Big Punchers, Big Brawlers And Big Egos
Three UK shows are rounded off by an American sizzler on a weekend of boxing that could well turn out to be one of the year’s most entertaining.
If boxing has taught us anything this week, it is that it knows exactly how to shoot itself in the foot. Then again, shooting yourself in the foot is a saying used in most cases for something accidental.
It was one of you two, Tyson and Oleksandr.
Whoever is to blame, we now know for certain that the biggest fight on the 2023 calendar has been scribbled out. Thankfully, we are to be served with big punchers, big brawlers, big egos, and generally big men.
I see this weekend as a three-course boxing meal. So let’s tuck in.
Saturday night’s main course gives us a choice of two headliners, both with slightly different appeals. Let’s begin with Lawrence Okolie, who has opted for pastures new ahead of his world title defence against David Light.
First there was the break-up between Lawrence and Matchroom, which had been an unexpected fallout if anything. Whilst Lawrence turned on a tap of vitriol and dislike, Eddie Hearn seemed to be sitting wondering when on earth things became so sour.
But they did, and Lawrence chose Boxxer as those to further his career. That wasn’t the only change, as he bought SugarHill Steward in to replace Shane McGuigan.
Now, he has a fight in front of him that will go some way to verifying whether his decisions were correct. But just like Lyndon, Lawrence’s biggest talking point comes from beyond the unbeaten New Zealander.
A run-in with Richard Riakporhe whet the appetite for a domestic world title clash, but even failing that there are options aplenty. First though is Saturday night, where many will be tuning in to see how Lawrence looks after a chaotic, but inactive 13 months away.
Option number two of the main course comes from Telford, which has become something of a Frank Warren stronghold over the last 18 months.
Well how lucky are they?! Because the prospect of Andrew Cain vs Ionut Baluta screams pure violence. This will be Andrew’s third title fight, with the other two combining to make a measly 141 seconds.
Mix that punch power with the fearlessness and resolve of Ionut and you have the recipe for a chef’s special. There is absolutely no way that this fight, no matter how long or short, does not deliver barbaric entertainment.
Then we head for dessert in Sin City, where David Benavidez and Caleb Plant tear it out as the super-middleweight division’s two top contenders.
This is a fight encased in genuine ill-feeling and hostility. Amongst years of verbal jabs and mockery, the two have always envisaged laying a serious beating on the other.
Well, Saturday is the time.
For David, it has been a story of trying to entertain amongst a division in which he has always been the classified ‘outsider’. This is despite having ownership of the world title belt twice previously.
For Caleb, it was a road trodden by well-timed boots. A slick yet ferocious fighter, he won his IBF world title and hung on for the shot they all crave. Despite coming up short when it was time for Canelo, he proved that he has many weapons in his arsenal.
Now they meet with the experience, fury, and tenacity to light up boxing’s modern playground.
This could be a classic.
Oscar Bevis
