BoxRec

bit of needle developing here. Buatsi for me. I like both though.

Press Release

Ben Whittaker will look to steal the show as he returns to action on the undercard of the all-British showdown between unbeaten #1 and #2 world ranked light heavyweights Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez on Saturday, February 3rd at the OVO Arena Wembley in London, live and exclusive on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

Whittaker closed the year in style with a highlight reel knockout of Stiven Leonetti Dredhaj in Bournemouth. Now 5-0, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Silver medallist is aiming to kick-start the New Year when he takes on Swiss-based French fighter Khalid Graidia over eight-rounds.

Graidia returns to British shores having previously shared the ring with Whittaker’s domestic rivals Zach Parker, Ezra Taylor and Karol Itauma in London. Graidia also took British and Commonwealth Champion Dan Azeez the distance when they squared off in Milan in July 2023.

“The Surgeon is back and ready to start 2024 with another clinical performance. I’m putting the whole light heavyweight division on notice. Another big year is on the way so don't miss the start of it on February 3rd,” said Whittaker.

“This is the start to a huge year for Ben Whittaker,” said BOXXER CEO and Founder Ben Shalom. “He will bring his star power to an already massive night for the light heavyweight division on February 3rd in London. Ben is a special talent and we expect to see him headlining shows and fighting for major titles this year.”

Having dethroned Franck Petitjean in front of a capacity crowd in Wolverhampton last year, Adam Azim makes the first defence of his EBU European Super Lightweight Title against undefeated former champion Enock Poulsen.

Rising featherweight star Francesca Hennessy and heavyweight hope Jeamie TKV are also confirmed for action in the capital. Hennessy, who has wowed fans with her explosive style since joining the paid ranks last year, goes in search of her third professional victory, while TKV looks to get back to winning ways having suffered his first career defeat to Igor Macedo in September 2023.

So it looks like they’ve snuck Caroline Dubois off the show and put Whittaker. I’ll take it but it’s sneaky not being open about it.

This is a real crap fight though. His last fight was a draw against a guy who was 1-1 and he’d lost his last 4 before that barely winning a round.

I don’t really get why the matchmaking has been so poor with Whittaker as he’s a real talent. Is he getting paid too much so there isn’t much left for the opponent?

maverick23 wrote: ↑17 Jan 2024, 05:17 So it looks like they’ve snuck Caroline Dubois off the show and put Whittaker. I’ll take it but it’s sneaky not being open about it.

This is a real crap fight though. His last fight was a draw against a guy who was 1-1 and he’d lost his last 4 before that barely winning a round.

I don’t really get why the matchmaking has been so poor with Whittaker as he’s a real talent. Is he getting paid too much so there isn’t much left for the opponent?

he is meant to be on silly big money

Fight Week!!

Should be a good fight this. Enjoy watching Azeez, relentless with a great engine and will be looking to make Buatsi work for 3 minutes of every round I'd expect. Looking forward to it.

Undercard leaves more than a bit to be desired but never mind

Really good fight this. Think Buatsi takes it but I rate Azeez and would like to see him
Get his hand raised at the end

Does feel 50/50. I like Buatsi, he paid a pro's costs to get licence renewed a few years back, he didn't mention it but the pro did. Love stuff like that.

and two graduates fighting, both good ambassadors for the sport.

Caroline Dubois Set To Face Miranda Reyes On Buatsi-Azeez Undercard As IBF Title Fight Looms

Caroline Dubois has found an opponent for this weekend while another is sought ahead of a major title fight.

The unbeaten lightweight is tabbed to next face American contender Miranda Reyes. Their ten-round bout will serve in supporting capacity to the Joshua Buatsi-Dan Azeez WBA light heavyweight title eliminator this Saturday on Sky Sports and Peacock+ from OVO Arena Wembley in London.

Houston’s Reyes (7-1-1, 3 KOs) has won her last two starts, both versus her best competition to date since a February 2022 six-round, majority decision defeat to Jaica Pavilus. In her most recent start, the 22-year-old outpointed former junior featherweight titlist Yazmin Rivas over six rounds last September 8 in her Houston hometown.

Saturday’s bout will mark her first scheduled ten-round affair.

London’s Dubois (8-0, 5 KOs) has emerged as a can’t-miss future star. The 23-year-old southpaw is enough of a threat to where it has become increasingly difficult to secure opponents.

This fight was scheduled while Dubois—a 2020 Tokyo Olympics quarterfinalist for Great Britain—was previously ordered to next challenge for the vacant IBF lightweight title. The sanctioning body called for an all-UK fight between Dubois and Chesire’s Rhiannon Dixon (9-0, 1 KO), who will instead bid for the vacant WBO title versus former title challenger Karen Elizabeth Carabajal.

The IBF and WBO lightweight titles were both recently vacated by Ireland’s Katie Taylor (24-1, 6KOs), a two-division undisputed champion who has chosen to remain at junior welterweight.

With a win on Saturday, Dubois—the younger sister of former WBA ‘Regular’ heavyweight titlist Daniel Dubois—will await the IBF’s instructions for whom she needs to next enter negotiations.

Meanwhile, she will enter her second straight ten-round affair with the lesser-regarded IBO title at stake this weekend. In her most recent outing, Dubois went the full ten-round distance for the first time in a landslide decision win over Mexico’s Magail Rodriguez last September 30 at the famed York Hall in Bethnal Green.

Dubois' division has strange Boxrec rankings. Dubois is rated number 1 in the world in the division, but none of the other fighters in the top 5 seem to have world titles either. Just seems odd.

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑30 Jan 2024, 16:07 Dubois' division has strange Boxrec rankings. Dubois is rated number 1 in the world in the division, but none of the other fighters in the top 5 seem to have world titles either. Just seems odd.

Is that because Taylor went up a division, but didn't decide to vacate her titles until relatively recently?

magnus wrote: ↑30 Jan 2024, 16:10

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑30 Jan 2024, 16:07 Dubois' division has strange Boxrec rankings. Dubois is rated number 1 in the world in the division, but none of the other fighters in the top 5 seem to have world titles either. Just seems odd.

Is that because Taylor went up a division, but didn't decide to vacate her titles until relatively recently?

ah you're right aren't you mate, I wonder where all the beltholders were. Thanks Magnus

Buatsi ruled out

sorry., he's not.. its this flippin article title..

BUATSI RULED OUT FIGHT WITH AZEEZ

https://proboxtv.com/news/buatsi-ruled- ... h-azeez/en

I'm not betting on it, but I fancy Azeez to win this one. Buatsi's got a lot going on outside the ring and I think that will show in his performance.

live Gloves Are Off, must be nippy as Buatsi's got gloves on.

bit of a nothing Gloves Off. Shalom silent until 50 mins in.

I'm really struggling to pick a winner

Azeez is about as live an underdog as you can get.

Dan has been brought along beautifully and has ticked all the boxes enroute.

Buatsi must know he will need to bring his absolute A-game. He simply won't get away with a sub-standard performance this time.

THEBUTCH wrote: ↑01 Feb 2024, 16:58 I'm really struggling to pick a winner

Azeez is about as live an underdog as you can get.

Dan has been brought along beautifully and has ticked all the boxes enroute.

Buatsi must know he will need to bring his absolute A-game. He simply won't get away with a sub-standard performance this time.

me too Butch, I like em both too. I hope it's a great fight and the loser kicks on too.

I know I ask this all the time and it's annoying - but what do you guys think they'll be getting paid for this?

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑01 Feb 2024, 17:02 I know I ask this all the time and it's annoying - but what do you guys think they'll be getting paid for this?

The big money is PPV, good domestic fight, top of the bill but little interest outside the hard core, neither sell a lot of tickets, DAZN pay much more than SKY, I reckon they will share 75k, minus expenses

Coco wrote: ↑01 Feb 2024, 22:17

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑01 Feb 2024, 17:02 I know I ask this all the time and it's annoying - but what do you guys think they'll be getting paid for this?

The big money is PPV, good domestic fight, top of the bill but little interest outside the hard core, neither sell a lot of tickets, DAZN pay much more than SKY, I reckon they will share 75k, minus expenses

Coco wrote: ↑01 Feb 2024, 22:17

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑01 Feb 2024, 17:02 I know I ask this all the time and it's annoying - but what do you guys think they'll be getting paid for this?

The big money is PPV, good domestic fight, top of the bill but little interest outside the hard core, neither sell a lot of tickets, DAZN pay much more than SKY, I reckon they will share 75k, minus expenses

Pure guesswork on my part but i was thinking 100k each give or take

thanks both