LAS VEGAS (Feb. 7, 2022) — Cuban southpaw sensation Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez won a pair of Olympic gold medals for his homeland. He is now determined to add some professional hardware to his collection.

Ramirez (8-1, 4 KOs) will cross the pond to battle Irish veteran Eric Donovan (14-1, 8 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight battle Saturday, Feb. 26, at OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland.

Ramirez-Donovan will serve as the co-feature to the highly anticipated junior welterweight showdown between Scottish undisputed world champion Josh “The Tartan Tornado” Taylor and undefeated WBO No. 1 contender Jack “El Gato” Catterall.

Taylor-Catterall, Ramirez-Donovan, and additional undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+.

Ramirez has been training in Las Vegas under Ismael Salas and has been flawless since a stunning defeat in his August 2019 pro debut. In 2020, he won four fights inside the MGM Grand Bubble, including a shutout over Adan Gonzales, the man who edged him in his debut. He is coming off a career-best victory last October over the previously unbeaten Orlando Gonzalez. This is what Ramirez had to say at Salas Boxing Academy, less than three weeks before his bout with Donovan.“I’m happy to return as a professional boxer to the UK, the place where it all started for me as an 18-year-old winning my first Olympic gold medal at the 2012 London Games.”

“Two Olympic gold medals and what many consider a storied amateur career will mean nothing to me unless I achieve greatness as a professional. In many ways, I see this fight as an opportunity for the world to get to know Robeisy ‘El Tren’ Ramirez and for me to take a big leap in my quest to become a world champion.”

“There’s this longstanding stereotype of the Cuban fighter as highly skilled, yet boring. That is not my case. There’s a reason why they call me ‘The Train.’ I come forward.”

“I’m fast, strong, and I have the ring IQ to beat anyone in the featherweight division. February 26 on ESPN+ will be the platform from which I show the world that I am ready to contend for a world title.”

“On February 26, I will fight representing Cuba, my homeland, and the United States, the place that welcomed me and gave me the opportunity to fulfill my dreams as a professional boxer.”

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GLASGOW (Jan. 20, 2022) — Two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez will cross the pond to battle Irish veteran Eric Donovan in a 10-round featherweight battle Saturday, Feb. 26 at OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland.

Ramirez-Donovan highlights a loaded undercard before the highly anticipated junior welterweight showdown between Scottish undisputed world champion Josh “The Tartan Tornado” Taylor and undefeated WBO No. 1 contender Jack “El Gato” Catterall.

The entire Taylor-Catterall card will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+.

“Ever since that shocking loss in his professional debut, Robeisy Ramirez has shown why he was one of the top fighters from the 2016 Rio Olympics,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Robeisy fought all over the world during his amateur career, and we are thrilled that he will be able to showcase his skills for the Scottish fans.”

Ramirez (8-1, 4 KOs) is no stranger to fighting on British soil. At the 2012 London Olympics, he stunned the flyweight field as a 16-1 underdog to win gold. Ramirez won a second gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and defected from Cuba in July 2018. Following a split decision defeat to Adan Gonzales in his August 2019 pro debut, Ramirez has won eight straight fights, including a shutout decision win over Gonzales in their 2020 rematch. Ramirez shined on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder III undercard last October, dominating the previously unbeaten Orlando Gonzalez over 10 rounds. Donovan (14-1, 8 KOs), a one-time Irish amateur star from Athy, has won two fights since an August 2020 TKO loss to Zelfa Barrett.

Ramirez said, “Ever since I won my first Olympic gold medal in London, I’ve wanted to fight again in this part of the world. Scottish fans are incredibly passionate, and I can’t wait to put on a great show for them in front of a sold-out arena. My opponent is a tough Irishman, and I will be at my very best to come out victorious.”

In other undercard action on ESPN+:

• Nick ‘The Glasgow Warrior’ Campbell (4-0, 4 KO’s) and Jay ‘The Ghost’ McFarlane (12-5, 5 KO’s) will collide in a highly anticipated showdown for the vacant Scottish heavyweight title.
   
• A pair of Top Rank-signed prospects will make their respective professional debuts in six-rounders. Featherweight Kurt Walker won bronze at the 2017 European Championships, silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and gold at the 2018 EU Championships and 2019 European Games. Walker, who represented Ireland last summer at the Tokyo Olympics, lost to Top Rank stablemate Duke Ragan in a hotly contested quarterfinal bout. Junior middleweight Kieran Molloy, from Galway Ireland, won 11 national amateur titles and earned a bronze medal at the 2018 EU Championships in Valladolid, Spain. 

• Top Rank-signed welterweight sensation Paddy “Real Deal” Donovan (7-0, 5 KOs), from Limerick, Ireland, returns to action in a six-rounder. Donovan is coming off last August’s first-round knockout over Jose Luis Castillo.
   
• BOXXER Series junior welterweight winner Cori Gibbs (16-0, 3 KOs) will begin his new promotional deal in an eight-rounder.
• Rising female star Ebonie Jones (1-0) has her second pro fight against Effy Kathopouli over six rounds at junior featherweight. Portsmouth’s Jones, a former Team GB standout amateur and HGV driver in the British Army, made her pro debut last October with a points win over Vaida Masiokaite.
• Edinburgh cruiserweight ace Scott Forrest sets out on his professional journey when he makes his pro debut in a six-round contest. Born in South Africa, Forrest relocated to Forth, Scotland, as a five-year-old. He competed at the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games and has sparred former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

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GLASGOW (Dec. 14, 2021) — BOXXER and Top Rank have announced ticket on-sale details for the highly charged Scotland-England showdown between Undisputed Junior Welterweight Champion Josh “The Tartan Tornado” Taylor and WBO No. 1 contender Jack “El Gato” Catterall on Saturday, Feb. 26 at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow.

Presale tickets go on sale Wednesday, Dec. 15 at 12 p.m. GMT, followed by the public on-sale Friday, Dec. 17 at 12 p.m. GMT. Tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster.com or Boxxer.com/tickets.

Undefeated Edinburgh star Taylor (18-0, 13 KOs) defeated the previously unbeaten Jose Ramirez in May to unify the WBO, WBA, WBC and IBF World titles, becoming the first British boxer in the four-belt era to achieve the remarkable feat.

He now makes the historic first defense of all four belts against the dangerous and undefeated Chorley contender Catterall (26-0, 13 KOs), a former British and WBO Intercontinental Champion who is intent on dethroning Taylor and ending his reign.

Full undercard details will be announced shortly.

GLASGOW (Oct. 21, 2021) — Undisputed junior welterweight world champion Josh Taylor’s title defense against top contender Jack Catterall — originally scheduled for Dec. 18 at The OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland — has been postponed to Saturday, Feb. 26 at the same venue due to a knee injury Taylor suffered in training. 
 
Ticket and undercard information will be announced at a later date. The bout will be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports and streaming exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S.
 
Taylor said, “I’m gutted I won’t be able to defend my title on December 18 as originally planned, but I wanted to make sure I was 100 percent healthy to give my incredible fans the show they deserve. This homecoming has been a long time in the making, and it will be worth the wait. I will see everyone on February 26.”
 
“Everything happens for a reason! I am gutted not just for me but for everyone who had planned to go,” Catterall said. “I will remain professional and continue working for the new date. 2022, I will be world champion. Obstacles like this are nothing new for me. I will turn the frustration into positive energy.”

JACK CATTERALL is on a Las Vegas spying mission as he plots to become World Super-Lightweight champion.

Edinburgh’s IBF and WBA World champion Josh Taylor meets WBC and WBO title holder Jose Ramirez on Saturday and Catterall will be front row making sure the winner doesn’t duck out.

The winner has vowed to face WBO mandatory contender Catterall next after the Chorley man agreed to step aside and allow all four belts to be at stake in boxing’s capital.

Catterall, who boasts a pristine 100% record with 26 wins, no losses and no draws, said “I’m excited to be here for fight week.

“It is a massive fight, hopefully it is a good fight and I can let everyone know I’m serious about fighting the winner.

“I will do some training, sparring and ultimately watch the fight. After the weekend we will have a clear direction of where we’re going.

“I stepped aside on the promise that I will get the winner and I am under no illusion because anything can happen, but ultimately I have allowed them to create this big undisputed title fight.

“I have beaten everyone in front of me, done everything asked of me on my side.”

Catterall, 27, believes that a Taylor win will set-up a huge England v Scotland battle, but has doubts about Ramirez keeping his word if he triumphs.

“I hope Josh wins and hope he is a man of his word” added Catterall, who will spend two weeks in Las Vegas training.

“It’s been talked about Taylor having a homecoming fight at Edinburgh Castle and I am bang up for the challenge.

“I could be wrong and I hope I am wrong, but I don’t think Ramirez will give me an opportunity. I think he probably has other plans.

“Taylor has publicly thanked me for stepping aside and allowing this big fight to happen. Hopefully he can get the job done and we can get it on.

“I have been very patient and it’s been a long time coming, but I will be getting my crack.

“I’ve said it from the start, I think Taylor wins.

“Ramirez has improved, but is one dimensional. He has a big heart, will come forward but he is up against a southpaw mover who can get stuck in. He will face problems.

“Every meaningful fight I’ve had has been on the road. Tyrone McKenna I went to Belfast, Tom Stalker we were in Liverpool and Tyrone Nurse in Leeds.

“I don’t mind travelling and Edinburgh for a scrap would be brilliant. I have already planned English drummers to walk me out.”

In a highly anticipated heavyweight battle of undefeated fighters, Joe Joyce scored a 10th round stoppage over Daniel Dubois at The Church House, Westminster in London, England.

It was a highly competitive and high quality scrap with DuBois getting the better early as he landed some hard right hands that Joyce showed a terrific chin by walking right through him. Joyce was very effective with his jab.

In round five, the effectiveness of the jabs showed as the left eye of Dubois began to swell. Dubois was still able to get in some good shots, but towards the end of the ninth round, you could feel the tide beginning to turn towards Joyce.

The eye of Dubois was getting worse and worse, and finally in round ten, Joyce landed another hard jab, that made Dubois first paw at his left eye and then take two steps back to take a knee and basically submitted as he watched the referee count to 10 and the fight was over at 36 seconds.

Joyce, 258 lbs of Puttney, London is 12-0 with 11 knockouts. Dubois, 244.6 lbs of Greenwich, London is 15-1.

Sheeraz stops Pitto in 10th

Hamzah Sheeraz won stopped Guido Nicolas Pitto in the 10th and final round of their super welterweight bout.

Sheeraz rocked Pitto with a hard right. That set up a nine punch flurry and then three hard punches later, the fight was stopped at 1:11.

Sheeraz, 153.9 lbs of East London is 12-0 with eight knockouts. Pitto, 152.9 lbs of Barcelona, SPA is 26-8-2.

Number-one ranked junior welterweight Jack Catterall tuned up for a world title opportunity by winning a 10-round decision over Abderrazak Houya.

In round six, Catterall dropped Houya with a perfectly timed counter-left. In round nine, Catterall sent Houya down again with a hard left.

Catterall, 143.3 lbs won by a 99-90 score and is now 26-0. Houya, 141.9 lbs is 14-3.

David Adeleye stopped Danny Whitaker in round two of their scheduled six-round heavyweight bout.

In round two, Adeleye landed a right that dropped Whitaker. Seconds later, Whitaker was sent to the canvas for a 2nd time, and the fight was stopped at 2:09.

Adeleye, 219.4 lbs of London is 4-0 with all wins coming early. Whitaker, 260.1 lbs is 4-2.

Jack Massey won an eight-round decision over Mohammad Ali Bayat in a cruiserweight bout.

In round eight, Massey was cut over the right eye.

Massey, 201.6 lbs of Manchester, UK won by a 79-74 score and is now 17-1. Bayat, 200.7 lbs of Dubai i 16-2-1.

JACK CATTERALL HAS signed a long-term extension to his promotional relationship with Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions, one that has taken him from Central Area title level to the brink of world title success.

‘El Gato’, 27, linked up with Hall of Fame promoter Warren in 2014 and was speedily propelled into title contention against high calibre opponents. First the then unbeaten Nathan Brough was accounted for, via second round stoppage, to claim the Central Area belt, before decorated amateur and previously unbeaten pro Tom Stalker was stopped in the eighth three months later with the WBO European super lightweight title at stake.

The following year Catterall won the WBO Intercontinental title and has subsequently made eight defences of the belt to put himself into mandatory position for the shot at the full world title.

Inbetween times, the Chorley man won the British title by defeating Tyrone Nurse in October 2017 and scored notable victories over domestic rivals Tyrone McKenna and Ohara Davies.

Now 25-0, Catterall is awaiting a delayed shot at full world honours that has been held up, firstly due to former champion Maurice Hooker taking on and losing a unification fight against Jose Ramirez. The Californian was subsequently ordered to fulfil his WBC mandatory against Victor Postol before taking on Catterall, with the fight being held up due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Ramirez and Postol are reported to be scheduled to fight in August.

“I am delighted we have got a new deal done and I believe now is the right time to sign this new contract, having beaten everybody I needed to beat to get to this position,” said the stylish southpaw.

“I believe Frank is the one, along with BT, to deliver more big fights for me.

“Of course it will be great for us to see the job through together, from the Central Area through to the British and up to No.1 with the WBO. It will be nice to cross the line to being world champion with the promoter that has guided me all the way through.”

Promoter Frank Warren has long banged the drum for the quietly-spoken Catterall, confidently predicting his world title credentials all along.

“Jack joined up with us as a relatively unheralded prospect, but I quickly identified that he was one who could go all the way.

“He jumped straight into tough fights against unbeaten opponents and proved that he had something special about him, so we set about building his world ranking and he currently occupies the No.1 spot with the WBO and is mandatory challenger for the world title.

“I am delighted that he is sticking with us for the long-term so we can see the job through and enjoy many more successful nights in the future.”

WBO number ranked junior welterweight Jack Catterall won a 10-round unanimous decision over Timo Schwarzkopf at Caesars Palace Dubai.

Catterall of England own by scores of 100-91, 99-92 and 99-91 and is now 25-0. Schwarzopf is 20-4.

Vijander Singh beat up Charles Adamu over eight rounds by winning an unanimous decision in a super middleweight contest

In round four, Adamu was docked a point for headbutts.

In round six, Singh rocked Adamu with a right hand that forced the referee to administer an eight-count.

Singh of India won by scores of 80-68 on all cards and is now 12-0. Adamu is 33-15.

Muhammad Waseem won an eight-round unanimous decision over Ganigan Lopez in a super flyweight bout.

Waseem of Pakistan won by scores of 80-73 and 77-75 twice, and is now 10-1. Lopez of Mexico City is 36-11.

Thomas Patrick Ward remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over Martin Casillas in a super bantamweight bout.

Ward won by 80-71 scores on all cards and is now 29-0. Casillas is 20-12-1.

(Nov. 20, 2019) — WBO No. 1 140-pound contender Jack Catterall and Indian super middleweight contender Vijender Singh will co-headline a special edition of #MTKFightNight Friday from Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai.
 
Catterall will face Timo Schwarzkopf, while Singh will fight Ghanaian veteran Charles “The Crusader” Adamu in 10-round bouts.
 
Catterall-Schwarzkopf and Singh-Adamu will stream live on ESPN+, the leading multisport streaming service, beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET/7:30 a.m. PT.
 
Catterall (24-0, 13 KOs) is a mandatory challenger for unified champion Jose Ramirez, but he will have to wait until 2020 to receive his title shot. The former British champion had standout victories last year over domestic rivals Tyrone McKenna and Ohara Davies and is looking to maintain his ranking. Schwarzkopf (20-3, 12 KOs) is a nine-year pro who has never been stopped and has won two of his past three bouts.
 
Singh (11-0, 8 KOs) is a three-time Indian Olympian who won his nation’s first Olympic boxing medal at the 2008 Beijing Games. He made his Top Rank debut July 13 in Newark, N.J., knocking out Mike Snider in four rounds. Adamu (33-14, 26 KOs) has fought a plethora of top names during an 18-year career. He won the Commonwealth super middleweight title in 2009 and is coming off a third-round stoppage win in February.
 
In other action from Dubai:

• Former world title challenger Muhammad “Falcon” Waseem (9-1, 7 KOs) will battle former light flyweight world champion Ganigan Lopez (36-10, 19 KOs) in an eight-round super flyweight contest.
   
• Super bantamweight contender Thomas Patrick Ward (28-0, 4 KOs) will take on Mexican veteran Martin Casillas (20-11-1, 10 KOs), winner of four straight, in an eight-rounder. 

Golden Contract Super Lightweight Quarterfinals
Friday, 2:30 p.m. ET
 
The Golden Contract Super Lightweight quarterfinals, a single-elimination tournament presented by MTK Global, will kick off Friday from London’s York Hall at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT.
 
The eight fighters are as follows: former French and European welterweight champion Mohamed Mimoune (21-3, 2 KOs), unbeaten British prospect Darren Surtees (12-0, 8 KOs), Welsh super lightweight champion Kieran Gething (9-2-1, 2 KOs), Scottish fan-favorite Lewis “Kid Caramel” Benson (12-2, 2 KOs), unbeaten Hawaiian contender Logan Yoon (16-0, 12 KOs), former English lightweight champion Ohara Davies (19-2, 14 KOs), British Southern Area super lightweight champion Mikey Sakyi (8-2, 4 KOs) and WBC International super lightweight champion Tyrone McKenna (19-1-1, 6 KOs).
 
The quarterfinal draw was set Tuesday afternoon and will feature the following bouts: Gething vs. Benson, Mimoune vs. Surtees, Sakyi vs. McKenna and Yoon vs. Davies.
 
For more information, visit: www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook: facebook.com/trboxing; Twitter: twitter.com/trboxing.
 
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Daniel DuBois remained undefeated by stopping Richard Lartey with one right hand in round four of their scheduled 10-heavyweight fight at The Wembley Arena in London, England.

Both guys landed hard shots, but DuBois landed last and loudest as he drilled Lartey with a right to the chin that sent Lartey down in round four. Lartey got to his feet, but the fight was called off at 1:50.

DuBois will not take on fellow undefeated heavyweight Joe Joyce. DuBois is 11-0 with 10 knockouts. Lartey of Accra, Ghana is 14-2.

Sunny Edwards remained undefeated by stopping Pedro Matos in round eight of their scheduled ten-round super flyweight bout.

Edwards dominated and continued to break Matos down until the fight was stopped 20 seconds into the the eighth frame.

Edwards is now 11-0 with four knockouts. Matos is 7-2.

Lerrone Richards took a 12-round unanimous decision over Tommy Langford in a super middleweight bput.

Richards won by scores of 118-110, 118-111, 116-113 and and is now 12-0. Langford is 21-4.

World-ranked Jack Catterall in round three of their scheduled eight-round welterweight bout.

Catterall landed an uppercut that smashed the nose of Amador, who subsequently took a knee and the was halted at 1:12.

Catterall, 148 lbs is 24-0 with 13 knockouts. Amador, 147 lbs of Barcelona, SPA is 10-18.

Zak Chelli remained undefeated with a 10-round decision over Jimmy Smith in a super middleweight bout.

In round eight, Chelli dropped Smith with a body shot.

Chelli won by a score of 100-89, and is now 7-0. Smith is 7-2.

IF EVERYTHING PLAYS out according to plan, Jack Catterall would like to be contemplating a world title unification clash against Josh Taylor in the not too distant future.

There are several obstacles standing in the way of such a prospect at present, not least the fact that Catterall has got his mandatory challenge to the WBO world super lightweight champion Maurice Hooker to navigate past first.

Taylor, meanwhile, is heavily embroiled in the World Boxing Super Series, where the Scot is scheduled to take on Ivan Baranchyk for the IBF belt at the semi-final stage in Glasgow next month.

If successful, the Edinburgh man will face either Regis Prograis or Kiryl Relikh in the final, with the WBA belt also on the line.

Catterall makes Taylor the favourite to emerge from the series with the bounty.

“The World Boxing Super Series is going on in the background in the meantime and the favourites to win it in my book are either Josh Taylor or Regis Prograis,” reasoned the 23-0 Catterall ahead of his own return to the ring on April 27 at Wembley. “I do pick Josh over Prograis slightly, although I have not seen too much of the American.

“My ideal scenario would be for me to win my world title and Josh to win the WBSS. Then we could get together for a unification fight.

“I’ve thought about fighting Josh because I’ve got to be looking at all the guys in the top ten in my division. Everyone is with different promoters but these fights are always possible. For me it is an obvious fight for the future,” added the 25-year-old who clearly backs himself against the best the division has to offer.

“I have definitely got the beating of him and I think I have got the beating of all the guys if I prepare right.”

In the meantime, Catterall will keep busy ahead of his shot at Hooker with a slot on the card at the SSE Arena, live on BT Sport. It is an assignment he views as essential but one he must view with caution given that his big opportunity is firmly on the horizon.

“I am definitely happy and grateful for the opportunity to get a fight at Wembley because it will keep me in a good place physically and mentally. I am under no illusion going into this fight that I have got to treat every one like a world title.

“I’m hoping to pick up a good win on April 27 and really kick on from then. It is a catch 22 because I can’t sit on the fence, not be active and earn no wages until my shot. I’ve just got to get a win and go from there.”

Daniel Dubois v Richard Lartey tops the bill at the SSE Arena, Wembley on April 27 on a card that also includes the Commonwealth super middleweight title fight between Lerrone Richards and Tommy Langford, as well as the Southern Area super middleweight title clash between Zak Chelli and Jimmy Smith. WBO European super flyweight champion Sunny Edwards and WBO European super featherweight champion Archie Sharp also feature.

Chorley-boxer Jack Catterall will be in action as he edges ever-closer to a world title challenge. Rangy Super Welterweight talent Hamzah Sheeraz will be back out after his impressive win over Rod Douglas Jnr. Hard hitting middleweight and Peacock gym product Denzel Bentley (9-0) and Belfast amateur middleweight star Caoimhin Agyarko will also return to action. There is a Queensberry debut for Sheffield middleweight Shakiel Thompson (2-0) – with Thompson being tipped by sparring partner Billy Joe Saunders as a star for the future. Ilford Super Middleweight Umar Sadiq (4-1) also returns as he looks to rebuild after his first career loss. Tunde Ajayi trained lightweight Bilal Ali (1-0) will have his second professional fight after making a successful start to his pro career, with Hoddesdon super lightweight Alfie Price set for his fifth.

Tickets will be priced as £40, £50, £75, £100 and £150 and are now ON SALE to purchase via Eventim, Ticketmaster, the SSE Arena website and AXS.com

JACK CATTERALL IS hopping mad over being likened to an insect by his forthcoming world title foe Maurice Hooker.

The 25-year-old from Chorley – who returns to the ring at the SSE Arena, Wembley on April 27 – has worked his way into the mandatory challenger position for the WBO world super lightweight title held by the Texan Hooker.

The unbeaten Catterall undertook a little working holiday recently to watch Hooker make a second defence of his title against Mikkel LesPierre in New York, where the 29-year-old laboured to a points victory.

Since Catterall made himself known to ‘Mighty Mo’, the champion has acknowledged his challenge across social media by describing him as a ‘little grasshopper’.

Definition: A plant-eating insect with long hind legs which are used for jumping and for producing a chirping sound.

“He has since called me a ‘little grasshopper’ twice, which I am not happy about,” responded Catterall this week in his Fighter Diary posted on frankwarren.com.

“I don’t even know what he means by it or trying to get out of it.”

Insect references aside, Catterall is happy to have made the acquaintance of his future opponent and is convinced he will soon be parting him from his title.

“I treated it like a work trip, just in and out, because I am not a loud person and didn’t want to make too much noise.

“The way it unfolded went well for me, I got a bit of publicity from it and people know now that I am the No.1 contender. He certainly knows and I made a statement by travelling out to watch him, which I think was a smart move.

“I got to see him up close again for the second time and now I am even more convinced that I can beat him. I saw him before the fight, a couple of hours before the show started, and I wished him luck for the fight.

“So he knew I was there and then you will have seen the little clip in the ring when he got his victory. He let me know that I would be getting my shot at the title soon enough.”

The 23-0 Catterall, who calls himself ‘El Gato’, was not overly impressed with Hooker’s display against LesPierre after the champion was forced to make several return visits to the scales the day before the fight.

“Looking at the fight in comparison to when he beat Terry Flanagan, I would say that it wasn’t his greatest performance and he was much better against Terry and in his first defence.

“Whether him going downhill is to do with weight issues? I know he struggled to make it this time, so maybe that is why he didn’t perform.

“I didn’t think the opponent, even though he was undefeated, had really earned a shot at the title and I was a bit surprised over the success he had in snippets in the fight. I thought Hooker would make a statement with this guy and blow him out of the water, but it proved to be different.

“He is an awkward customer though with his long reach and the height, but if you look at my record I have boxed them all and had plenty of tall opponents like Nathan Brough, Tyrone McKenna, Tyrone Nurse – and Ohara with his extra-long arms!”

It is now a waiting game for Catterall due to Hooker’s stated intention of having an interim fight on home soil.

“I am still in the waiting room for my shot at the title and it seems like he is going to have another fight before defending against me. I’m hearing he will have a summer defence as a homecoming in Dallas and I’m hoping not too long after that we can get it on.

“I am prepared to go to America if needs be and there are a couple of ways I have looked at it. As a child, when you think of big fights, you always dream of winning in America and fighting away from home. I know he is the champion and you have got to make a statement and really take the belt off him.

“It honestly won’t bother me where the fight is, whether it is over here or over there.”

Daniel Dubois v Richard Lartey tops the bill at the SSE Arena, Wembley on April 27 on a card that also includes the Commonwealth super middleweight title fight between Lerrone Richards and Tommy Langford, as well as the Southern Area super middleweight title clash between Zak Chelli and Jimmy Smith. WBO European super flyweight champion Sunny Edwards and WBO European super featherweight champion Archie Sharp also feature.

Chorley-boxer Jack Catterall will be in action as he edges ever-closer to a world title challenge. Rangy Super Welterweight talent Hamzah Sheeraz will be back out after his impressive win over Rod Douglas Jnr. Hard hitting middleweight and Peacock gym product Denzel Bentley (9-0) and Belfast amateur middleweight star Caoimhin Agyarko will also return to action. There is a Queensberry debut for Sheffield middleweight Shakiel Thompson (2-0) – with Thompson being tipped by sparring partner Billy Joe Saunders as a star for the future. Ilford Super Middleweight Umar Sadiq (4-1) also returns as he looks to rebuild after his first career loss. Tunde Ajayi trained lightweight Bilal Ali (1-0) will have his second professional fight after making a successful start to his pro career, with Hoddesdon super lightweight Alfie Price set for his fifth.

Tickets will be priced as £40, £50, £75, £100 and £150 and are now ON SALE to purchase via Eventim, Ticketmaster, the SSE Arena website and AXS.com

Jack Catterall won a 12-round unanimous decision over Ohara Davies in a junior welterweight clash.

Catterall, 139.9 lbs won by scores of 118-110 and 115-113 twice, and is now 23-0. Davies, 139.9 lbs is 18-2.

Heavyweight prospect Daniel DuBois remained undefeated by decisioning former world title challenger Kevin Johnson in a 10-round bout.

DuBois, 239 lbs won by a 100-91 score, and is 9-0. Johnson, 256 lbs is 32-11-1.

Nicola Adams won the WBO Interim Flyweight title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Isabel Millan.

Adams, 111.9 lbs won by scores of 97-93 twice and 96-94, and is now 5-0. Millan, 110.4 lbs is 22-5-1.

Sam Bowen stopped Horacio Cabral in round four of their scheduled 12-round super featherweight bout.

Bowen dropped Cabral in the 4th round, and the bout was stopped.

Bowen, 129 lbs is 14-0 with 10 knockouts. Cabral is 21-3.

(Oct. 4, 2018) — From the United Kingdom and Mexico, a pair of world-class cards will stream live Saturday on ESPN+ — the new multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer & International segment in conjunction with ESPN.

The action begins at 3:30 p.m. ET from the Leicester Arena, where unbeaten 140-pound contender Jack “El Gato” Catterall (22-0, 12 KOs) will meet Ohara “Two Tanks” Davies (18-1, 14 KOs) in a 10-rounder with potential world title implications. And, in a special heavyweight attraction, Daniel “Dynamite” Dubois (8-0, 8 KOs) will take on the durable former world title challenger Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson (32-10-1, 16 KOs) in a 10-rounder.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Nicola Adams (4-0, 3 KOs) will look to take the next step in her career when she battles Isabel Millan (22-4-1, 8 KOs) for the interim WBO flyweight championship. Also appearing on the Leicester broadcast will be local favorite Lyon Woodstock (11-0, 5 KOs), who will defend his WBO European junior lightweight title in a 10-rounder against Archie Sharp (13-0, 7 KOs).

Then, at 11 p.m. ET from the Gasmart Stadium in Tijuana, Mexico, former WBC bantamweight world champion Luis “Pantera” Nery (26-0, 20 KOs) will fight Jason “Dillinger” Canoy (27-8-2, 19 KOs) in a scheduled 12-rounder for the vacant WBC silver bantamweight title. In the co-feature, Kenia Enriquez (20-1, 9 KOs) will defend her interim WBC light flyweight world title against 19-year-old knockout artist Norleidys Graterol (7-0, 7 KOs).

Nery, a southpaw power puncher, is returning to action following a pair of controversies. He won the WBC bantamweight title in August 2017 with a devastating fourth-round stoppage against longtime champion Shinsuke Yamanaka, but tested positive for the banned substance zilpaterol. Nery claimed contaminated meat was the cause of the positive test, and he served a six-month WBC-mandated suspension. Following a knockout victory against Arthur Villanueva, he met Yamanaka in a rematch for the vacant WBC bantamweight world title in March. He missed the bantamweight limit by three pounds and knocked out Yamanaka in the second round.

Nery, only 23 years old, returns to action intent on recapturing bantamweight world championship glory. Canoy, from Balamban, Cebu, Philippines, is coming off a closely contested unanimous decision loss to Hiroaki Teshigawara in February for the WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight title. A 10-year pro, Canoy has never been knocked out as a professional. Nery, meanwhile, is riding a seven-bout knockout streak.

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the premium multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer & International (DTCI) segment in conjunction with ESPN. ESPN+ offers fans two exclusive, original boxing programs The Boxing Beat with Dan Rafael (Tuesdays, weekly) and In This Corner (twice monthly). In addition to exclusive Top Rank boxing content, programming on ESPN+ includes hundreds of MLB, NHL and MLS games, thousands of college sports events (including football, basketball and multiple other sports from more than 15 conferences), UFC (beginning in 2019), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby, cricket, new and exclusive documentary films and series, acclaimed studio shows and the full library of ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 films. Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) and cancel at any time.