World Champions To Have Fought In The UK In Early Career

[gb]

Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson lost a 4 rounder to Richie Wenton in Belfast.

[bennie]

Good one, gb. Johnson was dynamite.

[bennie]

Mark Hobson won every round against Germany's Firat Arslan in Barnsley in 2001, then picked up a cut and was ruled out in the seventh round (of an eight-rounder). Arslan defends his WBA cruiserweight title in Germany next Saturday against Guillermo Jones.
In the amateurs Tommy Hearns was held to a majority here in the 1970s by George Gilbody; Gerry Duddy outscored one Jeff Fenech in Belfast in 1983.

[CEO_Hoodlem]

Not a very well known fighter but a current world champion. Joseph Agbeko the IBF bantamweight champion he fought at the Britannia Hotel, Millwall, London. on 2002-05-10.

[Rob Magic]

Current IBF welterweight champion Joshua Clottey has fought in the U.K a few times. He even fought Carlos Baldomir in london in 1999 so you could add Baldomir aswell.

[Rob Magic]

Also
WBC Light Welterweight Timothy Bradley
IBF Super Featherweight Champion Cassius Baloyi

[CEO_Hoodlem]

Timothy Bradley only fought in the uk when he won the title not early in hes career.

[MightyWarrior]

Supposed journeyman lightmiddle Buster Drayton, with 8 losses, was brought over for hot middleweight prospect Jimmy Cable in the 80's - and smashed him inside a round.
Brit promoters seemingly couldn't quite believe what they'd just seen, and brought him over again, for even hotter prospect Mark Kaylor, who was floored about 7 times and KO'd.
Buster went on to be world champ at LM

Same night future champ Bonecrusher Smith upset Bruno.

[Captain Hook]

Cesar Soto.

Didn't he fight McKenzie over here when he was very young?

[Dirk Kelly]

Chad Dawson?

Jeff Lacy?

Good shout, Chad Dawson fought Jamie Hearn for one of those WBC Youth titles.

[jimglen]

Marcel Cerdan's 1939 'disqualification' (robbery) against British Champion, Harry Craster.
1 of only 4 defeats in his entire career, and another one too, was seriously dubious...

[Dirk Kelly]

If it counts Irish Mickey Ward fought Shea Neary for his WBU title and beat him in London.

[dr_devious]

Gerald McClellan KO1 John Mugabi in London in the early 90s for the then little regarded WBO middleweight title.

Sumbu Kalambay also fought Herol Graham and won on points over here in '87 before becoming WBA middleweight champ

[johnny20ab]

Mark Hobson won every round against Germany's Firat Arslan in Barnsley in 2001, then picked up a cut and was ruled out in the seventh round (of an eight-rounder). Arslan defends his WBA cruiserweight title in Germany next Saturday against Guillermo Jones.
In the amateurs Tommy Hearns was held to a majority here in the 1970s by George Gilbody; Gerry Duddy outscored one Jeff Fenech in Belfast in 1983.

Hey Bennie. Love to know more on Gerry Duddy v Fenech?? whered you get that info. ? thanks
Sean

[Bomber 1]

George Foreman but towards the end

[DougieC30]

Tomasz Adamek boxed oiver here a few times. I think

[Ketchel]

I know it was not early in his career but future world champion Luis Santana who lost to future welterweight champion Crisanto Espana in Belfast in 1991. I'll never forget him winning the title while being stretchered from the ring!

[ed robinson]

Henry Maske's pro debut...

[mickey1975]

It was a privelage to watch the baby faced assassin in London in April 1999.
Ok it was a World title, fight, but a one and only chance to see Barerra over here.

You could have gone to the Khan fight....

[mickey1975]

Winky Wright Vs Bingham, Foster & Dodson

Acelino Fretias
Sheffield Arena, 2000
More famousy against barry jones in york

Joan Guzman
Cardiff castle calzaghe V mitchell (was it?)

Roman Karmazin Vs David Walker

Freitas boxed Jones in Doncaster.

[Josh1111]

Didnt Sergio Martinez fight at the MEN about 8 years ago? might have been for a crappy world title though, not too sure

[Craig14]

Micheal Bentt fought hapless James Holley in London in his 2nd pro fight.

[ed robinson]

Martinez beat Richard Williams a couple of times, Steve Molitor was also an early visitor on Matchroom shows. If you count amateurs then I think Tommy Hearns boxed here. Andre Ward beat Dean Frost here on one of the Sky England v America bills. Sam Webb boxed Andre Dirrell and Daniel Geale here in Internationals. Darren Barker lost to Tim Bradley.

[Ketchel]

I saw Ruslan Chagaev (amongst others) box at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast in 2001.

I was there also. Took the week of work and watched every fight 2 at time as there was 2 rings in the early rounds. A lot of future pro world champions and contenders fought in those championships: Chagaev, Rigondeaux, Sultan Ibragimov, David Haye, Carl Froch, Jean Pascal and Sidorenko.

[orbtastic]

Glen Johnson against Owoh at the York Hall, way back when.