BoxRec

Press Release

Light-Heavyweight rivals Lyndon Arthur and Anthony Yarde both return to action on Saturday July 10 at the Royal Albert Hall, ahead of a contracted rematch later this year.

Arthur narrowly outpointed Yarde in December and they will get a close up of each other once again on Queensberry’s summer special live on BT Sport.

In the main event, Arthur (18-0, 12 KOs) defends his WBO Inter-Continental title against Italian champion Davide Faraci (15-0, 7 KOs).

The Mancunian became the number one ranked contender for Joe Smith Jr’s WBO World title after his split decision win against Yarde and can afford no mistakes against Swiss born Faraci.

As well as his lofty WBO ranking, Arthur is ranked number four by the IBF and nine by the WBC. Artur Beterbiev holds the IBF and WBC belts.

KO King Yarde (20-2, 19 KOs) aims to be back with a bang when he meets unbeaten German Emin Atra (17-0, 12 KOs) in a non-title ten rounder.

Yarde had been due to meet Atra in April, but was sidelined because of a dental problem which forced the delay.

Yarde showed he belonged at world level when he came close to toppling then WBO World champion Sergey Kovalev in August 2019 before losing in the 11th round.

Ilford’s big hitter returned with wins against Diego Jair Ramirez and Dec Spelman before running into Arthur who he will be desperate to meet in a rematch.

Despite the setback against his bitter British rival, Yarde has remained in the world ratings and is ranked high by the IBF, WBC and WBO.

Promoter Frank W said: “Of course, the rematch is what everyone wants and it will happen at some stage.

“It is fantastic to get them on the same bill. Both of them have a point to prove and BT Sport viewers can look forward to them both impressing.

“Lyndon has leapt to number one with the WBO and will want to show the champion Joe Smith Jr how much of a threat he is.

“Anthony will still feel aggrieved that the decision went Lyndon’s way and has vowed never to trust judges again so he will go for it against Atra, for sure.”

Also on the bill, WBO ranked number one Super-Middleweight Zach Parker (20-0, 14 KO’s) returns with his opponent yet to be confirmed. Zach is looking to defend his position ahead of hopefully being made mandatory to the World title held by P4P King Canelo Alvarez.

WBO ranked number four Super-Featherweight, Archie Sharp (19-0, 9 KOs) faces Nicaragua’s Marcio Soza (21-6-2, 12 KOs) with the vacant WBO Global championship on the line.

They had been due to meet at the weekend, but a COVID-19 issue involving Soza meant a short postponement.

Warren added: “Archie is another Queensberry fighter high in the world rankings and providing he keeps winning and remains patient his chance will come.”

“Zach Parker was hugely impressive in his last fight, seeing off Vaughan Alexander – who hadn’t previously been finished – in just 2 rounds.

“I believe he has the power to knockout anyone in his division and look forward to another exciting performance from him.”

More big fights will be added to the bill in the coming days.

Tickets will go on pre-sale with the Royal Albert Hall tomorrow and on general sale Thursday.

Ticket prices as follows:

Grand Tier & Loggia boxes – £100
2nd Tier boxes – £75
Front Stalls – £75
Rear Stalls – £50
Rausing Circle – £50

-------------------------------------------------


ARCHIE SHARP GOES GLOBAL

ARCHIE SHARP WILL challenge for the vacant WBO Global super featherweight championship when he returns to the ring on Saturday June 5, live on BT Sport.

The 19-0 ‘Sharpshooter’ takes on Marcio Soza, 21-6-2 in his first fight since August of last year following his recovery from an arm injury.

The former WBO European champion, ranked at No.4 in the world by the governing body, will be entering into his first fight since switching his training base to Alan Smith’s Queensberry iBox Gym in Bromley and he is up against a Nicaraguan on an 11-fight winning streak and the holder of the WBA Fedelatin title, which he won in December of 2020.

“We are under two weeks out now and I literally cannot wait – I am very excited,” said the 26-year-old Sharp on his bid to win a second professional belt. “I’ve had a good 10-12 weeks camp after my injury and it has gone well

“I am fighting for the WBO Global title and it is what I needed really. I talk about trusting the process and I was going to be out on the Carl Frampton show before that got moved, I got injured and then this belt became vacant and I am now fighting a tough kid for a bigger title.

“It will put me in very good stead for where I want to be. Shakur Stevenson is fighting the No.2 (Jeremiah Nakathila) and I will be right there amongst it. I have defended the European belt three or four times now and I did get a little bit complacent in a couple of the fights. Having a new belt on the line is what I thrive on and I am buzzing for it.

“Marcio Soza is a tough kid and hasn’t been beaten since 2016. He has mixed with the likes of Francisco Fonseca and has been at a very good level, with over 20 wins and 12 stoppages. His losses came very early in his career and he is a 30-year-old man, so it is gonna be good and I am looking forward to it.

“He is definitely a Mexican-style fighter and I have watched a couple of little clips. He will certainly want to go toe-to-toe.”

-----------
Daniel Dubois (15-1, 14 KOs) returns to the ring on Saturday June 5 when he takes on Bogdan Dinu (20-2, 16KOs) for the WBA Interim heavyweight title. Light heavyweight favourite Tommy Fury is also in action in his sixth fight as a professional.

WBO ranked number four featherweight, Archie Sharp (19-0, 9 KOs) returns in his first fight under new trainer Alan Smith, while Belfast Middleweight Caoimhin Agyarko (8-0, 5 KOs) will be aiming for his fifth successive inside the distance win. Stoke-on-Trent’s huge popular middleweight Nathan Heaney (11-0, 3 KOs) has his second fight under the Queensberry banner when he meets Bulgarian Iliyan Markov (6-14-2, 3 KOs).

Also on the show are unbeaten English bantamweight champion Liam Davies (8-0, 3 KOs), featherweight Adan Mohamed (1-0) and 18-year-old decorated amateur George Bance, who makes his professional debut after signing with Queensberry.

Fight Week!

If his had a 12 week camp why did they withdraw from a final eliminator for British title due to injury. Their kidding their shelves if they think their ready for a world title shot after this fight .

Sharp might well get a world title shot without ever meeting anyone British title class, George Jupp rings a bell!

Coco wrote: ↑31 May 2021, 18:41 Sharp might well get a world title shot without ever meeting anyone British title class, George Jupp rings a bell!

Good shout forgot about him after he beat Mitchell smith.

The British champ Cacace has been insctive for 18 months as has the previous champion Bowen. Both are seemingly promoted by FW - why couldn’t Sharp fight one of them?

maverick23 wrote: ↑01 Jun 2021, 03:17 The British champ Cacace has been insctive for 18 months as has the previous champion Bowen. Both are seemingly promoted by FW - why couldn’t Sharp fight one of them?

When it comes to FW, the wrong man wins. Also, he probably wants to set them in seperate career paths.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑01 Jun 2021, 04:31

maverick23 wrote: ↑01 Jun 2021, 03:17 The British champ Cacace has been insctive for 18 months as has the previous champion Bowen. Both are seemingly promoted by FW - why couldn’t Sharp fight one of them?

When it comes to FW, the wrong man wins. Also, he probably wants to set them in seperate career paths.

In fairness to FW, he matches his fighters against each other more than Eddie does. I’d just be pissed if I was either Cacace or Bowen and surely either of them would be better, higher profile fights than Soza.

I'm pretty sure cacace has had the Woodstock fight postponed 3 times( can't see how the board approved it with Woodstock coming off a loss)and bowen had injuries when he was champ.
As for sharp his only beaten area level guys this is the problem with these minor world ranking belts gives false rankings for fighters.

Fights off soza tested positive for covid. Hoping to make the fight again in July. Surely their is a British super feather ready and waiting for a short notice call.

maley1984 wrote: ↑02 Jun 2021, 04:17 Fights off soza tested positive for covid. Hoping to make the fight again in July. Surely their is a British super feather ready and waiting for a short notice call.

Jeez. Surely they can find a reasonable opponent at short notice in the current climate.

maverick23 wrote: ↑02 Jun 2021, 05:37

maley1984 wrote: ↑02 Jun 2021, 04:17 Fights off soza tested positive for covid. Hoping to make the fight again in July. Surely their is a British super feather ready and waiting for a short notice call.

Jeez. Surely they can find a reasonable opponent at short notice in the current climate.

Got to b loads of lads chumping at the bit for a last min call even feathers stepping up or lightweights coming down.

Flippin heck

maley1984 wrote: ↑02 Jun 2021, 05:52

maverick23 wrote: ↑02 Jun 2021, 05:37

maley1984 wrote: ↑02 Jun 2021, 04:17 Fights off soza tested positive for covid. Hoping to make the fight again in July. Surely their is a British super feather ready and waiting for a short notice call.

Jeez. Surely they can find a reasonable opponent at short notice in the current climate.

Got to b loads of lads chumping at the bit for a last min call even feathers stepping up or lightweights coming down.

Yep. Won’t happen now though - Tommy Fury’s opponent has just been announced so that will be co-main and billed as a battle of undefeateds to stop Jake Paul taking the piss.

maley1984 wrote: ↑02 Jun 2021, 04:17 Fights off soza tested positive for covid. Hoping to make the fight again in July. Surely their is a British super feather ready and waiting for a short notice call.

Yeah, I mean, what are they protecting him from domestically?

Bugger , was looking forward to this .

It's a head scratcher

Sharp can't afford to lose momentum. He was on a good run and has been good addition to the super featherweight division.

maverick23 wrote: ↑02 Jun 2021, 05:37

maley1984 wrote: ↑02 Jun 2021, 04:17 Fights off soza tested positive for covid. Hoping to make the fight again in July. Surely their is a British super feather ready and waiting for a short notice call.

Jeez. Surely they can find a reasonable opponent at short notice in the current climate.

Didn’t seem to try very hard - even FW yeah we just moved it to July time same fight in his interview.

3132DW wrote: ↑03 Jun 2021, 01:57

maverick23 wrote: ↑02 Jun 2021, 05:37

maley1984 wrote: ↑02 Jun 2021, 04:17 Fights off soza tested positive for covid. Hoping to make the fight again in July. Surely their is a British super feather ready and waiting for a short notice call.

Jeez. Surely they can find a reasonable opponent at short notice in the current climate.

Didn’t seem to try very hard - even FW yeah we just moved it to July time same fight in his interview.

It’s gonna be July now?

KiwiRider wrote: ↑02 Jun 2021, 15:14

maley1984 wrote: ↑02 Jun 2021, 04:17 Fights off soza tested positive for covid. Hoping to make the fight again in July. Surely their is a British super feather ready and waiting for a short notice call.

Yeah, I mean, what are they protecting him from domestically?

I think its more about protecting the high wbo ranking with easier fights. The bbboc had ordered a final eliminator with barrett but that was postponed(purse bid) due to sharp injured then his announced this fight and said his done a 10 week camp. Sounds dodgy to me. I'd actually back sharp to win that fight.

Sharp said: “Gutted ain’t the word. I’m in the best shape of my life I’ve just got to trust what’s ahead and keep on the grind. I’ll pick up this WBO Global belt in July and then it’s the world title.

“Too many people stress and worry about things that you cannot change. You just need to chill and trust the process.”

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑03 Jun 2021, 03:31

3132DW wrote: ↑03 Jun 2021, 01:57

maverick23 wrote: ↑02 Jun 2021, 05:37

Jeez. Surely they can find a reasonable opponent at short notice in the current climate.

Didn’t seem to try very hard - even FW yeah we just moved it to July time same fight in his interview.

It’s gonna be July now?

Yeah FW said in IFL they’ll move it to July show.

Some of Sharp's quote makes worrying reading !

Obviously it's great Archie has an abundance of self-belief, but talk of world titles after his next fight is a big concern.

It could easily be dismissed as mis-placed optimism, but we've seen this pattern with W@rren's boxers a lot i.e. being pushed into world class too soon

tbh i think archie has over achieved already

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑03 Jun 2021, 14:15 tbh i think archie has over achieved already

If he was early 30's maybe, but at 26 he isn't the finished article just yet.