BoxRec

Dates announced for championship chasing trio of Diego Pacheco, Rocky Hernandez, and Dalton Smith

Matchroom have announced the next dates in the careers of world title hopefuls Diego Pacheco, Rocky Hernandez and Dalton Smith.

In the U.K., promising junior-welterweight Smith facing Jon Fernandez for the vacant European title at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield on Saturday, September 28.

In Sheffield, Smith will fight for the title recently vacated by Adam Azim.

The 16-0 (12 KOs), prospect can add another belt to his collection in his fourth headline fight at home. Last time out, the 27-year-old stopped former world title challenger Jose Zepeda with a body shot.

Spain’s Fernandez (26-2 22 KOs), is unbeaten in his last three fights since teaming up with star trainer Ismael Salas.

“The English, British and Commonwealth are all on my mantelpiece, so this fight is about completing the domestic collection before moving on to world titles,” said Smith. “Azim chose to vacate the European title rather than face me, but Jon Fernandez is game to fight anyone. He hits very hard and put on a really strong performance against Rivera who is a class operator.

“I am very happy that the fight has finally been announced,” said Fernandez. “It’s definitely a great opportunity for my career that I plan to take advantage of. I will prepare for this fight in Las Vegas like the last three fights with Ismael Salas. We know it will be a tough fight, a war, so we will prepare for it. I hope to make all the fans enjoy the fight.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn hopes that the trio, Hernandez, Pacheco and Smith, will all win world titles.

I really want Bostan and Davis to box each other. That would be a fantastic fight. Both are up for it. It would be a real sign from Hearn that things have changed massively if he makes the fight.

Azim chose to resign the European title rather than face me, but Jon Fernandez is game to fight anyone. He hits very hard and put on a really strong performance against Rivera, a class operator. The English, British and Commonwealth are all on my mantelpiece, so this fight is about completing the domestic collection before moving on to world titles.

1683969 wrote: ↑26 Jul 2024, 03:55 Azim chose to resign the European title rather than face me, but Jon Fernandez is game to fight anyone. He hits very hard and put on a really strong performance against Rivera, a class operator. The English, British and Commonwealth are all on my mantelpiece, so this fight is about completing the domestic collection before moving on to world titles.

Dalton is that you?

Rhiannon Dixon-Terri Harper Rescheduled For Sept. 28 In Sheffield

Terri Harper will now get a home game for her next title bid.

The former 130- and 154-pound titlist’s challenge of unbeaten WBO 135-pound beltholder Rhiannon Dixon has a new date and location. Their bout will now take place on Sept. 28 at Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England.

Matchroom Boxing confirmed the development on Thursday. Dixon-Harper was previously due to land on the Aug. 24 Jack Catterall-Regis Prograis card at Co-op Live in Manchester, England. That event was postponed by at least two months after Catterall (29-1, 13 knockouts) suffered a rib injury during training camp.

The title fight will now come in supporting capacity to the Dalton Smith-Jon Fernandez EBU junior welterweight title fight.

Dixon (10-0, 1 KO) will attempt the first defense of the belt she won earlier this year. She outpointed Karen Elizabeth Carabajal (22-2, 3 KOs) in their April 13 vacant title fight at nearby AO Arena.

The 29-year-old southpaw from Warrington is The Ring’s No. 3-rated lightweight.

Harper (14-2-2, 6 KOs) returns home, though to a local arena that has produced mixed results for her career.

She came up well short in her previous bid to become a three-division titlist. The 27-year-old from nearby Denaby Main suffered a fourth-round stoppage to WBO welterweight titlist Sandy Ryan (7-1-1, 3 KOs) on March 23 at this very location.

The fight marked her debut at welterweight after she previously held the WBA 154-pound title. Harper vacated that belt after a ten-round draw versus former undisputed welterweight champ Cecilia Brækhus last October.

Her challenge of Dixon’s title marks Harper’s third straight fight at Utilita Arena and sixth of her career. She won her first major title at the venue, a Feb. 2020 decision over Eva Wahlstrom to claim the WBC 130-pound title. Two successful defenses followed before her Nov. 2021 knockout defeat to Alycia Baumgardner (15-1, 7 KOs), also at this site.

Harper also held the WBC 130-pound title. She is currently The Ring’s No. 1-rated junior middleweight.

1683969 wrote: ↑26 Jul 2024, 03:55 Azim chose to resign the European title rather than face me, but Jon Fernandez is game to fight anyone. He hits very hard and put on a really strong performance against Rivera, a class operator. The English, British and Commonwealth are all on my mantelpiece, so this fight is about completing the domestic collection before moving on to world titles.

That must be a very long mantelpiece, and it must look quite odd if you have big belts on part of it and gaps in other bits for the belts to come. Or have you filled those gaps temporarily - family photos, that sort of thing? Also, do you have a fire underneath the mantelpiece? If so, some belts, being made of fairly cheap plastic, could be a fire hazard. It may be better to keep them in a display case, rather than on the mantelpiece. Lastly, what do you mean by "domestic collection"? If you mean "at your house" and that the European belt will complete that collection, in what separate location are you proposing to keep your world title belts when you win those? Or if you are referring to the European and Commonwealth belts as "domestic" for you, I congratulate you on already having homes throughout Europe and the Commonwealth.

olij999 wrote: ↑02 Aug 2024, 04:07

1683969 wrote: ↑26 Jul 2024, 03:55 Azim chose to resign the European title rather than face me, but Jon Fernandez is game to fight anyone. He hits very hard and put on a really strong performance against Rivera, a class operator. The English, British and Commonwealth are all on my mantelpiece, so this fight is about completing the domestic collection before moving on to world titles.

That must be a very long mantelpiece, and it must look quite odd if you have big belts on part of it and gaps in other bits for the belts to come. Or have you filled those gaps temporarily - family photos, that sort of thing? Also, do you have a fire underneath the mantelpiece? If so, some belts, being made of fairly cheap plastic, could be a fire hazard. It may be better to keep them in a display case, rather than on the mantelpiece. Lastly, what do you mean by "domestic collection"? If you mean "at your house" and that the European belt will complete that collection, in what separate location are you proposing to keep your world title belts when you win those? Or if you are referring to the European and Commonwealth belts as "domestic" for you, I congratulate you on already having homes throughout Europe and the Commonwealth.

Oli, I'm sure you're a canny lad, but that post comes across as a little bit pudendum-ish.

We have lost a few decent pros on here due to poor treatment

Coco wrote: ↑02 Aug 2024, 19:18 We have lost a few decent pros on here due to poor treatment

Coco, I appreciate that, but that misses my point. Dalton plainly didn't say those words - no-one mangles the English language like that when speaking. Someone doing publicity for him wrote that. And Dalton will doubtless be paying them, directly or indirectly, for the privilege. Boxers earn their money through their own blood, sweat and tears, and their publicity team should at least put together quotes that make some sort of sense, even allowing for the usual cliches. He's a good fighter and deserves good promotion. And in the extremely unlikely event that he really did say these words, it's the job of his publicity team to edit them to make them make sense. So either way, it is not down to Dalton.

Anyway, best of luck to him in his fight.

Dalton is one of the most dedicated, modest fighters out there. I've seen him at every level, working men's clubs up to Saudi and he's just quietly watching along with the average crowd. Probably doesn't even ask for comp tickets.

seen him working corners several times now too, surely he'll be a trainer when he's retired

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑03 Aug 2024, 04:17 seen him working corners several times now too, surely he'll be a trainer when he's retired

You would have thought so. Boxing is their life, I include Bostan in that, too.

Looks like Dalton picked up an injury & bout off , show still happening probably different location to suit Johnny Fisher .

Dalton Smith out of Jon Fernandez bout, show still on at a new location

Although Dalton Smith is out of his bill-topping fight with Jon Fernandez in Sheffield on September 28, promoter Matchroom Boxing is trying to make sure the show goes on.

Smith, a junior welterweight prospect who is 16-0 (12 KOs), has been building his brand in Sheffield with consecutive victories over Sam Maxwell and Jose Zepeda, but an injury has caused his withdrawal.

With an undercard that features heavyweight Romford ticketseller John Fisher, the bill is likely to move south, and it would not be a shock to see Fisher – slated to fight Andrii Rudenko – return to the Copper Box Arena in London, home of his 36-second blowout victory of Alen Babic in July.

Elsewhere on the card is the WBO lightweight title fight between Rhiannon Dixon and Terri Harper, and Liverpool junior featherweight talent Peter McGrail faces Brad Foster.

On October 26, Matchroom will be in Manchester at the Co-op Arena, where Jack Catterall and Regis Prograis meet after their original date was postponed following a training injury to Catterall. It is likely that Campbell Hatton will return in a rematch of the only loss of his 15-fight career, against James Flint, and the recently-ordered bout between British and Commonwealth super featherweight titleholder Reece Bellotti and Michael Gomez Jr. is likely to feature.

I hope McGrail-Foster still happens, interesting fight.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑24 Aug 2024, 04:52 Dalton Smith out of Jon Fernandez bout, show still on at a new location stickman hook

Although Dalton Smith is out of his bill-topping fight with Jon Fernandez in Sheffield on September 28, promoter Matchroom Boxing is trying to make sure the show goes on.

Smith, a junior welterweight prospect who is 16-0 (12 KOs), has been building his brand in Sheffield with consecutive victories over Sam Maxwell and Jose Zepeda, but an injury has caused his withdrawal.

With an undercard that features heavyweight Romford ticketseller John Fisher, the bill is likely to move south, and it would not be a shock to see Fisher – slated to fight Andrii Rudenko – return to the Copper Box Arena in London, home of his 36-second blowout victory of Alen Babic in July.

Elsewhere on the card is the WBO lightweight title fight between Rhiannon Dixon and Terri Harper, and Liverpool junior featherweight talent Peter McGrail faces Brad Foster.

On October 26, Matchroom will be in Manchester at the Co-op Arena, where Jack Catterall and Regis Prograis meet after their original date was postponed following a training injury to Catterall. It is likely that Campbell Hatton will return in a rematch of the only loss of his 15-fight career, against James Flint, and the recently-ordered bout between British and Commonwealth super featherweight titleholder Reece Bellotti and Michael Gomez Jr. is likely to feature.

The undercard, featuring heavyweight prospect John Fisher, may shift the event south to London’s Copper Box Arena. Fisher, a popular figure known for drawing crowds, is slated to face Andrii Rudenko. The Copper Box holds significance for Fisher, as it was the site of his sensational 36-second knockout of Alen Babic in July. A return to this venue could bolster the event’s appeal despite the loss of its main attraction.

A Bostan-Davis fight is exactly what fans need. Both fighters are game, and making it happen would prove Hearn is finally shaking things up.