Thunderstorms are expected in the area which may make the entire outlook of the event feel very different to the first two weeks here, but Eddie Hearn and his team will be aware of the forecast and I have no doubt it will be another strong event.
The card looks a good one from top to bottom and those tuning in on Friday night should get full value for money. This event takes place eight days before the final Fight Camp card which features the big headline names, but I think this one could be as good as any card we see over this month.
There are also other big events taking place this weekend as Matchroom Boxing USA has their first event since the Coronavirus crisis affected sporting events around the world, while Carl Frampton is also in action on Saturday night as he looks to remind everyone that he is still looking for the big fights before he calls time on his career.
In this thread you can read my thoughts on the cards scheduled for the weekend, but I will also be looking forward to the big UFC event on Saturday night which features the completion of the trilogy between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier.
That will be a cracking event too in a weekend which will be much appreciated by combat sports fans.
John Docherty vs Anthony Fox
There is a big future in front of John Docherty and he has been keen to get back inside a Boxing ring and not allow his career to stagnate while the sports world has had to postpone a few scheduled events.
The feeling that another round of Covid-19 could see another lockdown occur meant Docherty was very keen to get over to Fight Camp and at least put a few more Rounds in the bank.
You could be forgiven that is the thinking for John Docherty because he has been bullish in the build up to this bout in talking about ending the fight as early as many others he has had already. Putting a stoppage on the books against Anthony Fox would be making the kind of statement Docherty wants to make, although there is no doubt it is going to be a test to do that.
John Docherty has power as shown by six stoppages in eight wins, but all of those early nights have come in the first couple of Rounds and the two exceptions have both gone the distance.
That is something that may be on the mind at times for Docherty, especially if Anthony Fox is able to show enough to weather the early storm.
The underdog has an 8-12-2 record as professional, but he has only been stopped once before and that was in his first defeat. That did come in the Second Round so there might be some early problems to get through, but Fox has shown he has become someone who not only can test early professional.
Anthony Fox actually comes into this bout off the back of three wins in a row with one of those being against former Commonwealth Champion Luke Blackledge and another being against an unbeaten fighter in Duane Sinclair. Those wins have to be respected, even if the feeling is that John Docherty is a level or two above Fox and it certainly makes me think that the journeyman can at least force the favourite to see the cards.
A late stoppage can't be ruled out with Docherty going into an Eight Rounder for the first time as he steps up his competition, but I think Anthony Fox can show enough grit to reach the cards even in a losing effort.
Shannon Courtenay vs Rachel Ball
A couple of weeks ago Rachel Ball was a huge price to beat Shannon Courtenay, but the money has been piling in on the underdog to the point where we have a pick 'em in this crossroads bout.
Both women have five professional wins on the resume, but Ball did lose a very close fight to Katherina Thanderz when fighting on very short notice. That defeat has been franked by the fact that Thanderz has gone on to win an interim World Title and many felt that Ball did enough to earn the Decision on the night.
It is the kind of performance which suggests she can give Shannon Courtenay all she can handle as the younger fighter takes another step up in class. Her five wins have come against overmatched opponents, but Rachel Ball arrives with the height advantage and knowing she has done at least Eight Rounds on two different occasions while Courtenay has yet to go beyond the Fifth Round.
Shannon Courtenay is the heavier fighter and will be looking to bully Rachel Ball, but the confidence of the latter cannot be ignored. She has been down before which is a concern for the Ball backers, and there hasn't been a stoppage win on her resume so the power may be with the younger fighter.
However, Rachel Ball's better resume can't be ignored here.
I do think Shannon Courtenay could be favoured by the judges in close Rounds, but Rachel Ball should be able to weather some of the early storm and begin to showcase what I believe to be underrated ability. She has shown she can compete at a high level and there is still enough in the price to back Rachel Ball even if it is no longer the kind of upset many felt it might have been when the fight was first put together.
Zelfa Barrett vs Eric Donovan
Fighting for the first time under the Matchroom Boxing Promotion on Friday night is Zelfa Barrett who has openly admitted he dreams of being the next big Manchester Boxing Icon.
The 27 year old has won the English Title and the Commonwealth Title at Super Featherweight and Barrett could be on the brink of a World Title shot if he can win this fight. It will certainly put Zelfa Barrett on the right path by picking up one of the smaller IBF Titles at the weight, while The Flash will want to put on a performance to light up Fight Camp through the Thunder and Lightning that has been forecasted.
He has won four fights in a row since a Majority Decision loss to Ronnie Clark and Zelfa Barrett has momentum behind him.
On Friday night Eric Donovan will be in the opposite corner and the Irishman has plenty of amateur experience while also being unbeaten in the professional ranks. Eric Donovan has twelve fights behind him but at 35 years old there isn't a lot of room for error if he is going to get into a position to challenge for World honours.
There have been displays of power from Eric Donovan in his first twelve fights, but this is a step up in class. I have little doubt that the Irishman will not take a backwards step, but that may suit Zelfa Barrett down to the ground as he looks to showcase his talents and begin to build a swell of support behind him for when the fans are allowed to return to the Arenas.
It would be a surprise if Zelfa Barrett is able to put one shot together to end the fight, but an accumulation of shots can break down Eric Donovan. In the early Rounds I think the amateur successes Donovan has had will give him a chance to make this a competitive fight, but eventually Barrett's power and ability to put shots together will wear down his opponent.
A second half stoppage looks the most likely direction this fight will take and I will look for Zelfa Barrett do to that and announce himself to a wider audience.
Felix Cash vs Jason Welborn
The Middleweight Commonwealth Title is on the line when Felix Cash defends against Jason Welborn and I would be stunned if this is anything but an all action bout.
Felix Cash is the unbeaten Champion who has put twelve wins on the board and he has shown plenty of power with eight stoppages on the record. There are some good wins on the record, but Cash will be the first to note that this is another step up in his career against an opponent who has fought for a World Title.
Jason Welborn has had a long career and eight defeats may suggest he is not someone that should trouble Felix Cash. However, Welborn has plenty of experience and some of his defeats have come against really strong Boxers which can't be ignored.
The fact Welborn has lost back to back fights is a concern as is the fact that both times he has been stopped to the body, but I have no doubt he will get forward and look to make life very uncomfortable for Felix Cash. The underdog can make things rough and dirty which could take Cash out of his comfort zone and Jason Welborn would love for frustrations to lead to mistakes from the younger Champion.
Ultimately I think that Welborn makes it competitive for a while, but Felix Cash may end up being a little too fresh and accurate with his punches. That should see him begin to take over the fight and perhaps come on strong in the second half of the bout.
A body shot may be the key to the outcome and I will look for Cash to just showcase some of his skills early and flash power late to get this one done. I expect a great fight in the main event and I am expecting plenty of big punches to land amongst the expected thunderstorm in this part of the United Kingdom.
Archie Sharp vs Jeff Ofori
For the fourth time Archie Sharp will be defending his European Super Featherweight Title and in this one he takes on someone that he will be familiar with in Jeff Ofori.
The latter is coming down from Light Welterweight to take on this fight, but Jeff Ofori has struggled when he has stepped up in class and was stopped by Ohara Davies in his last fight.
Coming down may mean Ofori can take a little more punishment at this weight, but Archie Sharp puts his punches together and this is largely seen as a tick-a-long fight for him.
The power is coming for Sharp, but I think he will be a little too accurate with his punches which can see him break down an overmatched opponent. Archie Sharp has managed to find the stoppage in two of his last four fights and I think he will show he is levels above his opponent in this one as he finds an early enough stoppage.
Backing this fight to end in the first 7.5 Rounds looks the call here as Sharp looks to move his career forward.
Carl Frampton vs Darren Traynor
It is wasn't for the Covid-19 outbreak Carl Frampton would have been fighting for a World Title in a third different Division and become the first Irish fighter to try and win belts in three classes.
With the long lay off that has had to be dealt with by all, Frampton returns on Saturday with a tune up fight before he heads into bigger fights again.
There is no doubt that Carl Frampton is dropping to domestic level when taking on Darren Traynor who is a late replacement. The Scottish Boxer has been beaten three times in his career and he has been stopped by both Ryan Walsh and James Tennyson inside Five Rounds.
This feels like a big step up for Traynor again and I do think he will only last as long as Frampton allows him to.
Boxing is very much about levels and Frampton has long operated on a different plane to Traynor- he may not be the fighter he was, but Carl Frampton should be able to showcase his talent and put a comfortable win on the board.
Only one of his last nine fights have ended in a stoppage win, but Carl Frampton can put the pressure on early in this one and break down Darren Traynor within the first Five Rounds.
Otto Wallin vs Travis Kauffman
It has been a touch over eleven months since Otto Wallin pushed Tyson Fury all the way and was very close to breaking up the impending Wilder-Fury clash which had been signed off.
On another day a referee may have waved things off as Wallin opened up a cut which needed 47 stitches to close and ever since Fury went on to win the WBC World Title the Swedish Boxer has been calling for a rematch.
He impressed enough to have another opportunity in the United States and the southpaw is a big favourite to see off veteran Travis Kauffman who returns to the ring after a twenty month absence.
The last time Kauffman was in the ring he was being stopped by Luis Ortiz on the Wilder-Fury 1 undercard in December 2018. The veteran will be looking to show there is still something left in the tank, but this feels like a fight in which Wallin will dominate and be able to at least give the fans something to talk about,
Travis Kauffman has lost three times and two of those have come in stoppages- he has also been Knocked Down four times in his last two fights and I do think the time spent away from the ring is not going to be beneficial for him.
Otto Wallin did have an injury which postponed an outing earlier in the year, but he should be fully healthy now. He is perhaps not the biggest punching Heavyweight out there, but I think he will have enough to wear down Travis Kauffman and could get the referee to step in at some point across the Ten Rounder scheduled.
MY PICKS: John Docherty Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Rachel Ball to Win @ 2.00 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Zelfa Barrett to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.87 William Hill (2 Units)
Felix Cash to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.62 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Archie Sharp-Jeff Ofori Under 7.5 Rounds @ 1.91 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Carl Frampton to Win Between 1-5 @ 2.10 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Otto Wallin to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.20 Bet365 (2 Units)
Archie Sharp-Jeff Ofori Under 7.5 Rounds @ 1.91 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Carl Frampton to Win Between 1-5 @ 2.10 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Otto Wallin to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.20 Bet365 (2 Units)
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