SMALL HALL SPOTLIGHT - 14TH OCTOBER
KSI vs Tommy Fury and Logan Paul vs Dillon Danis take centre stage on UK television this weekend but away from the big screen, there are some cracking small hall shows.
We’ve picked four bouts from across four cards in the UK and Ireland which fight fans won’t want to miss.
The main card is the TM14 and Mark Prior Promotions show at York Hall, and that’s where we start, with two domestic titles up for grabs…
Inder Bassi vs Saqib Khan, Southern Area Welterweight Title - York Hall, London
This is a really enticing welterweight clash as the 10-1 Inder Bassi takes on the 6-1 Saqib Khan for the Southern Area title.
Bassi has barely lost a round in his 10 wins so far and is now on an eight-fight win streak. Having picked up the Southern Area title with a first-round stoppage of the previously unbeaten Alfie Winter last time out, he will be confident of defending his title for the first time here.
Khan, meanwhile, has had a fairly different start to his life in the professional ranks. Unbeaten in his first six, he lost out to journeyman Ramiro Blanco in his last fight after he was deducted a point in the final round which ultimately cost him.
Bassi will look to keep this fight at distance and then mix it on the inside when Khan his opponent sits in the pocket. It’s a big step up for Khan, but it’s a fight that will get him back on track if he prevails.
Declan Geraghty vs Owen O’Neill, Vacant Irish Welterweight Title - Belfast, Northern Ireland
Former European title challenger Declan Geraghty returns to action this weekend as he takes on the unbeaten Owen O’Neill for the Vacant Irish Welterweight title in Belfast.
The more experienced of the two men, Geraghty’s only defeats to date have come against elite-level opposition in the form of Jono Carroll and Archie Sharp.
After making his professional debut in 2019, O’Neill has worked his way to 12-0 with a host of impressive wins, including a stoppage victory over Owen Duffy for the the Irish Super-Welterweight title last November.
This is undoubtedly O’Neill’s toughest test to date against the slick mover that is Geraghty, but a victory for either man will put them in a good position for a big 2024.
Conor Quinn vs Chris Liddell, Vacant Celtic Flyweight Title - Belfast, Northern Ireland
Headlining the Geraghty/O’Neill undercard is a potential Celtic classic as Belfast’s hard-hitting flyweight Conor Quinn faces off with Scotland’s Chris Liddell for the Vacant Celtic Flyweight Title in a cracker of a chief support.
After making his professional debut in 2019, Quinn has picked up seven wins and one draw from his eight fights to date with five of those victories coming in the past 11 months, undoubtedly the busiest year of his career.
The older, but less experienced Liddell, is also on a run of impressive wins. After suffering defeat to Ramzy Nassa in 2014, the Scotsman took an eight-year break from the sport but since returning last June, he’s picked up four wins on the bounce.
Both fighters are in good shape right now, and don’t be surprised to see this one steal the show.
Calum Turnbull vs Dylan Arbuckle, Vacant Scottish Area Super-Bantamweight Title - Inverness, Scotland
The final fight we’re dissecting is the battle for the Vacant Scottish Area Super-Bantamweight Title between Calum Turnbull and Dylan Arbuckle.
Both still novices as professionals, Turnbull is unbeaten in four fights with Arbuckle undefeated in three.
Turnbull picked up his first stoppage win last time out against Stanislav Bilohurov, a fighter who Arbuckle stopped on his professional debut, whilst Arbuckle stopped the previously unbeaten Karan Gill inside two rounds on his last outing, meaning both men go into the contest full of confidence.
Two talented boxers, Arbuckle will look to start fast and assert his dominance on the outside but don’t be surprised if Turnbull gets the better of the exchanges and grinds out victory.