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Fight Report – ‘Mighty’ Mitchell Beats Murray In Style – Burns Retains WBO Crown.

By Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro

On Saturday night at the Echo Arena in Liverpool young guns Kevin Mitchell and John Murray had a true Western style shoot out.

From the moment Dagenham gunslinger Mitchell confidently moseyed his way into the arena to the chants and  jeers of Manchester’s top gun Murray’s fans it was clear that this was a very different ‘Mighty’ from the one that was gunned down big time by Aussie shootist Michael Katsidis last year.

Mitchell’s resolve and intent was obvious to all, no more was he willing to play second fiddle to Murray. Right from the off he dug into his fully loaded arsenal to let rip with a pin point accurate double handed flurry. Murray shrugged of the initial assault and walk the Londoner back onto the ropes before launching an equally vicious attack of his own.

Dipping and swaying Mitchell avoided virtually everything Murray threw at him before slickly stepping aside and letting rip with a series of punishing hooks to the body. The resilient Mancunian responded as only he can, standing his ground, absorbing each rib cracking shot and timing his counters to perfection, but Mitchell was more than just ‘Mighty’ he was already beginning to look magnificent as he secured the first round.

The second was another cracking round. Mitchell seemingly using his superior body work to slow the ever forward moving Murray, that is until about midway through when Murray lands one of his massive rights. Mitchell reels back to the ropes and yet another Murray double handed salvo rains down on the Londoner. A close round but Murray just about nicks this one in my book.

Right from the opening bell of the third Murray starts hunting down his quarry. Mitchell attempts to keep him at bay with crisp jabs but it just slows the raging bull down for a second or so. Mitchell dips back into his arsenal and pulled out a couple big powerful rights, only for Murray to respond with a double handed assault of his own. Moments later Mitchell turns the table and backs Murray onto the ropes and lets rip with a massive double handed salvo that sees out the round.  It was another seriously closely fought round, but I felt Murray had just done enough to make it his own.

The fourth sees a good old fashioned toe-to-toe slug fest open up the proceedings. Murray launched big Bertha round, whilst Mitchell mixed it up and firing off a series of rocket powered uppercuts and hooks, to both body and head. In the dying seconds of the round Murray backed up the Londoner to the ropes again, Mitchell avoided everything Murray threw at him before sidestepping and turning the tables, backing Murray to the ropes, and launching a big double handed salvo until the final bell. No doubt in my mind the was ‘Mighty’ Mitchell’s round one hundred percent.

The fifth sees Murray walking down Mitchell, but this time instead of dipping and swaying his way out of trouble the Londoner responds with a series of three punch combination of uppercuts and hooks to the body which appear to have a major effect on Murray. Mitchell is quick to notice this and turns the heat up letting rip with wicked body shots, uppercuts and double handed salvos to the head which start to slow the ever advancing Murray. An easy round to call in Kevin’s favour, but don’t go thinking it was one way traffic, it wasn’t.

The effects, to Murray’s face, of the previous round were clear to everyone as he came out for the sixth, there were noticeable dark swellings under both eyes. Mitchell was quick to notice these and set his sights and let off a series of exocets to the head each time Murray came within range. A real ding dong battle ensued, Mitchell letting rip with hooks and big right hands whilst Murray responds with megaton bombs and short sharp rights to the side of Mitchell’s head. What a round it was pugilistic heaven and far too close to call.

Round seven sees Murray charge like a raging bull closing down MItchell before launching a series of seriously hard jabs and big rights, Mitchell responds with yet more double handed exocets to the head. By mid round Murray’s face is looking like a train wreck. In the dying seconds it looked like Murray was heading to Boot Hill, Mitchell lands a massive Nuke that sends Murray reeling and rocking, but before ‘Mighty’ Mitch zoned in for the kill the bell tolled. Sure I don’t have to say this was Mitchell’s round.

Again Murray charges forward from the opening bell, but the moment he came into range Mitchell launched yet another exocet before moving in to let rip with a massive uppercut followed by big double rights, Murray responds in similar vein and an all out war ensues, which abruptly ends with a massive left hook that sends Murray face down to the canvas. Murray makes the count but Mitchell is on him in a flash and lets rip with another wicked combination that rocks Murray to the core and left the referee no option but to stop the fight after just one minute and forty six seconds of the round.

Prior to Mitchell-Murray Scotland’s Ricky Burns defended his WBO Super Featherweight World crown in emphatic fashion against former champ Dagenham’s Nicky Cook.

Perhaps my ‘emphatic fashion’ statement may seem a little too much for some because of the serious back injury Cook received following the very first exchange of the fight, but I feel it’s the correct term because of the perfectly executed body shot, followed by a hard right to the head that preceded, and possibly caused the injury.

After the first exchange Cook crashed to the deck in a twisting motion, which is without doubt what caused the injury, and instantly was in distress. Showing the heart of a lion Cook decided to continue but within seconds was on the deck a second time. Clearly in distress Cook managed to get to his feet for a second time to bravely fight on, but not for long as the very next exchange see him sent to deck for the third time by a big left.

In an instant Cooks corner threw in the towel – well not so much a towel it looked like a handkerchief to me – and both corners and the paramedics rushed to assist him. After a short delay the stretcher was bought into the ring after which Cook was taken to hospital.

Preceding Burns-Cook the highly anticipated Tony Bellew-Ovill McKenzie rematch, of their December 2010 thriller, took place.

Prior to fight Bellew had stated that he was looking to box the full twelve rounds. Well you can’t say that Bellew isn’t a man of his word because that’s just what we got.

I have to admit I was really looking forward to this bout, expecting an all out slug fest with a couple of knockdowns thrown in for good luck – you know just like their previous encounter.

The first three rounds see McKenzie trying to force Bellew into a fight but he seemed content to stick to the game plan and not get drawn into a slug fest, instead using his jab to keep the forward coming McKenzie at bay.

There were a couple of moments of note such as late in the second when McKenzie threw a stinging right and on other occasions where Bellew would counter with a nice left-right. The three rounds were close but I felt that McKenzie had not been the busier but also threw more meaningful shots.

There was a little more real action in the next two rounds. Following a beautiful exchange, reminiscent of their first encounter, Bellew let rip with a cracking hard right followed by a solid left to gain centre ring for the first time. As the round progressed possession of the centre ring switched back and forth a few times. Both were close fought affairs but I felt that Bellew had landed the more meaningful shots to take the rounds.

McKenzie came on strong, in the sixth, backing Bellew up before letting rip with a salvo of exocets that rocked the Merseysider. I have to admit Bellew’s resilience was impressive, those shots would have surely floored a lesser man. It wasn’t all one way traffic though as Bellew loaded a few good shots but I felt that McKenzie had done enough to secure the round.

After a couple of first class exchanges round seven was a quiet and fairly even affair, in comparison to the previous rounds.

Round eight was clearly Bellew’s, who started strong letting off a couple of heavy rights. His jabbing was sharper and the right hand venomous. This was more like the Bellew we all know.

Round nine was a bit of a scrappy and close affair with very little meaningful action from either.

The tenth was another fairly slow round, that is until Bellew exploded into action with a wicked double handed attack, to which McKenie responded in kind. Late on Bellew turned the wick up and became more forceful, however I still see this round for McKenzie, just.

Round eleven was another fairly slow close round, this time though I couldn’t really split them.

The twelfth and final round initially shaped up to be quite lively, however these two know each other way too well thanks to the last meeting and as such it quickly turned into a magnificent game of chess type affair and stayed that way until the final bell.

I was quite surprised when the judges scores were read out as a unanimous 119-110 and 118-111 (twice) points decision in favour for Tony Bellew. I know that many of the rounds were very close and could have gone either way but to my view not that many to give such a clear victory in his Bellew’s favour.

The first title fight of the night see Curtis Woodhouse challenge ‘Funtime’ Frankie Gavin for his WBO Inter-Continental Welterweight title.

The fight starts off quite edgy with former professional footballer Woodhouse controlling centre ring, Gavin seems content to just play off the jab for most of the round. Action highlight of the round was when Gavin came in off the jab to let rip with a cracking combination to the body. Very close round, could go either way.

Frankie steps things up and takes control of centre ring in the second  early in the second, again the highlights of the round mainly see Gavin letting rip with crisp sharp combination to the body of Woodhouse. Late in the round Woodhouse turned the tables and landed some solid body shots. Another close round but I felt Gavin had done the better work.

Continuing the good work from late in the previous round, Woodhouse takes the fight to Gavin via some good stiff jabs and solid straight rights. Gavin responds with a peach of an uppercut. As the round progressed Woodhouse went on the hunt again and landed a cracking left-right combination ending with powerful hook to the body. Woodhouse finished strong but even so I still see this as Frankie’s round.

The fourth was a bit of a messy round with neither doing anything special until  Gavin turns on the style and starts picking his shots to claim the round as his own.

‘Funtime’ continued his good work in the fifth through to the tenth round to control centre ring and keep the gutsy Woodhouse at bay. The best action came late in the sixth after Woodhouse lands a cracking right to

Gavin’s head. This seemed to wake up ‘Funtime’ who responds with a choreographed flurry of body shots. All rounds were Gavin’s in my view.

Round eleven sees Woodhouse step up things and land big rights at will early on. Gavin responds with some nice hooks to the body and so begins a round full of top class back and forth action. It was a great close round, I personally see it as Woodhouse’s but could so easily have gone in Gavin’s favour.

The twelfth and final round see Gavin turn on the ‘Funtime’ style. Some great toe-to-toe action mid-round. In the dying seconds Gavin shook Woodhouse to the core with a big right but was unable to finish him off before the bell rang.

Surprisingly the result was deemed a split decision with 114-115, in favour of Curtis Woodhouse, and 117-112 and 116-113 in favour of Frankie Gavin.

Preceding the big four championship bouts see Ellesmere Port’s Paul ‘Baby Faced Assassin’ Butler take on Sheffield based Kuwaiti Anwar Alfadli in a four round Bantamweight contest.

 

Alfadli started the better of the two and took the fight to the Merseysider, it took young Butler the first couple of minutes to suss out Aldadli’s awkward style, but when he did he made the round his own with some exceptional body-head combinations.

Having found his way around the Kuwaiti’s style Butler really turned on the style to dominate the bout, and pick his shots at will to cruise to a well deserved 40-37 points victory.

 

Joe Selkirk’s middleweight battle with Terry Carruthers lasted slightly longer the Burns-Cook fight.

Selkirk sent Carruthers to the deck with a vicious left hook in the opening thirty seconds of the round. Carruthers makes the count but Selkirk is all over him like a rash letting rip with a double handed salvo of big shots. No surprise referee Michael Alexander quickly jumps in to stop the fight on the one minute fifteen second mark.

Unfortunately due to a ‘travel problem’ I arrived at the Echo Arena midway through the Ronnie Heffron versus Barry Jones bout and as such had missed a large part of the undercard. But have to say I was mightily impressed with the slickness of the promotion and the hospitality I and all the journos received from Warren Promotions, especially  Francis Warren and Richard Maynard.

 

Other results

Ronnie Heffron beat Barrie Jones (6 x 3 – 60-56 points)

Rocky Fielding beat Jamie Ambler (6 x 3 – 60-56 points)

Callum Johnson beat Lee Duncan (4 x 3 – 40-36 points)

Craig Evans beat Scott Moises (Technical Decision, round 5 – 50-46 points)

John Loveday beat Howard Daley (4 x 3 – 40-36 points)

Mike Stafford beat Paul Morris (4 x 3 – 40-37 points)

 

Photo Credit: Andrew Millwall

WORLDWIDE WEEKLY BOXING PREDICTIONS LEAGUE

 

By Rio

Graham Earl To Showcase Local Fighters On His  31st July ‘Renaissance’ Show

 

With the rematch of his classic 2007 ‘Fight of the Year’ encounter with Michael Katsidis firmly on hold for the foreseeable future, Graham Earl is keeping busy by presenting his third event of the year, ‘Renaissance’, which will take place in his home town of Luton on Sunday 31st July.

Heading up the card at the ‘Renaissance’ event are a pair of Graham Earl’s prodigies, Stevenage’s  Terry Holmes and Belfast’s Joe Hillerby.

Terry Holmes has proved to be nothing short of sensational on his three previous outings, his last outing, against Jason Nesbitt at York Hall in May, is a fine example of the Stevenage teenager’s battling spirit

Holmes started strong and took the fight to the much more experienced Nesbitt. Each attack by him was met with strong resistance, Nesbitt countered with precision forcing Holmes to rethink his fight plan. It was a close round but Holmes had done the better work to earn the points.

Round two see Nesbitt take a leaf out of Holmes’ book, by starting fast and taking the fight to the Stevenage man. This worked to Holmes’ favour, Holmes is a classy boxer and Nesbitt’s new tactics allowed him to turn on the style. The later half of the round was all Holmes who plain boxed Nesbitt’s head off.

Round three and four produced more of the same, with Holmes utilising his superior boxing skills to easily secure the rounds, and the bout as the referee declared Holmes victorious by a shutout 40-36 points margin.

Belfast’s big hitting Joe Hillerby, will also be getting his fourth outing. Hillerby has also made quite an impact since turning pro in October last year. No surprise really, after all he’s an all action heavy hitter with a knockout finish, as proved on his debut against Gavin Putney, which lasted just 43 seconds!

His second fight, against tough battler Ryan Clark, went the full distance and proved to be one of the most exciting action packed fights of the night at Graham’s excellent ‘Capital Punishment’ event  back in January.

Hillerby’s third bout, against last minute replacement Bheki Moyo – and I do mean last minute as Moyo took the bout with less than ninety minutes notice after the original opponent failed to show -  also went the distance, although it did look like the ‘Belfast Banger’ may have been showing his appreciation, for the game Earl’s Court based South African stepping in to save the fight, as it looked like he could have stopped Moyo on a couple of occasions but pulled back.

Joining Terry Holmes and Joe Hillerby on the show is Luton based Floridian Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Oshundrinde, who will be looking to get his career on track, following his loss, due to retirement after injuring his hand, to Tichfield’s Danny Couzens back in May.

On the 31st Oshunrinde, who is coached by Barry Smith at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in London, will be facing Jahmaine Smyle for the second time in his fledgling career.

Their first meeting, at the magnificent ‘Capital Punishment’ event in January, had a highly contentious finish which see Oshunrinde robbed of his first win on British soil, when the referee declared the bout a technical draw and not the clear first round stoppage finish it was, following the fight being stopped due to a serious cut over Smyle’s right eye.

‘Renaissance’ will also feature the debut  of  three of Graham Earl’s newest signings, Luton’s James Smith, Hatfield’s Tom Little and Donegal’s Danny Mulhern.

Tickets, priced £30, for the Graham Earl Promoted ‘Renaissance’ event at Liquid Nightclub, Gordon Street, Luton on Sunday July 31st 2011 are available on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com

 

PHOTO

Terry Homes lets rip against Jason Nesbitt at York Hall in London

Joe Hillerby in action against Bheki Moyo at York Hall in London

PHOTO CREDIT

Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro

London, UK, Gzira, Malta & Philadelphia, USA

Tel: (UK) +44( 0)208 166 5694

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By Rio

London – Friday, 3rd June 2011

Graham Earl – We’re finally there, Earl-Katsidis II Agreed.

Earlier today Michael Katsidis and his manager Brendon Smith issued a statement saying that an agreement had been reached with Graham Earl and that the long awaited rematch of their epic 2007 encounter will take place in Queensland, Australia later this year.

Their first encounter, for the WBO interim Lightweight  title, took place before a packed house at Wembley Arena. The fight rightly earned the 2007 Fight of the Year honours as the fans were treated to a full on battle royale. For five action packed rounds the pair traded punches. Both tasted the canvas, Earl three and Katsidis once before Graham’s corner retired him on the stool.

Earlier today Graham responded to Michael and Brendon’s statement, “Yeah, brilliant, we’re finally there. Once we’ve got the contracts and we’ve signed them it’ll be all systems go.

We’re looking at the end of August or early September but no later than the first week of September. Location wise I’m not a hundred percent sure other than it will be in Queensland.

I know that there are a lot of doubters out there and obviously I can’t blame them.

With regards to the loss to Henry Castle that was purely down to a fighter shouldn’t have to train himself and having no sparring. To be honest with you it wasn’t very professional and that’s what that all came down to.

I know that there are a lot of doubters out there that are saying ‘no you shouldn’t fight you’ll get hurt’ and that, but most of these people have not been in the ring before.

People get hurt when they don’t do the weight and cut out the fluids and food. I’ve been there and see it happen. But I’ve always done it right and I will always do it right.

I’ve been training, I’ve been ticking over myself. I didn’t want to go jump the gun until it’s a hundred percent done deal. We’ve been here before, maybe once or twice before and it’s gone off.

Now it’s finally here and it’s really going to happen so now I’ll sit down and start putting it together and work out what we want to do.

I can’t wait to avenge my loss of 2007. It’s going to be another war, I have no choice on that as it’s the way Katsidis fights. To be honest with you it’ll be a tough, tough fight but I found it quite easy fighting that way last time.

I’ve seen that fight so many times in my head there wont be any half heartedness from me. I’ll make sure that and give the fans the fight they want and deserve.”

An announcement, giving the date and location of the highly anticipated rematch, is expected shortly.

PHOTOS

Graham Earl

PHOTO CREDIT

Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro

JustListen2This Publicity & Promotion

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By Rio

London – Friday, 27th May 2011

Graham Earl: Official Statement on Michael Katsidis Rematch

Earlier today the internet was buzzing with the news that Earl-Katsidis II is possibly on the cards. The news broke after Michael Katsidis posted on his official website a statement regarding an e.mail to Michael’s manager Brendon Smith from Graham Earl, challenging Michael to a rematch of their 2007 Battle Royale.

With the approach now very much out in the public domain Graham today issued the following statement. “Ever since our last fight together I was promised a rematch and the chance to get my revenge.

Obviously I understand that there were obligations from that fight and he had the opportunities to move on.

He got the win that night. He put me down a few times then I put him down. We were having a war in the fourth and fifth and I believe I won those two rounds and the fight was in the balance at that stage. If the fight had continued I believe I would have won.

Last time it was in my own back yard, this time it looks like it may be in his. I love the challenge and will do the job properly and get the result.

A lot of people are saying that Graham Earl is finished, what they forget is that I fought at such a high level, I was a Championship fighter. I didn’t fight that many four rounders in my career they were mainly ten and twelve round Championship fights.

I recently opened my own gym and started my own promotions business, but I’ve always remained training. The last three months I’ve stepped the training up, I’m pushing myself that bit harder and I intend to go into full training for this fight shortly. I’ll be more than ready.

Most fights these days are not great at all, people are paying good money and not getting the fights they deserve.

Earl-Katsidis II will give fans the kind of fight they want and deserve. It would be a great fight and I believe the public deserve this fight to go ahead. “

Further announcements regarding the the proposed Earl-Katsidis II are expected from both Michael Katsidis and Graham Earl in the near future.

PHOTOS

Graham Earl at the York Hall in London earlier this year

PHOTO CREDIT

Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro

JustListen2This Publicity & Promotion

London, UK & Philadelphia, USA

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Latest Boxing News – Tue 23^rd November for: Drian Francisco, WBA convention, Freddie Roach, Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez, Michael Katsidis, Andre Berto, Freddy Hernandez, Edwin Rodriguez, Carl Froch, Celestino Caballero, Nkosinathi Joy,William Gare, Nonito Donaire, Sakio Bika, Joel Brunker, Andre Ward.

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• WBA#1 super flyweight Drian Francisco ( 19-0-1, 15 KOs) of the Philippines will challenge for the vacant WBA interim title against WBA#2 Duangpetch Kokietgym (52-1-1, 21 KOs) over twelve rounds at the Bueng School, Bueng Kan, Nong Khai, Thailand on November 30. Francisco manager Elmer Anuran is confident his charge will be victorious against the more experienced Thai. “Kokietgym has a great record only losing one fight early in his career in a a total of 54 fights he has had,” Anuaran said.

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• The 89th annual WBA convention had its welcoming cocktail party tonight poolside at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Managua, Nicaragua. While many delegates were still arriving throughout the day, the WBA directorate was already bust with a private day-long meeting in preparation for the events that lie ahead this week.

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• Trainer Freddie Roach is not too fond of a possible fight between Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley. He feels the fight would play out in the same fashion as Pacquiao’s last bout with Antonio Margarito, who was beaten up and battered for twelve rounds at Cowboys Stadium on November 13. — “Shane is a great guy and stuff like that, but if you look at his last fight [against Sergio Mora], it wasn’t too exciting. I mean it’s…the same result [as Margarito]. Who cares [about fighting Mosley]? I mean really….who cares? We don’t take anyone lightly. Make a deal and get us an opponent and we’ll get ready for anybody. If he fights you, we’ll get ready for you,” Roach said to BoxingScene.com’s Bill Emes. — “I want him to fight Marquez. I want Manny to finally shut his mouth. I think it’s a good fight and this time Manny would knock him out.” (Source Boxingscene).

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• Manny Pacquiao has no problems with facing WBA/WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez as long as Pacquiao gets a guaranteed purse. Pacquiao is convinced the fight won’t sell for some reason and is worried that it will actually lose money instead of making it. Why Pacquiao thinks this is unclear, because he’s faced two less than popular Top Rank fighters Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito, and both of those fights have made a lot of money.

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• Juan Manuel Marquez Vs. Michael Katsidis — It’s a tripleheader feast for boxing fans when World Championship Boxing: Juan Manuel Marquez Vs. Michael Katsidis, Andre Berto Vs. Freddy Hernandez And Celestino Caballero Vs. Jason Litzau is presented live Saturday, Nov. 27 from MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, exclusively on HBO.

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• Andre Berto vs. Freddy Hernandez — WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto (26-0, 20 KO’s) will be taking on Freddy Hernandez (29-1, 20 KO’s) this Saturday night on the undercard of the Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Michael Katsidis bout at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada. This will be Berto’s 5th defense of his World Boxing Council title.

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• Edwin Rodriguez sparring with Carl Froch – Following two dominant ShoBox stoppages, Edwin Rodriguez (17-0, 13 KOs) drew the attention of Carl Froch (26-1, 20 KOs) and his trainer Robert McCracken. Just days after an exciting ninth-round TKO over James McGirt Jr. on the Nov. 5 telecast of ShoBox: The New Generation, Froch and McCracken flew Rodriguez across the pond to help them prepare for the Super Six World Boxing Classic clash with Arthur Abraham (31-1, 25 KOs) for the vacant WBC Super Middleweight title on Saturday, Nov. 27, on SHOWTIME

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• Joyi’s IBF title defense postponed — Nkosinathi Joyi’s defense of his IBF minimumweight belt against Katsunari Takayama of Japan has been postponed as the promoters are still trying to arrange financial backing for the tournament that was scheduled to take place on Saturday at the Nasrec Indoor Arena near Johannesburg. Joyi’s first defense of his belt could now possibly take place on December 14. The promoter Branco Milenkovic of Branco Sports Productions in conjunction with Siphato Handi of Mamali Productions have still not finalized the television broadcasting rights and at this stage there is a possibility that the fight will not be screened.

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• William Gare returns — World Boxing Federation super middleweight champion William Gare who has been inactive since August last year is scheduled to return to the ring on December 11 when he meets Roland Francis at the Wembley Indoor Arena near Johannesburg. - The 35-year-old Gare (25-14-1, 4 KOs) outpointed Francis (24-11-5, 14 KOs) in a clash for the SA middleweight title on December 5, 1999. Francis, 38, who has been inactive for eight years made a comeback this year when he fought to a six round draw and a ten round spilt decision over Alex Mbaya from the Congo.

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• On Monday, two-division world champion Nonito Donaire (24-1, 16 KOs) worked out in front of hundreds of fans that turned out at the Undisputed Boxing Gym in San Carlos, California. He is preparing to face former longtime WBA bantamweight champion Wladimir Sidorenko (22-2-2, 7 KOs) in a clash to be held at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calirornia on December 4 and broadcast live on pay-per-view. A victory by Donaire will set him up for challenging WBC bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel early next year.

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• Andre Ward and Sakio Bika participated in a national media conference call on Monday to discuss their upcoming world title fight on Saturday, Nov. 27, LIVE on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast) from Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. Ward (22-0, 13 KOs) will defend his World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight championship in front of his hometown fans for a second time against the tough, dangerous Bika (28-4-2, 19 KOs) of Sydney, Australia, via Douala, Cameroon.

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• WBO #9 featherweight Joel Brunker (16-0, 10 KOs) will clash with tough Australian based Filipino Robert Lerio (13-10-1, 5 KOs) over ten rounds at The Cube in Campbell Town, NSW, Australia on Thursday in a nationally televised contest. Brunker was impressive in his most recent contest in September when he stopped Carlos Lopez of Indonesia in two rounds.
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