Ok fight fans it’s that time of the week again! The O2 will play host to a massive night of boxing with no less than 3 world title fights, all the action is live on Sky Sports Box Office from 6pm.
Charles Martin vs Anthony Joshua
Charles Martin goes into the fight as the champion with a record of 23-0-1 with 21 knockouts. He as also won is last 6 fights by knockout. In he’s last fight he beat Vyacheslav Glazkov with a 3rd round knockout to win the title earlier this year so this will be his first defends
As we all know Anthony Joshua won Olympic gold in 2012 and since turning professional he has beaten all of his opponents by knockout. He has only been past the 3rd round once before and that was in he’s last fight against Dillian Whyte in December last year.
I think this is a risky fight for both men. It’s a risk for Charles Martin because it’s his first defends and his boxing away from home for the first time and you never know how that will affect a fighter. Remember it was him who called out Joshua which could mean that he’s underestimated Joshua and he thinks it’s going to be an easy fight for him. This fight is a risk for Joshua because no disrespect to his previous opponents but this is a big step up because his gone straight from British title level to world level and you have to ask has it come too soon for him.
There is no doubt that both men carry power so it is unlikely to go the distance. I think if Joshua sticks to his boxing skills he should win, if he goes into the ring with the same tactics he used against Dillian Whyte that could make in a completely different fight.
Lee Selby vs Eric Hunter
This fight will be Lee Selby’s second defends of his title that he won against Evgeny Gradovich in 2015, and he goes into the fight with a record of 23-1 with 8 knockouts. Ok he’s not the biggest puncher in the world but on he’s night he can out box anyone in the devision.
Eric Hunter is an orthodox boxer from the US he goes into the fight with a record of 23-3 with 11 knockouts. In he’s last fight he beat Antonio Escalante with a first round knockout. His also won 5 out of his last 6. This fight will also be the first time He has fought away from home
Ok so the edge in power goes to Hunter but I think that Selby is the better boxer Its likely this fight is going the distance I believe at Selby will win on points.
George Groves vs David Brophy
George Groves is still rebuilding he’s career after he lost twice to Carl Froch and his loss to Badou Jack , however he did win he’s last fight against Andrea Di Luisa with a 5th round knockout earlier this year, and he goes into the fight with a record of 22-3 with 17 knockouts
David Brophy is an undefeated fighter with a record of 16-0-1 with only one knockout, he doesn’t seem to have much power but he’s a good boxer
This should be a good fight if Groves wins the rebuild continues but if he loses you have to ask where does he go from here. If Brophy wins it will be a big name on his record. Whoever wins the winner will go into the world title mix in an already booming division.
Jamie McDonnell vs Fernando Vargas
This will be McDonnell’s 3rd defends of his title that he won from Tabtimdaeng Na Rachawat
Back in 2014. He has won 3 of he’s last 6 fights by knockout, and goes into the fight with a record of 27-2-1 with 12 knockouts. This fight will be something of a homecoming for McDonnell after his last two fights were in America.
Fernando Vargas is a late replacement after his original opponent had to withdraw after he suffered an injury in training. Fernando Vargas goes into the fight with a record of 29-9-3 with 20 knockouts
This should be a good fight it looks like d Vargas carries more power than McDonnell, but if McDonnell sticks to his boxing skills and works behind his jab he should win on points.
Matthew Macklin vs Brian Rose
This fight has the potential to be fight of the night which is saying something when you look at the fights that are on the bill.
Matthew Macklin has done well to rebuild his career after he was knocked out by Gennady Golovkin in 2013, he also lost he’s homecoming fight against Jorge Sebastian Heiland.
By knockout, but since then he has won he’s last two fights both by knockout. He goes into this fight with a record of 34-6 with 22 knockouts.
Brian Rose is also trying to rebuild his career after he lost his world title fight to Demetrius Andrade in 2014,since then he won his comeback against Ignacio Lucero Fraga by knockout in 2014. Then he lost to Carson Jones by knockout, he did avenge that loss in their rematch. Since then like Macklin he has won his last two fights. He goes into this fight with a record of 28-3-1 with 8 knockouts
This fight is a real 50/50 whoever wins will be back in the world title picture, but for the loser you have to ask where do they go from there.
Comment below with your predictions