THREE UK cities hosting three world title fights featuring four Brits and two defending Mexican champions. Boxing is booming right now and this weekend history is being made.
In Bournemouth, cruiserweight king Lawrence Okolie makes the fourth defence of his title against former sparring partner Chris Billam-Smith.
Manchester hosts the world featherweight championship rematch between Mauricio Lara and Leigh Wood, with the Nottingham star aiming to reverse February’s seventh round knockout defeat.
And in Belfast, local hero Michael Conlan aims to fulfil his destiny challenging Luis Alberto Lopez for another version of the featherweight crown in front of a capacity crowd.
BOURNEMOUTH
Okolie, 30, should be one of the most beloved fighters in Britain. The Rio Olympian is 19-0 with 14 knockouts and has held British, Commonwealth, European and now a world title.
But the Londoner also possesses a hard to watch punch-hold style that generates more jeers than it does cheers. At his latest title defence in March, fans left long before his decision victory was announced.
Perhaps that’s why he’s putting his crown on the line in the challenger’s backyard this weekend.
Billam-Smith, 32, is the reason 15,000 tickets have been sold at the Vitality Stadium this Bank Holiday weekend.
‘The Gentleman’ has lost just once in 18 outings as a pro and has picked up three of the belts once owned by Okolie during his rise. Only the world title remains.
To have any chance of success Billam-Smith has to get on the inside of Okolie’s reach and work. Combinations to head and body and force Okolie into a fight, something nobody has really managed before.
The champion huge and not long for this weight class. He also has a serious power and part of the criticism of his style relates to opponent’s lack of ambition. Billam-Smith plans on winning.
MANCHESTER
Mexican Lara’s inability to make weight on Friday means he was stripped of the world title on the scales. As of now, only Wood is eligible to win back the belt.
The 34-year-old must now overcome not only the mental demons of defeating the man who knocked him out three months ago, but he must also do it knowing 25-year-old Lara weighed in almost four pounds heavy.
Tipping the scales at just under 130lb means Lara (26-2-1) is actually a super-featherweight, raising alarms as to whether the fight should indeed progress at all.
Wood (26-3) has to hope the weight cut drained enough out of big-punching Lara to push him into deep rounds. But the first 12 minutes will be incredibly dangerous.
BELFAST
Conlan, 31, gets the chance of a lifetime to capture a world title at the second attempt but this time on home soil against Lopez, who is fresh from an impressive points decision against Josh Warrington.
A sublime boxer with a deep history in the amateurs, Conlan is a superstar in waiting and will have learnt a lot from last year’s 12th round defeat to Wood – his sole defeat in 19 fights – to ensure he’s got plenty left in the tank here.
Lopez, 29, if allowed to get ahead knows how to win on the cards too. But he’s walking into an atmosphere like no other in Northern Ireland and by the time he warms to the task, Conlan should be well in the ascendancy.
Nick’s Tips:
Okolie by TKO (49/50), Wood by KO (23/4) and Conlan on Points (13/10).
Roll all three together in a thumping treble and this returns 29/1. £10 becomes £300… Fancy it?
