FRANK WARREN HAS paid tribute to the career and achievements of Nicola Adams OBE after the WBO world flyweight champion announced her retirement from the sport earlier today.

The 37-year-old, known as ‘The Lioness’ can claim to be the undisputed Golden Girl of British boxing.

Her gold rush at major amateur tournaments began in 2011 at the European Union Amateur championships in Katowice, Poland, right through to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

The only blemish, if you can call it that, came at the 2012 World Championships when she collected silver, but otherwise it was gold all the way.

World champion, two-time Olympic champion, Commonwealth Games gold, European champion – Adams was truly the leading lady and pioneer of the modern elite of women’s boxing.

She became the pride of Britain in 2012 when, at the London Olympics, she defeated the world No.1 Ren Cancan from China in the final to claim the first Olympic women’s boxing Gold medal.

Four years on in Rio, Adams successfully defended her crown, defeating Sarah Ourahmoune of France in the final, leaving the only new ground to be broken being in the professional ranks.

Hall of Fame promoter Warren revealed he had been converted to the potential of women’s boxing by the accomplishments of Adams and proceeded to sign up the national treasure as a professional.

Adams launched her professional crusade in Manchester in April 2017 on the first show broadcast live by BT Sport, defeating Virginia Noemi Carcamo over four two minute rounds.

Frustrated with her display, Adams reasoned that females should also be able to perform over three minute rounds and was obliged when she returned to her home city of Leeds in the May, where she received a rousing reception from the locals at the FD Arena.

Maryan Salazar was stopped in the third round of a blistering display and the reward for Adams was a trip to Canada and a place on the undercard of the Billy Joe Saunders v David Lemieux world middleweight title fight. Soledad Macedo was overcome in the third round.

It was back to Leeds – this time Elland Road – in May of last year when former world title challenger Soledad del Valle Frias was blitzed in the first of ten scheduled rounds.

The WBO Interim world title was next on the Adams agenda at the Leicester Arena in October when Isabel Millan was in opposition. The Mexican proved a tough nut to crack but Adams prevailed on points to win her first title.

She was due to challenge for the full WBO at the Royal Albert Hall in March but injury prevented a fight with Arely Mucino going ahead. Adams was later appointed world champion without fighting by the WBO due to the inactivity of the former title holder.

In September Adams finally got the opportunity to fight in London for the first time since her Olympic success when she took on Maria Salinas in a first defence of her title at the Royal Albert Hall.

A closely-fought encounter that was deemed to be a split draw by the judges ultimately proved to be Adams’ curtain call as a professional boxer, bringing a glorious and unprecedented career to a close.

“It was my absolute pleasure and privileged to promote the professional career of Nicola and it is just a pity that it has come to a conclusion,” said promoter Frank Warren in reaction to the news of  his first female star calling it a day.

“Nicola has that star quality in abundance that very few possess which will see her make a success of whatever she chooses to do.

“I am personally delighted that we guided Nicola to the winning of a world title and that she was able to realise that ambition in the professional ranks.

“Her accomplishments will go down in history and she will always be an icon of British sport. It is no secret that I, along with many others, once held reservations over the depth and marketability of women’s boxing in this country and it was Nicola who won us all over with her Olympic exploits, her unquestionable talent and huge personality.

“She will be much missed in the sport of boxing, but will remain an inspiration to others for many generations to come.”

Top Heavyweight prospect Daniel DuBois was dominant in stopping previously undefeated Ebenezer Tetteh in round one of a scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout at Royal Albert Hall in London.

DuBois scored two hard knockdowns with the referee stopping the bout when Tetteh got to his feet after the 2nd time he was on the canvas at 2:10.

DuBois is 13-0 with 12 knockouts. Tetteh is 19-1.

Archie Sharp scored a vicious knockout over Declan Geraghty in round four of their scheduled ten round super featherweight bout.

Sharp landed a flush left hand to the head that sent Geraghty plummeting to the canvas with the back of his head hitting the deck at 2:14.

Sharp is now 17-0 with nine knockouts. Gerghty is 19-5.

Nicola Adams retained the WBO Flyweight title as she battled to a split draw with Maria Salinas.

Adams took a card 97-93; Salinas won a card 96-94, and a 3rd card was even at 95-95.

Adams is 5-0-1. Salinas is 21-7-4.

Denzel Bentley remained perfect by stopping Kelcie Ball in the 1st round of their scheduled six-round middleweight bout.

Bentley bludgeoned Ball for 72 seconds before the bout was mercifully waved off.

Bentley is 11-0 with nine knockouts. Ball is 10-2.

Dennis McCann remained undefeated by stopping Georgi Georgiev in round tao of the scheduled six-round bantamweight bout.

McCann dropped Georgiev twice in round one, and once in round two before Georgiev was stopped on his feet .

McCann is 4-0 wth three knockouts. Georgiev is 8-16-1.

Willy Hutchinson remained undefeated with a 2nd round stoppage over Boris Zankov in a light heavyweight bout.

The time was 2:15 for Hutchinson who is now 10-0 with seven knockouts. Zankov is 11-27-1.

Sam Noakes made a successful pro debut with a stoppage of Chris Adaway after round three of a scheduled four-round welterweight bout.

Noakes dominated the action as he landed hard shots on the ropes throughout the contest. round three, Noakes was bleeding from his left ear.

Noakes is 1-0 with one knockout. Adaway is 9-60-4.

DANIEL DUBOIS and Nicola Adams will be lighting up London on Friday (September 27th) when both are in big fight action at the Royal Albert Hall, live on BT Sport.

The vacant Commonwealth heavyweight championship will be on the line when Dubois (12-0, 11KOs) faces Ghanaian Ebenezer Tetteh (19-0, 16KOs).

Adams (5-0, 3KOs) makes the first defence of her WBO flyweight title against Mexican challenger Maria Salinas (21-7-3, 7KOs)

WBO European super-featherweight champion Archie Sharp (16-0, 8KOs) is also in action and defends his title against Dublin’s Declan Geraghty (19-4, 4KOs).

Today, Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren hosted the final press conference ahead of the big night of action at the historic venue.

Media are welcome to download face off videos from today’s press conference here:

Dubois v Tetteh

Adams v Salinas

Sharp v Geraghty

Here are a selection of quotes from the event:

FRANK WARREN

“Daniel has had a fantastic year and gone from strength to strength. He is the best young heavyweight in the world in my opinion, and that is a burden I have put on him.

“We know he has power, but Daniel can box. He is not just a cumbersome clubber. He is the best young heavyweight I’ve been involved in. He is a special young man.

“As my boxing mentor, the late Ernie Fossey said, ‘If you can’t jab, you can’t fight.’

“Good fighters have great jabs and Daniel has a great jab. It is a big comparison to make at this stage of his career, but Daniel has that Larry Holmes jab. I love seeing fighters who can jab.

“Nicola is our golden girl and I can’t wait for her first fight as a world champion, but this is a hard fight and I hope she comes through.

“Nicola is a legend with two Olympic gold medals. I want to see her come through this and be an active fighter.

“Archie is in title winning habits, an ambitious young man, but he has a tough challenge. It is going to be fireworks and great for the fans.”

DANIEL DUBOIS

“It is my job to come through in style. I haven’t really studied Tetteh. I just want to fight and win again.

“Every challenge brings something different and I get better each time I fight.

“I believe I am world class and it is only a matter of time before I am up there with the big names.

“I am a man on a mission and not going to be stopped. It will be fireworks on Friday and a devastating performance is coming.

“The Larry Holmes compliment is great to have especially from Frank. He has been in the business a long time and knows what he’s talking about.”

EBENEZER TETTEH

“I have watched Daniel v Lartey and Gorman and know what I have to do to beat him on Friday.

“I gave Lartey sparring and I am better than him. I can move and punch.

“I expect to beat Daniel. Lartey gave him a good fight but I will finish Dubois.

“I want to take the title home and be the first Ghanaian Commonwealth heavyweight champion.”

NICOLA ADAMS

“I will be nervous on fight night, but it is good to be back. If I wasn’t nervous it would mean I am underestimating my opponent.

“I have been sparring with Kid Galahad who is really difficult to hit. If I can land on him I can land on anybody.

“Maria will stand in front of me and they are the best to face because they’re there to get hit.

“I have a lot of goals. I want to unify the flyweight division and this is the first step in the right direction.

“It means a lot to box at the Royal Albert Hall where my hero Muhammad Ali did. It is special.”

ARCHIE SHARP

“Declan is a very good fighter and we all know he can box. I will adapt to anyone’s style and whatever he brings I will match.

“I believe I’m a great fighter and they adapt to any style. I have done tests and I am bigger, stronger and quicker than 12 months ago.

“The fight will be how I want to fight and I have an answer to it all.

“He has been chinned and that must play on any man’s head. The WBO champion Jamel Herring has been mentioned as a future opponent, but I am not overlooking Declan.”

DECLAN GERAGHTY

“I’m here to spoil the party. I am gonna come forward and put the pressure on him.

“Archie is a good boxer, rangy, switches and moves well. I’m not really worried about him because he hasn’t been tested. He beat Lyon Woodstock and Jordan McCorry who I don’t rate at all.

“No ifs or buts, I am becoming WBO European super-featherweight. I’m a crazy Irishman and here to fight.

“If he has overlooked me he is silly.  I think it’s down to who has the best boxing IQ.”

 
Daniel Dubois headlines the bill when he meets Ghana’s Ebenezer Tetteh for the vacant Commonwealth heavyweight crown and WBO flyweight champion Nicola Adams defends her title for the first time against experienced Mexican Maria Salinas, live on BT Sport.

The card will also feature WBO European super-featherweight champion Archie Sharp who makes his second title defence against Dublin’s Declan Geraghty.

Middleweight banger Denzel Bentley, heavyweight Jonathan Palata, lightweight Mohammad Bilal Ali and precocious bantamweight talent Dennis McCann are also in action.

Exciting prospects Lewis Edmondson, Eithan James and Sam Noakes all make their professional debuts.

Tickets for the September 27 bill at the Royal Albert Hall are available to purchase from www.ticketmaster.co.uk and www.royalalberthall.com. Prices £40, £50, £75, £100, £150 Ringside.

Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren today held a press conference at BT Tower to announce major title fights for Daniel Dubois and Nicola Adams at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Friday September 27, live on BT Sport.

Londoner Dubois (12-0, 11KOs) takes on unbeaten Ebenezer Tetteh (19-0, 16KOs) for the vacant Commonwealth heavyweight title providing the Ghanaian comes through a warm-up on August 10.

The bout was mandated by the Commonwealth Boxing Council after Joe Joyce relinquished the title.

Adams who was elevated to WBO female flyweight champion last week, by virtue of her Interim title status will be in world title action, possibly in a unification showdown.

There is a tentative agreement for Adams (5-0, 3KOs) to meet the winner of the August 16 clash between Argentina’s IBF World champion Leonela Paola Yudica and Mexican Isabel Millan, who Nicola beat for interim title — providing the winner comes through unscathed.

If the winner is unavailable through injury for the London date next month, Adams will defend her WBO crown at the Royal Albert Hall and her following fight will be a unification match.

Here are a selection of quotes.

FRANK WARREN
“Daniel is one of the youngest boxers to ever win the British heavyweight title and the way he has beaten people tells you he is going places. His next fight is his 13th fight and if he wins he will have won seven belts and I can’t think of too many heavyweights who have done that so soon and gone into ten and 12 rounders so young in their career. You have to remember he only had seven senior bouts as an amateur. He still has a long way to go and there are things he needs to work on, but his trainer Martin Bowers has done a fantastic job. This isn’t a 100 metre race. He has got to be equipped not to just fight for a world title, but win it and defend it. Tetteh is banger and if he is anything like the last Ghanian that Daniel fought, Richard Lartey you are going to get entertainment. Daniel is for real and the most exciting young heavyweight I’ve been involved with. You feel there is a sense of anticipation and electricity when he gets in the ring.
We have got to get Nicola back on it. She has history with two Olympic golds and this is her chance to hopefully unify in what will be a historic night with the first ever world title fight between two women boxers at the Royal Albert Hall. She has got to go out there and show everyone what she can do. I want to see her fighting regularly. The Royal Albert Hall is a fantastic venue. I call it a posh York Hall.”

DANIEL DUBOIS
“I’m following in some pretty big footsteps like Lennox Lewis and Muhammad Ali who fought at the Royal Albert Hall, although Ali boxed exhibitions. Myself fighting there is testament to the work I put in to be successful. I want to climb to the top and be world heavyweight champion. The only way to do that is to come through these guys like Tetteh and win well. I feel the best is yet to come. Beating Nathan Gorman was a good win. Some things I did well like pumping the jab out and I was very determined. My overall strength and ability was too much for him. I feel I’m getting close to my goal of being world champion. It’s nice that the hard work I put in is getting rewards. I’m on a journey and loving it. If he is like another Ghanaian I boxed, Richard Lartey I need to sharpen up on a few things and I might get him out of there quicker.”

NICOLA ADAMS
“I really want to do this. It has been my ambition since I turned professional to unify the division. I want to put on a show. I couldn’t ask for more than boxing at the Royal Albert Hall. Muhammad Ali was my hero growing up and to be able to box at the same arena as he did is special. I plan on winning and unifying would be two belts for the price of one. I just want to keep collecting and getting all the titles. I am learning all the time, cut out a lot of my amateur traits and it’s been a learning curve. I am improving and taking it to the next level. If my opponent is Yudica I know how tough it will be, but I have a A, B, C, D and E game plan. I will have an answer for everything she throws.”

Tickets for the September 27th bill at the Royal Albert Hall will be available to purchase from www.ticketmaster.co.uk and www.royalalberthall.com on pre-sale sale this Wednesday (August 7) & on general sale from 1pm this Friday (August 9). Prices £40, £50, £75, £100, £150 Ringside.

DANIEL DUBOIS will bid to add the Commonwealth heavyweight title to his belt collection and WBO female flyweight champion Nicola Adams will be in world title action when boxing returns to the Royal Albert Hall on Friday September 27, live on BT Sport.

British champion Dubois 12-0 (11KOs), who defeated domestic rival Nathan Gorman in a thrilling encounter at the o2 Arena in July, will seek to win an incredible seventh title in just his 13th professional fight when he takes on Ebenezer Tetteh for the vacant Commonwealth crown.

Previous Commonwealth champion Joe Joyce has relinquished the title and the match between Dubois and Tetteh has been mandated by the Commonwealth Boxing Council, subject to the unbeaten Ghanaian successfully coming through a scheduled fight on August 10.

Promoter Frank Warren also has a tentative agreement for Adams to be involved in a unification clash against the winner of the August 16 clash between Argentina’s IBF champion Leonela Paola Yudica and Mexican Isabel Millan, who Nicola beat for interim title – providing the winner comes through unscathed.

If the winner is unavailable through injury for the London date next month, Nicola will defend her WBO crown at the Royal Albert Hall and her next fight will be a unification match.

Tetteh, 19-0 (16KOs), from Accra will be the second Ghanaian opposition attempting to derail Dubois, who stopped the 31-year-old’s countryman Richard Lartey in April to win the WBO Global title.

“This is a natural progression for me because I want to win every title available to me on my way to becoming a world champion,” said Dubois on his latest assignment.

“I have won the Southern Area, English and British titles already, so I am heading down what people call the traditional route, while also gaining international experience and rankings by winning the WBC Youth, WBO European and Global titles.

“So I believe this is the ideal next step for me against an unbeaten fighter with a lot of KOs to his name.

“It should make for an exciting fight at the Royal Albert Hall and I cannot wait to get back there and do my thing.”

Double Olympic champion Adams, 5-0 (3KOs), was upgraded to WBO world champion last month, by virtue of her Interim title holding status, following the removal of Arely Mucino.

The Golden Girl of British boxing will be in world title action at the Royal Albert Hall in the first ever female professional boxing match at the historic London venue.

Warren added: “I am delighted to be taking another top show back to the Royal Albert Hall, which is such a special venue for boxing.

“It is another ideal test for Daniel in fighting for the vacant Commonwealth title against another dangerous opponent from Ghana. If this turns out to be anything like the Richard Lartey fight then the fans are in for a treat.

“The name of the game for Daniel now is for us to keep stepping him up and him picking up experience. It is only a matter of time before he will reach a mandatory position for a world title.

“Nicola is already in possession of a world title and I am sure she will want to confirm her status with a fine performance in the ring.

“It is only onwards and upwards for our Leading Lady now and this world title is just the beginning for her.”

The show will also feature the WBO European super featherweight champion Archie Sharp, middleweight banger Denzel Bentley, heavyweight Jonathan Palata and precocious bantamweight talent Dennis McCann, along with several exciting professional debuts to be announced soon.

Tickets for the September 27th bill at the Royal Albert Hall will be available to purchase from www.ticketmaster.co.uk and www.royalalberthall.com on pre-sale sale this Wednesday (August 7) Wednesday & on general sale from 1pm this Friday (August 9).  Prices £40, £50, £75, £100 £150 – Ringside

Due to multiple injuries resulting to a number of fight cancellations, Queensberry Promotions have taken the decision to reschedule our upcoming Morningside Leicester arena show for March 23rd.

Leicester’s British super featherweight and WBO Intercontinental champion Sam Bowen will be headlining the event against an opponent who will be announced at a later date.

Super Lightweight Sam Maxwell’s WBO European title challenge against Spaniard Kelvin Dotel, Heavyweight prospect Nathan Gorman and local Leicester fighters Lyon Woodstock and CJ Challenger will also be fighting on the show on March 23rd.

Tickets already purchased for the event will still be valid for March 23rd. Tickets are available from £40 and are on sale NOW via Eventbrite.

Formerly scheduled to fight in Leicester, Anthony Yarde’s contest against Baltimore boxer Travis Reeves will now take place on Friday 8th March at the Royal Albert Hall to replace Nicola Adams’ world title challenge against Mexico’s WBO World Flyweight champion, Arely Mucino.

Adams has unfortunately picked up an injury during her preparations for the contest, ruling the double Olympic champion out from fighting on March 8th.

The world title bout will be rescheduled to take place later in the year.

Championship boxing at the iconic Royal Albert Hall is back on Friday 8th March and will see Heavyweight prospect Daniel Dubois face Romania’s former world title challenger Razvan Cojanu.

It will be England vs Wales in a double British title bust-up when Cardiff’s British middleweight champion Liam Williams defends against Brentwood’s ‘Smokin’ Joe Mullender and Peckham’s British welterweight champion Johnny Garton defends his Lonsdale belt against Welshman, Chris Jenkins.

Tickets are priced from £40 and are available to buy via www.RoyalAlbertHall.com

NICOLA ADAMS OBE WILL be hoping for a double celebration on March 8th. Britain’s most successful ever female boxer will bid to become a professional world champion on the same day that females across the globe unite to celebrate International Women’s Day.

The 36-year-old has long been the Leading Lady of British sport and now aims to add the WBO world flyweight title to her two Olympic gold medals and numerous other gongs.

International Women’s Day is celebrated each year and represents a focal point in the movement for women’s rights.

Adams’ own celebrations will take place within the salubrious surrounding of the Royal Albert Hall and the occasion will certainly be marked with a few trademark right handers.

The significance of the March 8 date did not escape the Lioness when she rocked up in South Kensington to set the ball rolling on the promotion of her date with destiny that comes after just five previous professional fight nights.

“I am absolutely over the moon, really excited and can’t wait to get going,” reacted Adams to the official announcement of her world title assignment against the experienced Mexican Mucino.

“I am determined, training hard – and this is the reason I turned professional. I achieved everything there was to achieve as an amateur and I now want to win a world title as a professional boxer, just like my hero Muhammad Ali.

“To think that he boxed in the same arena as I am going to be boxing in is unbelievable for me. To come away with a world belt and to call myself a world champion is every boxer’s dream.

“I just can’t wait to get in there, to perform and prove to people that I belong at world level. I am hoping all the fans will come out to support me and all the other boxers as well because it will be an exciting night of boxing.

“Even if they can’t make it out, just watch it at home live on BT Sport. It will be a fantastic night and I just can’t wait to get going.

“This is where it is going to happen and on March 8 I will be ready. I am telling you now, that belt is staying here with me.

“Winning it will be right up there with my Olympic medals and to be able to do that here in London at the Royal Albert Hall on International Women’s Day as well will mean everything to me.

“I’m winning for women!”

Frank Warren added that he is convinced the timing is right for Adams to take the professional plunge into the elite end of the sport.

“Nicola has obviously broken lots or records along the way with being a double Olympic gold medallist,” added the promoter, who has guided her professional career from the beginning.

“She will be the first female professional to perform at the Royal Albert Hall and will be fighting against a world champion who has had roughly six times more pro fights than Nicola has had – so it is not going to be an easy fight for her, that is for sure.

“Nicola is a winner and has a winner’s mentality and I am convinced she will come away with the belt. This is history making.

“It will be a big moment for British sport to have our first female world champion to hold a bona-fide and recognised belt in the WBO title.”

Elsewhere on the show, heavyweight prospect Daniel Dubois (9-0) boxes in the same venue that previous British heavyweight greats Lennox Lewis, Frank Bruno and Henry Copper boxed in. Dubois faces the tough California based Romanian Razvan Cojanu. Liam Williams puts his newly won British Middleweight Title on the line against Brentwood bruiser Joe Mullender. Archie Sharp defends his WBO European Super Featherweight title and 14-0 unbeaten record against 11-0 Lucas Ballingall. Johnny Garton will also be in action defending his British Welterweight Title.

Tickets are priced from £40 and are available to buy via RoyalAlbertHall.com

TICKETS START FROM £40
GRAND TIER: £100
LOGGIA: £100
SECOND TIER: £75

Rising heavyweight star Daniel Dubois will have his tenth professional fight and double Olympic gold medallist Nicola Adams will challenge for a first world title on Friday March 8 when Frank Warren proudly returns boxing to the historic surroundings of the Royal Albert Hall. BT Sport will televise live.

Liam Williams will also make the first defence of his newly won British Middleweight title against Brentwood bruiser and former English Champion, Joe Mullender.

The iconic venue has previously staged some of the best fights in British boxing history. Only one professional boxing show has been staged at the Albert Hall in the last nearly 20 years, the occasion being when Billy Joe Saunders fought Tony Hill for the vacant Commonwealth title in April 2012.

Sharing top billing will be star in the making, Dubois, who faces his toughest test to date in the shape of Romanian giant Razvan Cojanu.

The 31-year-old former world title challenger extended Dubois’ domestic rival Nathan Gorman to the full 12 round distance in December, having originally been scheduled to fight the young Londoner a week previously before Dubois succumbed to illness.

The 16-5 Cojanu has operated at the highest level and in 2017 he challenged Joseph Parker for the WBO world heavyweight title and faced Luis Ortiz in July of last year.

“The chance to fight at the Royal Albert Hall is a huge thrill for me and I really hope it is the first of many opportunities to perform there,” said the 21-year-old. “I am fully aware that many of the British heavyweight greats of the past fought at this historic venue and it will be an honour to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Henry Cooper, Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis.

“I know the Albert Hall was the favourite place to watch boxing for many older fans so it is brilliant that a new generation will now get the chance to sample the experience too.”

It is fitting that British sporting royalty in Nicola Adams will bid for her crowning moment at the South Kensington concert hall that was opened by Queen Victoria in 1871 and first staged a boxing competition in 1918.

Adams will challenge the WBO world flyweight champion Arely Mucino, having won the Interim world title in October with a clear cut points victory over Isabel Millan in her fifth professional fight.

“Winning a world title is what I got into professional boxing for and I believe it is my destiny to do so and ultimately unify the flyweight division,” stated the two-time Olympic gold medallist. “To get this opportunity after just five professional fights is an achievement in itself and I am so thankful to my promotional team for making it happen.

“To fight for the WBO world title at the Royal Albert Hall is a dream come true when you consider the great names that have performed there and I want to make this another memorable occasion.”

The 29-year-old Mexican Mucino holds a record of 27-3-2 and is a three-time world champion, winning the IBF title in 2011 and successfully defending three times before losing a challenge for the WBC belt in 2012.

Mucino won the WBO title in February of last year with a majority decision over Monserrat Alarcon before overcoming Maria Salinas via a split decision in September.

Also on the bill, in what is surely guaranteed to be an all-action encounter, Liam Williams will make a first defence of his British middleweight title against former English champion Joe Mullender.

Williams was hugely impressive in stepping up to middleweight to stop the previously unbeaten Mark Heffron in December to become a two-weight British champion and he now defends the belt against the 11-2 Mullender, who recorded a brutal stoppage victory over Ben Capps last time out in October.

“I think this has got all the makings of an exciting fight and you can see from his style that he always brings it and comes to have a good tear up, so I am looking forward to it,” commented the 19-2-1 Welshman.

“I do believe I am a class or two above him to be quite honest, but I also think he will give anyone a decent fight because of his style. He would give most fighters in the world a good fight, however long it lasts, because of the way he approaches fights.”

The Brentwood man, known as ‘Smokin Joe’ won the English title in an epic sequel against Lee Markham in June 2017.

“For me it is all about the British title and I will fight anyone,” insisted the hugely popular 32-year-old. I respect Liam as a fighter, he has done what he’s done and is levels above me on paper, but I don’t really care who I fight, to be honest.

“It is for the British title and the odds are stacked against me, but that is what I like.”

Johnny Garton, who won the British welterweight title in a thriller against Gary Corcoran in October features on the card, along with Archie Sharp (14-0) making a first defence of his WBO European super featherweight title against the also unbeaten Lucas Ballingall (11-0).

Tickets are priced from £40. A pre-sale open to members of the Royal Albert Hall’s Friends and Patrons scheme is open from noon on Thursday 17 January, with tickets on general sale from noon on Friday 18 January via RoyalAlbertHall.com