Eddie Hearn and Matchroom promote at the Sheffield Arena this Saturday night, with Kid Galahad making a first defence of his IBF featherweight title at the head of affairs against the battle hardened former champion, Kiko Martinez, live on DAZN.
After clearing up domestically at super bantamweight, Galahad (28-1, 17 KOs) eventually got a shot at the IBF belt at featherweight in June 2019, but he came up short in a tricky to score, technical affair against Josh Warrington in Leeds.
After Warrington vacated his belt, Galahad went up against James ‘Jazza’ Dickens in a rematch of their 2013 meeting, won in ten by the home fighter, and he repeated the trick at Matchroom HQ, turning in a career-best performance to force the Liverpudlian to retire after eleven rounds.
He now defends against Spain’s Martinez (42-10-2, 29 KOs), a man with a wealth of experience at title level. A former IBF champion at super bantamweight, the Alicante man is firmly in the twilight of his career.
The 35-year-old has been in with the likes of Carl Frampton twice, Scott Quigg, Leo Santa Cruz and Gary Russell Jr and Warrington all in losing efforts, but showed signs of life in his February meeting with Zelfa Barrett, and looked unlucky to lose out unanimously in the end. He returned in September to outscore Jayro Duran over eight.
Prediction: Galahad impressed in his last appearance, and Martinez could be the opponent he needs to further enhance his credentials.
View this post on Instagram
The Spaniard will start on the attack, but once he gets confused by the switch hitting of Galahad, the champion can retain in the championship rounds.
Harper defends WBC and IBO crowns
The show also sees the welcome return of Terri Harper (11-0-1, 6 KOs), and ‘Belter’ defends her WBC and IBO super featherweight titles against American Alycia Baumgardner (10-1, 6 KOs).
After a draw with Natasha Jonas in August 2020, Harper was in much better form three months later, stopping Katharina Thanderz in nine at Wembley Arena.
The 25-year-old broke her hand in the fourth round of that contest though, and an operation and recovery was required. She makes her comeback against Baumgardner, who is on a run of four wins on the spin since a July 2018 split decision loss over eight to Christina Linadatou.
The 27-year-old’s last win came in August with a points win over Vanessa Bradford.
Prediction: Harper should be able to look forward to unification fights with the likes of WBA titlist, Hyun Mi Choi and WBO champion, Mikaela Mayer with a win here, and she can bank ten valuable rounds in a wide points win.
Billam-Smith makes European title defence
Chris Billam-Smith (13-1, 10 KOs) defends his European cruiserweight title on the bill, with France’s Dylan Bregeon (11-1-1, 3 KOs) in the opposite corner for the Bournemouth man’s first defence of the title he won against Tommy McCarthy via split decision last time out.
That also won him the vacant British belt to add to his Commonwealth crown.
Bregeon is a typical European fighter, and is 1-1-1 in his last three fights, defeated for the first time in his most recent outing, a tight points loss in Italy to Fabio Turchi in April.
Prediction: Billam-Smith can retain inside the distance in this one.
Flint clashes with Hunt
The vacant Central Area super lightweight title is at stake, as Doncaster’s James Flint (9-0-1, 2 KOs) meets Wakefield’s Dom Hunt (7-0, 1 KO) in a Yorkshire Derby, with Eddie Hearn offering to double the purse for the winner if they win by knockout.
How about that for an incentive? Double the purse for a KO in James Flint vs. Dom Hunt 🤑#GalahadMartinez pic.twitter.com/3b2I1l9r8E
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) November 11, 2021
Prediction: Both have never been past six, but Flint has been six rounds on three occasions compared to Hunt’s once, so I tentatively lean towards Flint to take a close points win.
Dixon meets McCorry
Billy Joe Saunders’ charge, Donte Dixon (5-0, 3 KOs) gets a good test for this stage of his career, as the Sheffield man takes on former British and Commonwealth title challenger, Jordan McCorry (19-7-1, 4 KOs) over a scheduled eight at super featherweight.
Pure power.@DonteDixon_TP has stopped three of his first five opponents as a pro and he’ll be aiming to make it four from six against Jordan McCorry this Saturday.
📍 Sheffield Arena
📺 @DAZNBoxing#DonteDixon #Boxing #Prospectspic.twitter.com/DugnPfDEem— MTK Global Boxing (@MTKGlobal) November 10, 2021
Dixon edged past Angelo Dragone over six last time out, and now faces McCorry, the Scot who has been brave in defeats to Sam Bowen (TKO9), Archie Sharp (UD10) and Zelfa Barrett (TKO9).
Prediction: Dixon should be able to come through on the cards.
Remaining Undercard
Raven ‘The Omen’ Chapman (1-0, 1 KO) gets some good exposure, and she should be able to outpoint Karina Kopinska (14-44-4, 3 KOs) over six at featherweight.
Oldham’s William Cawley makes his debut, and the bantamweight should take his four rounder with Stephen Jackson (1-5, 1 KO) on points.
View this post on Instagram
Light heavyweight prospect, Khalid Ayub (1-0) should secure a points win over Stanko Jermelic (0-11) and Dave Allen-managed super bantamweight, Stevi Levy (4-0) can also win over the distance against Polina Golubeva (1-3, 1 KO).
