BREAKING: Women's World Championship Unification Doubleheader Back On For October 15th In London, England Boxing Set To Resume In The United Kingdom

It has been announced that the highly anticipated Women’s Boxing world championship unification doubleheader featuring a bout for the Undisputed Women’s Middleweight world championship between world champions Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall and a Jr. Lightweight world title unification bout between world champions Mikaela Mayer and Alycia Baumgardner has been officially rescheduled for October 15th at the O2 Arena in London, England. The card, which can be seen in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ was originally scheduled for September 10th at the same venue was postponed the day before it was supposed to take place due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8th.

Following an official ten day period of mourning throughout the United Kingdom and funeral services for the Queen on Monday, September 19th, sports including Boxing are set to resume throughout the United Kingdom. The first Boxing card scheduled to take place will be on Saturday, September 24th headlined by a Heavyweight bout between former WBO Heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker and understood top contender Joe Joyce at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England. As will be the case with the women’s world championship unification doubleheader on October 15th, the Parker-Joyce bout can also be seen on ESPN+. Also in action on September 24th in Nottingham, England at the Nottingham Arena, IBO Lightweight world champion Maxi Hughes will defend his world title against former IBF Featherweight world champion Kid Galahad. On the Hughes-Galahad undercard, unified Women’s IBO/WBA Jr. Middleweight world champion Hannah Rankin will defend her title against former IBO/WBC Jr. Lightweight world champion Terri Harper. Both bouts as well as it’s full undercard can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN.

We will have coverage of both cards over the next week and will keep readers updated on any developments as they become available. Stay tuned.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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Martinez KO’s Galahad In 6 To Win IBF Featherweight World Championship

 

Former IBF Jr. Featherweight world champion Kiko Martinez is a world champion again after scoring a devastating sixth round stoppage of IBF Featherweight world champion Kid Galahad on Saturday night at the Sheffield Arena in Sheffield, England. Martinez had trouble early in the fight due to Galahad’s hand speed and angles. The challenger was cut in the second round over the right eye from a punch. As it appeared Galahad was building a lead on the scorecards, Martinez dropped the champion hard with an overhand right in the closing seconds of round five. Galahad was able to get up, but was clearly hurt at the end of the round. At the beginning of round six, Martinez immediately threw another overhand right that sent Galahad down for a second time and out on the canvas. The fight was immediately stopped. Official time of the stoppage was :06 of round six. Kiko Martinez advances to 43-10-2, with 30 Knockouts. Kid Galahad falls to 28-2, with 17 Knockouts.

 

Also on this card:

 

Alycia Baumgardner scored a fourth round stoppage of previously undefeated Women’s WBC/IBO Jr. Lightweight world champion Terri Harper to win the world championship. In what was Harper’s first fight in over a year due to a broken hand, Baumgardner showed her power in this fight. In round two the challenger stunned Harper with a right hand that momentarily buckled her legs. Harper seemed to get her footing in round three, but in round four a sudden end to the fight came when Baumgardner connected with an overhand right that knocked Harper out on her feet. Referee Mark Lyson immediately stepped in and prevented Harper from further punishment even though Harper did not go down to the canvas. Official time of the stoppage was :23 of round two. Alycia Baumgardner advances to 11-1, with 7 Knockouts. Terri Harper falls to 11-1-1, with 6 Knockouts.

 

European Cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith successfully made the first defense of his European crown by scoring a twelve round unanimous decision over Dylan Bregeon. A fight that was at times fought at a methodical pace, Smith was able to pick up his pace and outwork Bregeon over the second half of the fight to earn the unanimous decision victory. Official score were: 120-109, and 119-109 (On two scorecards) for Smith. Chris Billam-Smith advances to 14-1, with 10 Knockouts. Dylan Bregeon falls to 11-1-1, with 3 Knockouts.

 

Undefeated Jr. Lightweight Donte Dixon scored an eight round decision over Jordan McCorry. At times a slugfest where both fighters were willing to stand and trade power shots, Dixon’s greater activity controlled the combat. In round six, Dixon dropped McCorry with a sweeping right hook to the body. McCorry was able to get up from the knockdown, but would then be penalized a point due to obsessive holding and not breaking on command from the referee.   As all non-title bouts that are held in the United Kingdom and Ireland that do not have an impact on regional or world rankings are scored solely by the referee officiating about, Referee Howard Foster scored this bout 77-73 for Dixon. Donte Dixon advances to 6-0, with 3 Knockouts. Jordan McCorry falls to 19-8-1, with 4 Knockouts.

 

In a battle of unbeaten Welterweight prospects, Dom Hunt scored a ten round decision over previously undefeated James Flint. A highly competitive fight throughout, Hunt’s cleaner punches and generally being able to get his punches off first ultimately proved to be the difference in the fight. As all non-title bouts that are held in the United Kingdom and Ireland that do not have an impact on regional or world rankings are scored solely by the referee officiating about, Referee Steve Gray scored the bout 98-93 for Hunt.  Dom Hunt advances to 8-0, with 1 Knockout. James Flint falls to 9-1-1, with 2 Knockouts.

 

Bantamweight William Cawley successfully made his professional debut by scoring a one-sided four round decision over veteran Stephen Jackson. Referee Howard Foster scored the bout 40-36 for Cawley. William Cawley advances to 1-0, with 0 Knockouts. Stephen Jackson falls to 1-7, with 1 Knockout.

 

Women’s Featherweight Stevi Levy remained undefeated by scoring a four round decision over Polina Golubeva. Levy was in control from the outset and saw it through to the end of the bout. Referee Steve Gray scored the bout 40-36 in favor of Levy. Stevi Levy advances to 5-0, with 0 Knockouts. Polina Golubeva falls to 1-4, with 1 Knockout.

 

Unbeaten Light-Heavyweight Khalid Ayub scored a four round decision over Stanko Jermelic. The highlight came late in the third round when Ayub dropped Jermelic with a counter left hook. Jermelic was able to survive the round and go the distance. Referee Howard Foster scored the fight 40-35 in favor of Ayub. Khalid Ayub advances to 2-0, with 0 Knockouts. Stanko Jermelic falls to 0-12, with 0 Knockouts.

 

Women’s Jr. Lightweight Raven Chapman began the evening as she moved to 2-0 in her young career by pounding out a six round decision over very “Game” veteran Karina Kopinska. From the opening bell, Chapman applied pressure and tried to break Kopinska down with a body/ head attack, but to her credit, Kopinska made it to the final bell. Referee Steve Gray scored the bout 60-54 for Chapman. Raven Chapman advances to 2-0, with 1 Knockout. Karina Kopinska falls to 14-45-4, with 3 Knockouts.

 

Boxing is truly a sport as this observer has said over the many years that I have covered the sport where often the best approach one can take as an observer is to expect the unexpected. Both Kid Galahad and Terri Harper entered their respective world championship defenses on this card as significant favorites over their opponents. Those opponents Kiko Martinez and Alycia Baumgardner were each able to upset the apple cards in their challenges and as 2022 approaches, what were in the plans for Galahad and Harper in potential unification bouts in their respective weight classes has now obviously been changed.

 

While obviously, the question that will be asked is whether or not both will seek rematches in the new year. Although one cannot dismiss the possibility of both Galahad and Harper invoking their rematch clauses, it is important to keep in mind, both of these fighters suffered brutal knockouts and as much damage as knockouts like what occurred in these two fights can damage a fighter physically, so too can it damage a fighter mentally and both will likely need time to recover from their losses. As for which fighter scored the bigger upset here, yours truly believes both of these results were unexpected, but for the thirty-five year old Martinez, a fighter who was eight years removed from winning his first world championship, to become a two-division world champion under circumstances where some treated his challenge of Kid Galahad as a mere afterthought is likely a frontrunner for Upset of the Year for 2021. Not only because he emerged victorious, but more importantly the manner in which he achieved victory.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

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

 

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GALAHAD AND HARPER TOP NOVEMBER 13 WORLD TITLE DOUBLE-HEADER IN SHEFFIELD ON DAZN

 Press Release: October 13, 2021 By DAZN – IBF Featherweight ruler meets Martinez whilst ‘Belter’ defends WBC & IBO straps against Baumgardner 

Credit: DAZN

 

Kid Galahad will make the maiden defence of his IBF Featherweight World Title against former World Champion Kiko Martinez on the same night that WBC and IBO Super-Featherweight ruler Terri Harper returns to put her belts on the line against the USA’s Alycia Baumgardner, live exclusively on DAZN worldwide - excluding Australia and New Zealand.

 

The World Title double-header lands at the Utilita Arena Sheffield on Saturday November 13 and is supported by a stellar undercard that features Chris Billam-Smith (13-1, 10 KOs) making the first defence of his European Cruiserweight Title, Leeds Super-Bantamweight talent Hopey Price (6-0, 2 KOs), James Flint (9-0-1, 2 KOs) battling Dom Hunt (7-0, 1 KO) for the Central Area Welterweight Title, Donte Dixon (5-0, 3 KO) squaring off with Jordan McCorry (19-7-1, 4 KOs) in an eight-round Super-Featherweight contest,Raven Chapman (1-0, 1 KO), Sheffield Light-Heavyweight Khalid Ayub (1-0) and Oldham debutant William Cawley.

 

Sheffield’s Galahad (28-1, 17 KOs) turned in a superb performance as he clinically stopped Liverpool’s Jazza Dickens in eleven rounds to claim the vacant IBF crown at Matchroom HQ in Brentwood, Essex back in August – fulfilling his life-long dream of becoming a World Champion.

 

The Dominic Ingle-trained 31-year-old is targeting supremacy at 126lbs, and has already called for unification fights with the likes of WBC ruler Gary Russell Jr. and WBO Champion Emanuel Navarrete, but must first get past former IBF Super-Bantamweight Champion Martinez (42-10-2, 29 KOs).

 

Spain’s Martinez is relishing the opportunity to become a two-weight World Champion after suffering a controversial loss at the hands of Manchester’s Zelfa Barrett at The SSE Arena, Wembley earlier this year, and the 35-year-old is well known on these shores having shared the ring with multiple World Champions.

 

Harper (11-0-1, 6 KOs) looked sensational as she stopped Norway's Katharina Thanderz in nine rounds to retain her WBC and IBO 130lbs crowns last time out in November 2020 on the undercard of Katie Taylor’s win over Miriam Gutierrez in London. 

 

The Denaby favourite was set to defend her World Titles in a unification clash with South Korea’s undefeated WBA World Champion Hyun-Mi Choi in May before sustaining a hand injury that has kept her side-lined for a number of months, but will now look to get her career back on track against Baumgardner (10-1, 6 KOs) in Sheffield.

 

“I am beyond excited for this,” said Galahad. “It will give me a great sense of pride to be making my first World Title defence right here in Sheffield, the city where my boxing journey began with the legend Brendan Ingle. 

 

“Brendan told me way back when I was 14 years old that if I stuck with it, I would be a World Champion one day – so this will be a special moment for me, and it will be dedicated to Brendan and Alma Ingle. To make my maiden World Title defence right here in front of the incredible people of Sheffield, my family and my fans will be a very special moment. 

 

“Kiko is a former World Champion and has been in with multiple other World Champions so he has a huge amount of experience. He is a very tough man and never shy’s away during a fight. You’re always going to be in for a hard night’s work with Kiko who will be pushing, pressuring and punching all night long.

 

“We saw how sharp and hungry he looked against Zelfa Barrett recently so with this being his chance to become World Champion again, I’m expecting an even hungrier and sharper version and I will be preparing for exactly that, with no stones left unturned!”

 

“The UK is like my second home, I felt robbed against Zelfa Barrett, but all the fans know who the real winner was,” said Martinez. “I hope that this time the judges will be fair with me. Galahad is a very good boxer and I respect him, but I am very confident in my abilities. I am excited with this opportunity. To become a World Champion in a second weight division is my goal.”

 

“I am very excited to be back out on November 13 and continuing the journey,” said Harper. “It has been a tough year out with the injury, but we have been constantly working in the gym and I feel so much more focused mentally. I couldn’t think of a better return than at Sheffield Arena back in front of the home crowd where I last boxed before lockdown.”

 

“I hope Terri Harper understands that when you step in the ring with me, I’m throwing bombs,” said Baumgardner. “Terri will feel every punch I throw. My punches are thrown with evil intent and I intend to hurt her, and to become ‘The New’. My time is now, and everyone will know who ‘The Bomb’ is. Don’t let a pretty face fool you. On November 13 I can’t wait to show the world that god has blessed me with talent and I intend to show what happens when talent meets opportunity and my fist meets Terri Harper’s face.”

 

“After a fantastic performance at Fight Camp, Kid Galahad is back defending his IBF Featherweight World Title for the first time,” said Ed Breeze, EVP Rights at DAZN. “It doesn’t get much better than a maiden title defence in your hometown, against a former World Champion in Kiko Martinez. Terri Harper also returns to the ring after a year out, putting her WBC and IBO Super-Featherweight Titles on the line. This is certainly not one to miss, live on DAZN around the world.”

 

Material and Photo Courtesy of: DAZN Used with permission.

 

For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times in your area and to subscribe please visit: http://www.DAZN.com.

 

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