Fabio Wardley stopped former world champion Joseph Parker to win the the WBO Heavyweight title in a thrilling fight at The O2 Arena in London.

In round 10, Wardley opened up with a big flurry at the end of the round that caused a cut around the left eye of Parker. In round 11, Wardley landed a similar flurry that had Parker reeling on the ropes, but he seemed to have his senses but the fight was stopped at 1:54.

Wardley, 242.7 lbs of Ipswich, ENG is 20-0-1 with 19 knockouts. Parker, 262.4 lbs of South Auckland, NZ is 36-4,

Uldedaj Decisions Lambert

Juergen Uldedaj won a 12-round unanimous decision over Rolly Lambert in a cruiserweight bout.Ui

Uldedaj, 199.15 lbs of Germany via Albania won by scores of 120-108, 119-109 and 118-110 and is now 21-1. Lambert, 199.8 lbs of Dubai via Cameroon is 18-4-1.

Taylor Stops Woodall in 9

Ezra Taylor remained undefeated with a ninth round stoppage over late replacement Steed Woodall in a light heavyweight bout.

Taylor dominated the fight against the game Woodall. In round nine, Taylor opened up on Woodall with a flurry of power shots on the ropes that forced the corner to throw in the towel at

Taylor, 173.9 lbs of Nottingham, ENG is 13-0 with nine knockouts. Woodall, 174.9 lbs of Birmingham, ENG is 20-4-1.

Barney-Smith Decisions Quartermaine

Royston Barney-Smith won a 10-round unanimous decision over Danny Quartermaine in a super featherweight bout.

In round seven, Quartermaine was deducted a point for holding. In round 10, Barney-Smith dropped Quartermaine with a right hook.

Barney-Smith won by scores of 98-90 and 100-88 twice and is now 15-0. Quartermaine is now 13-1-1.

Smith Decisions Dawson

Mitchell Smith won an eight-round decision over Arnie Dawson in a lightweight bout.

At the end of the opening round, Smith landed a big right over the top that cracked Dawson the jaw and sent him to the canvas.

Smith, 134.2 lba of London won by scores of 98-91 and 96-93 twice and is now 19-1. Dawson, 134.14 lbs of Clacton, ENG is 8-1.

‘All or Nothing’ takes place at The o2 on Saturday night, headlined by the giant heavyweight showdown between Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley. The pair a fighting for the right to a straight shot at undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk

The fighters and their teams convened at Studio 338 in London to exchange some final words ahead of the mighty collision and below are a selection of key quotes from this media event.

Select Quotes:

Frank Warren:
“This is the most significant fight, at the moment, in the heavyweight division. It is the best one out there. These two guys have stepped up when neither of them needed to make this fight. Joe Parker, he is the interim champion and the WBO have already ordered that Oleksandr Usyk has to defend his belt against him, but he was injured.

“Joseph wants to fight anyway. And Fabio, again, he is in a fantastic position and he only had to wait him time. He said no, he wanted to fight and, not only that, he wanted to fight Joe Parker because it gives him a chance to jump the queue.

“You have got to take your hat off to them, they are fighting men. Proper, proper fighting men. We have got a superb fight here. Queensberry and DAZN are bringing another great heavyweight fight to the viewers.”

Joseph Parker
“For me this is all or nothing. I am not really thinking about losing this fight, I am going into this fight to win. And when I win I will be going onto the next fight. I respect my opponent and what he has done in his career and how he has prepared for this fight, but I am a different level, to be honest. And I am going to show it on Saturday night.

“I have got many miles on the clock and many more to bring. I am only getting into my prime now.

“Credit to Wardley for taking this fight, but it is the wrong time to take this fight because I am going to smash him. He picked this fight and I said yes to every fight, so we both want this fight.

“He believes in himself but I know I am going to win this fight. He is going to learn that it is okay to have a loss and he has got enough time to climb back.”

Fabio Wardley
“It is a massive night coming up on Saturday. Massive for the pair of us sitting at this table and massive for me at this stage of my career as well. It is obviously the biggest fight of my career and biggest fight of my life coming up. So far, so good for me, every time I do step up I rise to the occasion and rise to the challenge. Saturday is going to be no different.

“The separation between where Joe is and where people think I am has been a common theme for me throughout my career. It is nothing new that I am hearing. Every time I step up to a new level, it is always this is a step too far until I come through and win and then it is the next step is too far.

“I relish the challenge, I look forward to stepping up and proving people wrong, showing people that I am very much at the top level in this division.

“I don’t know if it is positive or negative really that everyone focuses on my power, knocking opponents out. My record speaks for itself and I guess in that case it draws away from my boxing skill and ability. I think anyone with an educated brain in boxing knows that it takes more than muscles and a bit of strength to knock someone out.

“It takes practice, timing, precision and you’ve got to work at those things. All this leads to boxing IQ. Just because my record is littered with highlight reel knockouts, I think people get distracted by that and it takes away from what got me to those punches.

“So it can work to my benefit. If you think I’m going to be running around that ring with my right hand cocked waiting ready to go, there is a lot more you and the team need to prepare for.

“He has been going around the block for a long time, with a lot of fights on his record. By no means is he an old man in the game, but he has been in the sport for a long time and had some heavy fights. Look, I’ve been in a few wars myself and I know they put miles on the clock and Joe has been in a lot more rounds and a lot more of those than me.

“There are two sides to that coin of experience. You can take all that experience into the fight, but you are also taking all the miles in there as well. You can’t erase those, you bring them with you. It just depends how you want to look at it.”

The autumn action on DAZN continues this weekend as heavyweight power punchers Joseph Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) and Fabio Wardley (19-0-1, 18 KOs) will square off inside London’s O2 Arena, available live worldwide on pay-per-view from the world’s leading sports and entertainment platform.

Beginning at 11 a.m. ET on Saturday, October 25, Parker will be putting his interim WBO title on the line up against Wardley’s interim WBA championship. The winner is widely expected to be next in line to face current Undisputed Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk. Parker will look to continue his run of six-straight victories, with the last three coming against Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole. The Kiwi finished Bakole with an impressive second-round TKO on short notice in February. After an entertaining split draw against Frazer Clarke in early 2024, Wardley left no doubt in the rematch with a first-round TKO followed by a KO in the 10th of Justis Huni in June. Fans can purchase the entire card HERE. 

We’re weeks away from a fight-filled November on DAZN, highlighted by a number of epic bouts including undefeated WBC interim champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. (23-0, 21 KOs) defending his super welterweight title against number one contender Erickson “The Hammer” Lubin (27-2, 19 KOs), from Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday, November 8. Later on, Chris Eubank Jr. (35-3, 25 KOs) and Conor Benn (23-1, 14 KOs) will face off for a second time at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 15 in the next legendary chapter of their family rivalry. Then on November 22, eyes will shift to Riyadh for the Ring IV: Night of Champions where David Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) will defend his WBC light heavyweight title against Anthony Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) and Brian Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs, 1 NC) puts his WBO welterweight title on the line versus former undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney (32-0, 15 KOs, 1 NC).

NEWS & SOCIAL

• Joseph Parker vs Fabio Wardley: How to watch on DAZN, date, ringwalks, PPV price, undercard, prediction and latest news
• FACE OFF | Joseph Parker vs. Fabio Wardley
•  Inside Joseph Parker’s training camp | Ahead of Fabio Wardley fight  | On The Ground
• In Camp With Fabio Wardley | On The Ground
• FABIO WARDLEY – THE STORY SO FAR
• JOSEPH PARKER’S STORY SO FAR 
• Joe Parker’s fought them all, so here are his Top 5 moments so far 
• Does @FabioWardley know the P4P @ringmagazine heavyweight rankings? 
•  Rounds with @joeboxerparker 
• Does @fabiowardley know boxing? 
• From the white collar boxing scene to the world stage… @fabiowardley’s rise is unprecedented 
• No PRESSURE for @joeboxerparker  Do you agree?
• Locked-in mentality only in @joeboxerparker camp 

‘RUNNING TOWARDS ADVERSITY’ takes place on Saturday evening at Portman Road, home of Ipswich Town, where local heavyweight hero Fabio Wardley will take on the Australian Justis Huni for the WBA Interim world title.

Today it was the Grand Hall of Ipswich Town Hall which staged the weigh-in ahead of the big night and Wardley, Huni, along with promoter Frank Warren offered their thoughts on what we can expect to unfold in the centre circle at Portman Road.

Weigh-in Results:

The vacant WBA interim Heavyweight Championship – 12 x 3 Minute Rounds 
Fabio Wardley 243 lbs
Justis Huni 248 lbs

The WBC International & vacant EBU European Super-lightweight Championships – 12 x 3 Minute Rounds
Pierce O’Leary 139.5 lbs
Liam Dillon 139.8 lbs

The WBO European Heavyweight Championship – 10 x 3 Minute Rounds
Nelson Hysa 255 lbs
Patrick Korte 239 lbs

The WBA Continental Cruiserweight Championship – 10 x 3 Minute Rounds
Mike Perez 198 lbs
Steven Ward 199 lbs

4 x 3 Minute Rounds Super-Bantamweight Contest
Jack Williams 120.14 lbs
Fernando Joaquin Valdez 126.1 lbs

6 x 3 Minute Rounds Middleweight Contest
Lewis Richardson 159.15 lbs
Dmitri Protkunas 159.12 lbs

6 x 2 Minute Rounds Lightweight Contest
Lillie Winch 128.1 lbs
Katerina Dvorakova 127.1 lbs

8 x 3 Minute Rounds Featherweight Contest
Umar Khan 127.15 lbs
Moises Garcia 129.13 lbs

6 x 3 Minute Rounds Super-Featherweight Contest
Billy Adams 133.8 lbs
Alexander Morales 132.9 lbs

8 x 3 Minute Rounds Super-Welterweight Contest
Sam Gilley 160.8 lbs
Gideon Onyenani 159.10 lbs

‘RUNNING TOWARDS ADVERSITY’ takes place on Saturday evening at Portman Road, home of Ipswich Town, where local heavyweight hero Fabio Wardley will take on the Australian Justis Huni for the WBA Interim world title.

Today it was the Council Chamber inside of Ipswich Town Hall which staged the final press conference ahead of the big night and Wardley, Huni, along with promoter Frank Warren offered their thoughts on what we can expect to unfold in the centre circle at Portman Road.

Frank Warren
“This is the Golden Age of heavyweight boxing at the moment. All these guys are fighting each other, the skill and quality of these heavyweights is probably the best it has been for many, many years.

“This is a very important fight in the heavyweight division. The winner of this becomes the No.1 and mandatory for the WBA title, so they have got everything to go for. It doesn’t get any better than that. The winner goes forward and becomes the guy when the WBA title is fought for on a mandatory basis.

“That is the goal, that is the carrot.

“It is big-time boxing in Ipswich. We are in a football stadium and this is huge for Fabio. It is his dream and our job is to try and make these dreams come true. We have delivered as far as that is concerned. Saturday will be a really atmospheric night, everybody is going to be behind Fabio, so he has got everything going for him.

“He knows what he has to do, but he is in with someone who is undefeated, had a stellar amateur career and is coming in off, I think, a second round stoppage. He is a form fighter, he can punch and has stopped seven of his 12 opponents. This is quality boxing and, from the time I have spent with Fabio, I know what his ambitions are, I know what he wants and everything he has set out to do he has done. It shows what a natural fighting man he is to have done what he’s done and where he is at.”

Fabio Wardley
“It definitely does feel different. It has been a funny one this week, with still being at home and where these events are, all being in my home town, just down the road from me.

“On the way here I am bumping into people I know and walking past places I go, so it has a bit of a different feel to it. It has added to a nice and relaxed, chilled week. I haven’t had to uproot and take myself to either Saudi or London, so it has been good for me and the team.

“I’ve heard it all before and if that is all I’ve got in my career it has done me well so far. So it might not do me too bad going forward and in this fight. It is nothing new for me, the standard talk of me not having an amateur background and me being inexperienced in that sense, not having the boxing knowhow, the boxing IQ to bring in the ring on the night.

“I haven’t been defeated yet and I have come across star-studded amateurs and Olympic medalists and all sorts. I don’t know where these things are supposed to match up and are supposed to go wrong for me. They haven’t yet.

“Credit to Justis Huni for thinking he is the man to do that. The most obvious thing to say is I have the power and that is undeniable when you see my fights and all of my opponents have touched the canvas.

“I didn’t get the amateur experience when I was younger, but I have done the hard work and the hard yards since I got into boxing. One of the first things I realised was I had things to make up in the sport. I did that, got my head down and grafted.

“There is no way this is being taken away from me now. Not in my hometown, not on my home stage.”

Justis Huni
“I am feeling excited, pumped and it is only two days out now. I just can’t wait to get in there, share the ring with Fabio and give the fight fans a good fight and the people of Ipswich, so let’s go.

“I’ve still got the same opinion. Two days from now we will be able to showcase it and show everyone what I am all about. We’re here in fight week and it is exciting for me.

“My ring IQ, my experience in the ring, knowing where I am at all times. It will show on fight night. I’ve done all the training that I’ve needed to do and I am ready to go.

“I’ve got my game plan and I am going to show up on the night and stick to it. It doesn’t really matter what we say here, it is on fight night when we’ve got to put all the training and stuff to the test. I am ready to go and can’t wait to share the ring with him.”

FABIO WARDLEY WAS back on media duty at Portman Road this afternoon, this time promoting his fight with WBO No.1 ranked contender Justis Huni on Saturday June 7, following the withdrawal of Jarrell Miller due to injury.

The WBO Interim world heavyweight title will be on the line at the home of Ipswich Town FC between two unbeaten fighters striving the progress to full world title challenges.

Below are a selection of key quotes from the media event, which also featured promoter Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn from Matchroom, representing Huni.

Frank Warren
“Thank you again to Ipswich for making this happen. We’ve still got a great fight, we’ve got a great fighter in Fabio, who will defend his Interim title against the No.1 with the WBA. This is going to be something a little bit special.

“I really feel that Fabio has shown what he is all about and, in every fight he’s had, everybody has been on the floor, they have all tasted the floor. He certainly doesn’t want to lose that run he’s got and we feel has the beating of Justis, who is really a very good fighter, a quality fighter.

“I think we are going to see a real, real battle between the two of them. This is going to be boxing at its best. A stellar amateur background from Justis, who is undefeated as a pro. There is the spice of Queensberry v Matchroom and, I promise you, you are not going to be disappointed.

“The fans will get behind their man and see him get through this, which I believe will be a tough fight, but he will go on and turn this Interim title into a full world title. It will happen, I think it is destiny for Fabio to be challenging for a world title and, with the power that he’s got, he has every opportunity and all the wherewithal to win one.”

Eddie Hearn
“Firstly, a thank you to everybody for allowing us the opportunity for this fight. Frank and Queensberry, plus George, I couldn’t believe it when we got the call. It is going to be just over six years since Anthony Joshua lost to Andy Ruiz and the similarities are so similar.

“We were fighting Jarrell Miller and about four weeks before he pulled out of the fight. We were so confident but, like Frank, we wanted to deliver a great fight for the fans and the broadcaster. We probably chose the wrong style, we probably chose the wrong fight and this is a carbon copy of that. I really believe that.

“Don’t get me wrong, I am happy and sad. I am happy that Justis is going to get his chance to announce himself on the world stage, but just a little bit sad for Fabio because I thought he would beat Jarrell Miller and I was quite looking forward to seeing it. And now we’ve got to go and ruin everything, the dream, the fairytale, and it is a tough one. Because he is a lovely, lovely fella and now we get on with Frank.

“The pressure is massive on Fabio Wardley, massive. One thing I will say, we had a really good face-off in there, it is two world class fighters and I think this is the first time they have fought at world level, both of them. It will be a real fight on June 7.”

Fabio Wardley
“A change of opponent, but the same venue, same occasion and for me it will be the same outcome. Look, it is the homecoming I have been asking and asking for, for a very long time. We had it going the first time around with Miller, who unfortunately had to pull out, but we, Frank and the team over there, credit to them, pulled the cat out of the bag and got another great contender. No.1 with the WBO, me No.1 with the WBA, so it is basically No.1 vs No.1, just without the belts. The winner will have the chance to get his hands on those belts. So that is what June 7 will be about and it will be the full focus.

“I understand he is taking this fight on short notice but I probably urge him to do a bit more homework. If you think all I’ve got is power, it is going to be a rough night for you. Even if that is the case, you only have to look at the likes of Deontay Wilder, who did pretty well having just power.

“I can get there if I need to, but me, the team, Frank and even Eddie over there knows as well, there is more in my bag than just power. I’ve proved it and you only have to look at my fights and my record and see. Don’t get me wrong, my fights end by me dropping them and getting them out of there, which is proven, but to set those things up and putting the pie together comes from boxing ability, IQ and studying my opponents.

“That is something that I do very well. Yeah, look, the power is the glitz and glam, the highlight reel that you see, but nobody else sees the hours of work and addressing footage and looking through the nitty details of fighters. It is something I have really doubled down on, my education in boxing. Ultimately on June 7 it will be Fabio Wardley’s hand raised and his opponent out on the floor.”

Justis Huni
“This is my coming out party, to show the world who I am. What better way to do it? On a massive stage like this in Fabio’s home town. I am coming here to bring an upset and I just can’t wait to get in there now and put on a show for all of the fight fans and everyone who will be tuning in.

“I think the only thing he has over me is the power, but every other box I tick. Footwork, speed, putting my punches together in bunches. I believe I tick all the other boxes and I cannot wait to get it on.

“It is going to be a sweeter victory with them thinking they are going to get over me that easy. It is going to be a lot tougher night in that office come June 7.”

PORTMAN ROAD PLAYED host to the launch press conference for ‘Running Towards Adversity’, the heavyweight collision between Fabio Wardley and Jarrell Miller for the WBA Interim world title, which will be staged by Ipswich Town FC on Saturday, 7June.

Wardley and Miller, quite literally, almost came head-to head, with the media event descending into chaos at one point as Miller sought to physically remonstrate with Wardley over supposed disrespect that he was oblivious to.

Order was restored and promoter Frank Warren, along with DAZN’s Alfie Sharman and Miller’s advisor Spencer Brown were able to provide their commentary on what we can expect from a major stadium event on 7 June, live on DAZN.

Tickets for Wardley vs Miller at Portman Road on Saturday, 7 June go on general sale at 1pm on Wednesday, available from the Ipswich Town FC website: itfc.co.uk

Below are a selection of quotes and comments from today’s activity:

Fabio Wardley
“It is my hometown, I am a born and bred Ipswich boy, it is my home club, and nothing is being taken from me here. This is hallowed turf; this is where I’m strongest. There is an extra fight and extra fire in me when I step on that turf. When there is a ring on top of that pitch there is more in me, more determination, more work, more output. I become undeniable when you put me on that pitch. It is a hard night’s work in front of me, but it is a job I can conquer.

“He said he did his research or homework, but clearly not. The last opponent that came here in a Norwich shirt… Clearly, he hasn’t done his homework on what happened to that person because it didn’t end well for them.

“They call you Big Baby because you don’t shut up, you need a pacifier in your mouth. I picked you. I looked at the list and picked your name. I said who is the big guy who thinks he is the big I am in the division? Big Baby, let’s pick that one, let’s teach him a lesson.”

Jarrell Miller
“Ipswich? I’ve been doing my homework and I’m gonna support the other side (Norwich City shirt). That being said, Norwich whooped your ass last time and I’m gonna whoop your ass. I know Frank is a good salesman and has put the battery in his back, but he is getting F****d up.

“There is a reason I have been avoided for many years. I had one slip up with Dubois and I had three weeks’ notice for that but, like I said before, I’m a killer. No matter where I go, real warriors travel anywhere. I’ve been in people’s backyards before whooping ass.

“We are cut from different cloth. I was being respectful then he made a diss song, Big Baby Killer. Where I come from this is a death threat. I am running you down, I am coming to your face. He can do all that nonsense, I’m gonna f*** you up, plain and simple.

“Let me say this man, I don’t mind doing the gimmicks and the fun stuff, but I don’t play, I don’t play this sport. I’ve come from every fighting background you can think of. This is what I do. I was bred for this. You’ve never been in the ring with somebody like me. David Adeleye? Good win. You’ve got draw with that punk, what’s his name? Clarke. I ain’t them. Google my name, Big Baby, there is a reason why they call me that. I make people cry. Come Saturday night here, I’m gonna make you cry man.”

Frank Warren
“We want the stadium fight in June, not today!”

“So, this is a good fight and there is obviously no love lost. It is for the vacant WBA Interim title between the No.1 rated and No.4 in the division. It is a very important fight for both of them and it is a fight that is going to be something special, on the night. I am looking forward to it but keep it nice now and can we please just show some decorum and respect.”

Spencer Brown (Miller advisor)
“Fabio is going into deep waters. Jarrell is proven heavyweight and, for me, the best in America at the moment. It is a big statement for him as well, he needs to win this fight and needs to win it big time. We are all looking forward to coming to Portman Road and it is a big step up for Fabio.”

Alfie Sharman (DAZN)
“We love this fight at DAZN. Fabio is, without doubt, one of the most exciting heavyweights in world boxing and we all know what Jarrell Miller brings, both in and out of the ring. And he is a dangerous opponent. We’ve set the tone with our relationship with Queensberry, we closed the curtain on Heavy Impact on Saturday, which was an unbelievable night of boxing and here we are on Monday already announcing another premium show on British soil. We can’t wait for June 7.”

Tickets for Wardley vs Miller at Portman Road on Saturday, 7 June go on general sale at 1pm on Wednesday, available from the Ipswich Town FC website: itfc.co.uk

FABIO WARDLEY WILL live the dream of his longed-for homecoming fight when he faces American giant Jarrell Miller at Portman Road, the home of Ipswich Town FC, with the interim WBA World Heavyweight Championship on the line.

Wardley (18-0-1, 17 KOs) heads into the fight with the voluble Brooklyn Boy fresh off his success against British rival Frazer Clarke in October, when the Olympian was blasted out inside a round over in Riyadh.

The quickfire triumph was a sequel to a thrilling draw in March of last year, which was voted ‘Fight of the Year’ at the recent BBBoC awards ceremony.

The Ipswich native became British champion in November 2022 by defeating Nathan Gorman and made a successful defence against David Adeleye in October 2023, a fight in which he also won the vacant Commonwealth championship and WBO European title, to add to the WBA Continental belt already in his possession.

Wardley is ranked highly by all the governing bodies, holding a No.1 ranking with the WBA, No.3 with the WBO and WBC and No.8 with the IBF. He is also listed at No.9 in the Ring Magazine ratings.

Miller (26-1-2, 22 KOs), known as Big Baby, propelled himself back onto the heavyweight frontline in 2023 with a victory over Lucas Browne, which resulted in a Riyadh Season call to take on Daniel Dubois at the end of the year.

The 36-year-old started strongly and applied huge pressure on the now IBF world champion, before his stamina faded in the later rounds and Dubois took advantage and secured a 10th round stoppage.

His display against Dubois earned him a Riyadh Season recall for the Los Angeles edition where he went up against former unified world champion Andy Ruiz at the BMO Stadium in August.

Despite dominating the fight in the eyes of most observers. Miller was forced to accept a majority draw when the scorecards were revealed.

“On a personal note, it is a huge pleasure for me to deliver Fabio his dream of fighting at Portman Road,” said promoter Frank Warren. “It is what he has spoken about from day one of our alliance and I know how much Ipswich Town means to him.

“I believe this is the perfect fight for Fabio to take his next step because Miller is no easy pickings for anyone, especially given his size and front foot style. Fabio really is ‘Running Towards Adversity’!”

“Fabio and I have been discussing a Portman Road fight for the best part of nearly four years,” said Chairman and CEO of Ipswich Town FC Mark Ashton.“So, I’m delighted that we’ve managed to get this fight over the line and give Fabio the opportunity for a homecoming world title fight at Portman Road.

“I’d like to thank Frank Warren and his team, who have all been tremendous throughout the planning process, and we’re all now looking forward to fight night.

“Let’s get this town and county behind one of our own in what is sure to be a thrilling event on our doorstep.”

Fabio Wardley: “As a proud Tractor Boy born and bred in Ipswich, this is a dream come true for me. Fighting for a world title at Portman Road means everything to me. I’ve got a tough opponent in front of me, but that’s what I live for. I’m ready to dig deep, go to battle, and leave it all in the ring. Even more so than usual! It’s going to be a war, and I can’t wait to give my hometown crowd a spectacle they’ll never forget.”

Fabio’s manager, Michael Ofo said; “Wardley bleeds Ipswich. He’s dreamt of nights like this his whole life, and now it’s his moment. The man across the ring is no pushover, but that’s exactly what we want—real challenges. Real fights. He’s ready for war, and when that bell rings, you’ll see why he’s the pride of the east of England.”

Miller’s advisor, Spencer Brown commented; “I am delighted to bring this fabulous opportunity to Jarrell on such a big stage. I think he’s the best heavyweight in America and if I didn’t think he was going to win this we wouldn’t have taken the fight. Fabio is a great fighter, one of the best in the UK and good guy but he’s bitten off more than he can chew. It’s great to team up with Queensberry once again! It’s going to be some night at Portman Road on June 7 and I’m 100% behind my man to get the job done.”

“Another great fight for our subscribers this summer”, said Michael Ridout, EVP Combat Sports & New Business at DAZN. “Fabio Wardley is the coming man in the heavyweight division with two excellent headline making performances against Frazer Clarke in the last 12 months. He deserves this homecoming! Jerrell Miller always brings it both in and out the ring and we can’t wait to broadcast this sensational night of heavyweight boxing, live and exclusive June 7, only on DAZN.”

Tickets for ‘Running Towards Adversity’ go on presale to Ipswich Town FC season ticket holders at 1pm on Monday, 7 April and general sale at 1pm on Wednesday, 9 April available from itfc.co.uk.

There will be a launch press conference including both fighters on Monday April 7 at Portman Road, streamed live on DAZN and Queensberry’s social channels.

FRANK WARREN AND Queensberry are delighted to announce the signing of British, Commonwealth, WBO European and WBA Continental Heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley to a mult-fight promotional agreement.

The highly regarded undefeated 29-year-old heavy (17-0-1) from Ipswich joins the Queensberry ranks ahead of the much-anticipated rematch with Frazer Clarke on the stacked undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol in Saudi Arabia on October 12^th as part of Riyadh Season, following their Fight of the Year contender back in March.

The fight will be Wardley’s second Riyadh Season bout after he stopped his now Queensberry stablemate David Adeleye to defend his British title as chief support on the ‘Battle of the Baddest’ , which opened the previous Riyadh Season in 2023. Wardley then took on Olympic Bronze Medallist Fraser Clarke, retaining his titles in a thrilling bout the judges ruled a draw.

Fabio Wardley: “At this stage in my career, aligning myself with the best promoter is crucial and I couldn’t be in better hands than with Frank and George. Seeing the massive fights and shows that Queensberry have put together over the past few years has me really excited about the future and what we can achieve together!”

Frank Warren: “The heavyweight division could not be more exciting at the moment and Fabio has already shown himself to be a serious part of that with some real standout performances.

Fabio understandably had a lot of offers on the table and I could not be more pleased that he has chosen Queensberry to promote his career at such a pivotal time. He has a huge rematch in October and once he comes through that I truly believe he’s ready to challenge anyone in the top 10.”

Fabio’s manager Michael Ofo said “It’s fantastic to have Frank Warren and Queensberry on board promoting Fabio. Over the last few years they have promoted nearly every single major heavyweight fight. We look forward to being involved in some massive nights with them over the coming years.”

LONDON, UK (March 30, 2024) – Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke both weighed in today ahead of their hotly anticipated ‘Bad Blood’ Easter Sunday showdown tomorrow night at The O2 in London, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA. 

Their unbeaten heavyweight clash for the British and Commonwealth Titles tops a stack card in the capital that also features further ‘Bad Blood’ clashes between warring welterweights Florian Marku and Chris Kongo, London cruiserweight rivals Viddal Riley and Mikael Lawal plus the return of viral boxing sensation Ben Whittaker and rising super middleweight star Callum Simpson.

OFFICIAL WEIGHTS FROM LONDON:

12X3 – BRITISH, COMMONWEALTH, WBA CONTINENTAL & WBO EUROPEAN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

FABIO WARDLEY – 17st 5lbs / 243lbs

FRAZER CLARKE – 19st / 266lbs

10X3 – IBO INTERCONTINENTAL WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

FLORIAN MARKU – 10st 6lbs / 146lbs

CHRIS KONGO – 10st 6lbs 5oz / 146lbs

10X3 – ENGLISH CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

VIDDAL RILEY – 14st 2lbs 5oz / 198lbs

MIKAEL LAWAL – 14st 2lbs / 198lbs

8X3 – LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

BEN WHITTAKER – 12st 9lbs / 177lbs

LEON WILLINGS – 12st 9lbs 5oz / 177lbs

10X3 – SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT

CALLUM SIMPSON – 11st 13lbs / 167lbs

DULLA MBABE – 12st 1lbs / 169lbs

10X3 – HEAVYWEIGHT

ALEN BABIC – 15st 7lbs 5oz / 217lbs

STEVE ROBINSON – 17st 1lbs / 239lbs

All the action is available to watch live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA. 

Final remaining tickets are available at BOXXER.com.

LONDON, UK (March 22, 2024) – The full fight card is now confirmed for BOXXER’s bumper ‘Bad Blood’ bill on Sunday, March 31st at The O2 in London, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke top a stacked card in the capital as they look to settle their differences in one of British boxing’s most hotly anticipated match ups.

The unbeaten fighters have been on a collision course as both men aim to establish themselves as Britain’s number one heavyweight.

Their simmering rivalry has reached boiling point following a cancelled purse bid last year.

Clarke was ordered as mandatory challenger for Wardley’s British Title in April but was later withdrawn from purse bids. The fallout sparked a series of tense exchanges between the warring heavyweights and has added serious spite to their Easter Sunday showdown.

The ‘Bad Blood’ runs deep in an undercard filled with unmissable fights.

Welterweight rivals Florian Marku and Chris Kongo, who had to be pulled apart following an explosive press conference altercation last year, finally get the chance to settle their long-standing feud. 

Viddal Riley and Mikael Lawal will clash in a special bet365 Wildcard contest for the English Cruiserweight Title, while Alen ‘The Savage’ Babic and Steve Robinson collide in what promises to be a fan-friendly heavyweight fire fight.

With opponents set for Ben Whittaker and Callum Simpson the full supporting cast is now in place for a dramatic night of boxing at The O2.

Whittaker (6-0, 5 KOs) has become a viral sensation with clips of his flamboyant showboating during his stoppage win over Khalid Graidia on February 3rd generating millions of views and global interest on social media.

Tipped for superstardom, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Silver Medallist will look to capitalise on his new-found attention by delivering another show stealing performance when he takes on Leon Willings (7-1, 2 KOs).

Rising super middleweight star Simpson (13-0, 9 KOs) will look to extend his unbeaten streak as he builds towards a British Title challenge.

Before the 27-year-old from Barnsley has his crack at the Lonsdale belt, he must first get past the experienced Tanzanian Dulla Mbabe (34-13-1, 29 KOs).

Over 10,000 tickets have already been sold for the stacked Easter Sunday ‘Bad Blood’ show with an additional allocation of tickets, priced from £35, now released due to demand and available for purchase via BOXXER.com.

This event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE, Integritas Property Group, Fastline Steel Services, CarFinance 247 and VOW Nutrition.

LONDON, UK (February 16, 2024) – Cruiserweight rivals Viddal Riley and Mikael Lawal collide in a special bet365 Wildcard contest as part of BOXXER’s bumper ‘Bad Blood’ bill at The O2 in London on Sunday, March 31st, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

Riley (10-0, 6 KOs) returns to action following a shut-out points win over Nathan Quarless to capture the English Cruiserweight Title last September at York Hall. The talented Tottenham man has set his sights on the big fights in a stacked domestic division and can expect his toughest career test when he faces London rival Lawal.

Lawal (17-1, 11 KOs) will be looking to get back to winning ways having lost his British Cruiserweight Title to Isaac Chamberlain in October. The heavy-handed fighter from Shepherd’s Bush has the chance for redemption as he gets straight back into the domestic mix with another high-profile contest against undefeated opposition.

Viddal Riley said: “I look forward to the first notable name in my career being ticked off. I respect Lawal as a former British champion and as we know that’s a goal of mine so this is a perfect level check.”

Mikael Lawal said: “I’ve been legit, my journey in this sport is well documented. I’m just here to work and take care of business.”

BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “Viddal Riley vs Mikael Lawal is another exciting addition to an already action-packed night of boxing. Credit to both men for taking this fight. Viddal Riley is taking a serious step up against a very dangerous fighter in Mikael Lawal, who has everything to prove following his defeat to Isaac Chamberlain. It really is a wildcard contest. I’m expecting an all-action fight between the two Londoners on Sunday, March 31st at The O2.”

Unbeaten heavyweight rivals Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke clash in a ‘Bad Blood’ showdown for the British and Commonwealth Titles on Sunday, March 31st at The O2 in London, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

Florian Marku and Chris Kongo settle their simmering welterweight rivalry as part of a stacked undercard that also features future boxing superstar Ben Whittaker, the return of Alen ‘The Savage’ Babic against Steve Robinson and rising super middleweight contender Callum Simpson.

This event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE, Integritas Property Group, Fastline Steel Services and VOW Nutrition.

Tickets, priced from just £30, are available now via BOXXER.com

LONDON, UK (February 15, 2024) – ‘The Surgeon’ is back! Future boxing superstar Ben Whittaker brings his unique style to The O2 in London as the latest addition to BOXXER’s action-packed ‘Bad Blood’ card on Sunday, March 31st, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

Whittaker (6-0, 5 KOs) has become a viral sensation with clips of his flamboyant showboating during his stoppage win over Khalid Graidia on February 3rd generating millions of views and global interest on social media.

Tipped for superstardom, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Silver Medallist will look to capitalise on his new-found attention by delivering another show stealing performance following his win over Graidia on the Buatsi-Azeez card in Wembley.

Whittaker will add star power to an already stacked card on Easter Sunday topped by the ‘Bad Blood’ showdown between unbeaten heavyweights Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke for the British and Commonwealth Titles.

Florian Marku and Chris Kongo will settle their simmering welterweight rivalry following an explosive press conference altercation last year, whilst Alen ‘The Savage’ Babic takes on Newcastle’s Steve Robinson and rising super middleweight star Callum Simpson closes in on a British Title shot.

BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “The reaction to Ben Whittaker’s performance against Khalid Graidia has been incredible. It shows the power of social media. He gained hundreds of thousands of followers overnight and there’s clips of him online with millions and millions of views. We’ve known from day one that we’ve got a superstar on our hands with Ben Whittaker. With his style and personality, we believe he can become the biggest star in world boxing.”

This event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE, Integritas Property Group and VOW Nutrition.

Tickets, priced from just £30, go on sale today (Thursday, February 15th) from midday. For more details visit: https://www.boxxer.com

LONDON, UK (February 14, 2024) – Alen ‘The Savage’ Babic takes on Steve Robinson and rising super middleweight star Callum Simpson is back in action on the undercard of the ‘Bad Blood’ showdown between unbeaten heavyweight rivals Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke on Sunday, March 31st at The O2 in London, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

Babic (11-1, 10 KOs) returns to The O2 where he has previously recorded wins over Morgan Dessaux, former World Title challenger Eric Molina and Adam Balski. The popular Croatian heavyweight has built a cult following in the UK where he has amassed a series of impressive KO wins. His unbeaten run was cut short when challenging Lukasz Rozanski for the WBC Bridgerweight World Title in Poland last April. The 33-year-old will be looking to get back to winning ways when faces Newcastle’s Steve ‘Drago’ Robinson (6-2, 4 KOs) as part of a huge night of boxing in the capital.

Simpson (13-0, 9 KOs) was ringside to watch Zak Chelli capture the British Super Middleweight Title from Jack Cullen at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool in January. The Barnsley man is mandatory challenger for the British Title but before he has his crack at the Lonsdale belt, the 27-year-old will look to extend his unbeaten streak as he returns to London following a unanimous points win over Jose de Jesus Macias at York Hall in September.

Unbeaten heavyweights Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke collide in a ‘Bad Blood’ showdown for the British and Commonwealth Titles on Sunday, March 31st at The O2 in London, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

Florian Marku and Chris Kongo will settle their simmering welterweight rivalry following an explosive press conference altercation last year with more major undercard announcements coming soon.

This event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE, Integritas Property Group and VOW Nutrition.

Tickets, starting from just £30, go on general sale tomorrow (Thursday, February 15th) at midday. For more details visit: https://www.boxxer.com

LONDON, UK (February 9th, 2024) – More bad blood has been added to BOXXER’s hotly-anticipated Super Sunday Bank Holiday showdown between unbeaten heavyweights Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke with welterweight rivals Florian Marku and Chris Kongo set to settle their differences on March 31st at The O2 in London, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

There’s no love lost between Marku and Kongo, who had to be pulled apart following an explosive press conference altercation last year. It will be a clash of styles as the ‘Albanian King’ and ‘2 Slick’ meet in the capital to settle their long-standing feud in a fascinating ten round contest.

Marku, the unbeaten former IBF International Champion, made short work of his last opponent, stopping Dylan Moran inside 60 seconds on the undercard of the Liam Smith vs Chris Eubank Jr rematch on September 2nd in Manchester. The 31-year-old will be raring to go following this speedy stoppage win and is expected to bring an army of Albanian supporters with him to London.

Kongo returns following a narrow points defeat to Ekow Essuman for the British, Commonwealth, IBF European and WBC International Silver Welterweight Titles on January 21st last year. The Bermondsey man thought he did another to edge the contest but found himself of the wrong end of a majority decision at Manchester’s AO Arena.

Florian Marku said: “I’m really pleased that all my fans get to see me put on a special performance on this great card at The O2, live on Sky Sports. It’s been two and half years since my last fight in London. I can’t wait to get back in the ring and for all my fans to see me knock out Chris Kongo.”

Chris Kongo said: “I’m back in my backyard, and I’m not here to play games. Marku might think he’s dangerous, but he’s just another stepping stone on my path. I’ll show everyone why I belong at the top, starting with a victory at The O2 in South London.” 

BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “This is a great addition to what is going to be an incredible night of action at The O2. Florian Marku vs Chris Kongo is a fight fans have wanted to see for years. Finally, we will see them in the ring on Sunday, March 31st. It’s another unmissable ‘Bad Blood’ matchup and a must-win fight for both men.” 

Unbeaten heavyweight rivals Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke collide in a ‘Bad Blood’ showdown for the British and Commonwealth Titles on Sunday, March 31st at The O2 in London, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA

Pre-sale tickets, priced from just £30, go on sale at midday on Tuesday, February 13th with general sale tickets available from midday on Thursday, February 15th. Sign up for pre-sale tickets here: https://www.boxxer.com/sign-up-31-mar/

This event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE, Integritas Property Group and VOW Nutrition.

London, UK (February 3rd, 2024) – Unbeaten heavyweight rivals Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke collide in a ‘Bad Blood’ showdown for the British and Commonwealth Titles on Sunday, March 31st at The O2 in London, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

Reigning champion Wardley (17-0, 16 KOs) is on an incredible 16-fight KO streak, which has seen him steamroll his way through the domestic division. The 29-year-old from Ipswich looked at his devastating best last time out when dismantling David Adeleye on the Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou undercard on October 28^th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Bronze Medallist Clarke (8-0, 6 KOs) is just eight fights into his promising professional career. Last year, ‘Big Fraze’ banked ten valuable rounds against former world title challenger Mariusz Wach before retiring domestic rival David Allen in the sixth-round to continue his unbeaten run.

Wardley and Clarke have been on a collision course as both men look to establish themselves as the number one heavyweight in Britain. Their simmering rivalry reached boiling point following a cancelled purse bid last year.

Clarke was ordered as mandatory challenger for Wardley’s Lonsdale belt in April but was later withdrawn from purse bids. The fallout sparked a series of tense exchanges between the warring heavyweights and has added serious spite to their Bank Holiday Super Sunday showdown.

Fabio Wardley said: “I’m absolutely buzzing to be headlining what will be a massive show at the iconic O2 Arena, I’ve fought there a lot before so it’s like a home away from home for me. As a seasoned former Olympian, Frazer Clarke is definitely the most well-schooled boxer I’ll have ever faced, but there’s some lessons you can’t learn in school… And I’ve got more than enough firepower in my arsenal to lay him flat on his back, just like all my other opponents.”

Frazer Clarke said: “Finally, the fight that I wanted and the fight that the British public wanted. The talking is over, it’s here. Headlining the O2 Arena for the British and Commonwealth Titles is something I’ve dreamed of. I’m ready to take out Fabio Wardley and bring the titles back to Burton upon Trent. There’s been a lot of back and forth but now we can settle it like men.”

“The Bad Blood needs to be settled,” said BOXXER founder and CEO Ben Shalom. “We’re more committed than ever to making the biggest domestic fights for British fight fans and I’m excited for BOXXER to deliver a British heavyweight classic on March 31st at The O2. After the outrage last year, this fight has been one that has been really important to make, with fight fans desperate to see it. I’m really happy to deliver the opportunity to Frazer Clarke against Fabio Wardley who is a dangerous man and a great champion.”

Wardley vs Clarke will top an action-packed fight card in the capital with undercard fights to be announced soon.

Having faced off in the ring before Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez’s light heavyweight final eliminator, Wardley and Clarke will come face-to-face again at a launch press conference on Wednesday, February 7th in London.

This event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE, Integritas Property Group and VOW Nutrition.

ONE OF THE most highly-anticipated fights of the year, the British heavyweight title showdown between Fabio Wardley and David Adeleye, takes place in Riyadh on October 28 on the undercard of the Battle of the Baddest event, featuring Tyson Fury against MMA king Francis Ngannou, live on TNT Sports Box Office in the UK & Ireland.

Today, in London, the chief support participants came together in front of the media ahead of departure for Saudi Arabia and below are a selection of key quotes from the top-table section of proceedings.

Frank Warren: “I think this is a fabulous fight and it is the first time I have met Fabio, other than speaking to him briefly on the telephone. This is what it is all about, undefeated heavyweights, two rising stars of boxing in a main support bout to a unique event, which will be broadcast all over the world. Whoever wins this fight is going to establish himself around the world, with lots of eyeballs watching. This is a huge opportunity and you can just feel the buzz about this and the event. This fight is going to be special. We had that unfortunate incident last time and hopefully that has been dealt with and is done. I hope we can put that behind us now and focus on the fight. Make no bones about it, this fight will be exciting.”

David Adeleye: “I learned nothing about him last time because I know what sort of man he is anyway, so it didn’t really show me much. He is not the same as me, he ain’t built from the same cloth. I kind of knew that already. We haven’t got to talk about the situation, but I match energy. I don’t go in there with no malice. I am always smiling and always good, I just match energy. I am pretty good at doing it. You walked towards me and got dealt with. It was jittery, I just pushed you back. When I am arguing with team members I am not going to let someone of 17 stone walk towards me. I don’t get nervous, I don’t know what it is, it is hard to explain, but nerves ain’t it. Someone like Fabio Wardley could never bring on those sort of nerve in me. What does he do for me to be nervous?”

“I am getting paid to beat him up, it is easy money. Eddie Hearn doesn’t put his money on you, what are you talking about?”

Fabio Wardley: “I don’t know if I particularly learned anything, nothing that I hadn’t seen already, in other situations and other circumstances, that he is a bit jittery. When the cameras are on, it is a big stage and a big event, people’s personality shows through. Nervous, jittery and on edge, twitchy – all things we had assessed already. It was nothing new, but funny to see up close, that is all. All I did was turn and look at you and you jittered. Do you push everyone who walks towards you and approaches you? So it is just me you are jittery around then? I’ve had people I’ve had issues with walk towards me and I’m not on edge or nervous, I’m cool. I walked to you to calm things down. We had met before and that is why I came over to say there was no need for this. Play your role, we are here to be professionals at the end of the day. I am used to having a mature interaction with someone where you can walk over. There was no need for that.”

“I don’t think it is easy money. I am getting paid to be whatever because Frank realises that you are not what they thought you were, you are not what he thought you was, so he has brought me over to do a job, get rid of you. I think Frank is betting his money on me.”

“I am a free guy, I can go wherever I want.”

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Sept. 28, 2023) — Unbeaten British heavyweight standouts Fabio Wardley and David Adeleye will meet in a high-stakes clash Saturday, Oct. 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The 12-round battle of emerging stars will serve as the chief support contest to the historic showdown between WBC & lineal heavyweight boxing world champion Tyson Fury and lineal MMA heavyweight world champion Francis Ngannou.
 
The premier combat sports event of the year, which marks the opening of Riyadh Season – the world’s biggest entertainment event – features a night of action delivered by boxing’s marquee division, the heavyweights.
 
Former WBO world champion Joseph Parker (32-3, 22 KOs), from Auckland, New Zealand, goes up against Canada’s Simon Kean (23-1, 22 KOs), and bone-crunching puncher Arslanbek Makhmudov (17-0, 16 KOs), also residing in Canada, takes on Croatian veteran Agron Smakici (19-2, 17 KOs). Both fights are scheduled for 10 rounds.
 
And, in a special six-round special attraction, 18-year-old heavyweight phenomenon Moses Itauma (5-0, 3 KOs) will face an opponent to be named.
 
This unprecedented heavyweight spectacular is promoted by Queensberry, Top Rank and GIMIK Fight Promotions, along with Eye Of The Tiger, promoter of Kean and Makhmudov.
 
Fury-Ngannou and the heavyweight undercard will be available on pay-per-view in the United States.
  
Ipswich’s Wardley (16-0, 15 KOs) became English champion in 2021 with a first-round stoppage of Nick Webb before capturing British honors with a third-round TKO of Nathan Gorman last November. He is coming off a fourth-round TKO over Michael Coffie in April.
 
Adeleye (12-0, 11 KOs), from London, is the current WBO European champion, having won his maiden professional title by defeating the previously unbeaten Dmytro Bezus at York Hall in February and subsequently stopping Emir Ahmatovic in June.
 
The Adeleye-Wardley rivalry hit new heights at the Fury-Ngannou press conference in London earlier this month, as the fighters and their camps brawled on the red carpet. The melee left Wardley with cuts above his left eye and under his chin.
 
“I’ve got a clean bill of health,” Wardley said. “Nothing has changed. I am still feeling strong, moving hard, and hitting new numbers.
 
“I don’t know how to quantify how my desire to win by knockout has increased after what happened but, yes, substantially. Massively, because I am a professional person and I like to act like a professional, but if you want to go early, then that’s fine, and I am ready to go at any minute.
 
“When those situations occur, all it does is fuel the fire more. All you have done is made it worse for yourself. You’ve made me train harder, you’ve made me work for it more, you’ve made me want it more.”
 
Adeleye said, “I’m really looking forward to competing on the global stage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Everywhere I go, people are talking about this fight. I intend to put on a show and display why I’m the best young heavyweight out there.”
 
Parker captured the WBO crown in 2016 with a points triumph over future champion Andy Ruiz Jr. in Auckland. He made two title defenses before an unsuccessful unification fight against Anthony Joshua in 2018. He won the WBO Intercontinental championship in May 2021 with a decision victory over Derek Chisora, making a successful defense against the Chisora seven months later.  
 
Parker lost a bid for the WBO Interim world title against Joe Joyce last September, but he has enjoyed a successful 2023 with wins over Jack Massey and Faiga Opelu.  Kean won the WBC International Silver championship in 2019 with a defeat of former world champion Siarhei Liakhovich, making a successful defense against Daniel Martz the following year. He has won eight straight via the short route, most recently notching a seventh-round stoppage over Eric Molina in March.
 
Parker said, “I’m looking forward to being back in Saudi Arabia. It was great the last time I was there to support another fighter and boxing event. This time I’m going to take care of business in my own fight against a tough challenge in Simon Kean. It is fantastic to be on this card and to be part of this major event. My preparations are on point. There is not long to go now.”
 
Kean said, “This is the moment all fighters dream of their whole career. This is what I’ve been working for and asking for. It’s time to deliver.”
 
Makhmudov won the WBC Continental Americas strap in 2019, becoming the first man to stop Jonnie Rice. He went on to win the NABF and NABO belts with a slew of wins over notable opponents, including Pavel Sour, Erkan Teper and Mariusz Wach. Makhmudov had a triumphant United States debut in July, obliterating Raphael Akpejiori in two rounds. Smakici challenged for the vacant European title in his last fight, but he suffered a loss to the undefeated Agit Kabayel. The Croatian’s only other setback came against then-unbeaten Zhan Kossobutskiy in 2019.
 
Makhmudov said, “Saudi Arabia is a very special place for me. It’s always been my goal to fight there, so I’m grateful to have this opportunity. I’m looking forward to putting on a great show.”

Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua won a 12-round unanimous decision over Jermaine Franklin at The 02 Arena in London.

Joshua landed 117 of 376 punches. Franklin was 58 of 426.

Joshua won by scores of 118-111 and 117-111 twice and is now 25-3. Frankilin of Saginaw, MI is 21-2.

Fabio Wardley Stops Coffie in 4

Fabio Wardley stopped Michael Coffie in round four of a scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout.

In round one, Wardley was bleeding from his nose. In round four, Wardley landed a hard right that backed Coffie up on the ropes. Wardley landed a big assault in the ropes and the referee stopped the bout (maybe a punch or two prematurely) at 45 seconds.

Wardley, 242.9 lbs of Ipswich, ENG is 16-0 with 15 knockouts. Coffie, 269.4 lbs of Kissimmee, FL is 13-4.

Gala Yafai Stops Calleros in 4

2021 Olympic Gold Medal winner Galal Yafai stopped former world title challenger Moises Calleros in round four of a 10-round flyweight bout.

Yafai dropped Calleros in round four, and the fight was stopped by the referee at

Yafai, 113.8 lbs of Birmingham, ENG is 4-0 with three knockouts. Calleros, 114.2 lbs of Monterrey, MEX is 36-11-1.

Campbell Hatton Stops Fielding in 1

Campbell Hatton remained undefeated with a first round stoppage over Louis Fielding in a scheduled eight-round super lightweight contest.

Hatton landed a perfect left hook to the rib area that put Fielding on the deck for the 10-count at 1:29. Fielding, 138.8 lb of Tamworth, ENG is 10-8.

Hatton, 139.12 lbs of Hyde, ENG is 11-0 with four knockouts.

Ammo Williams Stops Wilson-Bent in 8

Austin Williams remained undefeated with an eighth round stoppage over River Wilson-Bent in a scheduled 10-round middleweight bout.

In round seven, Williams dropped Wilson-Bent with a straight left Wilson-Bent began to bleed over his right eye. In round eight, Williams continued the assault and the towel was thrown in at 1:01.

Williams, 162.3 lbs of Houston, TX is 14-0 with 10 knockouts. Wilson-Bent, 162.7 lbs of Coventry, ENG is 14-3-1.

John Hedges won a eight-round unanimous decision over Daniel Bocianski in a light heavyweight bou

Hedges, 189.14 lbs of Takely, ENG won by an 80-72 and is now 8-0. Bocianski, 186.4 lbs of Nowy Saczm POL is 11-3.

Ziyad Almaayouf won a four-round decision over Georgi Velichkov in a welterweight bout.

Almaayouf, 145.14 lbs of Saudi Arabia won by a 39-37 score and is now 3-0. Velchkov, 142.7 lbs of Sofia, BUL is 3-12.

Jordan Flynn remained undefeated with a hard fought eight-round decision over Kane Baker in a super featherweight bout.

Flynn, 129.10 lbs of Oxford, ENG won by a 77-75 score and is now 9-0. Baker, 129.8 lbs of Birmingham, ENG is 18-10-1.

In a mild upset, Benoit Huber won a eight-round decision over Juergen Uldedaj in a heavyweight bout.

Huber, 200 lbs of Sjon, SWI won by a score of 77-75 and is now 9-3. Uldedaj, 203.8 lbs of Lezhe, ALB is 15-1.

Peter Kadiru stopped Alen Lauriolle after the opening round of their six-round heavyweight bout.

Kadiru’s body work hurt Lauriolle’s ribs and the bout was stopped in between rounds.

kadiru, 239.3 lbs of Hamburg, GER is 15-1 with eight knockouts. Lauriolle, 273.2 lbs of Skopie, MAC is 6-2.

Rising British Heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley will face American Michael Polite-Coffie on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s clash with Jermaine Franklin at The O2 in London on Saturday April 1, live worldwide on DAZN – as Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams will look to close in on a clash with rival Felix Cash, with ‘Ammo’ meeting River Wilson-Bent before Cash challenges Matteo Signani for the European Middleweight Title.

REMAINING TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED VIA STAGE FRONT
Cash and Williams have been slated to clash in a big Middleweight battle in 2023, and the fierce rivals will look to rubberstamp that showdown with victories in London. Williams (13-0 9 KOs) fights in the UK for the third time and in his second showing at the Greenwich venue, having stepped through the ropes in his fourth pro fight there in October 2019 and then stopping former World Title challenger Javier Maciel in February 2022 at Alexandra Palace. 

The 26 year old, ranked at number three in the WBA, ended 2022 with a pair of ten round wins over Kieron Conway and Simon Madsen, and will be looking for a statement win over Wilson-Bent (14-2-1, 6 KOs), the Coventry man who has boxed for the Commonwealth, WBC Silver and English Titles in the last year.

Cash’s European Title tilt was announced in February, and now his future American foe has been added to the bill, his clash with Signani takes on even more significance as the Wokingham man looks to make up for lost time after enduring a frustrating 2022 in which he picked up two wins. 

Italy’s European Middleweight ruler Signani (32-6-3, 12 KOs) landed the title for the first time against Gevorg Khatchikian in Trento back in October 2019 before making successful defences against Maxime Beaussire in 2020 and Ruben Diaz in May 2021. ‘Il Giaguaro’ lost the belt to Anderson Prestot on a technical decision in June last year but avenged that loss in November.

Former British and Commonwealth Champion Cash (16-0, 10 KOs) is looking to add the EBU crown to his collection after enduring a frustrating 2022 in which he picked up two wins. Cash and Williams went face-to-face with him in a fiery ringside encounter in Leeds after Cash’s December outing in Yorkshire.

Wardley (15-0, 14 KOs) is riding high after claiming the vacant British Title in November with a third round stoppage over Nathan Gormley at Wembley Arena in London, and the Ipswich ace returns to the capital for his fourth straight fight and third in that run at The O2, and meets American Polite-Coffie (13-3, 10 KOs) in his first fight of 2023, with the Floridian aiming to hand a first defeat to Wardley, who now has Solomon Dacres breathing down his next for a shot at the coveted Lord Lonsdale belt after he claimed the English Title in Newcastle on Saturday night.

Campbell Hatton (10-0, 3 KOs) is back in action after hitting double figures in Liverpool in March, and the son of British boxing legend Ricky will meet Staffordshire’s experienced Louis Fielding (10-7, 1 KOs) in his first eight round battle in the paid ranks and Essex’s John Hedges (7-0 2 KOs) lands his first eight round clash against Poland’s Daniel Bocianski (11-2, 2 KOs).

The previously announced clash between Craig Richards and Ricards Bolotniks has been postponed after Richards suffered a hand injury.

In an entertaining heavyweight battle former world title challenger Dillian Whyte won a 12-round majority decision over Jermaine Franklin at The Wembley Arena in London.

The action went both ways with Franklin using quick hands to score some solid combinations. Whyte got into the fight in the middle rounds by landing some solid power shots, The 12th round saw some furious action with Whyte landing a big right hand that sent Franklin to the ropes. Franklin fought off the ropes and landed a nice right of his own. Many observers thought that Franklin deserved better. Whyte won by scores of 116-112 twice and 115-115.

Whyte landed of 608 punches; Franklin was 165 of 606.

Whyte, 241 lbs of Brixton, ENG is 29-3. Franklin, 257 lbs of Saginaw, MI is 21-1.

Wardley Remains Perfect and Stops Gorman in 3

Fabio Wardley kept his perfect knockout record as he stopped Nathan Gorman in round three of their 12-round heavyweight bout.

In round two Wardley dropped Gorman twice, both from hard right hands. In round three, Wardley dropped Gorman again with a big right that was followed by a left. Moments later, Gorman’s corner threw in the towel after sustaining more punishment, and the fight was stopped at 2:33.

Wardley, 240 lbs of Ipswich, ENG is 15-0 with 15 knockouts. Gorman, 271 lbs of Nantwich, ENG is 19-2.

McCormack Decisions Andino

Pat McCormack remained undefeated with a six-round decision over Christian Nicolas Andino in a welterweight bout.

McCormack landed 69 of 204 punches; Andino was just 17 of 121.

McCormack, 152 lbs of Sunderland, IRE won by 60-54 score and is now 3-0. Andno, 146 lbs of Buenos Aires, ARG is 16-6-2.

Sandy Ryan Decisions Sanchez

Sandy Ryan won a 10-round unanimous decision over Anahi Ester Sanchez in a super lightweight fight.

Ryan landed 120 of 355 punches; Sanchez was 105 of 419.

Ryan, 139 lbs of Derby, ENG won by scores of 100-92, 99-91 and 98-92 and is now 5-1. Sanchez, 138 lbs of Buenos Aires, ARG is 21-6.

Clarke Takes out Ulrich in 2

Cheavon Clarke stopped Jose Gregorio Ulrich in round two of their eight-round cruiserweight bout.

In round one, Clarke dropped Ulrich with a straight right. In round two, Clarke uncorked a vicious uppercut that twisted the body of Ulrich and the bout was stopped at 32 seconds.

Clarke. 198 lbs of Gravesend, ENG is 4-0 with four knockouts. Ulrich, 194 lbs of Maria Juan, ARG is 17-6.

Dickinson Decisions Onyenani

Mark Dickinson won a six-round decision over Gideon Onyenani in a middleweight contest.

Dickinson landed 74 of 293 punches; Onyenani was 72 of 243.

Dicksinson, 164 lbs of West Rainton, ENG won by a 59-56 tally and is now 4-0. Onyenani, 163 lbs of Chatham, ENG is 4-3.

George Liddard made a successful pro debut with a second round stoppage over Nikola Matic in a four-round middleweight bout.

At the end of the opening round, Liddard dropped Matic with a right to the body. The bout was stopped after a barrage from Liddard at 25 seconds of round two.

Liddard, 162 lbs of Billericay, ENG is 1-0 with one knockouts. Matic, 161 lbs of Caplinja, BOS is 18-51.

Thomas Carty remained undefeated with a fifth round stoppage over Pavlo Krolenko in a scheduled six-round heavyweight contest.

In round five, Carty dropped Krolenko with a short left hand. Carty scored a second knockdown after landing a hard flurry on the ropes. Krolenko got to his feet, but could not continue and the bout was stopped at 1:12.

Carty, 252 lbs of Dublin, IRE is 4-0 with three knockoouts. Krolenko, 242 lbs of Khartkiv, UKR is 3-10-1.

Dillian Whyte will face undefeated American contender Jermaine Franklin on his highly anticipated return to the ring on Saturday November 26 at the OVO Arena, Wembley, live worldwide on DAZN.

‘The Body Snatcher’ (28-3, 19 KOs) fell short in his challenge for Tyson Fury’s WBC Heavyweight World Title at Wembley Stadium in April, succumbing to a sixth-round stoppage defeat in front of over 90,000 fans. 

Brixton’s big-hitting former Interim WBC Heavyweight World Champion, 35, is set to fight at the OVO Arena, Wembley for the first time in his career as he looks to kickstart his journey towards a second shot at world honours. 

Michigan’s Franklin (21-0, 14 KOs) is unbeaten in 21 fights since joining the professional ranks in April 2015 and the 28-year-old will be fighting outside of the USA for the first time in his professional career when he meets Whyte over 12 rounds in London. 

Once described as America’s next Heavyweight hope, Franklin ended a two-and-a-half-year layoff by stopping Houston’s Rodney Moore in five rounds at McBride Hall in Gary, Indiana in May to extend his perfect record.

An action-packed undercard sees fast-rising Ipswich Heavyweight Fabio Wardley (14-0, 13 KOs) clash with Nantwhich’s Nathan Gorman (19-1, 13 KOs) for the vacant British Title, former WBA Light-Heavyweight World Title challenger Craig Richards (17-3-1, 10 KOs) take on Latvian warrior Ricards Bolotniks (19-6-1, 8 KOs) in an exciting match-up at 175lbs and Derby’s Sandy Ryan (4-1, 2 KOs) challenge Mexico’s Magali Rodriguez (20-6-2, 9 KOs) for her WBC Silver Super-Lightweight Title.

Wardley, 27, stopped Simon Vallily in three rounds of their hotly anticipated grudge match to pick up the vacant English Title at Fight Camp in August 2020 before blitzing Nick Webb inside one round to retain the belt a year later at Matchroom’s HQ in Essex.

Gorman, whose only loss came at the hands of Daniel Dubois back in July 2019, dusted off 15 months of ringrust in his last fight in June, bulldozing through Tomas Salek in just 81 seconds to win the IBF Intercontinental Title at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.

Crystal Palace’s Richards put in a spirited display as he pushed WBA Champion Dmitry Bivol all the way in his first World Title attempt in May 2021. ‘Spider’ returned to winning ways by impressively stopping Marek Matyja in six rounds before being outpointed by South London rival Joshua Buatsi at The O2 earlier this year.

Bolotniks, who holds wins over Steven Ward and Hosea Burton, will be familiar to UK fight fans following his brave battle with Olympic Bronze Medallist Buatsi at Matchroom’s second instalment of Fight Camp last summer – where he was eventually stopped in the eleventh round of their WBA International Title clash. 

Former Team GB star Ryan goes for her second title in the pro ranks after exacting revenge over Erica Anabella Farias – the only woman to beat her – at the Sheffield Arena in August to pick up the vacant WBC International Super-Lightweight Title. 

“It’s great to be back, doing what I love doing,” said Whyte. “I can’t wait to get into the ring and show the world that when push comes to shove I can get right back up in Wembley and remind everyone why I was WBC number one for over four years. 

“As an undefeated Heavyweight, Franklin is a dangerous guy but I’m going to teach him quite a few lessons at the OVO on November 26. Most importantly, I’m going to teach him how to lose.”

“I’m super hyped to fight in the UK,” said Franklin. “They love boxing and I plan on making a statement when I beat Dillian. I want them to be loud and love my boxing style and have them embrace me as the people’s champ. The world will see the real Jermaine Franklin Jr. 

“Dillian is a warrior. He has heart and he’s been with the best. It’s time for him to step aside and let the ‘989 Assassin’ make him body number 22 on my body count. The kind of fight I expect is a brawl. Dillian wants to prove he’s got something left in the tank. I want to show him I’m the future of boxing and for USA Heavyweights. 

“When I beat Dillian I want this victory to be followed with a title shot or a major fight to take me to the title. I’m like Holyfield. I’m a warrior. I’m from the hood. You have to take my heart and that will never happen in the ring. I have speed and power. I have no problem taking a punch to land my own. I am America’s next Heavyweight Champion.”

“I’m buzzing to be fighting for the British Title, I’ve had my eyes set on this belt for so long and I can’t wait to get my hands on it,” said Wardley. “Nathan Gorman’s a good fighter, but nothing is going to stop me from checking off this next milestone of my career. I thrive under the pressure of big fights like this, I live for it, there’ll be no better feeling than standing over him with my hand raised. I take my opportunities when they come, I’m not going to need any second chances like he did.

“I’ve never trained harder, I’ve never been fitter, it’s like the stars have aligned for this camp and everything is coming together perfectly. I’ve come on leaps and bounds with the new addition to my coaching team and I’m technically improving every day. That mixed with my natural athleticism and serious KO power, there’s nothing Nathan can bring to stop me.”

“It’s my second opportunity fighting for the British Title, so I’ve got to take it with both hands and this time it isn’t going anywhere other than back home with me,” said Gorman. “It’s against Fabio Wardley, and I know I’ll be facing the best Wardley that has ever entered that ring. Unfortunately for him, that will be met with the best Nathan Gorman, who is improving every second he spends in that gym.

“The thing I have that he doesn’t possess is the experience. I’ve already been in there with tougher questions that I have come through and answered, whereas I’m his acid test. It’ll be interesting if he lasts longer than rounds 5 or 6, he has a cut eye, and things aren’t going his way. He isn’t going to be able to match what I bring.”

“I’m delighted to welcome one of the biggest stars in Heavyweight boxing Dillian Whyte to the DAZN platform,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “The Body Snatcher is hungrier than ever after falling short in his first ever World Title challenge earlier this year and he’s jumping straight back in at the deep end against a young and dangerous fighter in Jermaine Franklin. Expect Maximum Violence in an England vs. USA main event.

“We’ve got an incredible undercard in store for you at the OVO Arena, Wembley on November 26 including the vacant British Heavyweight Title clash between Fabio Wardley and Nathan Gorman, a brilliant match-up at 175lbs between former World Title challenger Craig Richards and Ricards Bolotniks and Sandy Ryan going for another title against tough Mexican Magali Rodriguez. Catch it all live worldwide on DAZN.”

 “Nathan has made a fantastic comeback this year having had 18-months out, with the quick capture of an IBF Title being proof of that,” said Wasserman’s Head of Global Boxing, Kalle Sauerland. 

“Of course, the British Heavyweight Championship is one of the most respected titles in boxing and will propel him on to the world stage even further. We’re very confident Nathan will get the job done on November 26 and set up a HUGE 2023.”

“We are incredibly excited to welcome Dillian Whyte, one of the biggest names in Heavyweight boxing, to the platform on November 26,” said Joseph Markowski, CEO DAZN North America. “Jermaine Franklin will be a tough test for Dillian with the fight topping a stacked card full of action-packed matchups including Wardley vs. Gorman, Richards vs. Bolotniks and of course a future star in Sandy Ryan. Do not miss this fight! Live and exclusive and part of your DAZN subscription worldwide.”

Ticket details will be released shortly.

Derek Chisora evened up his series with Kubrat Pulev by winning a split decision in a 12-round heavyweight bout at The O2 Arena in London.

In round five, Pulev was cut on his left eyelid. It was a sloppy yet entertaining affair that saw each guy land some big shots throughout the contest.

Chisora landed 171 of 526 punches; Pulev was 200 of 796.

Each fighter won a scorecard by a 116-112 tally. A third card was 116-114 for Chisora.

Madrimov and Soro Fight to a Technical Draw

Israil Madrimov and Michel Soro fought to a technical draw when Soro suffered a bad cut in the third round of their 12-round junior middleweight rematch.

At the start of round three, The two clashed heads, and Soro began to bleed badly over his left eye. The fight was the sequel to a December rematch that saw Madrimov score a ninth round stoppage, but the stoppage may have come after the ninth round bell had sounded.

Ali Decisions Rojas

Ramla Ali remained undefeated with an eight-round decision over Agustina Rojas in a super bantamweight fight.

Ali, 122.14 kbs of Greewich, ENG won by an 80-72 score and is now 6-0. Rojas, 122.3 lbs of Villeurbanne, ARG is 6-2.

Agyarko Decisions Maciej

Caoimhin Agyarko won a 10-round unanimous decision over Lukasz Maciej in a super middleweight bout.

Agyarko, 153.12 lbs of Belfast, NI won by scores of 100-90 twice and 99-93 and is now 12-0. Maciej, 154 lbs of Lublin. POL is 28-5-1.

Wardley Stops Healey in 2

Fabio Wardley remained undefeated by stopping Chris Healey in round two of their eight-round heavyweight bout.

In round one, Wardley opened up with a hard combination that put Healey down to the canvas. It was the same thing in round two as Warley landed a hard combination that punctuated by a right hand that put Healey down and the towel was thrown in at 40 seconds.

Wardley, 238 lbs of Ipswich, ENG is now 14-0 with 13 knockouts. Healey, 275 lbs of Stickport, ENG is 9-10.

Solomon Dacres won an eight-round decision over Kevin Nicolas Espindola in a heavyweight bout.

Dacres, 230.1 lbs of Birmingham, ENG won by an 80-72 score and is now 4-0. Espindola, 257 lbs of San Pedro, ARG is 7-5.

Yousuf Ibrahim won a decision over Francisco Rodriguez in a super bantamweight bout.

Ibrahim, 120.1 lbs of Northhampton, ENG won by a 40-36 score and is now 2-0. Rodriguez, 121.1 lbs of Alfacar, SPA is 1-7.

Lawrence Okolie made the 2nd defense of the WBO Cruiserweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Michal Cieslak at the 02 Arena in London, England.

In round five, Okolie dropped Cieslak with an overhand right to the head.

Okolie landed 125 of 466 punches; Cieslak was 55 of 313.

Okolie, 199.3 lbs of Hackney, ENG won by scores of 117-110, 116-111 and 115-112 and is now 18-0. Cieslak, 199.5 lbs of Radom, POL is 21-2.

Yafai stops Bautista in 5

2021 Olympic Gold Medal winner Galal Yafai made a successful pro debut with a 5th round stoppage over Carlos Vado Bautista in a scheduled 10-round flyweight bout.

Yafai beat up Bautista over the course of the fight. In round five, Yafai landed a straight left that sent Bautista down, and the fight was stopped.

Yafai, 111.5 lbs of Birmingham, ENG is 1-0 with one knockout. Bautista, 109 1/2 lbs of Mexico City is 10-5-1.

Gill stops Guerfi in 9

Jordan Gill stopped Karim Karim Guerfi in round nine of their featherweight bout

It seemed liked it would be Guerfi’s night as in round seven, Guerfi sent Gill to the canvas with a starlight right hand. In round nine, Gill landed a big right that sent Guerfi crashing down on his back and he was out at 2:59.

Gill, 126 lbs of Chatteris, ENG is 27-1-1 with eight knockouts. Guerfi, 125.3 lbs of Manosque, FRA is 30-6.

Fowler Decisions Maciej

Anthony Fowler won a 10-round unanimous decision over Lukasz Maciej in a middleweight fight.

Fowler, 163.5 lbs of Liverpool, ENG won by scores of 99-91, 99-92 and 99-93 and is now 16-2. Maciej, 163.6 lbs of Lublin, POL is 27-4-1,

Wardley Stops Martz in 2

Fabio Wardley remained undefeated with a 2nd round stoppage over Daniel Martz in a scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout.

In round two, Wardley dropped Martz with an overhand left-right combination. Wardley scored a 2nd knockdown when he landed a left to the side of the head, and the fight was stopped at 30 seconds.

Wardley, 234.5 lbs of Ipswitch, ENG is 13-0 with 12 knockouts. Martz, 266.2 lbs of Clarksburg, WV is 20-10-1.

Hatton Stops Ducker in 6

Campbell Hatton remained undefeated with a 6th and final round stoppage over Joe Ducker in a lightweight bout.

Hatton dominated the action until the bout was stopped at 2:23.

Hatton, 136.2 of Manchester, ENG is 6-0 with two knockouts. Ducker, 136.7 lbs of Loughbrough, ENG is 9-9-2.

Kid Galahad won the vacant IBF Featherweight Title after stopping Jazza Dickens in a rematch from eight-years ago, at the Matchroom HQ in Essex, England.

Galahad beat up Dickens throughout the bout as he cut Dickens over the left eye as early as round two. Galahad continued to win rounds, as the cut worsened on Dickens. Dickens was deducted a point in round ten for stepping on the foot of Galahad. With the face of Dickens looking like a bloody mess, the fight was halted in the corner after round 11.

Galahad, 125 4/4 lbs of Sheffield, ENG is now 28-1 with 17 knockouts. Dickens, 125 1/4 lbs of Liverpool. ENG is 30-4.

“I’ve been waiting 19 years for this and it’s finally here, I’ve finally got it – IBF Champion of the World,” Galahad told DAZN. “Not a little bit, the whole world. This doesn’t say regular champion, this says World Champion. People can think what they want. I come to fight. I’m a full time professional, I don’t take no days off. Jazza Dickens will become a World Champion 100%. Without a doubt, he’ll become a World Champion. I’m just over the moon.
 
“Thank you Eddie Hearn. If it weren’t for Eddie Hearn I wouldn’t be in this position right now. Thank you to DAZN. I’m just over the moon man. Brendan Ingle told me that I’m going to win everything from Super-Bantamweight up to Lightweight. Nobody believed me and everyone doubted me when I said I’d become Word Champion. Before I met Brendan, I would have probably been locked up in jail. He was the only person that gave me hope. If it wasn’t for boxing, Eddie Hearn, DAZN, Brendan Ingle, my mum I’d probably be locked up or dead. 
 
“Naseem Hamed, I met him at the local mosque. I said to him, ‘Naz, I want to be a World Champion like you’. He told me if I wanted to become a World Champion I needed to go and find Brendan Ingle at the St Thomas’ Boxing Club. The rest is history. I went and met Brendan and that’s it. 
 
“Every single day two busses. 45 minutes. I used to get up at 5.45 to get in for 6.45. Every single day from the age of 12-years-old. When I was 15 I moved out of my area. Brendan told me I’d end up locked up or dead if I stayed in that area. I lived in a crappy house at the bottom of the road with about five other boxers. There were rats and everything. I used to have a mattress on the floor. I lived there from the age of 15 until I was 20 and I got enough money to get my own house. 
 
“My mum is over there somewhere. She’s over the moon. We’ve come from nothing. Hopefully I make a few quid out of this and get her a nice house, and get out of the area. I’m going to dominate the division. I always told Eddie I was going to dominate this division. I will make sure that I clean up this division. Nobody is going to beat me. I just beat the guy who beat Leigh Wood. This says IBF Champion of the whole World. This is not a regular title.”

Wardley stops Webb in 1

Fabio Wardley remained undefeated with a 1st round stoppage over Nick Webb scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout.

Wardley hurt Webb with a hard right hand that backed Webb into the corner. Wardley landed a couple more punches that sent Webb down, and the fight was stopped at 2:30.

Wardley is now 12-0 with 11 knockouts. Webb is 17-3.

“It was a big one for me because this was a good test,” Wardley told Matchroom. “He was coming off a good win and we had to just make a bit of an impact, make a bit of a statement. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t the cleanest performance but sometimes you’ve just got to grit these ones out and get it done. I proved the difference. I proved that I can take a shot and keep moving like I proved against Molina. You can hit me and I’ll still come back at you with full force. He caught me a few times but it doesn’t faze me, I keep moving and I’ll move to take you out. 
 
“I wasn’t going to let him off the hook. That’s something that we’ve been building on, that killer instinct – to notice and pay attention to when you’ve got someone going. I think in my last few fights I’ve been getting that going. When I hit someone and I see that little chink in their armour, I’m going in and I’m getting the kill. 
 
“I respect every fighter that’s ever stepped in the ring because it’s a dangerous sport and anything can happen. I had to do what I did to get Nick in the ring in the first place because I’ve been chasing Nick for a year. I had to switch up my approach and go for the more aggressive stance and call him out and call him a few names. It’s all for the love of the sport at the end of the day. I respect everyone that gets in there. 
 
“I think I’ve made the most out of every opportunity that’s been put in front of me. I’ve never said no to an opportunity that Ed has given me. I’m becoming increasingly more difficult to match because me, Dill and the team, we don’t say no. If you want to meet me in the ring I’m happy to go there, let’s go. It feels like a dream, it feels like a weird rollercoaster and I’m just running with it. I’m just loving what I’m doing and I’m staying focused. 
 
“I’ve won the English and I’ve defended it; I think that’s me done with it now. Moving forwards for the British, Commonwealth, European – those types of belts are what I’ve got my eyes set on next and obviously Joe (Joyce) is holding onto them. He’s going to be moving on, he’s trying to move to that world level and he’s going to want to drop them sooner or later. I’ll be there ready and waiting.”

Babic Stops Bennett After 5

Alen Babic remained perfect by stopping Mark Bennett after five rounds of their scheduled eight-round heavyweight bout.

Over the course of the fight, Babic beat up Bennett by landing many heay shots. Bennett was competitive early, but after round three, Babic hurt Bennett repeatedly and the fight could have been stopped any time over rounds three, four or five. Bennett’s corner mercifully pulled the plug on the contest after round five.

Babic, 210 lbs of Zagreb, CRO is 8-0 with eight knockouts. Bennett, 272 1/2 lbs of Duncanville, ENG is 7-2.

After the fight, Babic successfully proposed to his girlfriend.

“I feel great,” Babic told DAZN. “Thank you for having me, it was a very very tough fight. I didn’t expect that – I’ve got to say that. All kudos to him. He’s a very very tough warrior, a legit warrior. I threw maybe 100 power punches at his head, and I have knockout punches, so it was a very tough and competitive fight. I thank him for that. 
 
“Left, right and I was like, ‘fall, it’s your time to fall’, but he just didn’t want to fall. He really caught me with a few ones. He didn’t catch me flush because I always bob and weave but he’s a very tough man and I respect him. 
 
“This guy was 30kg heavier than me and you saw what happened, he wasn’t stronger in that ring. I can do everything. I’m here to represent the little people who can’t do nothing. I am just little like them – the smallest Heavyweight alive! You can do it if I can do it, I’m nothing special. I just put my mind to it. If you put your mind to it, there’s nothing you can’t do.”

Fisher Stops Whitaker in 2

Johnny Fisher remained undefeated with a 2nd round stoppage over Danny Whitaker in a scheduled four-round heavyweight bout.

In round two, Fisher dropped Whitaker with a right hand. Seconds later, it was another right that put Whitaker down to a knee. Fisher jumped on Whitaker and landed a barrage of punches that forced a referee stoppage at 1:08.

Fisher, 238 1/4 lbs of Rpmford, ENG is 3-0 with three knockouts. Whitaker, 259 1/2 lbs of Silsden, ENG is 4-4.

“It felt fantastic, especially in front of some of my supporters here,” Fisher told Matchroom. “In the future we’ll get a lot more in. It was great to have that little taste of what the future can hold. Respect to Danny Whitaker, a great man and a great opponent. I’m ready for the next step. I feel like I prepared better for this fight than any of my previous fights – especially with Mark being back. I’ve got a great assistant trainer in Steve Andrews. We’ve got a long way to go but I’m in a good place. 

“My mum and dad are here, and my brothers are here. It’s brilliant. My little sister is at home. We’re going to have a nice Chinese now and celebrate. I think it’s the confidence that you can take from knowing that you have prepared well. Lennox Lewis sent me a message before my debut, ‘the more I prepare, the less I worry’, and that was testament to the work that we’ve been doing in the gym. 

“I’ve definitely calmed down from the second fight. I think it’s different when you’ve got someone with a winning record in there. I’ve got a long long way to go to calm myself down and box on the back foot, but I know I can box on the back foot because I’ve showed it before in sparring. Doing it in the ring is another thing and that’s why we have a process. I’m only 22-years-old and I’ve got to build. You’ve got to stay humble and you’ve got to stay ready. 

“We all know in our area about Mark Tibbs and his dad and how great they are. It’s not just that he’s my boxing trainer, we’re good friends and we get on really well. He said to me once that it’s like we’ve known each other forever and it is. It’s brilliant to be working with someone who is such a legend in the sport. Boxing is a very brutal sport and it can end at any time for anyone, especially at Heavyweight. You’ve got to have respect for all of your opponents. You’ve got to be ready for anything, and the best way to be is to be honest.” 

Bridges Stops Connolly in 3

Former world title challenger Ebanie Bridges was impressive in stopping Bec Connolly in round three of a scheduled eight-round bantamweight bout.

In round three, Bridges landed a hard uppercut that was followed by a flurry to the head that sent Connolly to the deck. Bridges then landed a hard overhand right that was followed by a left to the jaw that forced a referee stoppage at 1:22.

Bridges, 118 3/4 lbs of New South Wales, AUS is now 6-1 with three knockouts. Connolly, 118 lbs of Swindon, ENG is 3-10.

“To be back here in the UK, and to win and get my hand raised is amazing,” Bridges told DAZN. “Las time I was unlucky, although I still got a good reception. It was good to get in here and get my hand raised for my fans. I had a few people here supporting me so shout out to everyone that came. I saw you there with your Aussie flags and I appreciate you. It feels great.
 
“Winning is what it’s all about. It’s all good having the fanbase and the social media presence but if you’re not winning it can only go so far. Winning is important. It feels good. She was more difficult in the sense she was holding and a bit rough on the inside. That was new for me. I’m not used to people holding. 
 
“I thought I would finish it in the later rounds. I knew I would break her down. I was just aiming for her body for the first few rounds because I wanted to break her body down so I could open her up to the head, and that’s exactly what we did. That’s what our plan was. 
 
“By the third round I already had her hands dropping from going to the body and then that’s why that right hand was landing. That’s the one that stopped it. Obviously I want the rematch with ‘Shanny’. That’s what everyone wants, not just me. I know I want it, the fans want it, I’m pretty sure Eddie Hearn wants it. The only one that doesn’t want it is her. 
 
“Hopefully she wants it, but then again she’s on her journey and I’ve got to focus on mine. I don’t hold my breath. The ball is in her court, and if she doesn’t take it, I suppose it looks a bit like she’s running.
 
“To all my fans and everyone that supported me tonight – I hope you enjoyed it. I love being back in the UK and I love being on DAZN. It’s a great platform as well with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom so a big thank you to them. This is just the comeback.”

Aqib Fiaz remained undefeated with a eight-round decision over Kevin Baldospino in a super featherweight bout.

Fiaz, 131 3/4 lbs of Oldham, ENG won by a 77-76 score and is now 7-0. Baldpspino, 131 1/4 lbs of Miranda, de Ebro, SPA is 9-6-2.

“I’m just glad to be back after such a long layoff,” Fiaz told Matchroom. “It’s good to get back in there and get the win. It wasn’t my best performance, but I got the win most importantly. It was emotional to get back in there, especially here as well. It meant a lot to me. I had to come in and do my job no matter what.

“It wasn’t my best performance. We’re going to go away and look at the mistakes I made, then we’ll definitely work on them and be better next time. Even going into the last round, I felt I did enough to win. It was probably the right decision yeah. He was a tough man. I hurt him a couple of times and he stuck in there and dug in. Credit to him.

“I expected to be better than that, and I definitely am better than that. I need to be better than that. The fight didn’t go the way I wanted to. It’s about learning, and I feel like that’s a good learning fight. I’m definitely better than that, I just need activity. The more time I’m in the ring, the better I’ll be.

“I’ve had a lot going on, and my team have had my back. They’re like father figures to me. They’ve been there for me when I’ve been at my lowest. I’m here today because of them. Ten months is probably the longest layoff that I’ve ever had in my amateur career and pro. It’s good to be back, but let’s be back soon.”

Dillian Whyte got his revenge as he stopped former world champion Alexander Povetkin in round four of a scheduled 12-round fight and win the WBC Interim Heavyweight title at the island of Girbralter.

Whyte rocked Povetkin from the outset as the former champ looked unsteady on his legs in almost every round. In round four, Whyte landed a big right hand that sent Povetkin sprawling into the ropes, and a wicked left hook sent a prone Povetkin down to the canvas just as the towel from Povetkin’s corner came flying in and the fight was stopped at 2:39.

Whyte was knocked out by Povetkin last August, but now the Englishman is back in line to get a world title shot. The 247.2 pound native of Brixton, ENG is 28-2 with 19 knockouts. Povetkin, 228 lbs of Russia is 36-3.

“I’m happier for my team than I am for me because some of my staff missed Christmas with their families,” Whyte told Matchroom. “They stayed back to help me train. They did so much behind the scenes to get me into the position for a World Title fight.

“I was so close, and then one lapse in concentration and I made a mistake. Tonight, I was like ‘yo’, I’m looking to beat some a** tonight. I was trying to get it done in the first round but then I had to relax. Anybody on the planet that gets hit with that left hook, they’re going down. Some of them might get up but most will stay down. He was kind of badly hurt. Now I feel bad. I want him to go home to his family healthy. 

“Everyone says a lot of things about me like I’m not this and I’m not that. These guys don’t know me. These guys don’t know what I’m capable of and what I can do. When I read the comments about me, I just laugh. I just laugh at these guys because I’m as strong as steel.

“One loss, two loss so what. It was a good learning fight for me because I had to think in there. I was rushing him but I had to think also. He’s still very heavy-handed and he’s still very good. I’m going to spend some time with my family and just relax. I’ll probably call Eddie tomorrow and ask him what we’re doing next. I want to make the most of it now and retire good and healthy.”

Wardley Stops Molina in 5

Fabio Wardley remained undefeated with a fifth round stoppage over former two-time-world title challenger Eric Molina in a scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout.

In round five, it was actually Molina who was pushing Wardley back by landing some good right hands. Molina was on the offensive when Wardley landed a short left that was followed by a right that put Molina on his back for the 10-count at 52 seconds.

Wardley, 232 lbs of Ipswich, ENG is 11-0 with 10 knockouts. Molina, 251.5 lbs of Texas is 27-7.

“My corner weren’t too happy because sometimes I get a little bit, not lose my head, but I get a little bit bored of playing the long game and waiting it through in the tactics side,” Wardley told Sky Sports. “My heart won over a bit and I got stuck into a little bit of a war.

“I’m by no means the finished article. I’ve still got a lot to learn and that’s why we need fights like that because in other fights I’ve had where I’ve hit people, I’ve stuck it on them and they’ve gone missing. Molina didn’t go missing until we really had to dig it out.

“There was a few lessons there for us to watch back and for us to tick off. We’ll go back to the drawing board and figure them out. I needed this type of fight at this stage of my career. You can do it as much as you want in sparring and all of those type of things but it’s different when you get here under the bright lights.

“You need to test yourself in different ways and that’s what tonight was all about. I don’t go hunting for names, that’s not my style. I don’t go calling people out. I’m going for Titles, belts and accolades. That’s where we’re going next. We’re still trying to build and get those good level of opponents. At the same time, I’m now looking for that next step up. European, Commonwealth or British, something like that.”

Cheeseman stops Metcalf in 11

In a terrific back and forth brawl, Ted Cheeseman stopped previously undefeated James Metcalf in round 11 of their scheduled 12-round junior middleweight fight.

Both guys were hurt during the entertaining fight. Cheeseman seemed to have the fight in hand on several occasions, yet Metcalf would fight back with heart and desire each time. In round 11, Cheeseman landed a perfect left hook just as the bell sounded that sent Metcalf to the deck. Metcalf got to his feet, but stumbled forward, and the fight was stopped at 3:10.

Cheeseman, 154 lbs of Bernmondsey, ENG is 17-2-1 with 10 knockouts. Metcalf, 154 lbs of Liverpool, ENG is 21-1.

“Again and again I’m in exciting fights,” said Cheeseman. “I’m always in entertaining fights. I’m improving and maturing. I’m working hard in the gym. Everyone doubted me and thought that I had a lot of miles on the clock. I’m still fresh as a daisy, and again I’ve cemented myself as the number one domestic Super-Welterweight.

“I felt I won the first five or six rounds. I nearly had him out of there in the fourth. I thought to myself, ‘I’m not going to waste too much energy’. I used my experience and had a couple of rounds off. I don’t think he’d ever done the 12 rounds. Then it was time for me to step it up, bully him and push him back.

“It’s great to be in these fights because they’re entertaining. I’m looking forward to the future now. For a long while I was down, and everyone thought I was out. Now I’m flying again. The bookies had me as an underdog and a lot of people thought that I was going to get beat. I outboxed him, I outfought him and I knocked him out. I showed how good I am, and I showed how much I’ve improved.”

Campbell Hatton wins Pro Debut

Campbell Hatton made his pro debut and won a decision over Jesus Ruiz in a four-round lightweight bout.

Hatton, who is the son of former two-division world champion Ricky Hatton and is trained by uncle and former world title challenger Matthew Hatton won by a score of 40-36. Ruiz of Spain is 0-11.

“At first, I was a little bit disappointed in myself,” said Hatton. “I spoke to Matt and he’s always dead honest with me. A bit brutal at times. He said I could have done better but I definitely didn’t box badly. He said I boxed really well in patches and I should be pleased with it.

“There was a lot of pressure. I did the one thing I said all week that I didn’t want to do, I let the occasion get to me a bit. Now that occasion is out of the way, it can only get better. I’m pleased and I’m buzzing. It’s a dream come true. There’s no feeling like it. You always hear people say it on the telly. I didn’t realise how true it was.

“When the music started coming on, I think everyone could see how fired up I was. That’s probably what made me put the performance in that I did. I smothered myself a little bit, but I feel on top of the world. Eddie said there that I’d be out next on the Chisora undercard. I’ll have a couple of shandies tonight and then straight back into the gym next week. I think the second fight is going to be ten times better now I’ve got that first taste of things.”

McKinson Decisions Kongo

In a battle of undefeated welterweights, Michael McKinson won a 10-round unanimous decision over Chris Kongo.

In round one, McKinson dropped Kongo in round one with a left on the inside.

McKinson, 146.2 lbs of Portsmouth, ENG won by scores of 97-93, 96-94 and 95-94 to raise his mark to 20-0. Kongo, 147 lbs of Bermondsey, ENG is 12-1.

“I feel on top of the word,” said McKinson. “I’ve done things the hard way in my career. For many years I’ve been calling for my shot on the big stage and I never thought it would happen. I’ve been beating people for hardly anything to work my record up to 20-0.

“Fair play to Chris, Dillian and Eddie for giving me the opportunity. I didn’t think it was ever going to happen. A big shout out to my management team MTK Global and Lee Eaton for securing me this. I believe that my career starts tonight. There was a lot of people in the boxing world that didn’t have me down as the favourite. All of my mates have made money tonight! I’m happy. I’m bringing this belt back to Portsmouth.

“In the week we’ve had a lot of hype around this fight. Everyone has been talking about it. I know he’s a respectful lad deep down, and so am I. But it did get a bit heated and everyone was questioning if it was going to live up to the hype. I think it was a bit boring, but I did what I had to do to win. Great champions do what they have to do to win and I did that tonight.

“I hope Eddie can give me the opportunities; its winner stays on. I just hope I can get on one of these shows again. Like I said in all of my interviews before, Chris is the most dangerous Welterweight out there I the UK I believe but he has his weaknesses. I believe in myself. I’ve got a great team around me. I’ve given my life to this sport and it’s paid off tonight.

“I believe I’m top of the tree. There’s a lot of talk. I’ve got respect for all of the other Welterweights. Josh Kelly, Conor Benn and Florian Marku. It’s a great time to be a Welterweight domestically at the moment. I deserve the Conor Benn fight more than any other domestic fighter.”

Webb Stops Pfeifer in 2

Nick Webb stopped Paul Pfeifer in round two of a scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout.

In round two, Webb sent Pfeifer down with a hard right hand. Webb dropped Pfeifer two more times, and the fight was stopped at 1:51.

Webb, 262 lbs of Surrey, ENG is 17-2 with 13 knockouts. Pfefier, 246.2 lbs of Germany is 7-1.

“I feel on top of the world,” said Webb..“Tonight before we went in we had a talk – start fast, get him out of there, we don’t get paid for overtime.  

“Everyone doubts me, but I have come here and made a statement. So, don’t doubt me no more. I want more belts, more Titles, get me out. I always believed in my self and my team believed in me too.

“It’s indescribable. I’m so happy. I’ve been through so much pain and hurt. I put everything into that. Everything into my training camp. To get a win like that is sending the right message. It’s a big win.

“Pfeifer is a great man; he was a great amateur and he had some great fights and great wins as an amateur. We knew what was in front of us, and we knew that we didn’t want to get involved with a boxing match. I just wanted to go in and destroy him.

“We said in the changing room to start fast and hit him quick, and that’s exactly what we did. Everyone overlooks me and everyone doubts me. It’s all about self-belief and mind games. When you’ve got bombs to back the mind games up, it’s all good.”

Conor Benn remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over Sebastian Formella in a welterweight bout at the SSE Arena in London, England.

It was a solid performance out of Benn, who bloodied the left nostril of Formella as early was round two.

Benn, 147 lbs of Illford, Essex won by scores of 100-91, 99-91 and 99-92 and is now 17-0. Formella, 147 lbs of Hamburg, GER is 22-2.

“I just stuck to my boxing,” Benn told Matchroom. “I was hitting him with some hard shots. The guy just went 12 rounds with Shawn Porter and I think I beat him more convincingly. I didn’t lose a round. It was an okay night’s work. I’ve had harder spars than that. I’m not being funny. I’ve been sparring with Middleweights and Super-Middleweights in 18oz gloves. They wear 14oz gloves and I wear 18oz gloves. When it comes to punching power, if I’m not going to bang them out, I’ll wear them down.

“He’s a former World Champion and I expected nothing less. I stayed cool and composed the whole ten rounds. I could have done 15. I’m barely breaking a sweat now. He tried it on the inside and I beat him to the punches on the inside. He tried it at range and I beat him to the punches at range. I was quicker, faster and stronger. People think their experience is going to get to me, what experience? Jussi Koivula got banged out in two rounds and if they want to go ten or twelve I’ll outbox them for ten or twelve. 

“People will always question me because of my vulnerability. I’m hungry like I come from the ends. I’m hungry like I came from nothing. I fight like a starving man. You don’t need to come form poverty, come from having nothing, to be a great fighter. I have a great life. I live such a blessed life, but I still fight like a starving man because of that championship mindset, that hunger and will to win. 

“I’ve just beaten No.23 in the world, a former IBO World Champion. I’m pushing on. The only domestic fight I’m interested in, the only domestic fight that the public keep talking about, not Instagram, is the Josh Kelly fight. That’s the only fight I’m interested in. If not, get me Samuel Vargas. Get me some of these top Yanks, I’ll have a bit of them. The only domestic fight I’m interested in is Josh Kelly. Let’s have it.”

Fabio Wardley remained undefeated by stopping Richard Lartey in round two of their scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout.

Wardley pawed with a left and then landing a booming right that sent Lartey down and the fight was stopped at 1:22.

Lartey needed some oxygyn, but seemed alright.

Wardley, 230 lbs of Ipswich, ENG is 10-0 with nine knockouts. Lartey, 258.1 lbs of Accra, GHA is 14-4.

“The first round took some adjusting,” said Wardley afterwards. “I like to use that first round to gather information, figure out my opponent, see where gaps are, see what’s going on. Just analyse the whole situation. I did that, took a few shots doing it but that’s all part of the game. A bit of that chin check thing was ticked off for me. I can take a bang and it’s not going to give me too much bother. We got through that first round and I figured out what I was going to do from then onwards. 

“I stung him with a few jabs and I always saw that those gloves came straight up in front of him. I fought sting him with one and come around the side. That was the plan and it came off perfectly. Nobody is ever going to grumble at an early night’s work. I get to go back and chill out now. I need to start getting those rounds in and get tougher tests. I’ve ticked that box of ‘do I have one punch power?’. 

“The comparisons are always going to come. Does me knocking out Lartey quicker than Daniel Dubois mean I’m better than him? Does it mean I’d do the same to Daniel? Boxing isn’t that cut and dry. There’s a lot more to it. I take it for what it is. I beat Richard Lartey in two round and I’m happy with that performance. I did well and that’s all you take from it. We keep moving and we keep working.”

Alen Babic kept his perfect knockout streak alive by taking out Tom Little in round three of their scheduled eight-round heavyweight bout.

Babic had a tremendous unrelenting workrate. In round three, Babic put Little down with a right hand, but Little went down more from exhaustion. Later in the round, Babic landed a chopping right that put Little down flat on his back and the fight was stopped at 2:38.

Babic, 213.8 lbs of Zagreb, CRO is 6-0 with six knockouts. Little, 235 lbs of Hatfield, ENG is 10-9.

“My Savage Army, I never lie to you,” Babic told Matchroom. “If I tell them I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it. I said I would do it in the first round and it should have been in the first round, he was well prepared. He could take a punch. I think I broke both of my knuckles on his head. I can feel it. He can take a punch. “Nobody can go three rounds with me. I had fuel in my tank for twenty like that. Filip Hrgovic bet against me, I’m so glad he lost money on me. He is my fellow Croat, we live like 2km away from each other. He bet against me. That just shows he doesn’t know shit about boxing. He doesn’t know the history of boxing. He’s just a technical guy, a very good technical guy. As soon as the fans come back, I want him. 

“I’m going to take Tom back to my Savage Army because he’s a good guy. He’s a good fighter but he’s not even close to my level. He’s two stone heavier than me. and I want you to write that down. I box every day. I don’t do anything out of the ring. My training is old school, boxing, sparring and pads. Just that. I didn’t do a single push up or pull up. 

“I’m not faking anything. Hrgovic is a fake. I’m real and I want to fight. I like fist fights. I think it was a beautiful fight. I want to give people entertainment. That’s who I am and I’m always going to be like that. Unless somebody tests me I’m going to keep knocking them out. Give me a strong puncher, a knockout artist. You’re going to see the sweet science. I can do it. I can punch and I have stamina. I have a strong head, you can’t beat that with muscles.”

Jez Smith won a decision over previously undefeated Ben Ridings in a six-round super middleweight contest.

Smith, 166 lbs of Harrow Weald, ENG won by a 60-54 score and is now 12-2-1. Ridings, 165 lbs of Bury, ENG is 3-1.

“I’m over the moon,” Smith said afterwards. “I can’t put it into words. I had a game plan and I knew what I was going to do. I knew I had a good game plan so I stuck to my boxing. I think it was a dominant performance. The referee didn’t give him a round. If I can box like that and do that when I’m not even 30% fit,  imagine what I can do when I’m fully fit. I took this fight on five days’ notice, I’m not taking anything away from Ben, I knew I was levels above him. I’ve hardly been in the gym. I’m going to dedicate myself to this craft. I’m going to be back with another win on my record. 

“I’m a fighting man. As soon as I got the call to fight live on Sky Sports on a massive bill like this I jumped at the chance. I’ll fight anyone. I’m going to get back down to Light-Middleweight. Me and Ted Cheeseman have unfinished business from the amateurs. Me and him had a fight called off after one round as there was fighting in the arena. That would be an electric fight with fireworks. If he wants it he can have it. I’ve put myself on the map so hopefully I can start being used on these big shows more. 

“I knew tonight was my night. I knew I had to go in there and put on a boxing performance. I believe that’s what I did. He hardly touched me. I claimed every round. I think this is the biggest arena that I’ve fought in so far in my career. I’m ecstatic and over the moon. I just want to say a massive thank yo to Eddie Hearn and Matchroom for giving me this opportunity. I’ll be ready for the call when it comes again.”

Liam Davies stopped Sean Cairns after round six of their scheduled 10-round bantamweight bout.

Davies battered Cairns over the six-round battle.

In round five, Cairns began to bleed from the nose, and his right started to swell. After the 6th, the corner stopped the bout.

Davies, 118 lbs of Telford, ENG is 8-0 with three stoppages. Cairns, 118 lbs of Liverpool, ENG is 7-3.

“And the new English Bantamweight Champion sounds good,” Davies told Matchroom afterwards. “It is music to my ears. I’m just happy. I knew I could do it. It was just about getting in there and getting the job done, making sure that everything went to plan. I felt like it did tonight.

“I still had a lot left in the tank. I wasn’t slowing down for nothing. I was building up the pressure and putting my punches together. You’ve got to give it to him, he’s as tough as anything. He kept coming and coming! That’s why I didn’t go mad with it. I respected how tough he was and how game he was. Full respect to Sean and I wish him all the best in the future. 

“I’d give myself an eight out of ten. I know there’s still more to come from me. I just hope I get the chance to come again and show another level because this is just the start for me. I’m looking to build and get more belts around my waist. 

“The show in Telford didn’t go ahead but I landed on my feet fighting live on Sky Sports here wining my first title. This is a memory that I will never forget and hopefully something that we can build on. I don’t fold under pressure. If anything, I rise to it. I rise to the occasion and next time I’ll rise again with a bigger and better performance for another belt hopefully. That’s the plan. 

“I’m here to impress and I felt like I did tonight. I did what I intended to do. I won in style. Most people would have gone over. I hit him hard and you’ve got to respect him for taking those shots. I don’t think most Bantamweights could have taken that power. Roll on whoever is next because I’m coming now.”

English Heavyweight Champion Fabio Wardley is expecting a hard night’s work from Richard Lartey when they go to war in a scheduled ten-rounder on the Benn vs. Formella undercard this Saturday, shown live on Sky Sports and DAZN. 

The rising Ipswich star (9-0, 8 KOs) stopped Simon Vallily in three rounds of their highly-anticipated grudge match to pick up the vacant English Title – his first professional belt – on the opening weekend of Matchroom Fight Camp back in August. 

Dillian Whyte’s Heavyweight protégé hasn’t put a foot wrong since turning professional in April 2017, and the 25-year-old feels like he is ready to push on towards more Title opportunities following his breakout win in the Matchroom HQ garden. 

Next up for Wardley is big-punching Ghanaian Lartey (14-3, 11 KOs), who in his last two fights has gone to war in a fourth-round stoppage loss against British Champion Daniel Dubois, and extended the highly-rated Nathan Gorman to a points decision in October. 

“I didn’t really have to take this kind of step-up,” said Wardley. “I could have taken something easier. These are the type of moves that I want to make. I want to test myself to see where I can go and what I can get out of this sport. Lartey always comes to fight so we’re going to put on a good performance.

“He’s durable and he can be a bit crude from time to time. He’s always there to fight and to put it on you. When he turns up, he’s there to take your face off. He’s swinging those big hooks and big rights hands. If you don’t get out of the way they’re going to clock you. 

“That’s what we’re looking for from him, someone who’s coming in and won’t be scared of anything. We know he can take a punch, so when I land those big shots on him, I know he’s going to keep marching forwards at me. It’s going to be a good test to see how I handle that in the ring. 

“We want to start moving on to those bigger rounds, those bigger fights and those bigger names. We want to keep pushing forwards and moving on. I’m always there to finish my opponents. I don’t ever want to leave it to the judges. That’s what I’ll be looking to do against Lartey. As long as I put on a good performance and finish him off I’ll be happy.”

Wardley vs. Lartey is part of a big night of action in London, ‘The Destroyer’ Conor Benn (16-0, 11 KOs) takes a big step-up against Germany’s former IBO Welterweight World Champion Sebastian Formella (22-1, 10 KOs), ‘The Savage’ Alen Babic (5-0, 5 KOs) meets Hatfield’s Tom Little (10-8, 3 KOs) over eight rounds, Donnington’s Liam Davies (7-0, 2 KOs) battles Liverpool’s Sean Cairns (7-2, 1 KO) for the English Bantamweight Title and BenRidings (3-0) meets Jez Smith (11-2-1, 5 KOs) over six rounds in a Middleweight contest.