BoxRec

Povetkin vs Whyte 2 ends the autumn schedule on Sky, featuring world title fights, Joshua Buatsi and WBSS final

Joshua Buatsi, one of Britain's hottest talents, is continues his explosive rise up the light-heavyweight rankings with a clash against undefeated Croat Marko Calic on Sunday October 4, live on Sky Sports. Chantelle Cameron can also claim the vacant WBC belt on the same bill, but she must overcome Brazil's Adriana Dos Santos Araujo in a super-lightweight showdown.

Buatsi vs Calic - Oct 4, live on Sky Sports

Joshua Buatsi vs Marko Calic
Chantelle Cameron vs Adriana Dos Santos Araujo
Alen Babic vs Niall Kennedy
Linus Udofia vs John Harding Jr
Aqib Fiaz vs Kane Baker
John Hedges

A stacked undercard features Alen 'The Savage' Babic against Ireland's Niall Kennedy in a heavyweight clash, while Linus Udofia defends his English middleweight title against John Harding Jr. Aqib Fiaz also faces Kane Baker in their rescheduled fight and John Hedges makes his professional debut.

Adam Smith, Sky Sports Head of Boxing Development, said: "After the huge success of Fight Camp, we're delighted to announce another exciting line-up of live action, including a World Boxing Super Series Final, Joshua Buatsi and Lewis Ritson back in action, and then Povetkin-Whyte 2!

"The WBSS has already supplied some classic encounters, live on Sky Sports, so we're expecting even more drama when Mairis Briedis battles Yuniel Dorticos this month.

"Joshua Buatsi has every attribute to become one of Britain's biggest stars - and he takes another significant step in a clash with Marko Calic. Women's boxing is really booming, with Chantelle Cameron facing Adriana Dos Santos for the WBC super-lightweight belt on the same bill.

"Lewis Ritson has reignited the sport in the north east, but he cannot afford a slip-up against former world champion Miguel Vazquez, while England and Scotland also collide as Savannah Marshall takes on Hannah Rankin for the vacant WBO middleweight title.

"Dillian Whyte is determined to avenge that shock defeat to Alexander Povetkin - and the big-hitting heavyweight duo should provide another explosive encounter on Sky Sports Box Office. After a sizzling summer, get ready for an action-packed autumn!"

Matchroom Boxing's Eddie Hearn said: “I’m excited to announce our latest shows as we continue to bring boxing back during these unprecedented times. It’s so important to continue the momentum and as we leave behind an epic Fight Camp series, we now hope to see fans return to arenas. As those talks continue with the government, we are committed to running these shows with or without fans.

“I’m particularly pleased to see Joshua Buatsi return to the ring after a year out through illness and the pandemic. Josh is one of the most exciting young stars in the sport and he looks to make a statement as he prepares to challenge for a World Title in 2021. As women’s boxing continues its rise, Chantelle Cameron gets her chance at a World Title against the dangerous Adriana Dos Santos Araujo who has a whole host of victories on her amateur and professional CV.

“A couple of weeks later, the rescheduled Newcastle card emerges with Lewis Ritson against former World King Miguel Vazquez and an all-British World Title fight between Savannah Marshall and Hannah Rankin. Then in November, the big one, just a few weeks after one of the most dramatic Heavyweight bouts we have seen, Dillian Whyte rematches Alexander Povetkin in a must-win clash that will be full of drama.

“Before all that we bring you a brilliant fight between Yuniel Dorticos and Mairis Briedis in the WBSS Cruiserweight Final, and there is a whole host of other announcements to complete our autumn and winter schedule coming very soon.”

Scotland's Hannah Rankin to fight England's Savannah Marshall

Hannah Rankin will fight unbeaten Savannah Marshall for the vacant WBO middleweight title at Newcastle's Utilita Arena on 17 October.

Scotland's Rankin, 30, last fought in February, defeating Hungarian Eva Bajic by knockout.

She lost her IBO female super-welterweight title to Sweden's Patricia Berghult last November.

Meanwhile, Scottish bantamweight Kash Farooq will also fight on the same undercard.

Farooq lost his British title in a unification fight with Commonwealth champion Lee McGregor in November 2019.

Next month's bout will be Marshall's first in a year, the Englishwoman having beaten Ashleigh Curry in 2019.

Victory over the American was an eighth straight win for the 29-year-old and her sixth by knockout.

What qualifies for a stacked undercard sure has changed

Hearn giving us the fight no one wanted, asked for or cares about. He clearly said if Matchroom fighters want to fight they have to take big fights.....he then referenced Buatsi v Johnson being an example of that. He then matches them both separately in 2 fights no one wants to see. Typical Hearn.
And if this is the new definition of a stacked undercard we are well and truly fu**ed!

“Stacked”

Won’t complain too much though, happy to see any boxing on tv right now tbh.

How do you think the fight between Alen Babic vs Niall Kennedy will go.

Not come across Kennedy before but has a decent record of 13-1-1

Kennedy not fought a name of such in his career yet but his opponents seem to have been ok for a novice heavyweight. Interesting fight this.

Isn’t it about time Buatsi was stepped up a level.

Fast Eddie is a chip off the old block...Barry Hearn was one of the worse things to happen to British boxing

That dude cameron is fighting looks pretty mean

Joshua Buatsi: Calic is Solid Opponent, I Plan To Be Impressive

Rising Light-Heavyweight star Joshua Buatsi will make his long-awaited return to the ring on Sunday October 4 as he defends his WBA International Title against undefeated Croat Marko Calic, live on Sky Sports and DAZN.

Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Buatsi (12-0, 10 KOs) has firmly established himself as one of the most exciting talents in boxing having scored a series of eye-catching stoppage wins since turning pro in 2017, with many in the sport touting him as a future World Champion.

The 27-year-old from Croydon hasn’t fought since he knocked out Canada’s Ryan Ford in seven rounds at The O2 in August last year and he will be aiming to relieve his itchy knuckles before targeting some of the bigger names in the red hot 175lbs division including former World Title challenger Callum Johnson.

Calic (11-0, 6 KOs) enjoyed a successful spell in the amateur code, beating his fellow countryman Alen Babic twice, as well as highly rated Welshman Kody Davies, before joining the professional ranks in September 2016 where he is undefeated in eleven fights.

“I’m excited to have a fight date confirmed,” said Buatsi. “I haven’t boxed in over a year, so this has been a long time coming. I’m looking forward to going through the whole process of arriving at the venue, warming up, walking out and performing under those bright lights again.

“It has been very difficult adjusting my training whilst waiting for a fight date. It’s the first time it has happened to me as a professional to this extent, so it’s been an interesting period, but you just have to get on with it.

“Marko Calic is a solid opponent who will be coming to win. He’s very experienced in the amateur scene and was around on the circuit years before me. As always, I’m planning on impressing with my performance. Winning is everything. I want to get two fights in this year, starting with a win against Calic.”

Just eighteen more sleeps to go folks

What does "head of boxing development" actually mean in a broadcaster sense?

dbf wrote: ↑17 Sep 2020, 05:14 What does "head of boxing development" actually mean in a broadcaster sense?

Just a fancy shmancy name.. I'm sure Eddeh just says Sky Sports Head of Boxing.

It’s about time they stepped Buatsi up a level. Calic’s last 2 opponents have had 31 losses in 67 fights.

Press Release

Marko Calic says he will prove himself on the big stage when he takes on rising Light-Heavyweight star Joshua Buatsi for the WBA International Title on Sunday October 4, live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US.

Calic (11-0, 6 KOs) enjoyed a successful spell in the amateur code, beating his fellow Croat Alen Babic twice as a Heavyweight, as well as highly rated Welshman Kody Davies. Standing at 6' 3", the 33-year-old represented his country in the World Series of Boxing, regularly weighing in at 200lbs.

He made the decision to turn pro in 2016 after losing in an Olympic Qualification Final in Venezuela, with the dream of becoming a World Champion at 175lbs. An experienced, elite amateur and now currently unbeaten as a professional, Calic is determined to become the first man to beat Buatsi in the pros.

“I have known Joshua Buatsi since my days in the amateurs,” said Calic. “I have followed his professional career since he switched from the amateurs after the Rio Olympic Games in 2016. He is a strong fighter and has a good boxing IQ. He is a good technician, but I also believe in my boxing ability and I will be ready on October 4.

“As an amateur I was fighting at 91kg in the Heavyweight category, so our paths never crossed in the ring. When I was in the European Championships in Samokov in 2015, I think he won a bronze medal, so yes I know him pretty well. I’ve watched him progress in the professional ranks and he is a good fighter, so I will be well prepared.

“Beating Buatsi would be huge for my career. It would make me well known in the boxing community and open a lot of doors for me. Eddie Hearn is the best boxing promoter in the world right now and his events get a lot of attention. I will prove myself on the big stage. This win will mean a lot for me.

"I expect that Buatsi will come forward and take the fight to me. I will try to counterpunch him, but I will also be ready to fight fire with fire. My main focus is to do my best. One of my main strengths is that I am taller than most of my opponents. I am also a very good technical boxer with a high boxing IQ."

Press Release | Aqib Fiaz is Determined To Do a Job on Kane Baker

Aqib Fiaz is determined to put his Matchroom Fight Camp disappointment behind him by beating Birmingham's Kane Baker when they finally meet on the Joshua Buatsi vs. Marko Calic undercard on Sunday October 4, live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in US.

The Oldham prospect (5-0) was originally scheduled to face former Midlands Area Champion Baker on the Terri Harper vs. Natasha Jonas World Title undercard on Friday August 7, but was forced to withdraw on the eve of the fight after falling ill, leaving Baker bitterly disappointed.

In an emotional interview in the hotel 'bubble', Baker, who was looking to inflict a first career defeat on 21-year-old Fiaz, accused his opponent of feigning illness to get out of their eight round showdown, but the Jamie Moore-trained talent insists his illness was genuine.

“I woke up on the morning of the weigh-in and I was feeling a bit sick and a bit light-headed,” said Fiaz. “Every fighter will say ‘yeah you do feel like that on the morning of a weigh-in’. I thought it was the weight. Jamie told me that I wasn’t right, and I told him I was fine, and to just give me until after the weigh-in. I weighed-in, rehydrated and ate again, but I couldn’t get myself right.

"I don’t know what it was, I was feeling sick and light-headed. Jamie could see it, there was no hiding it. I tried my best, but I’m glad that my team made the decision that they did to protect my health. Now we’ve got another chance to get the fight on and it’s bigger and better this time. Like everyone else, Steve Wood was messaging me to see if I was alright. My first reply to him while I was sitting in A and E was ‘get the fight on again’.

"Even when I was sat in the room with the doctor, I was asking him if I could fight on the next Fight Camp event the following week. There was all sorts going through my mind in hospital, I was scared. I'm only young, I thought it would be devastating for my career this early on. If we had chose to fight it could have been. I’m glad we made the decision that we did. I’ve got to thank Jamie and Nigel for making that call."

Fiaz inked promotional terms with Eddie Hearn following a shutout points win over Dean Jones on the Scott Quigg vs. Jono Carroll undercard in Manchester earlier this year, and will now have a second chance to impress his new promoter when he clashes with Baker in what has turned into a bitter grudge match.

“It was impossible not to watch the fallout," added Fiaz. "It is what it is. I’m a young man, 21-years-old and social media is a big part of our lives, not just ours but everyone’s. It was impossible to stay off it. I’ve seen everything and yeah, he was talking a lot but talk is cheap. On the night, we’ll see. He's emotionally involved and when you’re emotionally involved you make mistakes, and when he makes them mistakes I’ll make him pay.

“At the end of the day all of the build-up and everything can be big, he can go on like he’s going to do this and do that, but the fight is still the same. He’s still the same man with the two hands that he had before. I’m still the same man too. He’s got to get past my two hands and I don’t think he will. He can talk all he wants, like I said, talk is cheap. Fighters win fights, not talking. Not weight, not tattoos, not acting big in front of a camera.

“Looking back, the ‘bubble’ experience was strange. When I was bumping into Kane around the hotel, he was fine, but when I watched his interviews back, he was acting the big man in front of the camera. When I was in there I quite enjoyed the peace and quiet. I was able to concentrate on the job at hand.

“When the fight was first mentioned we had 5 weeks’ notice. Now it has turned in to a ten- or eleven-week camp. It’s perfect for both of us really. I’ve seen him crying, bitching and complaining, saying I had more notice than him – which I didn’t. We’ve had the same time as him to prepare. Now we’ve had a proper training camp. On the night, he’ll have no excuses when I beat him."

Sizzling Summer , did I miss something ?

rd350lc wrote: ↑29 Sep 2020, 07:54 Sizzling Summer , did I miss something ?

He's on about Fight Camp.

One thing I will say for Calic is he has no problem travelling....that's it

I like Buatsi, and I definitely see the potential but he seriously needs a step up soon. He made his pro debut over 3 years ago and he's not even fought any top domestic boxers accept Conroy. He's got all the hype but he needs to start proving it against decent opposition. He seems like he can be a bit precious about his training and entering a fight, which may have stalled his career somewhat.

Eddie said nothing but hard fights for everyone now we are in a pandemic but this is weak.

I really hope its Johnson next. He can clearly bang and may answer some questions.

Compare Buatsi to Okolies competition - I don't think we can blame Eddie, perhaps its the fighter on this occasion?

Chantelle Cameron vs Dos Santos Araujo this Sunday October 4, live on Sky Sports

Chantelle Cameron is hungry for belts after landing her first shot at a World Title against Brazil’s Adriana Dos Santos Araujo this Sunday October 4, shown live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US.

The undefeated Northampton star (12-0, 7 KOs) inked promotional terms with Eddie Hearn back in July and jumps straight into title action on her Matchroom debut as she takes on London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Araujo for the vacant WBC Super-Lightweight crown.

Trained by Jamie Moore at the VIP Gym in Astley and managed by MTK Global, 29-year-old Cameron won WBC Final Eliminators in two separate divisions last year, securing her spot as Mandatory Challenger to Undisputed Lightweight ruler Katie Taylor, as well as the green and gold 140lbs strap.

Fed up of waiting for a crack at Irish legend Taylor, the former Team GB amateur standout intends to create her own legacy by unifying the Super-Lightweight World Titles, but must first get past Araujo, who holds wins over Natasha Jonas and Mira Potkonen in the amateurs.

“Everybody wants to fight Katie Taylor, and I would have been hanging around waiting for her,” explained Cameron. “I’m 29 now and I want my own World Titles. MTK and Jamie told me to move up to Super-Lightweight and I got my mandatory there, now I’m in this position. It’s a short career so I don’t want to be wasting my time, especially with everything that has happened this year.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment since I turned professional and it’s amazing, especially as I’ll be making my debut as a Matchroom fighter. It’s a dream come true. I’m good at visualising, so I visualise the fight in my head and I visualise myself lifting the belt. It looks good, I think it will suit me! It would mean the world to me to call myself World Champion.

“Adriana is a tough girl, really tough. She loads up with her punches. I don’t think she’s a bigger puncher than me. I’ll be wary of her punches, obviously I don’t want to be getting caught, but we’ve got to see if she can take my shots as well, because I know I can punch. She has beat some good names and has a good pedigree, so I’m expecting a tough 10 rounds and can see it being a bit of a war.

“I feel like I’m a lot hungrier than most. I don’t think there’s going to be anyone that is as hungry as me. I’m not going to let anyone stand in my way. I’m 12-0 but I feel like I’ve been waiting a long time for this opportunity. I’m not looking past Adriana at all, the last thing I’ll be is complacent because I know she’s going to be tough and give me a hell of a fight.

“At the end of the day, I need to get past people like Adriana if I want the big fights. The only time I take a backwards step is when I want to. I’m not going to be bullied. There’s going to be fireworks. It’s going to be a trade-off. I’m also going to box, I’m not just going to be brawler. I’m going to aim to show a bit of everything and show people what I’m capable of. I’m not just a one trick pony. Fingers crossed I win this and then the journey will continue where I go for the other belts and look to unify the division.”

Cameron vs. Araujo is part of a big night of action that sees Croydon’s rising Light-Heavyweight star Joshua Buatsi (12-0, 10 KOs) defend his WBA International Title against undefeated Croat Marko Calic (11-0, 6 KOs), ‘The Savage’ Alen Babic (4-0, 4 KOs) returns to the UK looking to impress again as he locks horns with Irishman Niall Kennedy (13-1-1, 8 KOs) in an eight round Heavyweight contest, Luton’s Linus Udofia (15-0, 7 KOs) puts his English Middleweight Title on the line for the first time against Dillian Whyte-backed Brixton man John Harding Jr (8-1-1, 2 KOs), Aqib Fiaz (5-0) and Kane Baker (13-6) look to settle the score after their Fight Camp disappointment and recent Matchroom signing John Hedges make his pro debut at Super-Middleweight.

i mean this is not a competive fight unles calic last oppo 37/3 was a gang fight and they won with 3, but in all honesty fighters need a couple of fights to get in to some sort of fighting shape again because there is a lot of flat fights and no crowd to get the adrenaline going , its a shame boxing was on a wave this year is finished in my eyes

Yarde & Bhuatsi need to fight each other and stop looking too far ahead to milk it.

Yarde talks about it having to be in front of a crowd but no one knows for sure when that will be

They'll get paid well irrespective of it being behind closed doors, just not as much as an O2 blockbuster with a packed crowd...although Yarde might be kidding himself if he thinks they can draw 18,000 fans.

Time is fleeting in a boxer's career and opportunities don't always last for long.

The other thing is neither of them are either unbeatable, or look unbeatable in Bhuatsi's case. So to coin a phrase...strike while the iron is hot.

At least Bhuatsi is a realist and has pointed directly to the opposing promotional companies who don't tend to work with each other.