight champion, as Fury seems to make that claim whilst remaining in a period of dormancy in backing it up, in ironically, the Queensberry rules professional code.

Despite some cynicism enjoy the coming confrontations which promise much.

In the early hours of Sunday morning (UK time) a proud Scotsman will again stride into a boxing ring in Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA.

Josh Taylor (19-0, 13 KO’s) from Prestonpans, near Edinburgh, clad in Tartan shorts and robe, will hope to rekindle the spirit of former undisputed world lightweight champion Ken Buchanan who captured the hearts of the ‘Big Apple’ some fifty plus years earlier. It will be a throwback to a bygone era when Scotland ruled some of the boxing waves.

Buchanan sadly passed away earlier in the year and has always been, and continues to be an inspiration to Taylor, and most fighting Scots. It will be an emotional entrance to the ring.

Taylor meets Teofimo Lopez (18-1, 13 KO’s), a New York born fighter with Honduran heritage, and a former undisputed world lightweight champion who is now entering his third fight at the higher weight class.

The fight will take place in the basement of the ‘big house’ in the smaller venue known as The Theatre, but the stakes are high. It’s essentially a crossroads fight between two elite boxers. Lopez was top of the tree a mere three years ago, sensationally capturing the undisputed 135lb (9st, 9lbs) title from much decorated Ukrainian, Vasiliy Lomachenko and announcing his “Takeover”. He became the young poster boy of boxing at the time. Now only age 25 it will his motivation to return to that lofty status.

Taylor, aged 32, is ranked #7 in The Ring magazine pound-for-pound ratings and was the undisputed junior-welterweight champion after then being systematically stripped by the many sanctioning bodies or relinquishing belts due to injury related inactivity and failing to defend against their mandatory contenders within specified timeframes. He defends his WBO version and The Ring championship tonight.

‘The Tartan Tornado’ Taylor, has a few points to reaffirm. One, that he continues to be an elite fighter after near 16 months out of the competitive ring following a poor showing, and some consider loss, against England’s Jack Catterall in his last outing. Two, that his narrow points victory was merely a ‘blip’ and if victorious tonight that he is the real king at the weight despite other spurious ‘champions’. As a consequence, that he has big fights ahead.

The 10 stone (140lbs) division is still competitive but has slipped in the reckoning largely due to Taylor’s inactivity. However, there are elite lightweights moving up and he should have plenty of additional opportunity to shine, let alone make big money.

Finally, and importantly, he will cement the legacy of Scottish superiority and ‘machismo’ and will back up his pre-fight bravado and secure the legacy of Scotland’s fighting men. No pressure then.

Both combatants were decorated amateurs representing their countries in successive Olympics – Taylor for GB in London 2012 and Lopez for Honduras in Rio 2016. Neither medalled, but Taylor took gold in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games two years on from London.

So what can we expect ? Both have many qualities; are strong, technically sound, have KO power and, believe they should be at this level. There’s been much posturing and friction in the build up to fight night, with Taylor exuding supreme confidence in his ability and a need to positively bounceback from the Catterall showing. Lopez has been goading Taylor by his attitude and dismissal of the Scot. This reached a hiatus in yesterday’s weigh-in when Taylor was 139.8 and Lopez 140 exact.

Both have good jabs and knockout power. Taylor brings in a southpaw stance to counter Lopez’ orthodoxy. The Honduran challenger has been disappointing in his two outings at the weight but has renewed motivation. A poll of media in The Ring magazine favoured Taylor by 21-0, with most predicting a unanimous points victory after 12 rounds. This is likely, but not a true reflection of the closeness of their career and achievements to date. We see the fight closer than this throughout, possibly with knockdowns, but ultimately see Taylor victorious too, but by late stoppage.

The full event is promoted by Top Rank and will be shown in the UK on Sky Sports and ESPN+ in the USA. It promises much. Enjoy !

Back in April we said the cruiserweight picture was starting to look a little clearer with the announcement at a BOXXER press conference of Lawrence Okolie defending his WBO world title against compatriot Chris Billam-Smith in the latter’s hometown of Bournemouth, England. This Saturday (27th) the time will arrive.

Billam-Smith, known as ‘The Gentleman’ is one of a triumvirate of world ranked 200 pounders based in the UK. Inside the world top ten 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 for 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 being the man with most titles, also considered by The Ring magazine as their champion. Rumour yesterday was that Opetaia is about to step up to full heavyweight to face WBC and ‘lineal’ world champion Tyson Fury. This, if it happens, will further open the door to British and world cruiserweights to the big titles.

Lunchtime today, both Okolie and Billam-Smith met for a final time on a dais on Bournemouth beach’s pier for the last pre-fight press conference.

The ‘Sauce’ Okolie (19-0, 14 KO’s) is a 2016 Team GB Olympian and has answered all questions so far as a pro. He arrives only nine weeks 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 has the British and Commonwealth titles at the weight.

The fight will be held open air at AFC Bournemouth (Association Football Club), in the aptly named Vitality Stadium. The local pulling power of Billam-Smith will ensure a good turnout and raucous atmosphere. It’s been said it’s already a 15,000 sell out and the atmosphere should be electric.

The home fighter 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 belt.

It’s an intriguing match up for British bragging rights and future world domination. In a UK fight weekend packed ludicrously with two other ‘world’ titles being contested, both at featherweight, and staged by separate promoters, this cruiserweight contest has all the makings of a classic contrast of styles and engines.

Okolie is known for a cautious approach, but has undoubted boxing ability and respectable power. Billam-Smith is the pressure fighter of the two, albeit this can be reckless, but has the heart and engine to make the contest a ‘must see’.

Both boxers scaled 14st, 3lbs (199lbs) at Friday’s weigh-in and the championship fight is ON.

The whole event will be broadcast in the UK live on Sky Sports this Saturday (27th) from 7pm BST.