Previewing Matchroom Fight Camp Season 2 Week 1

 One of the biggest things that came as a result of the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic when it began impacting everyday life including the day to day operation of sports around the world in 2020 was the necessity for all sports to adapt to the changing environment created by the COVID-19 virus.  Following a lengthy pause that lasted in some cases over three months, Boxing was one of the sports that sort of laid out a blueprint of sorts for other sports, particularly in the combat sports space to follow as the process of trying to resume normal day to day activities began. While some promoters are still struggling over a year into the epidemic to resume their schedules, some promoters who because of their standing in the sport had the financial resources and the benefit of lucrative agreements with television and streaming networks to not only resume activity, but also essentially take residency at venues around the world in environments that did not feature spectators.

 

One of the most notable for a period of time was the move by Matchroom Boxing promoter and now Chairman of Matchroom Sport to stage cards at the private residence of the Hearn family estate dubbed Matchroom Headquarters in Brentwood, England. This unique decision saw cards held outdoors on the spacious grounds of the Hearn estate, a beautiful setting for Boxing that likely would not have come to fruition had it not been for the unforeseen circumstances of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. While this was initially thought up out of necessity to resume activity, it laid the groundwork for what may become an annual tradition on the Matchroom calendar as beginning on July 31^st, the Matchroom stable will return to the grounds of the Hearn estate for three cards over three consecutive weeks dubbed “Matchroom Fight Camp Season 2.”

 

Much as was the case when this concept debuted last year, the world remains in uncertain times as the COVID-19 epidemic continues. There are however, two notable differences that are occurring this time around. The first is that beginning with the first of the three cards, all the action will be available to Boxing fans in the United Kingdom and Ireland as well as globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN as Matchroom recently announced an extension of its existing agreement with the network to cover the United Kingdom as well as its existing agreement to broadcast all Matchroom Boxing events internationally including here in the United States. This marked the end of a decades-long run for Matchroom Boxing on Sky Sports and also a demonstration of Hearn’s commitment to the subscription-based streaming model and away from the pay-per-view model.

 

Given the level of Boxing’s popularity and sizable audience in the United Kingdom, this is likely to be a smart move by Hearn that other promoters throughout the sport are likely to notice and follow. As Hearn along with DAZN have really established themselves on a global level in the sport and have become one of the top players in it, fans may wonder what is in store.

 

For the second season of Matchroom Fight Camp there is no shortage of what on paper should be competitive bouts. In the main event of week one, unbeaten Welterweight contender Conor Benn will face a stern test in the form of longtime contender Adrian Granados. Benn, the son of former two-division world champion Nigel Benn, is undefeated in eighteen professional bouts having scored knockouts in twelve of those fights registering a career knockout percentage of nearly 67%. Much like his father before him, Benn has power in both hands and is capable of ending a fight quickly should the opportunity present itself. In his last fight in April of this year, Benn scored a first round knockout over veteran Samual Vargas. Now Benn looks to take the next step towards a world title shot by facing Adrian Granados.

 

Granados, a veteran of thirty-three professional fights is similar to Vargas in terms of experience having fought several top fighters in and around the 147lb. Welterweight division including former two-division world champion Danny Garcia. The question going into this fight is what type of challenge can Granados provide Benn and more specifically, can he provide a level of resistance that Benn’s previous to opponents Vargas and Sebastian Formella were unable to provide. If Benn is looking beyond Granados, Granados does have the skillset and experience to make it a difficult fight for him.

 

Also on this card, European Cruiserweight champion Tommy McCarthy will make the second defense of his European crown against rising prospect Chris Billiam-Smith in a fight where the vacant British Cruiserweight championship will also be on the line. McCarthy, who is currently rated in the top ten in the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO ratings in the Cruiserweight division appears to be nearing a possible world title shot in 2022 if he can continue winning. In his last outing, McCarthy scored a sixth round knockout over a very “Game” Alexandru Jur in May of this year in his first defense of the European Cruiserweight championship. 

 

McCarthy will face what could be an interesting task in the form of Chris Billiam-Smith. Smith, who will enter the fight with a record of 12-1, with 10 Knockouts will come into this encounter riding a three fight winning streak since dropping a decision to undefeated former British Cruiserweight champion Richard Riakporhe in July 2019. This fight appears to be one where the fighters have similar styles, but one might argue that the champion McCarthy  might have an edge both in terms of experience as well as hand speed. When it comes to fights where there are similarities in styles, it is always interesting to see who will be able to establish the tempo of the fight and whether or not that fighter will be able to maintain that tempo throughout the bout. It is certainly not out of the realm of possibility that this could be a tactical battle for much of the early rounds and whomever is able to get an advantage just might emerge from this fight victorious.

 

The final of the three headline bouts that will take place on week one of season two of Matchroom Fight Camp will be a battle in the 126lb. Featherweight division as top contender Can Xu faces WBA number twelve rated Featherweight contender Leigh Wood. Xu, who has a record of 18-2, with 3 Knockouts currently holds an interim/regular championship designation in the WBA’s Featherweight ratings. Although not known for his punching power, Xu is a highly skilled boxer that knows how to win rounds and has shown no issue in being able to go twelve rounds if required. In Leigh Wood, Xu will face a fighter who will come into the bout with a record of 24-2, with 14 Knockouts who has won four of his last five fights and will have an edge in activity having last fought in February of last year compared to  Xu, who has been out of action for nearly two years most likely due to the circumstances of COVID-19 .

 

Xu is known for his ability to outwork his opponents and it is logical to think that Wood will look to pressure him early to take advantage of any possible ring rust that Xu might have from being inactive. In simple terms, Wood needs to be consistent in this fight and make it difficult for Xu to get into a rhythm in order to have success in this fight.

 

These three bouts, which will headline a six bout card at Matchroom Headquarters should continue the momentum that was established last year during what can now be referred to as the inaugural season of Matchroom Fight Camp in providing fights that have all the appearance of being highly competitive. In addition to the new broadcast agreement as far as the United Kingdom and Ireland are concerned there is one more crucial difference that will be taking place this year as compared to season one. A limited number of fans will be allowed to attend the three cards on the grounds of the Hearn family estate. As the world continues to deal with the circumstances and effects of the COVID-19 crisis the fact that a select number of fans will be able to experience Boxing in a truly unique and intimate atmosphere is refreshing after the circumstances in which the “Matchroom Fight Camp” concept came to be initially. If the addition of spectators can add to the action in the ring, it may not be a bad idea for Eddie Hearn and his team to start strategizing for Fight Camp Season 3.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

Matchroom Fight Camp: Benn vs. Granados takes place on Saturday, July 31^st at Matchroom Headquarters in Brentwood, England. The full card can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 12PM ET/9AM PT (U.S. Times.) For more information about DAZN, including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs, availability around the world, start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com.

 

We will have a preview of week two of Matchroom Fight Camp here on the website next week.

 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter:www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

 

 

Ruiz-Arreola And Parker-Chisora Take Centerstage Saturday

 

So often in the sport of Boxing when it is able to operate under normal circumstances, it is not uncommon to see two fights take place in the same division within a short span of time that has a similar storyline. Such will be the case on Saturday, May 1^st when two Heavyweight encounters will headline separate cards that have similarities between them and one might argue given the state of the Heavyweight division, the winners of these bouts could well face each other down the line.

 

In one of these bouts, former unified IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO Heavyweight world champion Andy Ruiz will return to the ring for the first time since December 2019 where he lost his crown in a rematch with the man he had taken the championship from in June of that year Anthony Joshua. Ruiz will return against longtime Heavyweight contender and multi-time world title challenger Chris Arreola in the main event of a card televised here in the United States by Fox Sports Pay-Per-View at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA.

 

While it is questionable why this bout, which will be promoted by the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters, would not be better suited as the headline attraction of a card televised on the national Fox network given both the ongoing circumstances of the COVID-19 global epidemic as well as the continued decline of the pay-per-view medium, this is an interesting clash of styles between Ruiz a fighter with good hand speed and punching power and Arreola a fighter known for an exciting brawling style.

 

Although some might say that Arreola, who will enter the bout with a record of 38-6-1, with 33 Knockouts, is a fighter who’s best days as a fighter might be behind him, he is a fighter who’s style is one that will likely force Ruiz to fight early and this could produce a short fight that might see several heated exchanges of offense between the two fighters. Much like Ruiz, who will enter with a record of 32-2, with 22 Knockouts, Arreola is also coming off of both a decision loss in his last fight as well as a lengthy layoff due to the COVID-19 epidemic having dropped a twelve round unanimous decision to then undefeated Heavyweight contender Adam Kownacki in August 2019.

 

While the former World Heavyweight champion is likely to be the favorite going into this bout, one a that will be present in this fight for Ruiz is the addition of trainer Eddy Reynoso in his corner. Ruiz, who has often been criticized for weight fluctuations throughout his career and weighed 283lbs. for his title defense against Anthony Joshua in December 2019 has dropped nearly thirty pounds since joining Reynoso’s stable and one might expect to see improvements in both his hand speed, which was among the best in the division before hiring Reynoso, as well as in his overall lateral movement.

 

The danger for Ruiz in this fight in this observer’s eyes is the potential of getting caught in the midst of exchanges with Arreola in a similar way to how he was caught in his first fight with Anthony Joshua in June 2019. Although Ruiz was dropped in the third round of that fight, he also showed the ability to recover quickly and scored a knockdown of his own moments later and ultimately stopped Joshua to become world champion, Arreola does have punching power and is most dangerous when an opponent stands in front of him and is willing to engage in a toe to toe battle with him.

 

At forty years old however, it is logical to ask after a long career where he has sustained significant punishment just how much Chris Arreola has left in him to give as a fighter. Logic also suggests that this may be Arreola’s last chance near the top of the Heavyweight division and a loss to Andy Ruiz could signal the end of his career.

 

A fight in the division with a similar storyline that will also take place on May 1^st will take place at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England. This bout also features a former World Heavyweight champion, who is looking to get another shot at a world championship going against a longtime contender and former world title challenger. Former WBO Heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker will face longtime contender Dereck Chisora in the main event of a card that will be televised globally by digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN.

 

Similar to the Ruiz-Arreola bout, this is a scenario where Parker, who will enter the bout with a record of 28-2, with 21 Knockouts, is looking to continue building momentum towards another world title shot. Parker is currently riding a four bout winning streak and is coming off a twelve round unanimous decision over over Junior Fa in February of this year. In Dereck Chisora, Parker will face a former British and European Heavyweight champion and a veteran of forty-two professional bouts. Chisora is coming off a twelve round unanimous decision loss to undefeated former Undisputed Cruiserweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk in October of last year.

 

Much like Chris Arreola, Chisora has no shortage of experience having fought many top Heavyweights throughout his career including a challenge of then WBC world champion Vitali Klitschko in February 2012 and two bouts with current undefeated WBC world champion Tyson Fury just to name a few. Similar to Arreola, there have been times where Chisora has looked great in his bouts, but there have also been times where he has not looked good. Some could argue that the other similarities between Chisora and Arreola is they have not succeeded against the elite fighters of the division and now Chisora like Arreola, could be looking at his last chance at potential world title contention down the line.

 

This fight in my eyes will come down to whether or not Chisora as a pressure fighter that likes to come forward and walk his opponents down will be able to do that against a boxer/puncher in Parker. In his last bout against Oleksandr Usyk, this approach had limited success, but Usyk was able to out box Chisora and get the decision victory. Dereck Chisora does have the punching power to do damage, but it will be interesting to see whether Parker will be able to offset Chisora’s pressure for duration of the twelve round bout.

 

An obvious question is whether the winners of these two fights will be pitted against each other down the line, There is also a possibility that these two bouts could lead to a rematch between Parker, who defeated Ruiz for the then vacant WBO world championship in December 2016. Of course, the idea that the winners of these two bouts will ultimately face each other for now remains simply an idea. The fact however, is all four fighters are all seeking an opportunity at some point to challenge for a World Heavyweight championship down the line, Before any of them can get that chance, there is business to tend to first. We’ll see what happens on “Heavyweight Saturday.”

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

Ruiz vs. Arreola takes place on Saturday, May 1^st at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA. The bout as well as a three bout televised undercard can be seen in the United States on Fox Sports Pay-Per-View on cable/satellite providers as well as on the FITE TV app on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices beginning at 9PM ET/6PM PT (U.S. Time) for $49.99. Contact your cable/satellite provider for ordering information or download the FITE app or visit: https://www.fite.tv/watch/andy-ruiz-vs-chris-arreola/2p938/ to order. Check your local listings and FITE TV internationally.

 

Parker vs. Chisora takes place on Saturday, May 1^st at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England. The bout as well as its full undercard can be seen globally (Excluding the United Kingdom and Ireland) on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 1PM ET/10AM PT (U.S. Time.) For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs, availability around the world, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com.

 

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the card can be seen on Sky Sports Box Office Pay-Per-View beginning at 6PM (Local UK Time.) for £19.99. To order please visit: https://www.sky.com/boxoffice/chisora-parker.

 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved,

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison