Arsen Goulamirian vs Tommy McCarthy - 1 April 2023?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Arsen Goulamirian vs Tommy McCarthy Possible For April 1

Arsen Goulamirian vs Tommy McCarthy In Play As Irishmen Could Land Surprise Title Shot

BOXXER have been attempting to take control of the cruiserweight division in the UK and Ireland and secure world title shots for top contenders Richard Riakporhe and Chris Billam-Smith, but NoSmokeSport has learnt that neither are the closest to a title shot in the division domestically.

France’s Arsen Goulamirian (27-0, 18 KOs) will defend his WBA (Super) Cruiserweight world title on April 1 in Paris, France and Belfast’s Tommy McCarthy (20-4, 10 KOs) could be the man in the opposite corner. McCarthy is ranked #13 by the WBA.

NoSmokeSport reached out to both McCarthy and Goulamirian at the time of publishing for comment but neither responded as this goes out.

Goulamirian plans to unify his title with Britain’s WBO champion Lawrence Okolie in 2023. Okolie defends his title against New Zealand’s David Light on March 25 at the AO Arena in Manchester, live on Sky Sports. Okolie is expected to continue his career with Ben Shalom’s BOXXER which represents contenders Riakporhe and Billam-Smith as previously mentioned.

McCarthy is a surprising consideration for the defence in some ways as has not had a notable win since his back-to-back defeats to Billam-Smith in 2021/2022. Since then the Irishmen has picked up two comeback wins and now could be in line for the biggest fight of his career.

The pair have previously been in negotiations to face each in 2020 pre-pandemic so in that way, it’s not a complete shock that this fight is being revisited.

Cruiserweight has been in somewhat of a limbo since the departure of former undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk. The last four years have been difficult for the division with vacant titles, controversial knockouts, legal battles over contractual status, sanctioned fights against super middleweights, and Super Mario YouTube callouts dominating the conversation instead of unifications but 2023 could finally be the year that changes.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Shame nothing came from this.

[maverick23]

Shame nothing came from this.

There’s talk that Goulamirian will be announced today as CBS’s opponent for May.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Shame nothing came from this.

There’s talk that Goulamirian will be announced today as CBS’s opponent for May.

That's not bad..

[watsupdoc87]

So not happening. Pity. I like McCarthy but he just aint good enough for the top. Could've squeeked this 1 tho

[cpx2]

Shame nothing came from this.

There’s talk that Goulamirian will be announced today as CBS’s opponent for May.

Thought I saw when they announced the Buatsi/CBS/Azim shows that they were doing a press conference for the CBS opponent today, is that not happening then?

[maverick23]

Shame nothing came from this.

There’s talk that Goulamirian will be announced today as CBS’s opponent for May.

Thought I saw when they announced the Buatsi/CBS/Azim shows that they were doing a press conference for the CBS opponent today, is that not happening then?

Yeah. That’s why I heard too. Wonder if it’s been delayed.

[margaret thatcher]

arsen vs cbs would be excellent, arsen is a tank and on a good run

[cpx2]

There’s talk that Goulamirian will be announced today as CBS’s opponent for May.

Thought I saw when they announced the Buatsi/CBS/Azim shows that they were doing a press conference for the CBS opponent today, is that not happening then?

Yeah. That’s why I heard too. Wonder if it’s been delayed.

You still reckon it'll be CBS? Most likely alternatives Riakporhe or Masternak?

[maverick23]

Thought I saw when they announced the Buatsi/CBS/Azim shows that they were doing a press conference for the CBS opponent today, is that not happening then?

Yeah. That’s why I heard too. Wonder if it’s been delayed.

You still reckon it'll be CBS? Most likely alternatives Riakporhe or Masternak?

I think so. All the talk intimidated that it would be for a world title and the others are unlikely.

If not a world title then potentially Riakporhe. Masternak is mandatory for the IBf I think.

[cpx2]

Yeah. That’s why I heard too. Wonder if it’s been delayed.

You still reckon it'll be CBS? Most likely alternatives Riakporhe or Masternak?

I think so. All the talk intimidated that it would be for a world title and the others are unlikely.

If not a world title then potentially Riakporhe. Masternak is mandatory for the IBf I think.

Was just thinking with Opetaia and the injury, any chance they petition the IBF to make Masternak-CBS for the interim, or pay Masternak step-aside to make CBS-Riakporhe for the same thing?

[maverick23]

You still reckon it'll be CBS? Most likely alternatives Riakporhe or Masternak?

I think so. All the talk intimidated that it would be for a world title and the others are unlikely.

If not a world title then potentially Riakporhe. Masternak is mandatory for the IBf I think.

Was just thinking with Opetaia and the injury, any chance they petition the IBF to make Masternak-CBS for the interim, or pay Masternak step-aside to make CBS-Riakporhe for the same thing?

Okolie was on Sky Sports News today saying he wants to fight CBS In Bournemouth in May. Makes me think CBS has lost the opponent they thought they had sorted for him.

[cpx2]

I think so. All the talk intimidated that it would be for a world title and the others are unlikely.

If not a world title then potentially Riakporhe. Masternak is mandatory for the IBf I think.

Was just thinking with Opetaia and the injury, any chance they petition the IBF to make Masternak-CBS for the interim, or pay Masternak step-aside to make CBS-Riakporhe for the same thing?

Okolie was on Sky Sports News today saying he wants to fight CBS In Bournemouth in May. Makes me think CBS has lost the opponent they thought they had sorted for him.

Saw that, don't mind that fight to be fair, could be a bit of an angle with Okolie leaving McGuigan, but tbf I'd have preferred Goulamirian. I guess Okolie-CBS winner fights Riakporhe next then.

[maverick23]

Was just thinking with Opetaia and the injury, any chance they petition the IBF to make Masternak-CBS for the interim, or pay Masternak step-aside to make CBS-Riakporhe for the same thing?

Okolie was on Sky Sports News today saying he wants to fight CBS In Bournemouth in May. Makes me think CBS has lost the opponent they thought they had sorted for him.

Saw that, don't mind that fight to be fair, could be a bit of an angle with Okolie leaving McGuigan, but tbf I'd have preferred Goulamirian. I guess Okolie-CBS winner fights Riakporhe next then.

I think it makes sense for Okolie. I’d imagine he’d want to get out again extremely quickly to erase the negativity of his fight with Light and I also think CBS is tailor made for him. I’d rather CBS fought Goulamirian.

Really strange of Boxxer though to announce they’re making an announcement for CBS and then nothing but rumours.

[cpx2]

Okolie was on Sky Sports News today saying he wants to fight CBS In Bournemouth in May. Makes me think CBS has lost the opponent they thought they had sorted for him.

Saw that, don't mind that fight to be fair, could be a bit of an angle with Okolie leaving McGuigan, but tbf I'd have preferred Goulamirian. I guess Okolie-CBS winner fights Riakporhe next then.

I think it makes sense for Okolie. I’d imagine he’d want to get out again extremely quickly to erase the negativity of his fight with Light and I also think CBS is tailor made for him. I’d rather CBS fought Goulamirian.

Really strange of Boxxer though to announce they’re making an announcement for CBS and then nothing but rumours.

Goulamirian-Riakporhe potentially on the cards do you reckon? Seems a bit out of left field, I'd have thought he'd fight either CBS or unify with Okolie. Would you back Okolie to stop CBS then I gather?