SEAN MCCOMB-BEN CROCKER TO HEADLINE GBM'S SEPT. 27 SHOW IN SHEFFIELD
Four months after signing terms with GBM, WBO European junior welterweight champion Sean McComb has a main event matchup lined up at Sheffield's Canon Medical Arena.
World title contention is promised for 32-year-old southpaw McComb, provided he passes his latest challenge against Swansea's unbeaten Ben Crocker (14-0-1, 2 KOs).
British and Commonwealth junior-featherweight champion Tysie Gallagher ends a year-long layoff against Ellie Hellewell in the evening's chief support bout, while Dutch light heavyweight prospect Gradus Kraus (7-0, 7 KOs) seeks to continue his steady rise.
The show will be streamed live on DAZN worldwide.
In GBM's official press release, they stated the winner will enter the top ten of the IBF's junior welterweight rankings. Crocker and McComb, both unranked across the four major sanctioning bodies' top-15 ratings, may have been given assurances to that effect.
McComb, who memorably suffered a controversial 10-round points loss to Arnold Barboza Jr in April 2024, shook some ring rust off during a six-round decision nod on his return in Hull against Argentina's unheralded Alexis Nahuel Torres on June 28.
The Belfast man sees a 'clear pathway' towards the IBF strap at 140-pounds, citing an amateur win over No. 3-rated contender Lindolfo Delgado as something he could parlay into a professional rematch later down the line in a title eliminator.
That victory came in October 2015 during the first-round of AIBA World Championships matches at lightweight. McComb lost in the last-16, while Delgado made nine more amateur appearances - including the Rio Olympics the following summer - before campaigning at the division above when debuting in 2017.
This past week, the IBF ordered Delgado to face his Mexican compatriot and agemate Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela (31-4-1, 17 KOs) for the right to be installed as Hitchins' mandatory challenger. Nonetheless, McComb remains hopeful for what the future may hold after a fan-friendly matchup.
"I like what I've seen of him [Crocker] - he's a tall, rangy southpaw and likes to finish last in every exchange. It's a good style, but I'll figure it out and get the win. I think our styles match well to make a good fight for the fans and a really important one for my career."
Crocker meanwhile, unsurprisingly fancies the scalp that beating McComb would do for his resume.
"Sean's a great fighter, a slick, awkward southpaw and undeniably world level, so this is a massive fight for me. Beating him will open so many doors, push me on to bigger fights and opportunities. I've got my eyes on the prize, going to go in there and get the job done, simple as that."
