Magnificent Seven: The Full Preview
Frank Warren’s ambitious card on Saturday sees a host of star names from his stable in action and seven belts up for grabs, sort of.
The validity of the straps is questionable, there’s nothing higher than European belt on show and it ranges down to the almost unrecognisable international masters bantamweight title.
Still, a belt is a belt and what’s on show really is the future of British boxing. This is a marked improvement on Warren’s “Night of Champions card” - there are still a few lopsided bouts but a lot of quality and plenty of scope for excitement on show as well.
It’s a fantastic occasion for British boxing and its fans, it’s just a question of relaxing and enjoying the show. Here is a brief guide to all the major match ups.
British Super-middleweight eliminator match
James DeGale v Carl Dilks
Olympic Gold medallist DeGale only made the weight at the second attempt and faces Carl Dilks in a British Super-middleweight eliminator match.
This is shaping up to be a surprisingly good fight due to the animosity between “Chunky” and Dilks, having previously looked like a routine warm-up match for the up and coming prospect.
At the end of this battle lies a shot at the British title as DeGale continues his fast-track to the big time. Yet his opponent Dilks looks very much up for it, describing this as a career making fight. DeGale poured scorn on his rival saying he was going to knock out Dilks in the sixth round, which of course infuriated the Liverpudlian as the press conference nearly saw things come to early blows.
Everybody knows about DeGale, he is a good mover, fast hands and good head movement among other things, but his biggest weakness is over confidence. The Olympian has only boxed 20 professional rounds in his career yet you’d think by the way he acts he had boxed 200. In Dilks he has an opponent who is solid and has fought three times as many rounds as the Londoner.
DeGale is expecting a walk in the park but Dilks is going to make life as difficult and uncomfortable for the MBE as he can and there could well be fireworks by the end of this one.
Vacant European light-middleweight title
Matthew Hall v Lukas Konecny
Matthew Hall gets a crack at the big time when he takes on Lukas Konecny for the vacant European belt. With a record of 23-2, Hall has the calibre to graft his way up the light-middleweight division having put defeats to Anthony Small and a first round KO to Martin Conception behind him.
“El Torito” is looking to break out of his domestic fighter guise and strive towards world glory. He is a pugilist who likes to come forward and in the past that has been his undoing, his chin is questionable and although he has scored knockouts a lot have come against lesser fighters.
Konecny has been about a bit and in the process gained a great record of 21 knock outs in his 44 wins with just three losses. He is a very strong puncher and might just prove to be a bit much for Hall this time.
WBO eliminator match
Nathan Cleverly v Karo Murat
There’s no denying that Nathan Cleverly is stepping up the calibre of his opposition with this fight. He comes up against the Iraq-born, Armenian-raised-German Karo Murat in this WBO light-heavyweight eliminator match with the excellent Jurgen Brahmer waiting for the winner at the end.
The Welshman clearly isn’t in the mood to hang around as he eyes international glory, but in all-round nice guy Murat he faces a fighter who could derail his dreams.
The German fights with a record of 22-0-0, he is a slick fighter, quick hands, strong chin and while Cleverly is an all-rounder with good footwork and decent hand speed he has never faced a fighter of Murat’s ability before and could end up ruing taking such a tricky fight.
Of all the bouts this could be the closest and the excitement level will be high because someone is going to lose their unbeaten record. To stand a chance, Cleverly needs to out-box his opponent and he can certainly achieve that as he doesn’t yet have the power to be a one-punch boxer so he tends to build his fights. This is a real pick’em fight which could go either way; Murat has the experience but Cleverly is a natural athlete and a genuine talent.
If the maths graduate gets his sums right he could take this on points.
WBO intercontinental belt and British Welterweight Championship
Kell Brook v Michael Jennings
One of the bigger fights of the night sees young British hopeful Kell Brook takes his career up another notch as he faces Michael Jennings in a British title and WBO eliminator match.
Right now Brook is arguably the best young talent in the country and “Kid” will be looking to put on a barnstorming show to propel himself towards international recognition.
In Jennings he faces a vastly experienced welterweight. The 33-year-old has only suffered defeats to the one time hot-prospect Young Mutley and the top level Miguel Cotto. It’s a huge test for Brook, who may face going the full 12 rounds for the first time in his career as Jennings has the experience and technical ability to cause him problems.
Brook should set up shop behind his lightning jab and will be looking to KO the Chorley fighter, but in truth the 12 rounds would stand him in good stead for the future. Jennings is a bouncy punch and mover and he will make Brook work hard, but the youngster’s outstanding talent should prevail in the end.
The winner of this fight becomes Manny Pacquiao’s mandatory so they might be better off losing to be honest.
British heavyweight championship
Derek Chisora v Sam Sexton
The biggest mouth in British boxing Derek Chisora renews acquaintances after two years with the much improved Sam Sexton, as they clash for “Del Boy’s” British title.
They are both older and wiser than they were in that fight and it should be a much more mature performance. It’s just their fighting that has matured though, not their attitudes - judging by the heated press conference anyway - which helps shape this fight as a potential doozey. Chisora will go in as the heavy favourite; the British champion won their last encounter with a thrilling powerful left-right combination in the sixth round but since then Sexton has improved and proved he has ability by winning the commonwealth title.
Chisora seems to get better in every fight and packs a lot of power, he is surprisingly mobile and bobs his head well, while Sexton has come along well. However, it’s difficult to see past a replay of their last showing, with Chisora likely to take this one as well.
European Cruiserweight championship
Enzo Maccarinelli v Alexander Frenkel
The comeback kid Enzo Maccarinelli takes his three first round KO streak in against Alexander Frenkel in the first defence of his European cruiserweight strap.
Many people thought “Big Mac” was shot following his three defeats in four fights, including a catastrophic second round KO against David Haye, and the Welshman’s career was certainly on the rocks. Against all odds he got himself together for one more crack and got himself back in among it the hard way, going to Russia to emphatically take Alexander Kotbay’s belt.
Frenkel is a different kettle of fish though. The German is undefeated in 22 with a stunning 17 KO’s. He hasn’t taken on any real quality but seems to be a fighter of some substance. He’s a power puncher who picks his shots and moves around well. He relies on the knockout and Maccranelli’s chin is certainly questionable due to the manner of his KO defeats.
The Big welsh cruiserweight will go into this fight knowing it’s all over for him if he loses. He’s done well to get back to this level and needs to find some real form to come through this stern challenge.
Vacant European middleweight championship
Matthew Macklin v Shalva Jomardashvili
These days Matthew Macklin trains with the big shooters of the sport at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym in Las Vegas. While Manny Pacquiao’s trainer won’t be in his corner on Saturday night, the skills he has picked up from the best trainer in boxing should be evident.
“The Tipperary Tornado” is chasing his old EBU strap as he looks for away on to the international circuit and this is without doubt one of the showpiece events of the night.
It did have the scope to be slightly better; originally it was due to have been a grudge match against rival Darren Barker, but the former commonwealth gold medallist was forced to pull out with a hip injury, so up steps relatively unknown Georgian Shalva Jomadashvili to fill Barker’s boots.
Macklin’s a tough, gritty fighter who will happily take things inside and has a solid chin to back it up. The middleweight can throw out combinations with decent knockout power and holds 18 KO’s in his 26 wins with 2 draws and a defeat. He should comfortably blast Jomardashvili out and start eyeing up a world title shot soon.
Irish light-welterweight title
Frankie Gavin v Michael Kelly
“Funtime” Frankie Gavin can hardly claim to be from Ireland, yet the Irish title should be the first belt the talented light-welterweight gets before he needs to buy a warehouse to keep his collection in.
Anyone that has seen Gavin box knows about the plastic paddy’s explosive style. Fast slick hands, accurate punching, genuine power he looks the full package.
So in a way you have to feel sorry for Michael Kelly. The veteran Irishman isn’t particularly experienced with just the ten fights for eight wins, a draw and a defeat and is basically there to make up the numbers. He might have a few tricks up his sleeve for the Brummie but it should be the easiest victory of the lot.
Vacant international masters title
Don Broadhurst v Najah Ali
Don Broadhurst starts the rebuilding process after his surprise British title defeat to Lee Haskins in December by taking on Iraqi Najah Ali.
This is confidence rebuilder for “The Don” as he aims to take home the vacant masters title. Broadhurst is a local lad and competing in his first fight at Bantamweight having turned his back on super-featherweight for the time being.
This should be relatively straight forward for Broadhurst, as Ali has no real calibre having only fought five career fights, losing his last two. It’s more about Broadhurst getting a feel for the 8.6stone division and really should be a Don deal in no time.
Predictions:
DeGale
Konecny
Cleverly
Brook
Chisora
Maccarinelli
Macklin
Gavin
Broadhurst
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