To be honest there is nothing I can add to the frustrations that you would not have been able to read elsewhere, but I am confident that both Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk will be out in August. Frank Warren has spoken about a 'game changing' announcement for Tyson Fury and this should all hopefully get the big men moving and follow the lead set out by those in the lower weight.
As we enter July, it is those in the lower weight Divisions that are set to take the sport forward and we have two exceptional fights later in the month.
The return of some of the leading contenders in the Welterweight Division will also spark talk ahead of the Errol Spence Jr vs Terence Crawford Undisputed fight in the 147 pound Division on July 29th.
It is a good time to be a Boxing fan with some of the upcoming fights rumoured, although I can never be sure we are going to see all of those until fighters are in press conferences and making things official.
Boxing is a crazy sport at times, but this has been a positive first half of the 2023 season as far as the fights being made are concerned. However, you are never that far away from the kind of announcement that can take you completely by surprise as was the case on Friday when the rumoured Canelo-Charlo Super Middleweight bout was confirmed... Except it was Jermell and not Jermall that will be getting in the ring as he moves up two Divisions to take on one of the pound for pound best fighters in the world.
We have some very good fights to look forward to later this month and those cannot come around quickly enough, but this weekend the focus is on fighters that are hoping to move into world title contention sooner than later.
The main event in Manchester is an Undisputed Super Middleweight bout in the women's side of the sport and that should be plenty of fun to watch, while the likes of Dalton Smith and Jared Anderson are looking to make big statements.
Dalton Smith vs Sam Maxwell
Winning the British Title continued the rise of Dalton Smith in the Light Welterweight Division, but a couple of defences have been tougher than expected.
This has perhaps slowed some of the hype behind Dalton Smith, but the Champion has suggested that his focus has not been there to really put on a massive display in beating opponents that were little known outside of Boxing circles.
Neither of the two defences have been at home, but Dalton Smith is fighting in front of his Sheffield fans this weekend and this is where he won the British Title in the first place with a Sixth Round stoppage.
The British Title was vacant because Sam Maxwell decided to try and build further towards World level by winning the IBO World Title, but he suffered his sole loss in a Ninth Round stoppage in an upset. We have seen Maxwell hurt before when Sabri Sediri had the London born fighter in real trouble very early on and I do think this is a match up that will get the best out of Dalton Smith.
It could be something of a firefight at times, but Dalton Smith has shown he carries plenty of power and I think he is going to break down Sam Maxwell. The latter will have his moments, but his style might see him become easy to find for Smith who will be looking to move through the gears and really show that he is beyond domestic level opponents.
This is the last big Matchroom show until August and the undercard is filled with some of the younger talent they have on the books.
Beatriz Ferreira is only in her third professional fight, but the expectation is that she will be fast-tracked up the Rankings in what remains a thin side of the sport. She has shown she carries power and can earn a stoppage in her first Eight Rounder.
I also think Junaid Boston can make it six stoppages in six fights by taking away Ryan Amos' unbeaten record.
Pat McCormack is another with a big reputation and he can have a relatively early night when he faces Tony Dixon in a Ten Rounder. Tony Dixon has lost four times and been stopped twice, while the two previous fighters defeated by McCormack have perhaps showed a bit more resiliency to last into the Sixth and Eighth Round.
In Manchester we have a returning Savannah Marshall for the first time since losing her unbeaten record against Claressa Shields. She isn't taking an easier fight as Marshall moves up to Super Middleweight to try and win the Undisputed Title from Franchon Crews-Dezurn and the British fighter is a pretty strong favourite to do that.
The Undisputed Champion has only been beaten once before in her debut against Shields, but the American has won eight in a row since.
However, Franchon Crews-Dezurn has been out of the ring for around fourteen months and you have to believe her come forward, aggressive style might actually suit Savannah Marshall who has the reach and height advantage.
There were times in the defeat to Claressa Shields when Marshall looked to be struggling with the punches coming her way and Crews-Dezurn will connect.
I just don't think she is as good all around as her compatriot and Savannah Marshall did find some big shots against a slick fighter like Shields. She has been much more comfortable when being able to punch into a target that perhaps will not move as much and I think there is every chance the Champion walks into a huge shot that begins the end of her reign for now.
There are some decent fighters on this Boxxer undercard too, but like the Matchroom card on the same night, many are still building up to the level that the promoter believes they will reach. Ben Whittaker is back having fought in May and the team do want to get his career moving after a pretty long injury lay-off between his second and third professional fight and he should find another stoppage, although perhaps needing a few more Rounds before getting Vladimir Belujsky out of there.
Callum Simpson is taking a step up in level when facing Boris Crighton, who went the distance with Lyndon Arthur on short notice.
I thought Arthur was unmotivated that day, but Simpson brings a strong following with him and can make another big statement by putting Crighton away before the second half of the fight.
Mark Jeffers is going to receive plenty of local support, but the short notice is not ideal for him as he steps up several levels when facing Zak Chelli who has some momentum in what has been a stop-start career. The Londoner has been putting the wins together, but most impressive is that Chelli has won three in a row against fighters that had a combined 46-1 record.
Those opponents have been at a higher level than Jeffers and Zak Chelli can show that he deserves his career pushing forward by earning a stoppage.
And Natasha Jonas can keep the Indian Summer of her career moving as she moves down a Division to try and win a vacant World Title. She is facing Kandi Wyatt who has tried and failed to win World Titles before and who has been stopped twice in four losses, including against Jessika McCaskill in December 2021.
It might take a bit of time, but Jonas can go through the gears to earn a first stoppage win since February 2022.
Throughout the history of Boxing, the Middleweight Division has been one of the premier ones in the sport, but we are going through a pretty poor period at 160 pounds.
Fighters have moved out of the Division or have been inactive and Gennady Golovkin decided to drop his World Titles rather than go through mandatory defences that have not gotten him motivated.
It has allowed a 40 year old Erislandy Lara to become a full World Champion, while the WBC Champion Jermall Charlo has not fought in two years and has managed to hold onto the belt. Zhanibek Alimkhanuly is another Champion, but the contenders are not exactly a hot list.
Things can change quickly and unbeaten Esquiva Falcao takes on unbeaten German Vincenzo Gualtieiri on the road.
Earning a Decision in Germany has long been tough for a road fighter, but Falcao has the power to force a stoppage having a bit more experience and a tougher resume to fall back upon.
The Heavyweight Division has barely moved over the course of 2023, but the hope is that more is to come as we enter the second half of the year.
In America we do have a couple of up and coming contenders in action on Saturday evening, although the unbeaten fighters are still some way away from challenging for a World Title.
Jared Anderson is looking to make it fifteen wins and fifteen stoppages when he takes on former Heavyweight Champion Charles Martin, who is fighting on short notice.
Big Baby has only been past the Third Round twice in his fourteen previous wins, but there is still some work for Anderson to do before he can take on the very best. He does take one to give one, but that spells danger in the Heavyweight Division and Charles Martin showed against Luis Ortiz that he still carries plenty of pop.
However, Martin was eventually stopped on that day and Jared Anderson is younger and stronger than the veteran Cuban. The manner of the defeat that Prince Charles had against Anthony Joshua will always cast a cloud over his career, but he has shown a bit more resiliency than that in recent fights, although he has not really faced anyone with the power that his compatriot possesses.
An early firefight is expected and this fight is unlikely to hear the bell to signal the Fifth Round.
Two big hitting Heavyweights Arslanbek Makhmudov and Raphael Akpejiori put their unbeaten records on the line in a fight where the winner may eventually be pushed on to take on Jared Anderson.
They have won thirty-one fights between them and twenty-nine have been in stoppages, while neither has waited too long to throw big bombs.
There is little doubt that Arslanbek Makhmudov has taken on tougher opponents and this is another fight that is unlikely to take long to spark and could be over before the Fifth Round begins.
MY PICKS: Dalton Smith to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.80 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Beatriz Ferreira to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Junaid Boston to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.95 Bet365 (2 Units)
Pat McCormack to Win Between 1-5 @ 2.10 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Savannah Marshall to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 6.50 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Ben Whittaker to Win Between 6-10 @ 3.00 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Callum Simpson to Win Between 1-5 @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Zak Chelli to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.62 William Hill (2 Units)
Natasha Jonas to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.83 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Esquiva Falcao to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.25 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Jared Anderson-Charles Martin Within 4 Rounds @ 1.91 Coral (2 Units)
Arslanbek Makhmudov-Raphael Akpejiori Within 4 Rounds @ 1.91 Coral (2 Units)
Boxing 2023: 28-53, - 23 Units (152 Units Staked, - 15.13% Yield)
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