FOUR MAJOR TITLE fights headline the card at York Hall on Friday when Queensberry return to the historic Bethnal Green venue with a show topped by the super bantamweight collision between Dennis McCann and Ionut Baluta for the WBO Intercontinental title belt.

The other title fights are the British and Commonwealth featherweight championship clash between the champion Nathaniel Collins – making his Queensberry debut – and his challenger Raza Hamza.

Ryan Garner fights for a first professional title against Juan Jesus Antunez for the WBC International super featherweight title and Raven Chapman makes a second defence of the WBC International featherweight title against the undefeated Lila Furtado.

OFFICIAL WEIGHTS
The vacant WBO Intercontinental Super-Bantamweight Championship 10 x 3 Minute Rounds
Dennis McCann 121Ibs 7oz
Ionut Baluta 121Ibs 6oz

The British and Commonwealth Featherweight Championships 12 x 3 Minute Rounds
Nathaniel Collins 125lbs 7oz
Raza Hamza 126lbs

The vacant WBC International Super-Featherweight Championships 10 x 3 Minute Rounds
Ryan Garner 128lbs 3oz
Juan Jesus Antunez 129lbs 3oz

The WBC International Featherweight Championships 10 x 2 Minute Rounds
Raven Chapman 125lbs 7oz
Lila Furtado 123lbs 6oz

6 x 3 Minute Rounds International Featherweight Contest
Umar Khan 128lbs 8oz
Kevin Trana 127lbs 5oz

6 x 3 Minute Rounds International Super-Welterweight Contest
Khalid Ali 155lbs 7oz 
Nikola Stoyanov 153lbs 5oz

6 x 3 Minute Rounds Super-Welterweight Contest 
Joel Kodua 151lbs 9oz
Eligio Palacios 156lbs 6oz 

FOUR MAJOR TITLE fights headline the card at York Hall on Friday when Queensberry return to the historic Bethnal Green venue with a show topped by the super bantamweight collision between Dennis McCann and Ionut Baluta for the WBO Intercontinental title belt.

Download today’s photos from the press conference.
*Credit Queensberry where possible.

The other title fights are the British and Commonwealth featherweight championship clash between the champion Nathaniel Collins – making his Queensberry debut – and his challenger Raza Hamza.

Ryan Garner fights for a first professional title against Juan Jesus Antunez for the WBC International super featherweight title and Raven Chapman makes a second defence of the WBC International featherweight title against the undefeated Lila Furtado.

The lead characters convened in London today for a media conference ahead of the event and the key quotes from the fighters are below.

Dennis McCann
He is more like my grandfather! This is a first of many main events and I have had the best camp I have ever had in my whole life. I am feeling very, very strong and I have really filled into this weight at super bantam. Friday night will be the best you have ever seen of Dennis McCann. Me and Baluta have done 100 rounds of sparring so he knows what I’m about, he knows. I am not going to say too much, but get your popcorn ready for Friday night because, believe me, it is going to be very explosive. I chose him and he didn’t choose me. He was moaning and groaning and didn’t want to take the fight because he knows what I’m about. You will see a big, strong Dennis McCann and I think this is where the KOs will start coming in. I am cut from a different cloth, I left school at 10 just to be a boxer and there isn’t anyone who trains as hard as me and there isn’t anyone willing to do what I will do. It is going to be a demolition job.

Ionut Baluta
I am back in England again, my second home and on Friday I am looking forward to having a good fight. I am the boss, I am known as Il Capo, the Godfather, and on Friday he will find this out because I am in England again to win the belt. I am feeling very strong, I have had a very strong camp over in Marbella and I thank my trainer Albert for giving me a very good camp and I will show what I can do. I am not going to be knocked out, I did want the fight and I always said yes to it. On Friday you will see why I am called the Godfather and that doesn’t mean the grandfather. I respect Dennis and all his family, but sparring is one thing and fighting is another.

Nathaniel Collins
It is obviously a big opportunity for myself, I have been out putting in the work and have not lost a round yet as a pro. Some people have seen in the flesh what I can do and now it is time to bring it to the big screens. Raza said he has been in with lots of world champions but he has never been in with anyone like me. I am absolutely not paying any attention to his fight with James Beech jr because I don’t know what was going on with Raza in that camp. You can’t look at that one fight and think he is done for. He has spent time away from his family and that is not to be taken lightly. He has obviously prepared seriously, but the best Raza Hamza that turns up will bring out the best Nathaniel Collins. The best anybody doesn’t cause me a problem because I’m the best featherweight in the country. In all areas I am better than Raza.

Raza Hamza
I am ready, last time out I didn’t do myself no justice and I fought like an absolute idiot. This time I have got a chance to put it right. I didn’t prepare properly, I lived in Birmingham, I messed about and was over-confident, which was all my fault. This time I have been away from my family for 14 weeks, have not seen my little girl for four weeks. I am serious for this fight. He is a very good fighter and, for me to beat him, I need to be at my very best. It is now or never, isn’t it? You know and I know, my whole career I was meant to go on and achieve big things, so if I don’t win this I will never be an opponent. It is very good to be an underdog because everybody expects me to lose, but I have worked hard and I have never been an underdog before, amateur or pro. Look, I am fighting a good fighter, he deserves the credit because he has gone and beat somebody who beat me. I am meant to lose, but we will see what happens on Friday. This is my last chance, my only chance. There is no back-up plan.

Ryan Garner
I feel really good, it is my first title fight and it has been a long journey getting to this point in my career. Everyone knows the bumpy road it has been, but the main thing is we are here now and on Friday night I am going to put on a big performance and hopefully win my first title of many. I think this is the first year in three that I’ve managed to have more than one fight, so I am staying busy now. What I want to do is win this and keep progressing, that is all I want to do now. This has been a quick turnover from the last one, which is a good thing, so I got straight back in the gym with no distractions. I think you will see the best of me when I am most active. This has been a long time coming, I have been a pro seven years now, so it was only a matter of time before I got to the top table with the big boys. I am looking forward to staying here and, who knows, I can headline my own show one day in Southampton.

Raven Chapman
I am really looking forward to it, it feels like I haven’t been in the ring for a while, so it feels good to be back in there doing my thing and doing what I do best. This is the kind of fight I want. I need step-ups, especially with the progression Frank and everyone at Queensberry sees for me. To go against another undefeated fighter is going to be part of that step-up, someone who is going to come to win, come to throw everything. That is the fight I want, that is the fight I need and they are the fights I enjoy as well. I’ve not watched her, I leave that to my coaches and they can tell me what I need to do. I will just focus on what I do best. I think I have only showed 70% of what I can do and hopefully in this fight I will get to show you a little bit more. I am not just a come-forward pressure fighter and I do have a boxing IQ – and a good one.

DENNIS MCCANN WILL bid to add the vacant WBO Intercontinental super bantamweight title to his growing collection of belts when he steps up to take on Ionut Baluta at York Hall on Friday August 18, live on TNT Sports.

The gifted and precocious McCann (14-0, 8 KOs), just 22, has in his last three fights won the WBO Youth title (super bantam), the WBC International Silver (featherweight) and the Commonwealth title (super bantam), against Charles Tondo, James Beech Jr and Joe Ham respectively.

Now he goes up against the tough and rugged Baluta (16-4, 3), who clinched his WBC International Silver belt last time out in March following a disputed decision victory over Andrew Cain in a captivating Telford shootout.

Tickets for McCann vs Baluta go on sale at 11am on Wednesday, 21 June from ticketmaster.co.uk.

Also on what should be a thrilling card in Bethnal Green, the British and Commonwealth featherweight champion Nathaniel Collins (12-0, 6) will defend his titles against Raza Hamza (17-1-1, 7). The Scot from Bearsden won his title double by defeating James Beech Jr in March.

The vacant WBC International super featherweight title will be on the line when Southampton star Ryan Garner (13-0, 7) steps in for his maiden championship challenge following his thrilling second round stoppage of Eduardo Valverde in May.

The Queen of Queensberry, Raven Chapman (6-0, 2) will make a defence of her WBC International featherweight title ahead of a proposed challenge for an interim world title next time out.

Featherweight Umar Khan (6-0), super welterweight Khalid Ali (5-0, 3), welterweight Sonny Liston Ali (6-0) and super welterweight Joel Kodua (2-0) complete the card.

“This has got all the makings of a true York Hall cracker,” said promoter Frank Warren. “For Dennis McCann, this could be a real coming-of-age fight against Ionut Baluta, who has fought and beat numerous top-level opponents.

“It will be a fourth title fight on the bounce for Dennis and, if he overcomes Baluta, he will quickly close in on world title contention.

“I am looking forward to the Queensberry debut of Nathaniel Collins and he is in a tough double title defence against the skilful Raza Hamza with Nathaniel’s British and Commonwealth featherweight belts at stake.

“Raven Chapman is on the cusp of a very big fight, so she will need to be at her best in a defence of her WBC belt and not look too far ahead.

“I am also thrilled to deliver a first major title shot for Ryan Garner, who has been with us right from the start when he was 18 and is now set to fight for the vacant WBC International super featherweight title, where victory will establish him in the world rankings.

“This will be a York Hall night not to be missed and probably the strongest card of 50-50 action staged at the famous old venue for many years.”

Tickets for McCann vs Baluta go on sale at 11am on Wednesday, 21 June from ticketmaster.co.uk.

From 18th July, TNT Sports will be the new name for BT Sport

ASKING ANDREW CAIN how he is planning to approach his forthcoming collision with Ionut Baluta drew a typically robust – and utterly predictable – response from the WBC International Silver super bantamweight champion.

Tickets are on sale for Cain’s second defence of his treasured green strap, which will take place at the Telford International Centre on Saturday, 25 March on a card that also features the middleweight rematch between Stoke favourite Nathan Heaney and Jack Flatley, the return of Jason Cunningham, Raven Chapman making a first defence of her WBC International featherweight title against the Czech Lucie Sedlackova, and the second pro fight for amateur heavyweight sensation Moses Itauma.

“I reckon he’s getting his head smashed in!” was Cain’s light-hearted opening gambit. “That’s what I reckon, but he is not bad and is my best opponent to date.

“Nobody has stopped him yet so when I get in there and stop I will be making a statement, won’t I?”

The 10-0 Liverpool man acknowledges that Baluta, the former WBO European champion, carries the name recognition that will carry significant credit for inflicting defeat. His recent opposition, while holding strong records, were not widely familiar to the UK boxing market.

However, Cain also brackets Baluta in not being able to withstand his formidable force, although he hopes he lasts longer than the less than three minutes of action across his last two fights.

“To be honest, they have been good boxers, but they were not known and were not clean punchers like me. I don’t believe they punch as hard and as clean as I do. I don’t reckon he is going to stand up to what I’ve got, but if he does I’ll shake his hand after punching him all night.

“I wouldn’t mind a few rounds and this is what I’ve been waiting for. I thought them last fellas was gonna give me some rounds, to be honest, but it worked out different. Maybe this is gonna be the same because I will be punching with the same intentions that I always do.

“I don’t believe anyone can take it as long as I land clean. Sometimes you don’t land clean, but we’ll see. If he takes my best shots right on his chin and takes them, like I say, I will shake his hand and say ‘fair play’.”

Tickets for the Telford show headlined by Heaney vs Flatley 2 and Cain vs Baluta at Telford International Centre on Saturday, 25 March are on sale now available from ticketmaster.co.uk.

NATHAN HEANEY WILL rematch Jack Flatley with the vacant WBA Continental middleweight title at stake and Andrew Cain will defend his WBC International Silver super bantamweight title against Ionut Baluta at the Telford International Centre on Saturday, 25 March. The night that will also see the return of former European super bantamweight champion Jason Cunningham to the ring.

Ilkeston super welterweight Jimmy Smith will make his professional debut over four rounds.

NATHAN HEANEY WILL rematch Jack Flatley with the vacant WBA Continental middleweight title at stake and Andrew Cain will defend his WBC International Silver super bantamweight title against Ionut Baluta when Queensberry make a return to the Telford International Centre on Saturday March 25, live on BT Sport.

Stoke hero Heaney (16-0, 6 KOs) and Bolton man Flatley (20-3-1, 4) shared five rounds of action at the AO Arena in Manchester back in September of last year on the undercard of the Joe Joyce-Joseph Parker heavyweight collision.

What appeared to be a close run affair was aborted in the fifth round on the advice of the doctor following a head clash that left Heaney with a severe cut above his right eye. The fight went to the scorecards and Heaney was judged to have been ahead by all three judges.

Liverpool KO-artist Cain (10-0, 9) won his belt via a first-round stoppage of Pablo Ariel Gomez in Telford last April before defending at York Hall against Luis Moreno with the same outcome. A shoulder injury ruled the 26-year-old out of November action but he is set to go again against his toughest opponent to date in Baluta (15-4, 4), the Romanian based in Bushey.

A winner over Irish world champion and Olympian, TJ Doheny and David Oliver Joyce respectively, Baluta went on to fight a close run thing with Michael Conlan before winning the WBC International title by defeating Brad Foster in May of last year.

He then challenged for the vacant European title against Liam Davies in November, with the Telford man prevailing over 12 rounds.

The night that will also see the return of former European super bantamweight champion Jason Cunningham (31-7, 7) to the ring.

“I am really looking forward to it and I suppose it will be dubbed ‘unfinished business’,” said the 33-year-old Hitman Heaney. “There are questions that need answers, with them thinking they were going to beat me in the last fight and me believing the complete opposite.

“I am training hard and looking forward to being back in Telford with a great crowd,” added Heaney, who explained that his apparent unwillingness over the prospect of a rematch on social media in the days after the original fight was due to a feeling of being railroaded by Flatley’s team.

“No, that is not the case. Once people try to force my hand into doing something I immediately think I want nothing to do with them. It was his second and others popping up saying things and, for me, once that happens, I have zero interest in people.

“But, after speaking to George (Warren) it is an interesting fight and when it is on our terms rather than theirs, that is when I become interested. When people try to force it, it doesn’t interest me at all, but now I am right up for it.”

Former English super welterweight champion and European title challenger Flatley, added: “I’m made up and this fight is what I wanted after how it ended last time. I felt like I was getting into the fight, and it ended like it did, so I am buzzing it has been made again.

“Being honest, it was close, and I thought it was 50-50 when it got stopped. I’m not saying I was in front, but they had him winning every round.

“I didn’t think this fight was going to happen again and I don’t think, deep down, Nathan really wants it. He pretty much said on social media that he wasn’t going to fight me, so I am quite surprised, but made up it is happening.

“I don’t know why he has changed his mind and I feel like he might have been pushed into it, or he might have felt pressured by what’s gone on social media and stuff. I don’t know the reason, but I don’t really believe he fully wants to have the fight.

“I think there could probably be an easier option than me, although I’m not saying I’m a world-beater. I want to beat Nathan and then possibly be looking for a shot at the British title after that.”

The 33-year-old Cunningham’s winning run at the weight was ended by Zolani Tete at Wembley in July of last year and Cunningham now gets back on the title trail with a fight for the vacant WBO Intercontinental super bantamweight championship.

Cunningham was originally set to attempt to reclaim his European title from Liam Davies, but injury to the Telford man means the fight is now subject to delay.

Also on the card, Raven Chapman (5-0, 2) will make a first defence of the WBC International featherweight title she won by defeating Jorgelina Guanini in Manchester back in September. The Omen will take on the Czech Lucie Sedlackova (15-1-1, 6) in Telford.

Heavyweight star of the future Moses Itauma will have his second professional fight over four rounds, while Liverpool super bantam Brad Strand (9-0, 3) will hit double figures as a pro with an eight-round assignment.

“Settling the score with Jack Flatley is the right fight for Nathan Heaney and I think we can expect fireworks on the night,” said promoter Frank Warren. “When you have an unsatisfactory ending for both parties in an entertaining fight it is always best to do a rematch in the hope of a conclusive finish.

“Jack’s and his team will fancy the job, while Nathan needs to maintain his winning streak in order to realise his dream of fighting for a major title at Stoke City FC. This fight will deliver the goods and I am looking forward to the atmosphere created by the best crowd in boxing.

“I think we have got a humdinger of a fight in prospect when Andrew Cain takes on Ionut Baluta. Andrew comes in off two spectacular first round stoppages and if he can stop Baluta it will send shockwaves across the division. I am also excited to see Andrew’s teammate Brad Strand move towards title contention in what will be his 10th fight as a pro.

“Unfortunately, Jason Cunningham’s attempt to regain the European title is delayed due to injury to Liam Davies, but Jason gets the opportunity to put himself firmly back in the mix with a fight for the WBA Continental super bantamweight title.

“Barring any mishaps or injuries on January 28, the fans in Telford will also be treated to seeing the second professional fight of future heavyweight champion Moses Itauma.”

Midlands Area welterweight champion Owen Cooper (7-0, 2) from Worcester will be in eight-round action, Telford super lightweight Macaulay Owen (5-0, 1) will fight over six.

While Natty Ngwenya (1-0) makes his Queensberry bow in a four-rounder, Ilkeston super welterweight Jimmy Smith will make his professional debut over four rounds.

Tickets for Heaney vs Flatley and Cain vs Baluta at the Telford International Centre on Saturday March 25 go on sale at 11am on Tuesday January 31 available from Ticketmaster.co.uk.

WBC International and vacant European Super-Bantamweight Championship 12 x 3 Minute Rounds
Liam Davies 120.7lbs vs Ionut Baluta 121.4lbs

10 x 3 Minute Rounds International Light-Heavyweight Contest
Anthony Yarde 179.2lbs vs Stefani Koykov 176.6lbs

10 x 3 Minute Rounds Super-Lightweight Contest
Eithan James 140lbs vs Keanen Wainwright 134.9lbs

6 x 3 Minute Rounds International Light-Heavyweight Contest
Ezra Taylor vs Mohamed Cherif Benchadi. To weigh-in Tomorrow

6 x 3 Minute Rounds International Lightweight 
Willo Hayden 135.8lbs vs Marian Marius Istrate 133.7lbs

The Midlands Area Welterweight Championship 10 x 3 Minute Rounds
Jamie Stewart 144.5lbs vs Owen Cooper 146.5lbs

6 x 3 Minute Rounds International Super-Bantamweight Contest
Brad Strand 125.1lbs vs Darwin Martinez 128lbs

6 x 3 Minute Rounds Super-Welterweight Contest
George Davey 152.6lbs vs Paul Cummings 153.9lbs

6 x 3 Minute Rounds International Super-lightweight Contest
McCauley Owen 133.3lbs vs Eduardo Valverde 134.2lbs

(Nov. 16, 2022) — The upset-minded Ionut Baluta hopes to defy the odds again when he battles the unbeaten Liam Davies in the 12-round main event for the vacant European junior featherweight title Saturday at Telford International Centre in Telford, England.

In the 10-round co-feature, big-punching light heavyweight contender Anthony Yarde faces Stefani Koykov in a match that could have world title implications for the London native.

Davies-Baluta and Yarde-Koykov top a loaded bill streaming live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.

Davies (12-0, 5 KOs) is a former English bantamweight champion who captured the British junior featherweight strap in his last outing with a hard-fought decision over Marc Leach at Telford International Centre. He is a four-year pro who also holds a near-shutout win over Nicaragua’s Dixon Flores. Baluta (15-3, 3 KOs), a native of Romania who now trains in England, is no stranger to upsetting the apple cart. In 2020, he stunned former world champion TJ Doheny by decision and knocked out Irish Olympian Davey Oliver Joyce in consecutive bouts. Following a razor-thin decision loss to Michael Conlan last April, Baluta rebounded to upset Brad Foster in May for the WBC International title.

Yarde (22-2, 21 KOs), the WBO No. 1 light heavyweight contender, is in line for a shot at unified champion Artur Beterbiev in early 2023. He hopes to shake off the ring rust following a nearly yearlong layoff. In his last outing, he knocked out Lyndon Arthur in four rounds, avenging a December 2020 split decision defeat. Koykov (14-1, 12 KOs) has won 12 straight bouts since the lone blemish on his record.

In other streaming action:

• Unbeaten prospect Eithan James (9-0) steps up against southpaw boxer-puncher Connor Parker (14-1, 1 KO) in a 10-rounder for the vacant WBO European junior welterweight strap.
   
• Rising light heavyweight Ezra Taylor (3-0, 2 KOs) will fight in a six-rounder against an opponent to be named.
   
• Irish lightweight prospect William Hayden (4-0, 1 KO) looks to improve to 5-0 in a six-rounder versus Romanian veteran Marian Marius Istrate (3-13).
   
• In a 10-rounder at welterweight, Owen Cooper (6-0, 2 KOs) clashes with Jamie Stewart (3-2-2).

# # #
About ESPN+
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IONUT BALUTA HAS issued a warning to Liam Davies stating his intention to knockout the unbeaten Telford favourite in front of his home fans.

The pair will collide with the WBC International and vacant European super bantamweight championships on the line at the Telford International Centre on November 19, live on BT Sport.

The Romanian Baluta, who currently lives and trains in Bushey, Hertfordshire, has already upset the Midlands applecart once by defeating Brad Foster to win the WBC International title at York Hall back in May and now his gaze is firmly fixed on British champion Davies, who claimed his crown with victory over Marc Leach in June in Telford.

The 28-year-old Baluta believes Davies will live to regret signing up to fight him.

“All I can say about Liam Davies is that he will feel sorry for accepting this fight,” said the former WBO European champion.

“I never underestimate my opponent, clearly, but let’s be honest, I will be the toughest opponent Liam Davies has ever had. He has never fought anyone tougher than me.

“It motivates me even more that I will be fighting in his home town.

“My plan is to finish this fight from the first round with a KO and this is what I have been working on, winning by knockout.

“I am prepared to fight for 12 rounds, but my plan is to knock him out.”

Tickets for Davies vs Baluta at the Telford International Centre on Saturday November 19 are on sale now, available exclusively from ticketmaster.co.uk.

THE QUEENSBERRY PAIR of Liam Davies (12-0, 5 KOs) and Ionut Baluta (15-3, 3) will contest the WBC International and vacant European super bantamweight championships at the Telford International Centre on Saturday November 19 on a card that will also see the return of Anthony Yarde (22-2, 21 KOs) ahead of his world title business in early 2023.

Nottingham light heavyweight Ezra Taylor (3-0, 2), Telford super lightweight Macaulay Owen (3-0, 1), Dublin lightweight Willo Hayden (4-0, 1), Liverpool super bantam Brad Strand (8-0, 3), York super welter George Davey (5-0-1) and Telford bantam Raheem Muhammed (2-0) also feature on the show.

Tickets for Davies vs Baluta at the Telford International Centre on Saturday November 19 are on sale now, available exclusively from ticketmaster.co.uk.

Fight Week Schedule for Telford, 19^th November

Official Weigh-In
When: Friday 18^th November
Where: Telford International Centre, Ludlow 3
Address: International Way, Telford TF3 4JH
Timings: 1pm arrivals, fighters on the scales at 2pm
Participants: All the fighters on the card will weigh-in ahead of Saturday’s fight night.
Entry: Open to the public

Fight Night
When: Saturday 19^th November
Where: Telford International Centre
Address: International Way, Telford TF3 4JH
Timings: Doors open at 4pm, first fight at 4:30pm*

THE QUEENSBERRY PAIR of Liam Davies and Ionut Baluta will contest the vacant European super bantamweight championship at the Telford International Centre on Saturday November 19, exclusively live on BT Sport.

The bumper Telford card includes David Avanesyan defending his European welterweight title for a sixth time against his mandatory challenger Jon Miguez from Spain, and will also see the return of Anthony Yarde ahead of his world title business in early 2023.

Tickets for Davies vs Baluta at the Telford International Centre on Saturday November 19 are on sale now, available exclusively from ticketmaster.co.uk.

Telford native Davies, 26, has enjoyed a remarkable run since becoming a Queensberry fighter, with four straight wins resulting in a successful shot at the WBC International Silver belt and, last time out in June, becoming British champion by defeating the title holder Marc Leach via a unanimous decision to take his professional record to 12-0 (5 KOs).

The now Bushey-based Romanian Baluta, 28, holds a record of 15-3 (3 KOs) and in May he inflicted defeat on Brad Foster to become WBC International champion. A former WBO European title holder at bantamweight, Baluta has victories over Irish stars TJ Doheny and David Oliver Joyce on his record and only lost by a narrow margin to Michael Conlan.

Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) returns to action after making short work of the previously unbeaten Oskari Metz at Wembley in March.

The 34-year-old is on a run of six stunning stoppages and remains firmly in position for a shot at the WBC world title.

Miguez (17-0, 8 KOs) fought a British fighter last time out in his home country of Spain, defeating James Moorcroft via a sixth round stoppage. The former Spanish welterweight champion won the EBU European Union title with a points success over Aitor Nieto in March of this year.

Yarde (22-2, 21 KOs) will be back in the ring for the first time since his resounding rematch victory over Lyndon Arthur in December of last year.

He is next in line for a shot at unified world champion Artur Beterbiev and this major collision at light heavyweight will take place in January. The fight was originally scheduled for October of this year but an injury sustained by the WBO, WBC and IBF champion resulted in the delay and Yarde preparing with a warm-up fight.

Local lad Davies is thrilled that he will once again enjoy home advantage and keep the boxing momentum going in Telford.

“It is good for myself and the town really, bringing boxing back,” he said. “That is what I wanted to do, it was always part of the plan and now I am in a position where it is happening, so I am grateful.

“I get a lot of feedback locally. Last time it was great, we sold a lot of tickets and it was busy. This time I am sure there will be even more eyes on it, with it being another big fight. It gives you that bit more motivation to do the business because, with it being in your hometown, you want to make sure you win in style.

“Baluta has had some good wins and he throws a lot, so I think he will be there to be hit and that will work in my favour. It will definitely be my toughest fight and they are all coming at the right time for me.

“I am on a roll now, on the way up and I will take every fight as it comes. The European title is another step up and I am more than ready.”

For his part, Baluta issued a short and sharp message to his fellow challenger for the prestigious European honour.

“I can’t wait for this fight. This belt is mine. Davies, you will feel sorry for accepting this fight.”

Also appearing on the Telford card is a fight where two prospects put it all on the line, the unbeaten super lightweight Eithan James (9-0) from Northampton goes up against Connor Parker (14-1, 1 KO), Zach Parker’s cousin from Woodville in Derbyshire, for the vacant WBO European title.

“Telford is once again playing host to what will be a quality night of fights topped by two European title clashes,” added promoter Frank Warren. “The European super bantamweight clash between Liam Davies and Ionut Baluta will be a terrific scrap as neither fighter appears to possess a reverse gear.

“Liam has made massive strides since we teamed up with him and I was so impressed with the way he dealt with a particularly tricky customer in Marc Leach to win the British title.

“Ionut, who is the more experienced of the pair, showed his class in winning his WBC belt against Brad Foster and he will rightly consider himself a world level super bantam. This fight has got all the makings of a classic in what is a highly competitive division.

“David Avanesyan will once again demonstrate why he is best in class in Europe with a staggering sixth defence of his European welterweight title against an ambitious and unbeaten opponent in Jon Miguez.

“David is obviously thinking bigger than European titles, given his run of form, but until he gets a meaningful world level fight in the diary he is rightly not going to surrender his belt.

“I am delighted to be getting Anthony Yarde out in a keep-busy fight ahead of his world title challenge in January. There is always the temptation to simply play the waiting game but, with Artur Beterbiev not currently available due to injury, Anthony needs some time in the ring.

“Eithan James and Connor Parker were originally due to fight in June, but this was postponed due to Connor picking up an injury. We are getting it on again now with the WBO European title at stake and this should be a top fight between two young prospects willing to take a significant step up in class.”

Nottingham light heavyweight Ezra Taylor (3-0, 2), Telford super lightweight Macaulay Owen (3-0, 1), Dublin lightweight Willo Hayden (4-0, 1), Liverpool super bantam Brad Strand (8-0, 3), York super welter George Davey (5-0-1) and Telford bantam Raheem Muhammed (2-0) also feature on the show.

Tickets for Davies vs Baluta at the Telford International Centre on Saturday November 19 are on sale now, available exclusively from ticketmaster.co.uk.

MEDIA ACCREDITATION: Please complete this form to apply to cover the fights in Telford on 19 November.

BRAD FOSTER WILL challenge for the vacant WBC International Super Bantamweight title against the dangerous Ionut Baluta at York Hall on Friday, 20 May live on BT Sport.

Former British, Commonwealth and IBF International bantamweight champion Foster from Lichfield makes his return to the ring following his disputed defeat to Jason Cunningham in Birmingham back in October and he takes on the highly rated Spaniard, the former WBO European champion.

Bidding to get back on on the title track, Foster, 14-1-2 (5 KOs), who became one of the youngest outright British champions when he defeated James Beech jr in July 2020, having previously overcome Josh Wale, Ashley Lane and Lucien Reid, with his IBF International success coming against Alvaro Rodriguez in March 2021.

Baluta, 14-3 (3 KOs), impressively defeated Irish stars, former world champion TJ Doheny and Olympian David Oliver Joyce, before dropping a narrow majority decision to Michael Conlan last time out in April 2021.

Also in championship action on the night will be Liverpool super bantamweight Andrew Cain, making a first defence of his WBC International Silver title against durable Mexican Luis Moreno.

Cain, 9-0 (8 KOs), won his belt with an explosive first round stoppage of Pablo Ariel Gomez in Telford in mid-April and is quickly back in business after the fight was stopped with the official time of just 19 seconds.

Moreno, 10-2 (6 KOs), has previously fought on these shores, with the Monterrey man suffering a points loss to Dennis McCann in March last year. Having reversed that loss last time out, ‘Gallito’ (which translates as ‘Cocky’) will be hoping for a better result in his second bout outside of his native country.

Liverpool middleweight James Heneghan (6-0) is back in London, with the 23-year-old having his third fight at York Hall.

Two first cousins feature on the card on another special night for the Frankham fighting family. Super featherweight Charles (5-0, 2 KOs) and welterweight Josh (5-0, 2 KOs) will continue their progression in the professional ranks.

Future super bantamweight star Adan Mohamed (4-0, 1 KO) from Buckhurst Hill will have his fifth professional assignment on the card, alongside Bexley welterweight Micky Burke jr (5-0, 2 KOs) and Beckton lightweight Mohammad Bilal Ali (4-1, 1 KO).

Recent Frank Warren signing Raven Chapman (2-0, 1 KO) will have her first fight under the Queensberry promotional banner when she takes on the unbeaten Italian Nadia Flalhi (3-0, 1 KO) over six rounds at featherweight.

Sean Noakes will make his professional debut at the famous East London venue with the Maidstone man – older brother of lightweight Sam – fighting at welterweight over four rounds.

“I am very much looking forward to seeing Brad Foster getting himself back in the mix, although he won’t have an easy night’s work against Ionut Baluta, who has proved his credentials on several occasions against fancied opposition,” said promoter Frank Warren.

“Brad has never looked for an easy touch and his rise to becoming outright British champion at such a young age was remarkable. He was unlucky against Jason Cunningham and it could have gone either way, but a setback in a close fight is never going to damage your future prospects.

“There are so many exciting fights to be made at super bantam and Brad will want to be right in the thick of it.

“Andrew Cain is a formidable prospect for anyone at super bantam or bantam and I cannot wait to see more of him after his last opponent didn’t get to 20 seconds! I suspect he will have an eye on Brad’s title fight and will be keen on a piece of the action there too.

“Charles and Josh Frankham are both making excellent progress and I am delighted to have the first cousins fighting on the same card.

“Young Micky Burke will be looking to be back with a bang after some time out of the ring, as will Mohammad Bilal Ali, who has a point to prove after a disappointing performance during the lockdown period.

“We also have two newcomers to our ranks who I would like to welcome in Raven Chapman and Sean Noakes.”

Tickets for the show at York Hall on Friday, 20 May are on sale now, available directly from the fighters or via eventbrite.co.uk or alternatively call: 01992 505 550 (office hours only).

Sunny Edwards outboxed longtime longtime champion Moruti Mthalne to capture the IBF Flyweight championship at York Hall in London, England.

Edwards landed 148 of 907 punches; Mthalane was 106 of 694.

Edwards, 111.3 lbs of England won by scores of 120-108, 118-111 and 115-113 and is now 16-0. Mthalane, 119. lbs of South Africa is 39-3.

Conlan wins Majority Decision over Baluta

Michael Conlan remained undefeated with a 12-round majority decison over Ionut Baluta in a super bantamweight fight.

Conlan landed 170 of 469 punches; Baluta was 97 of 782.

Conlan, 121.9 lbs of Dublin, Ireland won by scores of 117-112, 115-114 and 114-114 and is now 15-0.. Baluta 122 lbs of Madrid, SPA is 14-3.

Conlan said, “Baluta is a tough character, tougher than I thought. And he showed it in his last two performances. He’s as game as they come. But he was missing tons of punches, so I wasn’t really worried. But when {the first scorecard read} was a draw, I was like, ‘What’s going on here?’
 
“It was a good fight, good preparation for what’s to come.
 
“I’ll stay active. I’ll fight in August anyway, and I’ll get straight back in the gym.”

Troy Williamson stopped Kieran Smith in round six of a scheduled 12-round junior middleweight bout.

In round six, Williamson landed a a hard combination that put Smith down and out at 1:28. Smith was down for several minutes, but was able to get to his feet.

Williamson, 153 lbs is now 16-0-1 with 12 knockouts. Smith, 153.4 lbs of Scotland is 16-1.

Ryan Garner won a six-round decision over Jordan Ellison in a junior welterweight bout.

Garner was bleeding from his nose in round three.

Garner, 136.75 lbs of Southhampton, UK won by a 60-54 score and is now 10-0/ Jordan Ellison 141 lbs is 11-33-2.

Joshua Frankham won a four-round decision over Naeem Ali a junior middleweight bout.

Frankham, 152.9 lbs won by a 40-36 score and is now 3-0. Ali, 156.2 lbs is a robust 2-67-1.

SUNNY EDWARDS BIDS for world title glory on Friday night at York Hall when he takes on the formidable IBF flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane, live on BT Sport 1 from 7pm.

The challenger faced the media today, along with Michael Conlan and Ionut Baluta who make up the bantamweight chief support.

PHOTOS from todays press conference can be found here

Below is a selection of quotes from the preview event.

Sunny Edwards, 15-0-0 (4)

I don’t think anyone has ever come to a press conference and said they have been really struggling or a camp has been hard. Every camp is hard, but it went as well as it could have gone. I want to thank Frank, MTK and BT. I have had a lot of notice for this fight and people inside the offices know I have taken short-notice fights, hard title fights at four and a half weeks notice and less than that.

For this one I have had 13 weeks where I have known the opponent, the scale of the fight and the event for a very, very long time. I have had the time to prepare meticulously, my trainer Grant has done a great job, as always, and the team is very strong. I am just looking forward to welcoming myself to the world scene on Friday night.

I need to look like myself on the poster! They must have great photoshop skills or must have foreseen the future with me being in great shape. I have always known what to do and how to get there, but with using my talent I have allowed myself to cut corners when I shouldn’t have. I’ve always trained hard and I am very fit, I am always in the gym and love training. I don’t do anything else, if i don’t go to the gym I am pretty much sitting around the house all day. Apart from my sons, there is not much more to me than boxing, if I am honest.

It has been easy to make the adjustments and my strength and conditioning coach has been cooking for me the last 13 weeks. Together with my food sponsor, the food has been put on a plate for me and I haven’t had to think about what times I am eating. It has been a good run-up, I have dedicated and committed myself to it and I am hoping those efforts will show on Friday.

Having kids has really made me appreciate what I had growing up, the opportunities I had. One thing I can say about my dad is there was never a lack of effort that went into me or my brother. He was 100 per cent full tilt from early on and we used to run something like 36 miles a week, much more than I do now!

You’ve got to enjoy the journey. Too many people focus on the destination to make them happy, but if you enjoy the day to day, whether it is camp or dieting, these are the best times of my life and a lot of boxers forget that. I am enjoying every second of it, enjoying walking in and seeing big posters of myself next to a good friend in Michael Conlan, who was a hero of mine.

It is good to be recognised as part of the top tier by just challenging for a world title and I will make my claim on Friday to join the handful of British world champions and one of the two Frank Warren promoted ones next to big Tyson. I will be where I feel I have deserved to be for a long, long time.

I don’t really know my optimum weight because I have never before applied myself like I have this time. I am eating four meals a day, two steaks yesterday and a steak and two eggs already today, with two more meals to come. I have never been like this on fight week and normally I look at food and see weight. I’ve done it properly and jumped off the scales at 51.8 yesterday, which is under the super fly limit and normally with the cut I do you would see me very drawn and my eyes a bit poppy. I look different this time and probably could drop down to light flyweight. If I lose I will just blame the weight and move down!

One realism when I first called for this fight was that he was the only MTK-signed champ. I have seen him spar up close and logged enough upstairs to think when the time comes I would be able to take him. That is no slight on him because he is a great, great world champion. I don’t need to sell him anymore than the media team has been selling him, other than to let everyone know he is a proper world champion.

I just wanted the best and he has been ranked No.1 by Ring Magazine for a little bit now. That is what I want, although I am not quite sure how the Ring rankings work, but surely if you beat the man you become the man. I am trying to be the best at the weight and, from being No.1, I can then start looking down and pick off the other champions.

I want to be at the top of the tree and recognised as such. I want to test myself and be known as one of those fighters who takes the best/hardest fights, the biggest fights that my name and platform will allow me to have.

I’ve got a ‘no quit regardless’ mentality and I think I will learn more from the 12 rounds on Friday night than I have in a large proportion of the rest of my career, which is why I am looking forward to it.

MICHAEL CONLAN 14-0-0 (8)

It has been an up and down 12 months. The things that have happened are part of life and everything happens for a reason. Before my injury my performance last August (Sofiane Takoucht) was my best as a professional and I believe I am now continuing on from that. I have had injuries, we have had a pandemic, but it is what it is. I was devastated when I did my ankle, but it happened for a reason and now I am back, fully recovered and looking forward to Baluta on Friday. I was already planning to move down to Super-Bantamweight before my injury in December. The pandemic showed me how easy it was to drop down. I am making 122lb very comfortably. I actually make 122lb easier than I was 126lb and that’s nice. I am looking forward to going in and putting a performance on. This is the weight where you will see the best performances from me and that is what I am looking forward to. This fight cements my mandatory position with the WBO and hopefully I will fight for the belt this year. I am very confident of that happening. First, I have to get rid of Ionut and I believe I will do it in good fashion. I don’t need to ask anything about his win against David Oliver Joyce. I look at him and I see what I have to see.  Ionut has pulled off two very wins recently and he is a very good fighter. He is a very dangerous fighter. He has beaten two Irish guys (TJ Doheny and David Oliver Joyce) in a row and his confidence is sky high. I believe that I will put on a performance and shut that completely down.

IONUT BALATA 14-2-0 (3)

This is a great opportunity to fight Michael and I am hopeful that he will be the third Irish fighter I beat. I will be doing the best I can. I respect Michael as a fighter. He is a very good fighter, but we are about to find out who is the best between us. I am very focused on winning this and wont think about the future. This fight is very important as regards getting a World title fight in the future.

LONDON (March 26, 2021) — The London spotlight will shine on Belfast’s Michael “Mick” Conlan and South African great Moruti Mthalane from Copper Box Arena on Friday, April 30.

Mthalane, who is undefeated since 2008, will defend his IBF flyweight world title in the main event against London native Sunny Edwards. In the co-feature, longtime featherweight contender Conlan will make his junior featherweight debut in a 12-rounder against noted spoiler Ionut Baluta.

Promoted by Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, Mthalane-Edwards and Conlan-Baluta will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+ at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT. Undercard bouts are scheduled to begin live on ESPN+ starting at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.

“This is a big step up for Mick, as Baluta has pulled off quite a few upsets and is motivated to do so once again,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Mick is close to a world title shot, and I expect him to be at his very best April 30. I am also pleased that American fight fans will have an opportunity to watch the sensational Mthalane, who is in tough against the young Edwards.”

Conlan (14-0, 8 KOs) is back after a disappointing 2020 that started with the COVID-related cancellation of his annual St. Patrick’s Day bout in New York and ended with an ankle injury suffered while training in November. He knocked out former world title challenger Sofiane Takoucht last August and now sets his focus on the junior featherweight division. He is ranked No. 1 by the WBO and No. 8 by the WBA, and he could be in line for a world title shot with a victory over Baluta (14-2, 3 KOs), a Romanian who is used to overcoming long odds. Last March, Baluta stunned former junior featherweight world champion TJ Doheny via eight-round unanimous decision, and six months later, he knocked out Conlan’s 2016 Irish Olympic teammate Davey Oliver Joyce in the third round.

Conlan said, “I’m very excited to get back in the ring against Ionut Baluta on April 30. I know how tough of a fighter Baluta is, but I’ve been training hard since shortly after my last win in August and will be well prepared for victory. I’m looking forward to putting on a great show and can’t wait to get back in the ring.”

Mthalane, 38, won his first world title in November 2009 with a unanimous decision over Julio Cesar Miranda for the vacant IBF crown. He cemented his world-class status with successful defenses over countryman Zolani Tete (TKO 5) and current WBO bantamweight world champion John Riel Casimero (TKO 5). He reclaimed the IBF world title in July 2017 with a narrow decision win over Muhammad Waseem and has since defeated a trio of Japanese challengers: Masahiro Sakamoto (TKO 10), Masayuki Kuroda (UD) and Akira Yaegashi (TKO 9).

Edwards (15-0, 4 KOs) has fought his last two bouts at junior bantamweight, but he returns to flyweight for a crack at one of boxing’s most celebrated champions. He last fought at flyweight in September 2019, dominating Rosendo Hugo Guarneros to win the vacant IBF International and WBO Intercontinental straps.

“Moruti is the most criminally underrated fighter, having not lost in 13 years, and he is a proper, proper threat,” Edwards said. “This is no gimme or easy world title fight — it is very, very far from that. I asked for this fight and, if you look back at press conferences or interviews, you can see that I have wanted it for some time. In my head, this is what was coming to me and it is finally here, and I have got what I wanted.”

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Josh Taylor stopped Apinun Khongsong in the opening round to defend the IBF/WBA Junior Welterweight titles at York Hall in London.

Taylor landed a perfect left to the ribs that put Khongsgong down for the count at 2:41,

Taylot, 139.25 lbs of Scotland will take on Jose Ramirez for all four title belts at 140 lbs and now has a record of 17-0 with 13 knockouts. Khongsong, 139.5 lbs of Thailans is 16-1.

Taylor said, “One hundred percent, I want Ramirez next. He’s a very good champion, unbeaten like myself, hungry, on top of his game. I thought the {Viktor} Postol fight, it wasn’t a very good performance at all. I do feel he can perform better than that given the circumstances. Again, I wasn’t impressed with what I’ve seen from him. Again, I want that fight now. I believe I’ll whoop his ass all day long. 

“I’ve never seen anything from him that I haven’t seen before, so yeah, I want that fight as soon as possible. Obviously, I know the situation with {Ramirez’s WBO} mandatory, but hopefully, we can sort of get that worked out. I would like, for selfish and personal reasons, to get that fight next. I deserve it. I’ve been in big fight after big fight for my last four fights. Not ducked anyone. Never ducked a tournament like someone else. I’m game. I’ll fight the best whenever they want. To be honest, I would rather wait until the fans are back for that fight. It’s a huge fight. It’s one of the biggest fights at the minute for all the belts.”

Charlie Edwards won a 10-round decision over Kyle Williams in a bantamweight bout.

Edwards, 117.5 lbs won by a 99-91 score and is now 16-1. Williams, 117.25 lbs is 11-3.

Ionut Baluta stopped Davey Oliver Joyce in round three of a scheduled 10-round super bantamweight fight

In round two, Joyce was cut around the right eye. In round three, Baluta dropped Joyce with a hard left hook. Baluta was all over Joyce and the fight was stopped after Joyce are a hard flurry on the ropes at 1:49.

Baluta, 121.25 lbs of Spain us 14-2 with three knockouts. Joyce, 121.25 lbs of Ireland falls to 12-2.

George Davey won a decision over Jeff Thomas in a for-round junior middleweight fight.

Davey, 154.5 lbs won by a 40-36 score and is 3-0. Thomas, 155.5 lbs is 12-8-3.

Ethan James remained undefeated by winning a four-round decision over Kris Pilkington in a super lightweight fight.

James, 141.25 lbs won by a 40-36 score and is now 4-0. Pilkington, 141.25 lbs is now 2-8-1.