With the much anticipated return of the special one we will be taking a deep dive into the stacked undercard that will preface the main event and give my thoughts and predictions for the fights taking place this weekend. There are several interesting fights taking place with both some of British boxing’s most colourful characters alongside some of its most serious prospects. We will start from the bottom of the card and work through all the way to the moment we hear the familiar “all of the lights” and Sheffield’s finest gets back in the ring.
Callum Beardow, Donte Dixon and John Docherty
The card kicks off with three young prospects who take on journeymen as either the early fights or as floats across the card. Beardow is a local Sheffield boy and “the vanilla gorilla” as he is nicknamed, will be looking to move to 2-0 in front of his hometown crowd. Dixon is a Sheffield fighter too and looks to go 2-0 against the 2-2-1 Nicaraguan Eduardo Valverde. Docherty is one of Scotland’s new hot talents, more experienced at 7-0, he takes on 12-14-1 Czech fighter Stanislav Eschner. I have grouped these together as I have no expectation of an upset but it is worth watching these guys if they end up on TV as they could well be stars of the future.
Anthony Tomlinson v Stewart Burt
Anthony “The Truth” Tomlinson is a two time central area welterweight champion and the current IBO continental welterweight champion. He for me is one of the top prospects out of Sheffield at the moment and coming off his stunning 6th round stoppage of the always tough Rob Hunt. Hunt, a 6 foot tall welterweight with a 26-5-1 record, was by far Tomlinsons toughest test to date and despite some shaky moments he produced a stunning Left hook KO to win his first international trinket. He takes on 13-1-1 Scottish area title winner Stewart Burt, from what little footage I can find of him I don’t think he will cause Tomlinson too many issues. I will predict another mid round stoppage win for the Truth as he powers on in front of a wild hometown crowd.
Hopey Price
“Drago” is for me the hottest British prospect with less than 5 professional fights. The youth Olympic gold medalist and youth world championship silver medalist is now trained by acclaimed trainer Dave Coldwell. He is learning the ropes of the pro game on the biggest stage having boxed on the undercards of the two biggest fighters in both the male and female sides of the sport, Katie Taylor and Anthony Joshua. Slick, accurate, confident and still only 19 Price is surely one to keep an eye on as he grows into his adult strength.
Martin J Ward v Jesus Aparan
Former British, European, commonwealth and WBC international champion Martin Ward is back in the ring continuing his run back towards title contention after losing in a stunning fight with James Tennyson in 2018. His run is now 4-0 following that fight, taking him to a total of 23-1 as he takes on tough Mexican Jesus Amparan. Amparan is 16-1 with 14 knockouts and will therefore be another tough test for Ward as he looks for a world title shot in the ultra competitive super featherweight division. I think this will be competitive but ultimately I think Ward will have enough to get the job done in a 10 round decision.
Dave Allen
The White Rhino, The Doncaster De La Hoya, Papi de la Rhino, the fighting pride of Conisbrough, the people’s champion and Danny Murrell’s real dad, there truly is only one, Dazzling David Allen. Everyone’s favourite stand up comedian/ heavyweight contender is back out in a 6 rounder looking to get back on track after his 10th round stoppage loss to David Price. I expect and hope for nothing less than an emphatic stoppage from Allen, whomever ends up standing in the opposite corner.
Eva Walhstrom v Teri Harper
With WBC and IBO women’s featherweight titles being contested for you could argue this bout is the most prestigious taking place on this card. Newly crowned IBO champion and local lass Teri Harper has been on a tear of late going 9-0 with 5 KO victories with a brutal back and forth affair to win her title from Viviane Obenauf in November of last year. She faces a tough test however in Eva Walhstrom. At 23-1 the Fin has only ever lost to the person most consider the best female fighter of this era in Katie Tayor and has prevented her immense skills in the ring. Despite her 23 wins though only three are by way of stoppage, this to me suggests she lacks the power and finishing instinct of Harper, something that will be the defining factor for me as I pick the 23 year old Brit to get the job done over the 10 2 minute rounds.
Kid Galahad v Caludio Marrero
Unlike the boxer in the Elvis movie from which Barry Awad draws his famous moniker his career hasn’t just been up up and up. Shooting to 18-0 under the tutelage of hall of fame trainer Brendan Ingle he looked to be the next Big thing before testing positive in 2014 for banned substance stanozol. After serving a two year ban he continued to work toward a title shot eventually earning a shot at fellow Yorkshireman Josh Warrington’s IBF featherweight crown in June last year. Negativity and tentativeness however ultimately lost him the fight in the eyes of the fight as although probably the more technically gifted fighter he failed to throw enough punches to win the rounds. There was controversy however as many thought he did enough to win the fight and I’m sure this will be a source of confidence for Barry as he goes into this weekend’s final eliminator. The man in the opposite corner will be veteran Dominican Claudio Marrero, former WBA interim and IBO featherweight champion. At 24-3 he is a legitimate challenge for Galahad but having lost 2 of his last four, (admittedly to fringe world class opposition) I think I still favour Barry to collect his usual UD victory.
Then it will be time for the main event, Kell Brook against the American Mark DeLuca, a measuring stick to see where Kell is at in his career and where he will stand going forward in the currently wide open 154lbs division.
Ewan Breeze of SimBoxx🥊
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