Ok fight fans it’s that time of the week again fight night preview time this week we are back in the fighting city of Manchester for a night of action that could make history. All the action will be live on Sky Sports Box Office from 6pm.
Oleksandr Usyk V Tony Bellew
This fight is the only place to start this week as history is going to be made this will be the first time ever that the undisputed title has been fought for in Briton.
Oleksandr Usyk is the undisputed champion and he comes into this massive fight with an undefeated record of 15-0 with 11 knockouts. He has knocked out 2 of his last 6 opponents, in his last fight he won a unanimous decision over Murat Gassiev to become the first man to lift the Muhammad Ali Trophy.
Tony Bellew comes into this fight with a record of 30-2-1 with 20 knockouts. He has won all of his last 6 fights, 5 of those wins coming by knockout. Last time out he scored that stunning knockout in the 5th round over David Haye in their rematch.
This is the question that the whole world wants to know the answer to who’s going to win, I think it’s going to be a lot closer than many people are predicting. People seem to have forgotten that Bellew is a former world champion and ok he’s lost twice but both of those losses where to world champions. Let’s face it Bellew is becoming something of an expert at doing the impossible as nobody gave him a chance in his last two fights and he won both of them by knockout. Having said all that you still have to make Usyk the favourite for this one because he’s the champion, he’s undefeated and he carries huge knockout power. I think Usyk will come out looking to make a statement and end it quickly. Bellew’s best chance of winning could be to try and get the fight at range and look to land on the counter. One thing’s for sure whatever happens this is going to be a fight you don’t want to miss.
Anthony Crolla V Daud Yordan
Anthony Crolla comes into this fight with a record of 33-6-3 with 13 knockouts. He’s done well to rebuild his career after those two devastating back to back losses to Jorge Linage. He’s won 4 out of his last 6 fights, 2 of them by knockout. In his last fight he won a unanimous decision over Edson Ramirez on the undercard of Joshua V Parker back in March.
Daud Yordan comes into this fight with a record of 38-3 with 26 knockouts. He’s won all of his last 6 fights, 4 of them by knockout. In his last fight he knocked out Pavel Malikov in the 8th round to win the WBO intercontinental title
This fight is a must win fight for both men if they want to get back into the world title picture. This could be a really close fight but I think you have to make Crolla the slight favourite but only because he’s in front of his hometown crowd. I can see him coming out looking to box for the first few rounds but then I can see him going looking for the knockout in the middle to late rounds. However if he gets careless and walks into a shot from Yordan that could be the end of the fight. This is definitely a make or break fight for both men because whoever loses I don’t know where they go from here.
Ricky Burns V Scott Cardle
Ricky Burns comes into this fight with a record of 42-7-1 with 15 knockouts. He is another fighter that has done well to rebuild his career after some bad results recently. He’s won 4 out of his last 6 fights 3 of them by knockout. In his last fight he stopped Ivan Njegac in the 4th round.
Scott Cardle comes into this fight with a record of 23-2-1 with 7 knockouts. His recent form has not been great as he’s only won 4 out of his last 6 fights but only 1 of those wins came by knockout. In his last fight he won on points over journeyman Michael Mooney.
I have to be honest and say I don’t understand this fight because both men have everything to lose and nothing to win, if Burns wins they will say that Cardle is not in his league. If Cardle wins they will say that Burns should hang up the gloves. All that been said I can only see one outcome in this one and that’s a Burns win either on points or by late stoppage.
Josh Kelly V Walter Fabian Castillo
Josh Kelly will be looking to continue his perfect start to his professional career as he comes into this fight with a perfect record of 7-0 with 5 knockouts. He’s knocked out 5 out of his last 6 opponents. In his last fight he stopped Kris Gorge in the 7th round to win the Commonwealth title. This is going to be a busy few months for him as he scheduled to fight on the Kell Brook bill in Sheffield on the 8th December.
Walter Fabian Castillo comes into this fight with a record of 13-2 with 3 knockouts. He’s won 4 out of his last 6 fights, 2 of those wins came by knockout. In his last fight he knocked out Pablo David Battista in the 3rd round.
You have to make Kelly favourite for this one because every time Castillo takes a step up in opponent he loses. So I can see Kelly wanting to get a few rounds in his legs, before he goes looking for the knockout in the middle rounds.
David Allen V Ariel Esteban Bracomonte
David Allen has got another chance to shine on the big stage, he comes into this fight with a record of 15-4-2 with 12 knockouts. He’s won 4 out of his last 6 fights with 1 loss and 1 draw all of those wins came by knockout. Last time out he made a statement by knocking out Samir Nebo in the opening round. It is going to be a busy end of the year for him as he is scheduled to fight in Sheffield on the 8th December.
Ariel Esteban Bracomonte comes into this fight with a record of 8-1 with 5 knockouts. He’s won 5 out of his last 6 fights 4 of them by knockout. Last time out he knocked out Nahuel Collosi in the opening round.
Allen is the clear favourite for this one because he’s more experienced and he’s fought at a higher level. My only concern with this fight is it was added at short notice after Joe Cordina was taken off the bill because of injury. So we don’t really know what sort of shape both men are going to be in. Even so I think Allen will go looking for the knockout early.
Sam Hyde V Richard Riakporhe
Sam Hyde comes into this fight with an undefeated record of 13-0-1 with 6 knockouts. He’s knocked out 3 of his last 6 opponents. In his last fight he knocked out Dmitrij Kalinovskij in the 5th round. The only blot on his record came back in 2014 when he was held to a draw by Wayne Brooks.
Richard Riakporhe comes into this fight with a perfect professional record of 7-0 with 6 knockouts. He has knocked out all but one of his opponents. In his last fight he knocked out journeyman Elvis Dube in the 2nd round.
This is the kind of fight that boxing fans love two young undefeated fighters putting it all on the line just to get one step closer to fighting for a world title. Which is exactly what will happen for the winner of this as this fight is for the WBA intercontinental title. I think you have to make Hyde the slight favourite for this only because he’s the more experienced of the two. I can see this one going the distance or with Hyde scoring a late stoppage.
Hope you enjoy the fights and comment below and let me know your predictions, can Tony Bellew end his career on a high?