Ringside Report’s Fight Report of Recent Results and Upcoming Bouts Around The World
By Donald “Braveheart” Stewart
UK – biggest and most notable
What a weekend…
Of disappointment…
First of all, on Saturday the 2nd of October, in Wembley, there was no return of Chris Eubank Jr. With his original opponent, Sven Elbir testing positive for COVID-19, a late replacement was found in Anatoli Muratov, who is handily ranked number 7 by the WBA. The British Boxing Board of Control, however, then announced that they were unable to allow the fight to go ahead as they had not enough time to medically clear Muratov – there did appear to be some issue over his medical certificates. Eubank Jr. was bamboozled but it means that we hope to see him later this year. The one worry is that Junior is now older than when Senior retired… and has yet to fight for one of the major four belts. Time is ticking…
Under the radar
The night before, on Friday the 1st of October, the charm of heavyweight Dave Allen also did not return as the fight night in Sheffield disappeared and we had no fight so ponder… The day before, it was still on BoxRec!
International – most intriguing
What did happen on Friday the 1st of October, in Lombardi, Italy, was that lightweight Francesco Patera stopped Devis Boschiero for the WBO intercontinental crown in the 3rd round. Boschiero was badly cut but was also outfought. As he is part of Matchroom Italy, Patera’s suggestion that he should come across to the UK to take on the new IBO champion, Maxi Hughes, which he made right after winning on Friday, seems a damn good idea! Will Hughes be able to do what Lewis Ritson failed to do and beat Patera on UK soil?
International headline in the UK
Then came the night when we should have been debating the progress of Eubank Jr. Saturday the 2nd of October, and the headline act on his bill, became the EBU welterweight fight which had the unbelievable Russian David Avanesyan take out Liam Williams in only 3 rounds. There was a huge amount of hype around Avanesyan, and he has had a tilt at a world title before, against Lamont Peterson in 2017 – which came after he beat Shane Mosley for the interim belt in 2016. His opponent, Liam Williams, was not lacking in confidence but was unable to halt the juggernaut that Avanesyan produced. The stoppage may have been premature, but caution was not to be thrown to the wind. Williams could perhaps have continued but it would not have been for much longer. Avanesyan, the Russian resident in England with an English trainer who understands him more than most, but who is himself a steady fixture in UK boxing, more known for journeyman than world champions, Carl Greaves is a huge fan of Avenesyan’s style and impact. It is a match made in heaven and not hell. Next up is a journey which has caught alight – it’s an exciting time ahead…
Fast Forward – the week to come
UK – biggest and most notable
This Saturday, the 9th of October we have the super welterweight non-title fight that sees two big names in Liverpool face off against each other – Liam Smith – one of the famous four Smiths – takes on Anthony Fowler. This is a domestic fight that has us all on edge. Fowler, once the darling of emerging Matchroom fighters takes on Smith, one of four British champions from one family and former world title holder who has shared a ring with Canelo. For some, Smith may be seen as on his way down, has plenty to prove. His last fight, in Russia, where he lost in a decision so disputed it could have been arranged by AIBA, is unlikely to be laying down for anybody. For me, this is a Smith win as Fowler has the ability but has yet to grow into being the fighter, we all hoped he was. Right now, we are seeing quite a few on the UK domestic market who fit the “flattered to achieve” model. And it is a weekend for that to be proven…
Under the radar
Also, on Saturday the 9th of October and on the same bill, former contender, and previously highly touted Matchroom super welterweight, Ted Cheeseman – another boxer who has not reached his potential, yet – is looking for further redemption in a British title fight which should be tough, against Troy Williamson. A couple of years ago this would have been a Cheeseman win without anyone breaking sweat, least of all the man himself. Now, having admitted to a gambling problem which took his earnings from his pocket oftentimes before it ended up in his pocket, we are doubting if we can fully believe that it will be Cheeseman to win. An easy prediction in the past, but Williamson smells a chance – the intrigue is whether he shall take it…
International – most intriguing
Can there be anything else on the planet to talk about but on Saturday the 9th of October in Las Vegas baby!! It’s Tyson Fury, now, the only British heavyweight world champion, making it a trilogy against the former WBC heavyweight champion, Deontay Wilder. After the Joshua defeat, we are now staring down the barrel of a massive night designed to showcase the class and the ability of Mr. Fury. Will he get caught or shall we just see the Gypsy King, take his next step to the glory at its highest?
Tyson Fury has, in the past, been a tough man to love especially after he became world champion by beating Wladimir Klitschko. His opinions about gay men in particular were appalling. His redemption, after battling against addiction and the mental health problems he has spoken about so earnestly, has been inspirational. Added to that has been his reaction to the Joshua loss which was sheer class. It was humble and it was full redemption. He is not talking anything, but “Wilder is a danger to me.” Fury is the best heavyweight on the planet. On Saturday night in the US and the early hours of Sunday morning in the UK, I have little doubt he shall prove it… I hope… Because… What could possibly… go wrong…
International headline in the UK
Also, on Saturday the 9th of October in Magdeburg, Germany, the IBO light heavyweight title fight is between Robin Krasniqi and Dominic Boesel. This has a lot of interest for the likes of Callum Smith who has just joined the division though he shall be looking at the bigger belts after the astonishing and brutal way he announced his arrival on the light heavyweight scene last month or Callum Johnson who also fights this weekend for another “world” belt. Krasniqi has the greater name recognition, but this could be exactly how we saw Liam Smith – a fighter on his way down, dropping down the ranks but unlike Smith, this may be exactly what is happening to Krasniqi…
Mentioned in dispatches…
It’s all Saturday the 9th of October around the world and in the UK as we have, on the undercard in Las Vegas, the WBC continental heavyweight fight between Efe Ajagba and Frank Sanchez that is attracting huge amounts of attention. At Wembley, lightweight Natasha Jonas is back whilst WBA world champion Shannon Courtenay defends against Jamie Mitchell. In Birmingham, on the same night, light heavyweight Callum Johnson is in for the WBO Global belt against Server Emurlaev, the Commonwealth and British welterweight fight is between Ekow Essuman and Danny Ball whilst the EBU, Commonwealth and British belts are on the line in the fight at super bantamweight between Brad Foster and Jason Cunningham. There are 65 other contests, Friday to Sunday throughout the rest of the UK!
Future History – and the week to follow…
UK – biggest and most notable
Saturday 16th October
We have Savannah Marshall defending her WBO title at middleweight against Lolita Muzeya – both unbeaten, in Newcastle as an undercard fight…
Under the radar
Saturday 16th October
This is the headliner for the Newcastle bill – live on Sky Sports – as heavyweight one time world titlist Hughie Fury, cousin of Tyson, with his father Peter, former trainer and still uncle of Tyson’s faces Christian Hammer to get some rounds in and his name more prominently mentioned.
International – most intriguing
Saturday 16th October
Usyk needs beaten, Lomachenko was. There is a queue of people looking to beat Usyk, but nobody thought Teofimo Lopez would beat Loma. But he did. And now he defends his WBA, IBF and WBO belts against George Kambosos Jr. in Brooklyn.
International headline in the UK
Friday 15th October
Night before and in San Diego, Emanuel Navarrete takes on Joet Gonzalez for the WBO featherweight title.
Mentioned in dispatches…
In Riga, cruiserweight Mairis Breidis takes on Artur Mann, in Fresno there are two light flyweight title fights – for the WBO belt between Elwin Soto and Jonathan Gonzalez and for the WBA crown between Esteban Bermudez and Jesse Rodriguez whilst in Newcastle, Lewis Ritson returns at super lightweight – is his future at European level and not above or is there more to come from him? No longer attached to Matchroom where he was a future prospect and world champion… Another promising British fighter until he faced that European champion who fought in Milan last week, Francesco Patera. Patera looks like a world title contender, what is there for Ritson to tilt at?
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