BoxRec

Press Release

YOUNG BOXER OF the year Hamzah Sheeraz returns to the ring on July 16 at London’s Copper Box Arena on a night that includes a British title double featuring both Lennox Clarke and Nick Ball, live on BT Sport.

Sheeraz (15-0, 11 KOs) continues his quest at middleweight with a defence of his WBC International Silver title – won last time out via defeat of Jez Smith – against the Argentinean Francisco Emmanuel Torres (17-3-1, 5 KOs) over 10 rounds.

Birmingham’s Lennox Clarke (20-1-1, 8 KOs) makes a first defence of his British and Commonwealth middleweight titles against another big banger in Oldham’s Mark Heffron (27-2-1, 21 KOs) in what is certain to be a mighty collision, with the IBF Intercontinental championship belt also on the line.

Liverpool’s new star Nick Ball (15-0, 8 KOs) is bidding to add the British and Commonwealth featherweight belts to the WBC Silver title he won defeating Isaac Lowe at Wembley Stadium by taking on the unbeaten Scottish talent Nathaniel Collins (11-0, 5 KOs).

The exceptional young bantamweight star Dennis McCann (12-0, 6 KOs) makes the jump up to featherweight in a fight over 10 rounds for the vacant WBC International Silver title against James Beech jr (14-2, 2 KOs), a two-time British title challenger at super bantamweight.

Southampton snapper Ryan ‘The Piranha’ Garner (11-0, 6 KOs) is back in an eight-round fight against the Mexican Christian Lopez Torres (13-18-2, 11 KOs) ahead of a likely title challenge next time out, with new Queensberry recruit Pierce O’Leary (9-0, 5 KOs) from Dublin fighting over eight at super lightweight.

The stacked card also features young light heavyweight star Karol Itauma (7-0, 5 KOs) in his eighth professional assignment over six rounds, with rising super featherweight Masood Abdulah (4-0, 4 KOs) appearing over the same distance.

Super bantamweight Umar Khan (3-0) and super lightweight Sonny Liston Ali (3-0) will compete in six-round contests, with welterweights Khalid Ali (2-0, 1 KO) and Sean Noakes (1-0) appearing in four-rounders.

“This really is going to be an explosive night of boxing at the Copper Box,” said promoter allegedly. “The Boxing Writers’ Young Boxer of the Year Hamzah Sheeraz rightly gets to top the bill in his second fight at middleweight against an in-form Francisco Torres, who is unbeaten in his last 10 and fought at a good level. It is an ideal international test for Hamzah in a defence of his title.

“It doesn’t get much better than the two British title fights we are delivering. Lennox Clarke v Mark Heffron has got war written all over it and neither man is fond of taking a backward step and both carry huge power.

“Nick Ball is now a big noise in the featherweight division and he gets to fight for the British and Commonwealth titles against the highly-rated Nathaniel Collins, who has been attracting rave reviews for his recent performances. If Nick can add these two belts to his WBC Silver title he will not be far away from world title contention.

“Dennis McCann is another now taking significant steps forward and ‘The Menace’ is ready to jump up to featherweight and take on a real challenge in James Beech jr for the WBC International Silver belt.

“Ryan Garner is also on the cusp of fighting for titles and he will be looking to impress and show that he will be our super featherweight force, while I am also delighted to welcome another young fighter who means business in the formidable super lightweight Pierce O’Leary.”

Tickets for the show at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday, 16 July are priced from £55 and go on sale at 11am tomorrow (Tuesday, 31 May) from SeeTickets.com.

Not particularly fussed by the Sheeraz fight. His opponent has lost a few times at his domestic level and his only result of note is a draw against an overweight Jose Benevidez Jr.

I like the 2 British title fights though - particularly Ball vs Collins. Collins looked good last time out against Jacob Robinson.

I like the Ball vs Collins fight a lot - great match.

I'm at a bit of a loss as to how Mark Heffron has another shot at a British title (this time a weight up) without ever beating anyone of note. He's the mandatory, which baffles me.

Not sure why McCann is moving up to Featherweight, but I'm fairly sure he'll continue to underwhelm me, whilst being told by TV how much of a talent he is.

magnus wrote: ↑30 May 2022, 13:49 I like the Ball vs Collins fight a lot - great match.

I'm at a bit of a loss as to how Mark Heffron has another shot at a British title (this time a weight up) without ever beating anyone of note. He's the mandatory, which baffles me.

Not sure why McCann is moving up to Featherweight, but I'm fairly sure he'll continue to underwhelm me, whilst being told by TV how much of a talent he is.

Yeah - I’m just glad Lennox Clarke is back out. Agree it’s strange the amount of chances Heffron gets but at least he’s rarely in a bad fight.

McCann has really underwhelmed in his last couple of fights. He keeps going on about haribo too so that probably explains him going up a couple of divisions.

It's not like Wazza doesn't have options for him at Super-Bantam either: Davies, Cain, Leach, Foster, Cunningham etc.

At least Beech will give it a go.

maverick23 wrote: ↑30 May 2022, 12:24 Not particularly fussed by the Sheeraz fight. His opponent has lost a few times at his domestic level and his only result of note is a draw against an overweight Jose Benevidez Jr.

I like the 2 British title fights though - particularly Ball vs Collins. Collins looked good last time out against Jacob Robinson.

The main thing is. We’ve got another BT card.

Torres looks (Boxrec record look anyway) better than I expected. To be fair, he losses came a while ago and he's clearly improved since then. Decent step up from Jez Smith.

only mccann (who seems to have turned into an orange) taking a dump this time

Danny Garcia is fighting the guy who Torres drew with last.

Good fight this. He beats Torres well then he’s well on his way to getting a big name.

Dioufy wrote: ↑01 Jun 2022, 15:41 Danny Garcia is fighting the guy who Torres drew with last.

Good fight this. He beats Torres well then he’s well on his way to getting a big name.

Benevidez Jr was out for 3 years and jumped 2 divisions against Torres. Most of his best wins had been at 140 and he had no real right to be fighting at middle and he looked rusty too.

Torres isn’t anything special but he’s tough. I’d have much rather seen Sheeraz go after the British.

maverick23 wrote: ↑01 Jun 2022, 17:02

Dioufy wrote: ↑01 Jun 2022, 15:41 Danny Garcia is fighting the guy who Torres drew with last.

Good fight this. He beats Torres well then he’s well on his way to getting a big name.

Benevidez Jr was out for 3 years and jumped 2 divisions against Torres. Most of his best wins had been at 140 and he had no real right to be fighting at middle and he looked rusty too.

Torres isn’t anything special but he’s tough. I’d have much rather seen Sheeraz go after the British.

I know nothing of Torres and little of Benevidez… so thanks for the info.
That draw obviously is just a paper result.

Dioufy wrote: ↑01 Jun 2022, 17:05

maverick23 wrote: ↑01 Jun 2022, 17:02

Dioufy wrote: ↑01 Jun 2022, 15:41 Danny Garcia is fighting the guy who Torres drew with last.

Good fight this. He beats Torres well then he’s well on his way to getting a big name.

Benevidez Jr was out for 3 years and jumped 2 divisions against Torres. Most of his best wins had been at 140 and he had no real right to be fighting at middle and he looked rusty too.

Torres isn’t anything special but he’s tough. I’d have much rather seen Sheeraz go after the British.

I know nothing of Torres and little of Benevidez… so thanks for the info.
That draw obviously is just a paper result.

Wasn’t Benavidez’s fight against Craw at 147?

Collins-Ball won't be on this card. BBBoC circulars suggest Collins is injured.

cpx2 wrote: ↑09 Jun 2022, 15:37 Collins-Ball won't be on this card. BBBoC circulars suggest Collins is injured.

FFS…that was the best fight on the show.

maverick23 wrote: ↑09 Jun 2022, 16:03

cpx2 wrote: ↑09 Jun 2022, 15:37 Collins-Ball won't be on this card. BBBoC circulars suggest Collins is injured.

FFS…that was the best fight on the show.

Is it a Queensbury card if it hasn't fallen apart somewhat by fight night? I notice the Eithan James-Conor Parker fight for this week is off.

cpx2 wrote: ↑09 Jun 2022, 16:14

maverick23 wrote: ↑09 Jun 2022, 16:03

cpx2 wrote: ↑09 Jun 2022, 15:37 Collins-Ball won't be on this card. BBBoC circulars suggest Collins is injured.

FFS…that was the best fight on the show.

Is it a Queensbury card if it hasn't fallen apart somewhat by fight night? I notice the Eithan James-Conor Parker fight for this week is off.

Yeah - I saw that one too. Shame.

maverick23 wrote: ↑09 Jun 2022, 16:03

cpx2 wrote: ↑09 Jun 2022, 15:37 Collins-Ball won't be on this card. BBBoC circulars suggest Collins is injured.

FFS…that was the best fight on the show.

They better get cracking on a replacement for Ball.

Listened to his interview on IFL whilst walking to work and I didn’t know he was based in the States.

Also saying that him and Denzel Bentley have put off fighting “until that fight becomes bigger”.

Ffs… if Hamzah has any major ambitions then he should be fighting for the British ASAP.

Boxing 2022, eh.

Hamzah Sheeraz is set to record another career on July 16 when he tops the bill for the first time at the Copper Box Arena, where he takes on Francisco Emanuel Torres live on BT Sport.

Sheeraz, just 23, introduced himself to the middleweight division back in March with a resounding defeat of the usually highly competitive Jez Smith, who lasted just 38 seconds into the second round.

The Ilford man, who picked up the WBC International Silver title for his triumph, is being rewarded for his rapid progression with the headline spot at the Copper Box against in-form Argentinean fighting for the vacant WBC Silver title.

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑31 May 2022, 14:52 only mccann (who seems to have turned into an orange) taking a dump this time

Yes I’ve notice this skin colour transformation.

I look forward to watching Hamzah, because it's a great excuse to open a fine Shiraz from my "cellar"

I happened to be drinking a nice one when he came on some undercard and it's now a tradition, (of at least 3 fights!)

skanksta wrote: ↑06 Jul 2022, 14:25 I look forward to watching Hamzah, because it's a great excuse to open a fine Shiraz from my "cellar"

I happened to be drinking a nice one when he came on some undercard and it's now a tradition, (of at least 3 fights!)

Against Skeete too?

That was a cvntish move no doubt - and I was on SuperSkeete by Dec at huge odds - it’s not like I I really like Hamzah - I just like watching boxing while drinking Black Stump Durif !