Edwards defeats Georges Ory at sold-out York Hall to officially launch bid to become two-weight world champion

Edwards wins 98-92 on all scorecards before Tom Welland boosts reputation with all-action victory

Harvey Dykes won a six-round decision over Milos Veletic in a heavyweight bout.

Dykes, 255 lbs of New Haven, ENG won by a 60-54 score and is now 3-0. Veletic, 280.7 lbs of Bosnia is 2-5.

Elliott Whale stopped Joseba Diaz in round five of a scheduled six-round welterweight bout.

Whale dropped Diaz in round five and the bout was stopped.

Whale, 149.6 lbs of Kent, ENG is 10-0 with six knockouts. Diaz, 149/9 lbs of Spain is 7-2.

Jesse Brandon remained undefeated with a decision over Jakub Laskowski in a welterweight figt.

Brandon, 146 lbs of London is 4-0. Laskowski, 144 lbs of Poland is 4-29-1.

Oliver Zaren won an eight round decision over John Harding Jr. in a super middleweight fight.

At the end of round one, Zaen dropped Harding with an overhand right.

Zaren, 167 lbs of Roskide, DEN won by an 80-71 score and is now 11-0. Harding, 167 lbs of London is 11-3-2.

Joshua Buatsi stopped Marko Calic in round seven of their scheduled 12-round light heavyweight bout at Marshall Arena in Buckinghamshire, England.

In round three, Buatsi’s right eye began to swell.

In round seven Buatsi landed a hard right that sent Calic into the ropes. Calic was hurt bad, and ate a follow up combination that forced his corner to throw in the towel at 2:09.

Buatsi, 172.5 lbs is now 13-0 with 11 knockouts. Calic, 172.9 bs is now 11-1.

“His jaw was broken,” said Buatsi afterwards. “In the third round I felt my swelling. I thought ‘damn!’ You do what you’ve got to do. He went southpaw so I looped the right hand. He hid it, but he was hurt. This guy said he was coming to burst the Buatsi bubble. I was here to defend it.

“People didn’t know about him, the spectators and the public, but in our camp and within our team, we knew he was a good fighter. I was out for 400 days. We bit down on the gum shield and we got the win. This is a gentleman’s sport, big credit to Marko Calic. I wish him nothing but the best. I wish him good health. Maximum respect to him. 

“He came in and he gave me a good run for my money. I hope he gets home safely to Croatia. It was a hard fight but I learned. He didn’t just come to make up the numbers. He was a good fighter, heading into our fight unbeaten. I couldn’t see his right hands, I adapted. I dealt with it. If the World Title fight in 2021 opportunity is presented, and I’ve had the right fights, then absolutely.”

Cameron Decisions Araujo; Wins Super Lightweight title

Chantelle Cameron won the vacant WBC Super Lightweight title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Adriana Araujo.

Cameron, 137.9 lbs won by scores of 100-90 on all cards and is now 13-0. Araujo, weighed in over the limit at 131.9 lbs is now 6-1.

“I’m absolutely buzzing,” said Cameron. “Jamie and Nigel were telling me off at times because I was taking a few risks. She was a lot heavier and I could feel the weight difference. It’s just instincts, I like to have a scrap! Winning this World Title is perfect timing for me. If it were eight fights ago or even five fights ago she would have beat me because I would have just stood there toe-to-toe. Since I’ve been working with Jamie and Nigel, I’ve learned to box more. They keep telling me to pace myself and hold myself back more. It worked. 

“I can’t put it into words how it feels. I was nervous but my team kept me calm and it meant it was a good performance. I wanted this belt, so I had to keep my head on. She wasn’t professional enough to make the weight, but I knew no matter what I was becoming champion. Thanks to everyone for watching, I can’t wait to come back to Northampton with the belt. This is just the start.”

Trainer Jamie Moore added: “I’m over the moon for Chantelle. She’s worked so hard. The weight difference on the night was massive. I think she could have got her out of there if it was a level playing field. Tactically she followed the game plan brilliantly. This is the start for her now. She’ll be involved in some exciting fights.”

Udofia stops Harding in nine

Linus Udofia stopped John Harding Jr. in round nine of a scheduled 10-round middleweight fight.

In round nine, Udofia dropped Harding with a hard counter right. Harding got to his feet, but the fight was stopped at 2:07.

Udofia, 156.5 lbs is now 16-0 with eight knockouts. Harding, 156.2 lbs is 8-2-1.

“It wasn’t a bad performance having been out of the ring for such a long time,” Udofia told Matchroom after his win. “It was coming up to a year since my last fight, so it was good to get active again, especially during these strange times we are going through. I feel really good. I thought the performance went well, I was listening to Terry. I got caught with a couple of silly shots and we will work on that when we get back in the gym.

“I did a good enough job and we started to see him fade during the later rounds. That’s what we expected and we took advantage of it. I feel like we did well, but there’s a few things to work on. From what I saw I thought he was up after the knockdown. He got up slowly. I’m not going to argue with the ref because safety comes first. The stoppage was coming anyway. I might be being critical of myself but I think we’ve got a lot of things to work on if we’re going to move on to British and European level. 

“I don’t think I showed 100% of what I’m about. We’re going to enjoy a couple of days off and chill out. Then we’ll get back in the gym and we’ll work on things. We’ll see what the next steps are. Like I said, I feel like I’ve got more to offer. I think I need to display more. It’s not about the opponents it’s about the titles, so if I’m going up the levels there’s a few things we need to work on.”

Aleb Babic remained perfect with a 3rd round stoppage over Niall Kennedy in a scheduled eight-round heavyweight bout.

In round two, Babic dropped Kennedy with a left hook. In round three, it was another left hook that put Kennedy on the deck. Kennedy got up, but ate a flurry on the ropes and the fight was stopped at 34 seconds.

Babic, 199.4 lbs of Croatia is 5-0 with five knockouts. Kennedy, 219.8 lbs of Ireland is 13-3-1.

“He was badly shaken,” said Babic after his latest KO. “Even two minutes after the fight he was still badly shaken. He was down two times. It was a hard situation. I was savage, but I wasn’t 100% savage. I’m a little bit annoyed at myself. I’m angry at myself for that. I wanted to bring something new because I knew I could control Niall.

“I was much lighter than him but you saw how I controlled the ring. I wanted to show more stuff but he was too hittable. He was easy to hit so I just went with my guts, I blasted him out to force the stoppage. I beat Niall at maybe 60% of me. I wasn’t shook up once. It was a very easy fight. 

“Critics? I love you. Critics made me. They made me better. I will make you into my army. I will keep winning, I’ll have 10 fights and 10 KOs. Tom Little is next for sure. He should fight me. He is a cool guy; he is a warrior. It’s going to be a very fan friendly fight. The fans want to see it so lets get in the ring with Tom Little. I do all of this for my fans. I get so much love from my fans. Every single one of them is a part of my success.”

John Hedges won a decision over John Arden in a super middleweight bout.

Hedges, 165.5 lbs won by a 39-37 scores and is 1-0. Ardon, 165 lbs is 2-5.

“I feel like I did enough to get the win,” Hedges said afterwards. “It wasn’t a good performance from me in my opinion. I know what my ability is, and I know it’s better than that. No excuses really. There’s a better performance in John Hedges. You’ll see it next time, I can promise that.

“I rate my chin for my age. I didn’t feel the shots and I didn’t feel fazed by them. It’s the first-time boxing without a headguard and the first-time boxing with 10oz gloves. Everything is new and it’s what I wanted. I only found out about this opponent on Sunday night, so we didn’t have much notice – to add to the nerves. We were practising for an orthodox and a southpaw came in at the last minute.

“No excuses from me – I’m a better level than them boys. I got the win today but I’ve got a lot more to show. I’ll never forget this experience for as long as I live. It has been the best five days of my life, and the win has just topped it off. Thanks to Eddie Hearn and Matchroom for giving me the opportunity.”

In a battle of undefeated super featherweights, Aqib Fiaz won a decision over Kane Baker.

Fiaz, 131.3 lbs won by a 77-75 scores and is now 6-0. Baker, 130.9 lbs is 13-1.

“I’d like to thank the team at Matchroom for getting me on this show and keeping the trust in me after the incident last time,” Fiaz told Matchroom afterwards. “I’d like to thank my team, Jamie Moore, Nigel Travis and my brother. I love them guys to bits, and without them none of this would be possible.

“I thought I dropped maybe two rounds. It was my first eight rounder, last time I only fought over four, so it was a big jump up. We practiced pacing the fight. I was happy with my performance. I need to watch it back to score it and stuff but I’m happy enough with it yeah.

“I was pretty comfortable, I’m not going to lie. I knew he was going to bring it. I know what he’s about. He’s an all-action fighter, and I can be an all-action fighter too, but tonight was about pacing myself through eight rounds and gaining valuable experience for when I’m in title fights. We get the win and we move on.”

John Harding Jr is aiming to win the English Middleweight Title at the second time of asking when he clashes with Luton’s undefeated Linus Udofia in the opening bout of tomorrow night’s show at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, shown live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US.    ‘Pester Superstar’ (8-1-1, 2 KOs) turned his life around after being released from prison for a third time in 2015 – and he says his journey is only just beginning with Heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte in his corner.    The Brixton fighter fell short in his first attempt at winning the English Title in August 2019 when he was stopped in eight rounds by Little Lever’s Jack Cullen at the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool after taking the fight at short notice.    Harding Jr has been training alongside his manager Whyte in Portugal as ‘The Body Snatcher’ prepares for his huge rematch with Alexander Povetkin on Saturday November 21, and with a longer camp behind him, the 36-year-old is predicting he will become the first man to defeat Udofia.    “My heart separates us,” said Harding Jr. “He ain’t got heart like me. He ain’t fearsome like me. He hasn’t been through what I’ve been through. He might have more experience than me in the ring, but there’s things that have happened outside of the ring that have given me so much experience.    “My heart is too big. I’m not going to back down. I’m a real champion. I know there’s going to be an opportunity for me to land, and when I do land cleanly, he’ll go down. I visualise myself stopping him and the ref waving it off.   “I go into this fight with no fear in me, I know what I have to do to win and I will. I am going to stop him, maximum violence! Linus Udofia is tailor-made for me. He has a bag of tricks but nothing that concerns me, he has cherry-picked his opponents on his way to winning the title which is also why he is still unbeaten. This time he has picked the wrong opponent.   “With Linus we know he’s going to come and box. He’s going to be tight on the back foot, move and do his little fake Lomachenko thing. I know what to expect from him, but he doesn’t know what to expect from me. I’m expecting war because I’m bringing the war. Hopefully he expects that because I’m going to leave it all in the ring. This is going to be fight of the night.” Udofia vs. Harding Jr is part of a big night of action that sees Croydon’s rising Light-Heavyweight star Joshua Buatsi (12-0, 10 KOs) defend his WBA International Title against undefeated Croat Marko Calic (11-0, 6 KOs), Chantelle Cameron (12-0, 7 KOs) lands a World Title shot in her very first bout as a Matchroom fighter as she takes on Brazil’s Adriana Dos Santos Araujo (6-0, 1 KO) for the vacant WBC Super-Lightweight crown, ‘The Savage’ Alen Babic (4-0, 4 KOs) returns to the UK looking to impress again as he locks horns with Irishman Niall Kennedy (13-1-1, 8 KOs) in an eight round Heavyweight contest,  Aqib Fiaz (5-0) and Kane Baker (13-6) look to settle the score after their Fight Camp disappointment and recent Matchroom signing John Hedges make his pro debut at Super-Middleweight against Jan Ardon (2-4).

Linus Udofia insists that all of the pressure is on John Harding Jr ahead of their ten round battle for the English Middleweight crown on the Buatsi vs. Calic undercard this Sunday October 4, shown live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US. 

Luton’s Udofia (15-0, 7 KOs) won the English Title, his first major belt, with a majority decision against Tyler Denny at York Hall in November last year, and the 27-year-old is in a supremely confident mood ahead of what will be his first defence against Brixton’s Harding Jr. 

Undefeated in 15 fights, the Steve Goodwin-managed talent, trained by Terry Steward at the J.E.T Boxing and Fitness Centre in Epping, believes his class will show against the Dillian Whyte-backed 36-year-old, who fell short in an attempt for the English Title against Jack Cullen back in August 2019.

“This is a fight where I get to showcase how good I am and why I’m a champion at this weight,” said Udofia. “I’ll show what level I’m at and then move on to bigger and better things. Right now, I’ve got to defend this Title first, and this is a massive opportunity for me. You can’t get a bigger platform than this and I’m going to grab it with both hands. 

“I don’t feel any pressure. I’ve won this belt, I’ve got to defend it, and I’ve got to show everyone why I won this belt. John competed for the belt before and he wasn’t successful. All of the pressure is on him to come and get it the second time. I’m all good, I’m the champion, and I’ve got to show everyone why I’m the champion.

“I understand that everyone has got to hype themselves up in a certain way. It’s always good to see ‘Pester Superstar’ pop up and say something crazy. I look at it, have a laugh with my mates and get back to focusing on me. It’s good to see that he’s watching me all of the time. 

“We had a couple of spars; he was with Leon McKenzie and I don’t really even remember what happened. He can have 2-0 in sparring if he wants, I’ll take the win in the actual fight. He can have sparring, I don’t care. By beating him I just want to show that he’s not on the same level as me. I’m a champion and he isn’t. I want to show that and move on from there.”

Udofia vs. Harding Jr is part of a big night of action that sees Croydon’s rising Light-Heavyweight star Joshua Buatsi (12-0, 10 KOs) defend his WBA International Title against undefeated Croat Marko Calic (11-0, 6 KOs), Chantelle Cameron (12-0, 7 KOs) lands a World Title shot in her very first bout as a Matchroom fighter as she takes on Brazil’s Adriana Dos Santos Araujo (6-0, 1 KO) for the vacant WBC Super-Lightweight crown, ‘The Savage’ Alen Babic (4-0, 4 KOs) returns to the UK looking to impress again as he locks horns with Irishman Niall Kennedy (13-1-1, 8 KOs) in an eight round Heavyweight contest,  Aqib Fiaz (5-0) and Kane Baker (13-6) look to settle the score after their Fight Camp disappointment and recent Matchroom signing John Hedges make his pro debut at Super-Middleweight. 

Jack Cullen says he will be “too good” for John Harding Jr. when he defends his English title against the Dillian Whyte managed-Middleweight at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool on Friday August 2, live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US. 

Having plied his trade on smaller shows in the North West, winning the English belt against Jack Sellars at the Bolton Whites Hotel in May, Cullen will be hoping for a breakout night on Merseyside against Brixton’s Harding Jr. who holds a record of seven wins and one draw. 

The 25-year-old Tommy Battel-trained talent from Bolton has lost just one of his seventeen professional fights and is promising to shine on the big stage to secure a shot at Commonwealth Champion Felix Cash later in the year. 

“I wouldn’t turn down a shot like this if I was in his position so good on him for taking the fight,” said Cullen. “I don’t know too much about him but we’ve watched a few of his fights and I know he’s got seven wins and one draw. I think this step-up is too soon for him. I feel like I’m too good for him.

“He’s been out there talking a lot in interviews and making a bit of noise ahead of our fight which is good. He’s been saying that he’s going to be doing this and doing that. I’m glad I’ve got an opponent that’s confident in himself. He talks the talk but we’ll see if he walks the walk.

“I’m excited and it’s good to get on a Matchroom Boxing show that’s going to be live on Sky Sports and DAZN. It can only be good for my profile and I’m looking to put on a career-best performance to really get my name out there. I’m looking to put on the best performance of my life. 

“Once I beat Harding Jr. I want the Commonwealth title. If it would have come earlier this month then it would have been perfect but obviously he got injured and the show had to be postponed which was a shame. Hopefully we can rearrange it for later in the year, maybe October or November.”

Cullen vs. Harding Jr. is part of a bumper JD NXTGEN card in Liverpool. 

Top of the bill sees Liverpool’s Anthony Fowler (9-1, 8 KOs) headline his first ever show as he clashes with Blackpool’s former World title challenger Brian Rose (31-5-1, 8 KOs) in a must-win fight, Forest Hall banger Lewis Ritson (18-1, 11 KOs) makes his second appearance at 140lbs as he takes on former European champion Joe Hughes (17-4-1, 7 KOs) in a tasty showdown for the WBA Continental title, Heavyweight contender Martin Bakole (12-1, 9 KOs) returns to take on Ecuador’s Ytalo Perea (11-4-2, 7 KOs) and Welsh amateur star Sean McGoldrick (9-0, 2 KOs) meets Thomas Essomba (8-5, 3 KOs) for the WBA Continental Bantamweight Championship.

There’s also action for hard-hitting Montrose Super-Middleweight John Docherty (5-0, 5 KOs),Leeds Super-Bantamweight Qais Ashfaq (6-0, 3 KOs), Anthony Bellew-managed Light-Heavyweight prospect Thomas Hart (1-0), Anthony Crolla Lightweight protege Dylan Evans (2-0) and Manchester Welterweight debutant Nathan Farrell.

Anthony Fowler will headline his first ever show in his hometown at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool on Friday August 2 when he steps-up to take on former World title challenger Brian Rose on the latest instalment if the JD NXTGEN series, shown live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US.

Fowler (9-1, 8 KOs) lands a golden opportunity to bounce back from a first career defeat at the hands of Preston rival Scott Fitzgerald and ‘The Machine’ knows that nothing less than a win will suffice as he aims to climb the 154lbs ladder.

Rose (31-5-1, 8 KOs) believes his superior experience will prove to be the difference on the night and ‘The Lion’, a former British champion, is determined to fire his name back into the mix one last time before he hangs up his gloves for good.

“I want tests and I want to be involved in the big fights,” said Fowler. “To be headlining a show in Liverpool is a great honour. I’m not in this game to be taking easy fights. Brian has mixed it at the top level throughout his career and this is a fantastic chance for me to test myself against an experienced opponent.

“I learnt a lot from my last fight and we went away and improved in a few areas. I know that I’m in for a tough night’s work but this is a fight that I feel ready and prepared for. Brian is a known name and I think he’ll get the best out of me on the night. This is strictly business and I’m ready to do the business in what is a must-win fight for me.”

“I think he’s a good fighter but he’s certainly not ready for me,” said Rose. “I’m more experienced than him and I can do 12 rounds standing on my head. It’s a mismatch. 18 months out of the ring gave me time to think about what I wanted and I feel like I’ve got so much left in the tank to give.

“If he doesn’t win this fight where does he go? He’s lost to someone that’s young and a prospect, and now he’s fighting me who people think is over the hill. He’ll have lost to a prospect and a veteran. The pressure is all on him and he has to pull out the stops.

“I sparred with him a few years ago and I get on with him but quite recently he’s slagged me off on social media. It’s left a bad taste in my mouth but I’ll deal with that on the night. For me this comeback isn’t about money, it’s not even about achievement, it’s about knowing I’ve got something left to give the sport that I’ve served for so long.”

Forest Hall banger Lewis Ritson (18-1, 11 KOs) makes his second appearance at 140lbs as he takes on former European champion Joe Hughes (17-4-1, 7 KOs) in a tasty showdown for the WBA Continental title that could lead to a shot at Liverpool’s Robbie Davies Jr. later in the year.

Davies Jr. (18-1, 12 KOs) outpointed Hughes at the M&S Bank Arena Liverpool to claim the EBU European crown back in April and keeps busy on August 2 knowing that a clash with ‘The Sandman’ could be next.

Bolton’s English Middleweight champion Jack Cullen (16-1, 7 KOs) makes the first defence of his title against Dillian Whyte-managed Brixton man John Harding Jr (7-0-1, 1 KO) after his Commonwealth title shot against Felix Cash was shelved due to an injury to the champion.

Martin Bakole (12-1, 9 KOs) returns to take on Ecuador’s Ytalo Perea (11-4-2, 7 KOs) after defeating former World title challenger Mariusz Wach in April, stopping the Pole in eight rounds in his first fight since a loss to Heavyweight contender Michael Hunter.

Welsh amateur star Sean McGoldrick (9-0, 2 KOs) says he is ready to push on towards title action but the 2010 Commonwealth gold medallist must first overcome former Commonwealth and English Flyweight champion Thomas Essomba (8-5, 3 KOs).

There’s also action for hard-hitting Montrose Super-Middleweight John Docherty (5-0, 5 KOs), Leeds Super-Bantamweight Qais Ashfaq (6-0, 3 KOs), Anthony Bellew-managed Light-Heavyweight prospect Thomas Hart (1-0), Anthony Crolla Lightweight protege Dylan Evans (2-0) and Manchester Welterweight debutant Nathan Farrell.

Tickets priced £40, £60 and £120 (VIP) are available to purchase now from the Exhibition Centre Liverpool (www.ticketquarter.co.uk) (Phone: 0344 8000 400), StubHub (www.stubhub.co.uk) and Matchroom Boxing (www.matchroomboxing.com)

John Harding Jr has credited boxing for turning his life around as he prepares to take part in his first major arena show on the undercard of Dave Allen vs. Lucas Browne and Derek Chisora vs. Senad Gashi at The O2 in London this Saturday.

The Brixton Super-Welterweight (6-0-1, 1 KO) grew up on an estate in South East London and found himself caught up in gang activity at a young age, resulting in lengthy spells in prison. Determined to change his lie for the better, the now 34-year-old decided to put his all into climbing the ladder in the pro ranks after his debut at York Hall in 2017.

Heavyweight World title contender Dillian Whyte took Harding Jr under his wing at the beginning of the year and set about securing his new charge a golden opportunity on Matchroom Boxing’s Easter weekend card in Greenwich – Harding Jr says he will always be grateful for ‘The Body Snatcher’s’ guidance and leadership.

“Everything is good,” Harding Jr told iFL TV. “I’m just here enjoying being on this stage. It felt weird but now I’m embracing it. I was always the person on the outside looking in, but now I’ve got my chance. I’ve been working closely with Dillian and to be in this position now is just amazing. I want to prove to people that hard work can pay off. I want everyone to look at my life and know that if they work hard they can change their ways as well. Boxing has given me a lifeline.

“I grew up on an estate in New Cross. On the estate you grew up in a brotherhood, so you grew up inheriting rival gang activities. We thought that hustling was the only way for us to move forward in life. Other people call it drug-dealing, for us it was just survival. That’s what we grew up around and thought was normal. I ran into the law a couple of times. I’ve spent probably around five and a half years of my life in prison. It’s very hard when you’re in that position as a young person.

“I always dreamt I’d be the one being interviewed one day. I used to watch these guys being interviewed on a secret little mobile phone in jail! This shows the power of vision and hard work. When I stepped out with nothing, I only had that vision in my head. I was quite big, 17 stone and muscly. Now look at me, I’m a Light-Middleweight floating like a butterfly!

“I just kept coming to the gym, training around guys like Richard Riakporhe. I was always in the shadows of those guys, training hard. Fast-forward a while and I bumped into Dillian Whyte, who’s looked out for me since. He saw my heart and he’s brought me close and that just shows me how much of a true person he is. For him to reach out and help someone like me has changed my life and helped others too.

“It’s never too late to change your life. Hard work always pays off. Dillian told me to work hard. He always emphasises working hard. Even when it was his birthday he was in the gym grinding and working all day. I can’t lie, this is big for me, but Dillian has told me to be grounded. He’s a workaholic, he doesn’t stop. Focus and hard work pays off and I’m the living proof of that.”

Harding Jr takes part in a huge night of boxing in the Capital.

Doncaster fan favourite Dave Allen (16-4-2, 13 KOs) faces the biggest night of his career against Australia’s former WBA Heavyweight World Champion Lucas Browne (28-1, 14 KOs), Derek Chisora (29-9, 21 KOs) clashes with Senad Gashi (17-2, 17 KOs) in his first fight under new trainer Dave Coldwell, Sunderland’s ‘Pretty Boy’ Josh Kelly (8-0, 6 KOs) takes on the toughest opponent of his career to date in the form of unbeaten 17-0 Pole Przemyslaw Runowski and Ilford Welterweight prospect Conor Benn (13-0, 9 KOs) makes his long-awaited return to the ring against Czech Republic’s Josef Zahradnik (10-2, 5KOs), Brooklyn Middleweight prospect Nikita Ababiy (3-0, 3 KOs) makes his UK debut and Watford Bantamweight Shannon Courtenay fights for the second time as a pro after her debut win at the Copper Box Arena.

General Sale tickets for April 20 are available to purchase from StubHub (www.stubhub.co.uk), The O2 (www.theo2.co.uk) and Matchroom Boxing (www.matchroomboxing.com)