BoxRec

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑24 May 2023, 10:21 I read that this is off..

Card will still go ahead though..

yeah just read an article online saying the same thing

i blame david haye

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑24 May 2023, 10:21 I read that this is off..

Card will still go ahead though..

Yep. The fact Shalom has been quiet this week (rare for a promoter during a big fight week) probably means that as he doesn’t have enough information to give.

You’d be pissed though given it was only moved a few weeks ago and clearly not enough time was given to allow Smith to recover.

maverick23 wrote: ↑24 May 2023, 10:58

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑24 May 2023, 10:21 I read that this is off..

Card will still go ahead though..

Yep. The fact Shalom has been quiet this week (rare for a promoter during a big fight week) probably means that as he doesn’t have enough information to give.

You’d be pissed though given it was only moved a few weeks ago and clearly not enough time was given to allow Smith to recover.

Is that why it’s off

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑24 May 2023, 11:31

maverick23 wrote: ↑24 May 2023, 10:58

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑24 May 2023, 10:21 I read that this is off..

Card will still go ahead though..

Yep. The fact Shalom has been quiet this week (rare for a promoter during a big fight week) probably means that as he doesn’t have enough information to give.

You’d be pissed though given it was only moved a few weeks ago and clearly not enough time was given to allow Smith to recover.

Is that why it’s off

I believe so. Let’s see what comes out.

Now confirmed off.

Just posted by Hearn

Press Release

Savannah Marshall (12-1, 10 KO’s) is on track to land a record-setting 1-2 this summer as she follows October’s sell-out of The O2 London - the UK’s largest arena - by headlining a sold-out show at the AO Arena Manchester on Saturday, July 1st.

The undisputed World Super-Middleweight Championship will be on the line when Marshall walks out to challenge defending champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn (8-1, 2 KO’s) and becomes the first female boxer ever to headline the UK’s two largest arenas in back-to-back events.

Previously set to occupy the co-headline slot, the undisputed world championship bout now takes main event status as Liam Smith postpones his rematch with bitter rival Chris Eubank Jr to recover from a minor but nagging injury which has dogged his training camp.

The two antagonists set a pay-per-view record for their weight class when they fought in January, a bout Smith won by fourth-round stoppage, and a stellar support card was put in place for their highly-anticipated rematch, which was also set to air as a Sky Sports Box Office pay-per-view event.

With two world title fights - Liverpool’s Natasha ‘Miss GB’ Jonas (13-2-1, 8 KO’s) is set to defend her unified world light-middleweight championship at the event - plus a guaranteed-fireworks British super-middleweight title fight pitting Manchester man Mark ‘Kid Dynamite’ Heffron (29-2-1, 23 KOs) against Zak Chelli (13-1-1, 6 KOs), that stacked undercard now becomes a stacked event which will air live on the Sky Sports network.

Also confirmed for the card is Ben ‘The Surgeon’ Whittaker (3-0, 2 KO’s). Another prospect heavily-tipped by boxing insiders is Callum Simpson (11-0, 9 KO’s), who journeys from his native Yorkshire following his stunning third-round stoppage in the same venue in March.

“I’m gutted and sorry to all the fans about the postponement. I’ve always said a fully fit Liam Smith beats Chris Eubank Jr every time. I tried training through because I was desperate not to let anyone down but I’ve had to withdraw from the bout in July following the latest medical assessment this week. I’ll heal up now and then be fully fit for later in the summer," said Liam Smith.

"I wanted BOXXER to put a big card together and they more than delivered, so I’m honestly delighted that BOXXER is keeping the card on without the pay-per-view, which doesn’t always happen. I would encourage all the fans to get behind Tasha Jonas and Savannah Marshall in their world title fights, and the other fighters in a brilliant card."

Ben Shalom, BOXXER founder and CEO, saluted Smith’s courageous efforts to stay on the card and looks forward to another record-setting night in Manchester.

"Nobody is more disappointed than Liam Smith, he's the ultimate professional but he had no choice but to postpone the bout. We’re working on a new date for the fight and hope to announce that in a week or so. In the meantime we’ve got a huge night taking place in Manchester on July 1st,” he said.

“Savannah Marshall headlining the UK’s two biggest arenas in back to back fights is a first for a female fighter and shows the strength of the women’s sport today. She’s fighting for the undisputed world super-middleweight championship against the USA’s Franchon Crews-Dezurn - a fight which could headline any arena in the world.

“Manchester’s own Mark Heffron defending his British title against Zak Chelli, Natasha Jonas laying her own world titles on the line, plus a once-in-a-generation talent like Ben Whittaker and the outstanding Callum Simpson takes on Boris Crighton - this is a card stacked with great fights and we are very excited for it.

“We understand a lot of fans will be disappointed to hear the Smith-Eubank rematch is being postponed, so we’ve arranged a free voucher for every fan in the venue to have a drink on us on fight night, plus they will receive priority access to Smith vs Eubank II tickets for the new date when it’s announced, and a discount on those tickets.”

Eubank Jr's promoter Kalle Sauerland of Wasserman Boxing said a new date for the Smtih vs Eubank rematch will be announced imminently. "We have been informed that Liam Smith is not fit to fight on July 1st. We are awaiting further medical reports before we announce the new date shortly."

Shalom fails to read the room again

Main event postponed - no big deal, you can have one free drink on us and watch a couple of rubbish women’s fights instead

Nice one Ben

Oh well - no need for it to be box office now is there

It won’t clash with Smith-Maxwell now

Bet they end up giving refunds, you can't cancel the main event and not do that

tony1234 wrote: ↑24 May 2023, 14:16 Bet they end up giving refunds, you can't cancel the main event and not do that

People have the option of a refund. Or they can keep their ticket and get a £10 food voucher and a few other small benefits.

I’d imagine most will go for the refund though.

tony1234 wrote: ↑24 May 2023, 14:16 Bet they end up giving refunds, you can't cancel the main event and not do that

Frank’s done it loads of times and not refunded.

I've asked for a refund. Not going to Manc paying what I have and hotel and cost of getting there etc to see a female main event. This was supposed to be a boxing night for my grandson not to forget. The atmosphere will be shite.

maverick23 wrote: ↑24 May 2023, 14:46

tony1234 wrote: ↑24 May 2023, 14:16 Bet they end up giving refunds, you can't cancel the main event and not do that

People have the option of a refund. Or they can keep their ticket and get a £10 food voucher and a few other small benefits.

I’d imagine most will go for the refund though.

It was like 8 quid a pint last time I was at the MEN.

The upside of this, now there’s no main event to carry the women’s boxing, is that sky and boxxer will see the true harsh reality: hardly anyone is interested in women’s boxing.
Because as hugely tempting as a free pint of watered down beer is, this will be a fookin disaster, surely ?

MightyWarrior wrote: ↑25 May 2023, 01:20 The upside of this, now there’s no main event to carry the women’s boxing, is that sky and boxxer will see the true harsh reality: hardly anyone is interested in women’s boxing.
Because as hugely tempting as a free pint of watered down beer is, this will be a fookin disaster, surely ?

You say that but the first part of the press release yesterday was…


‘Savannah Marshall (12-1, 10 KO’s) is on track to land a record-setting 1-2 this summer as she follows October’s sell-out of The O2 London - the UK’s largest arena - by headlining a sold-out show at the AO Arena Manchester on Saturday, July’

They’re implying a potential sellout of the AO is down to Marshall.

It wasn’t even sold out with Smith/Eubank as headline!

They’d have been better off just moving the show to Newcastle I think.

Is this fight even happening now, looks ropey at best.

It was always a poor undercard, and has very little of interest as a card in its own right. Expect free and cheap tickets, and it being on showcase. Par for the course these days when Shalom is involved - All for the fans of course.

maverick23 wrote: ↑25 May 2023, 01:42

MightyWarrior wrote: ↑25 May 2023, 01:20 The upside of this, now there’s no main event to carry the women’s boxing, is that sky and boxxer will see the true harsh reality: hardly anyone is interested in women’s boxing.
Because as hugely tempting as a free pint of watered down beer is, this will be a fookin disaster, surely ?

You say that but the first part of the press release yesterday was…


‘Savannah Marshall (12-1, 10 KO’s) is on track to land a record-setting 1-2 this summer as she follows October’s sell-out of The O2 London - the UK’s largest arena - by headlining a sold-out show at the AO Arena Manchester on Saturday, July’

They’re implying a potential sellout of the AO is down to Marshall.

It wasn’t even sold out with Smith/Eubank as headline!

They’d have been better off just moving the show to Newcastle I think.

Gotta love them press releases..

Ticket money being refunded. I got mine pretty easy.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑25 May 2023, 03:07

maverick23 wrote: ↑25 May 2023, 01:42

MightyWarrior wrote: ↑25 May 2023, 01:20 The upside of this, now there’s no main event to carry the women’s boxing, is that sky and boxxer will see the true harsh reality: hardly anyone is interested in women’s boxing.
Because as hugely tempting as a free pint of watered down beer is, this will be a fookin disaster, surely ?

You say that but the first part of the press release yesterday was…


‘Savannah Marshall (12-1, 10 KO’s) is on track to land a record-setting 1-2 this summer as she follows October’s sell-out of The O2 London - the UK’s largest arena - by headlining a sold-out show at the AO Arena Manchester on Saturday, July’

They’re implying a potential sellout of the AO is down to Marshall.

It wasn’t even sold out with Smith/Eubank as headline!

They’d have been better off just moving the show to Newcastle I think.

Gotta love them press releases..

There are 2 tickets available block 202.

Ben Shalom hoping to stage Liam Smith vs Chris Eubank Jr rematch by end of summer

A rematch between Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jr is still on the agenda, according to Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom, who admits to Sky Sports that the ongoing delay in setting that fight up has been frustrating for all those involved.

The first time Smith and Eubank met, Smith shocked many when he caught and stopped Eubank in the fourth round. Eubank has since indicated that he’s anxious to get that one back.

And while the Smith vs Eubank rematch was set to be held on July 1, a nagging injury on Smith’s side caused a postponement of that fight date. It had been expected that Smith’s injury would only delay the bout for a couple of weeks, but we’re still at a point where Smith hasn’t told his promoter he’s good to go while Shalom targets a late August fight date.

“It’s a fight that was scheduled and has had to be rescheduled because of Liam Smith’s injury,” Shalom told Sky Sports News on Monday. “It’s frustrating for him as much as anyone, but we can’t keep Chris Eubank Jr waiting forever.

“I did meet Kalle Sauerland (Eubank Jr’s promoter) last week. We expect a date to be finalised at the end of August, early September.”

With any luck Shalom is hoping to make a formal announcement of the rescheduled fight by next week.

It's like a tug of war!!