Boxing Picks 2026- Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois (Saturday 9th May)

The biggest weekend of the 2026 Boxing season did not disappoint the fans and instead has set up some big opportunities for those involved.

Some are already thinking ahead to a Naoya Inoue vs Bam Rodriguez Super-Fight, but Junto Nakatani pushed The Monster in a high quality contest and there will be plenty of voices calling for a rematch.

It is a situation where the loser has actually raised his profile further and both fighters can either look forward to seeing each other again before the end of the year or earning a big purse in another fight before turning back to each other in the first half of 2027.

Many hours later, David Benavidez impressed in crushing Gilberto Ramirez to win yet another World Title in yet another Division.

The Mexican Monster has long called for a bout against Canelo Alvarez, but that ship looks to have sailed and instead the likes of Dmitry Bivol and Jai Opetaia look like the kind of names that could be tempted into a mega-fight.

David Benavidez is likely going to have his pick of opponents, although those suggesting he should move to Heavyweight and challenge Oleksandr Usky may be pushing him too far ahead (in terms of weight, not of the obvious qualities that Benavidez possesses).

May continues with a huge fight in the Heavyweight Division- it may not make the noise around the world as it will in the United Kingdom, but the winner of the Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois main event will be a World Champion and in a position to Unify if the World Titles continue to fracture away from Oleksandr Usyk.

Queensberry Promotions have put together a solid undercard in support of the top of the bill in Manchester and it is likely going to be a really good night for those in attendance.

Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois

One is a former World Champion and the other is going to be brining the WBO World Title into the ring, but, along with Ken Norton, is the only Title Holder in this Division who has never won a World Title fight.

Fabio Wardley is the Champion after being upgraded to full Title Holder after Oleksandr Usyk failed to fulfil his mandatory, but he would have much preferred to have had that WBO World Title on the line when he was beating Joseph Parker.

The background story is fascinating and Wardley has already overachieved, but he will take some big confidence from the way he has continued to step up.

Opening up his career with a Points win, Fabio Wardley has Stopped the next 19 opponents faced with the only blemish being the Draw with Frazer Clarke, which was wiped out impressively in the rematch. Following up with wins over Justis Huni and Joseph Parker has only continued the surge, but this is another step up in class.

Daniel Dubois is another big puncher and his three losses have been against Joe Joyce and Oleksander Usyk (twice).

Some will have questioned the manner of the first two of those losses, but the Fifth Round Stoppage against Usyk last year was emphatic and ended a strong run of form that Daniel Dubois had put together.

There was nothing wrong with his character and heart in beating Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua, but questions remain and this is a bout where both fighters will have to dig deep.

In reality we have seen Fabio Wardley dig and scrap even when fights have been turning against him and he carries his power very late.

That makes him dangerous, although he cannot afford to be tagged with some of the shots that have been allowed against the likes of Huni and Parker who simply do not hit as hard as Daniel Dubois.

Fabio Wardley's power is clear to see, although it does feel like Dubois' ability to take some shots is a little underrated- he's not granite, but the idea that Wardley could walk through fire all of the time has been proven to be a fallacy, which Joe Joyce found out to his cost.

It is a Heavyweight World Title fight that excited me as soon as it was announced and it would be stunning if there were not the fireworks that will be expected.

You can imagine both fighters being a little cautious of the power the other brings into the ring, but the first big contact could see things open up dramatically.

The Champion deserves nothing but respect for how far he has pushed his career, but Daniel Dubois has long felt like a fighter just below the very elite in the Heavyweight Division.

Fans of Daniel Dubois will want to see him make an early dent in Fabio Wardley, if only to build confidence within the ring when Dubois becomes his most dangerous.

I just can't shake the kind of shots Wardley has taken from lesser punchers than Daniel Dubois and for a fighter learning on the job, that is unlikely to be much different in this one.

Maybe he does have a really special chin, but Daniel Dubois has shown he can be a clinical finisher when he has his man in trouble and the feeling is that the former Champion can win a firefight that should entertain all who tune in.

There is a deep undercard that has been put together by Queensberry and some of those names are in a position to move onto really big nights if they can win, and win impressively.

Bakhodir Jalolov has long been touted as a potential World Champion in the Heavyweight Division and some even think he could soon be an opponent for Moses Itauma.

There is some uncertainty as to how long this fight is scheduled for, but Jalolov has been put in a showcase spot and should win early.

Fighters like David Morrell and Jack Rafferty are expected to win, but the opponents will give them something to think about.

Out of the two, Morrell should showcase his experience in fighting at a much higher level than Zak Chelli and he may be able to end the contest by breaking down the British fighter.

Jack Rafferty is in for a tough introduction to this weight class against Ekow Essuman and that looks like a potential upset with the ability of the latter to outwork opponents. Dropping back down to a domestic level should help The Engine and he may yet have another big night in the locker.

MY PICKS: Daniel Dubois to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.62 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Bakhodir Jalolov to Win Between 1-5 @ 2.00 Coral (2 Units)

David Morrell to Win Between 6-10 @ 3.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing 2026: 13-27, - 13.42 Units (59 Units Staked, - 23.25% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2026- Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov (Saturday 11th April)

The run of Boxing nights featuring the top names in the Heavyweight Division began last week at the O2 Arena in London when a really poor refereeing display overshadowed the Deontay Wilder-Derek Chisora main event.

Another poor judging day in the United Kingdom will not have gone down very well with the fans and it is certainly something that promoters will have noted when thinking about bringing the fighters to this part of the Boxing world.

It hurts local talent on the 'B' side of the card as Gully Powar found out, but he raised his profile and is going to get another big opportunity to become British Champion and then progress to the world level.

A rematch has been ordered, which is the least that Powar deserved, but he should have been given the right decision by judges who continue to make poor decisions in the UK.

The main event of the night saw Deontay Wilder perhaps set up a bout against Anthony Joshua- he looked better than he has, but Wilder still looks a long way past his best and so the next fight may have to be against one of the big names in the Division before retirement beckons.

It should be the last time we see Derek Chisora in the ring, but you just never know with Del Boy.

Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov

Almost sixteen months have passed since Tyson Fury was beaten for a second time by Oleksandr Usyk and soon announced his retirement from the sport.

Like the 'boy who cried wolf', no one believed this latest retirement would last much longer than previous ones announced by Fury.

He is back and still in denial about the results of the two fights with Usyk and so a third attempt at becoming Undisputed is the ambition- Tyson Fury believes he won both previous bouts, but it felt like he was a close loser in the first one and a much more comfortable second best in the rematch.

None of that really matters now and Tyson Fury is making a return with some big money fights still on the table.

With Usyk showing little appetite for a third fight, Fury's team are focused on a long-awaited contest against Anthony Joshua, which will still garner plenty of attention in the UK at the very least. Some have suggested that the teams are already speaking about a match up in Dublin, which would be something of a surprise, but before all of that, Tyson Fury has to make sure he looks good on Saturday.

That is not going to be easy for someone who has been out on the ring for the time that Fury has, nor when you consider his last three outings.

However, this is a big step down from Oleksandr Usyk and Fury looked completely out of shape when narrowly edging past Francis Ngannou in what should have been a very straight-forward exhibition style win.

Arslanbek Makhmudov had a big reputation until being battered into submission by Agit Kabayel and was also beaten by Guido Vianello eight months later.

He has not been acting nearly as menacingly as he had been before those defeats and wins over Ricardo Brown and Dave Allen are not the kind of results that suggest Makhmudov is ready for this kind of opponent.

As with any layoff, Tyson Fury may need some time to really get going in this one, but he is not the elusive puncher of old times and instead is likely going to plant his feet and unload.

There is no doubt that Arslanbek Makhmudov is there to be hit and Tyson Fury may be able to roll through the gears in the second half of this contest once the ring rust is shaken off a little bit. The opponent is one that has been broken down before and Fury is capable of doing the same here on his return with a late Stoppage perhaps the outcome to remind fans of his qualities and capabilities in the ring.

The chief support on the card is featuring Conor Benn as his new promoters drag Regis Prograis up to the 150 pound limit for this Ten Rounder.

It will be a real surprise if there are any rehydration clauses attached to this bout and so Benn is going to be a lot bigger in the ring.

The name value of Prograis is not as high as it once was, while rumours around his fitness ahead of this bout had swirled and suggested he was going to withdraw. Even Eddie Hearn has suggested Regis Prograis was not fit enough to fight, but the American has downplayed all of those reports.

Back to back defeats to Devin Haney and Jack Catterall suggested Regis Prograis' best days at the top were over, but he has been given this opportunity.

Unfortunately it feels like he has been brought over to be Stopped for the first time and Conor Benn may be able to get this one done before halfway, even if The Destroyer is still vastly overrated.

Two Heavyweight contests also feature on the undercard with fighters looking to either take the step up towards world level, or avoid falling too far from those levels.

In a crossroads bout, two fighters who have defeats to Fabio Wardley on the resume meet- Justis Huni has not fought since his loss to Wardley in June last year, while Frazer Clarke recovered from the wipeout defeat to the WBO World Champion in October 2024 by winning one fight before losing to Jeamie TKV.

Frazer Clarke looked completely lost in that defeat to TKV, especially in the latter stages when he was fortunate to avoid being Stopped.

The Australian opponent in this one has quick hands and had Fabio Wardley in all sorts of trouble before the latter found a special punch, but Justis Huni will feel he belongs at that level considering how far Wardley has progressed.

His speed can just wear down Frazer Clarke here and Justis Huni may be more ready to finish the fight when the opportunity comes up to just get himself moving back towards the very biggest names in the Division.

The aforementioned Jeamie TKV takes on Richard Riakporhe with the British Heavyweight Title on the line.

This is a closer contest than the layers feel, but Riakporhe may just have enough to edge past the Champion.

Jeamie TKV is tough, resilient and will come to fight, but The Midnight Train should have a bit too much quality in the exchanges in his third bout at Heavyweight. He is going to have to use some of the athleticism to avoid getting caught up in clinches and have the Champion wearing him down, but if Richard Riakporhe can do that, he may have the necessary quality and accuracy to force a Stoppage.

Earlier in the day, there is a card taking place in Japan involving a couple of veterans taking on home fighters.

Pedro Guevara has only been Stopped once in a fifty fight career, but the 36 year old Mexican is only a couple of fights removed since that blowout defeat to Bam Rodriguez.

Losing to a pound for pound superstar is one thing, but Pedro Guevara is taking on 3-0 Tomoya Tsuboi in this contest.

The 30 year old is on a fast track and he Stopped another veteran, Carlos Cuadras, in Eight Rounds back in November. That was only the second time that Cuadras had been Stopped in his long career and Tomoya Tsuboi may be able to ratchet up enough pressure to do the same to Pedro Guevara.

In the main event, Juan Francisco Estrada is looking for a second win in a row since his own loss to Bam Rodriguez, although the former World Champion put up a much sterner performance than Guevara managed.

He has been inactive in recent years, which is not ideal for the 35 year old, but Estrada is expected to have too much for Tenshin Nasukawa who was beaten for the first time in November.

Juan Francisco Estrada is still highly Ranked in the Bantamweight Division and he can set up a bout with Takuma Inoue by matching the Japanese fighter and also beating Nasukawa on the cards.

MY PICKS: Tyson Fury to Win Between 7-12 @ 3.00 Coral (1 Unit)

Conor Benn to Win Between 1-5 @ 2.20 William Hill (2 Units)

Justis Huni to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.83 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Richard Riakporhe to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.00 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Tomoya Tsuboi to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.30 William Hill (1 Unit)

Juan Francisco Estrada to Win @ 1.83 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Boxing 2026: 11-23, - 9.72 Units (51 Units Staked, - 19.06% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2026- Deontay Wilder vs Derek Chisora (Saturday 4th April)

You always want to see a prospect develop into a contender and then into a Champion, but it is going to be very difficult to match Moses Itauma going forward.

He may feel he could get into the ring with Oleksandr Usyk tomorrow, but Frank Warren and the Queensberry connections will want to see him continuing to build the resume with no rush to win a World Title while they are largely locked up by the unbeaten Champion.

That is not to say there are no options out there- the winner of the Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois fight would be a natural fight for Moses Itauma later this year, although Wardley and Itauma share the same trainer.

Fighters like Filip Hrgovic are already scheduled for fights so the July return has to be focusing on the likes of Marat Gassiev, who holds the WBA Regular Belt, or perhaps fighters like Zhilei Zhang, Martin Bakole or Guido Vianello who all are available for that date that was mentioned last weekend.

The manner of the win over Jermaine Franklin Jr will have caught the attention of more fans and right now it is very difficult to imagine a situation where Moses Itauma is not joining the elite of the Division by the end of 2026 or in early 2027.

Sebastian Fundora was also an impressive winner last weekend, but it would be very good to see him in with younger, fresher opponents in the loaded Light Middleweight Division.

Hearing Xander Zayas and Boots Ennis have agreed to face one another should force Fundora's hand and the obvious fight has to be with Vergil Ortiz Jr.

It is not a situation in which I feel Fundora is actively avoiding the younger challengers around him, but following Keith Thurman with a bout against Errol Spence Jr would be really disappointing and especially when it looks like the Champion has improved.

The only way to test that would be to test himself.

If you had stated a little under a decade ago that Deontay Wilder was travelling to London to face Derek Chisora you would have made the American a big favourite and hoped it would soon lead to a clash with Anthony Joshua.

In April 2026, both of the main event performers are considerably in decline, although it does feel like Wilder is much further gone on current form.

There is still some interest in seeing this bout with the winner likely having one more big opportunity, while the losing fighter should be hanging up the gloves.

It is part of a busy weekend of Boxing with some decent prospects and former Champions mixing things up across a number of cards in the United Kingdom and further afield.

Deontay Wilder vs Derek Chisora

Two 40 year old plus Boxers meet in a Heavyweight contest in London and it is a fight that would have meant so much at the top of the Division if it took place a number of years ago.

These days Deontay Wilder and Derek Chisora are on the final stretch of their respective careers, although the former still sounds like he harbours bigger ambitions than his opponent.

Deontay Wilder has spoken about what could come next, but Derek Chisora has openly spoken about retirement.

In a lot of cases that would mean red flags, but Chisora has regularly decided to have 'one more fight' and 'The Last Dance' was anything other than the case.

If he was to win, would you really see Derek Chisora walking away?

That is a question for another day and all eyes turn to London and see what these two fighters have left in the tank.

Make no mistake, those questions are largely geared towards Deontay Wilder who was last seen making harder than expected work of beating Tyrrell Herndon in June last year- the Seventh Round Stoppage was controversial in that Herndon still looked competitive, while Wilder had lost four of the previous five fights.

The third fight with Tyson Fury clearly took something away from Deontay Wilder who looked gun-shy in the loss to Joseph Parker before being wiped out by Zhilei Zhang. Instead of a fight with Anthony Joshua, that looked set if he had beaten Parker, The Bronze Bomber returned from a fourteen month layoff and failed to land anything serious against Parker and was beaten easily on the cards.

The Stoppage loss to Zhilei Zhang suggested his time at the top was over, but Wilder had been linked with a bout against Oleksandr Usyk and the motivation is clear- win this and he may just get the shot at the Undisputed Champion later this year.

Everything is about whether Deontay Wilder still has it in him to deliver the right hand that has brutalised so many.

Derek Chisora is in much stronger form having dropped his level since another defeat to Tyson Fury- the cards have been needed to beat Gerald Washington, Joe Joyce and Otto Wallin, but those are decent results and something that will give him confidence ahead of a meeting with this version of Deontay Wilder.

It has been seven years since Chisora last earned a Stoppage, but there is a belief that he can overwhelm Deontay Wilder with his stubbornness and willingness to push forward whenever he can. The looping shots have Knocked Down Joyce and Wallin so the power remains, but there is a danger with throwing those shots.

If, and it is a big IF, Deontay Wilder is still willing to throw his shots, the opponent in front of him looks wide open to the straight down the pipe. Timing is key, and Wilder's power can still be telling if he is able to land that shot right as Derek Chisora is looking to load up over the top.

The form is with Derek Chisora, but there is little doubt he has looked tired at times in his recent wins and those are not against someone who may yet contain the kind of power Deontay Wilder carries.

You can understand why Chisora is the favourite, but there is a nagging feeling that Deontay Wilder may yet have something left and he is a big price to put together enough of an assault to win this one to force the home favourite out before the end of this contest.

The undercard may not be the deepest, but there are a couple of British fighters looking to take the step to the very elite of their respective Divisions.

Denzel Bentley has mixed in that company before after a competitive loss to Janibek Alimkhanuly in 2022, but he suffered a big setback when losing to Nathan Heaney almost a year to the day later.

Wins over overmatched domestic opponents saw Denzel Bentley get back on the right track and his win over Brad Pauls looks all the better considering how Pauls has performed since then. The 31 year old put Brad Pauls on the floor in that win in December 2024, but it has been another significant layoff for him and Denzel Bentley cannot afford to think too far ahead.

The WBO Interim World Title is on the line after the aforementioned Alimkhanuly was suspended, although Denzel Bentley's team feel like the full World Title should be on the line.

He takes on 34 year old Endry Saavedra who has only had one fight since Denzel Bentley was last out and who is stepping up his level significantly. The Venezuelan is not Ranked by the other bodies outside of the WBO and this is a big chance for Bentley to move into a position for some big fights in a wide open Middleweight Division.

Endry Saavedra hits plenty hard, but so does Denzel Bentley and the latter can win the Title in some style.

A big opportunity has also been put together for Viddal Riley who is moving up a number of levels to see if he really does have what it takes to be a big player in the Cruiserweight Division.

He is unbeaten in thirteen fights and at 28 years old Riley wants to find out whether he has what it takes to mix with the elite of the Division.

Taking on Mateusz Masternak will give him every chance of testing that.

At 38 years old, Masternak's best days are behind him, but he has won three fights in a row since losing to Chris Billam-Smith in a WBO World Title bout in 2023. Six losses on the resume have almost exclusively been against the best opponents around and Mateusz Masternak will be well known to British fans having lost a couple of those to Billam-Smith and Tony Bellew.

This has not been lost on Viddal Riley who said he wants to outdo both of those British names, but he has also been very respectful of the fighter in front of him and his 'gatekeeper' status.

He expects to win, but Riley is well aware of how tough Masternak can be and the quality of fighter he has been.

Getting through him quicker than Chris Billam-Smith would be some statement, but an injury forced that Stoppage and the only other one on the Masternak resume came in the Eleventh Round.

He's tough and it will be difficult to break him down, especially as Viddal Riley has needed the cards in three of his last four wins as the opponent level has been lifted. The last win produced by Mateusz Masternak has to be respected considering it came in quicker style than Tony Yoka was able to produce against Joel Djeko and that kind of victory will just keep Riley focused as he tries to pick up the European Title on the cards.

The top fight of the evening takes place in London, but there is a decent card taking place in Cardiff.

Boxxer are the Promoters and this is one of the cards that they are putting together for terrestrial television in the United Kingdom.

The main event features Lauren Price as she looks to move a step closer to another big, big fight- she cannot overlook her unbeaten opponent, but the home fighter should be able to defend her hard earned World Titles.

The chief support looks really interesting as the vacant British Featherweight Title is up for grabs when Rhys Edwards faces Gully Powar.

Home advantage is with Edwards who has Boxed more Rounds and has had more fights compared with Gully Powar, but the latter was involved in the WBC Grand Prix tournament and had three bouts in 2025 compared with the single outing for Edwards.

Rhys Edwards has been involved in fights that have been closest to this Championship distance set for the British Title- he had three Ten Rounders in succession before an Eight Rounder last year and Gully Powar has only been beyond the Six Round distance once before.

It could be a telling factor, while Edwards is going to be feel he has been in with the tougher competition overall.

He will also believe he is more comfortable in the kind of atmosphere, but Powar is perhaps being underrated here.

There are questions to answer- showing off a gas tank to complete a Championship fight and Gully Powar is going to have to work hard to win on 'away' soil.

However, there were some very credible signs in the WBC Grand Prix and Gully Powar is someone who looks capable of stepping up and upsetting the odds.

Credit has to be given to Rhys Edwards for the performances he has produced at domestic level, but he may need to show some pop to keep Gully Powar from driving forward and that may allow the younger fighter to come away with an upset and the British Title to take back to the Midlands.

The long weekend in the United Kingdom means there are also a couple of cards being placed in Friday and Sunday slots.

Pat Brown entered the professional ranks with a huge amount of hype behind him and he is not taking a slow route to the top of the Cruiserweight Division.

There is a real hope that Brown will eventually campaign as a Heavyweight, but the 26 year old is focusing at the top of the Cruiserweight Division for now and is already Ranked with two of the organisations. The IBF route is perhaps the best to exploit after the World Title was stripped from Jai Opetaia, but Pat Brown has to focus on continuing his development.

All of his five professional bouts took place in 2025 and none of the last four have gone beyond the Second Round.

His opponent on Friday is ten years his senior, but Vasil Ducar is plenty experienced and the hope for Brown's team is that he can offer a different kind of resistance compared with recent opponents.

Vasil Ducar is a familiar name to British fighters having taken Chris Billam-Smith, Jordan Thompson and Cheavon Clarke all to the cards, albeit all in losing efforts.

One Stoppage is on the record and that came after ten completed Rounds against Mike Perez.

This gives Pat Brown something to aim at, but also suggests him winning by Stoppage is a very short price.

Chris Billam-Smith put Ducar down a couple of times in the middle of that Ten Round win, but it may be worth backing Pat Brown to do a little better and actually break down this opponent.

The favourite option in this fight is expecting Pat Brown to win before halfway again, but he may have to take a bit more time with an experienced campaigner and backing the British fighter to end this in the second half of the fight looks worth an interest.

Two different cards are going to take place several hours and thousand of miles apart with the first of those featuring a former World Champion out in Australia.

The timing is so a solid American audience can tune in to see Tim Tszyu who has promised a big performance ahead of a rumoured bout against Errol Spence Jr in the summer.

He had been out in December, but Tszyu was not at his best, which is perhaps not a surprise considering he had lost three of four fights prior to that outing. Getting Ten Rounds under the belt will help and he is facing another unbeaten opponent having taken that record from Anthony Velazquez.

Denis Nurja travels to Wollongong with a 20-0 record, but he has never competed at this level and looks to be coming in to give Tim Tszyu a chance to showcase his credentials.

A relatively early night is in the offing for the Australian who can make a statement for those who believe his career may be on the downward slide.

Later on Sunday, the UK will have Sky Sports returning to Boxing with a new Promoter leading the way for the channel- Jake Paul has signed a big deal with the company and that means there will be a big showcase of women's Boxing, while Zuffa Boxing have also made a deal to have their own events broadcasted on this platform.

Caroline Dubois and Terri Harper have been involved in a fiery build up ahead of this Unification main event in the Lightweight Division.

Neither has much time for the other, but Caroline Dubois is a worthy favourite.

She has shown decent pop, even while still working under the two minute per Round limit, and Dubois looks like she is on a mission to win this one in some style.

Terri Harper, like many of the women Boxers, has been up and down the Divisions, but both of her previous defeats have been in Stoppages at the hands of Alycia Baumgardner and Sandy Ryan. She has picked up this WBO World Title by ripping it away from one unbeaten fighter and then defending against another so there is some confidence, but Harper is going to have to show some resistance.

Stoppages have been harder to come by for Caroline Dubois in recent outings- none of her last seven fights have been prior to the cards being needed. However, four of those fighters have been put down and Terri Harper may not have the resilience she will need to keep Dubois from rolling through her in this main event.

MY PICKS: Deontay Wilder to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 3.25 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Denzel Bentley to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 3.60 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Gully Powar to Win @ 3.75 William Hill (1 Unit)

Pat Brown to Win Between 6-10 @ 4.33 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Tim Tszyu to Win Between 1-5 @ 3.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Caroline Dubois to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.87 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing 2026: 9-19, - 11.65 Units (45 Units Staked, - 25.89% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2026- Sebastian Fundora vs Keith Thurman (Saturday 28th March)

This weekend represents the beginning of a very busy run for those Heavyweights associated with Frank Warren and his Queensberry stable- over the next seven weeks, almost the entire Division led by Warren will be out in big fights or main events and the Heavyweight landscape could look very different at the end of that run.

A World Title will be defended, but there is plenty of intrigue around young (Moses Itauma) and older (Tyson Fury) fighters as they look to get into the mix.

Oleksandr Usyk is still the man to beat in the Division, but he is taking on an opponent that feels little more than an exhibition for the unbeaten Champion.

A bigger fiht will be expected at the end of the year and that is where the names going out over the next several weeks have to push their credentials.

Moses Itauma is headlining a solid fight card in Manchester, but there is also a significant night planned in the United States where Sebastian Fundora defends his Light Middleweight World Title against Keith Thurman.

Much like the card in Manchester, this is a fight that was delayed by an injury to the 'A' side name, but it is a solid looking card in Las Vegas and the main event is likely going to give the victorious fighter plenty of big options going forward.

The last ten months have been pretty disappointing for the Boxing Picks and that has covered the back end of 2025 into 2026.

A little bit of luck has been missing at times, but it is important to try and avoid the poor decisions which have made things a little more difficult.

Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin

Soon after making his professional debut, suggestions that Moses Itauma had targeted becoming the youngest Heavyweight World Champion of all time quickly propelled the story forwards.

In a four Belt era, that did sound a possibility if Moses Itauma could fulfil his obvious potential, but the recent investment of Saudi Arabia tied those Belts up.

Moses Itauma has also had a couple of delays in his career through injury, but there is every chance that this 21 year old can place himself pretty high on the list of youngest Heavyweight Champions later this year.

All of those plans would be ripped up if Itauma is not able to move past Jermaine Franklin, an American Heavyweight best known for losing a tight Decision to Dillian Whyte before a more straightforward defeat to Anthony Joshua on the cards.

Those two fights came in a four month period between November 2022 and April 2023, but Franklin has not really been able to build on that experience. Losing both meant some lost momentum, but it is a disappointment to note that Jermaine Franklin has fought just three times in almost three years, albeit winning all three times.

Two of those wins were against unbeaten opponents, but this is a considerable step upwards and Franklin was pretty one-paced in his win over Ivan Dychko back in September.

He has promised a war, but Jermaine Franklin cannot rely on being the faster fighter in this one and Moses Itauma has shown he can close gaps and is very comfortable letting his hands go.

Frank Warren and those around Itauma would love to see him put some Rounds in the bank before stepping up towards the very World level. None of the last nine opponents have been able to hear the bell for the Third Round and that is why they have targeted Jermaine Franklin here.

However, it also feels a good opportunity for the connections to talk up Moses Itauma even further if he can do something that former World Title Challenger Dillian Whyte and World Champion Anthony Joshua have failed to do and actually Stop this opponent.

Jermaine Franklin has shown he can roll with the shots and is solid enough to take some big shots and steer out of trouble, but doing that against someone as ruthless as Moses Itauma is a big ask.

If he shows any sign of being hurt, Moses Itauma will step on the gas and he may be able to secure his latest Stoppage a little after the first two Rounds, but before the second half of the contest is set to begin.

At 36 years old, Nathan Heaney is looking for one last run and for a second win in a row as he looks to move towards a potential British Middleweight Title bid.

He is a former British Champion, but that Title was ripped away from him by Bradley Pauls.

Nathan Heaney was Stopped in a comeback fight in February 2025, but that result was later turned into a No Contest and he is going to be well backed by his huge supporter base when returning to the Co-Op Arena in Manchester.

His opponent may not be a former British Champion, but Gerome Warburton fought for the vacant Title last year and ultimately was Stopped by Kieron Conway.

Gerome Warburton has not really fought at that level prior to the defeat to Conway and this is another tough test for him, even if Nathan Heaney is past his best.

Neither is a huge puncher and the cards may be needed for Heaney to put a win on the board that will take him closer to a fight for the British Middleweight Title, which looks about the level he will reach at this latter stage of his career.

The aforementioned Brad Pauls is also on this deep card of domestic fighters looking to push onto the next level.

The 32 year old is a former British Champion and only relinquished his Title to Denzel Bentley on the cards, but the inactivity can be a problem when facing a hungry Shakiel Thompson.

Activity is the difference between the fighters after Thompson secured three wins in 2024 and two in 2025, while there is no doubt that the height and length work in favour of the unbeaten southpaw.

It is a step up in level against a former British Champion, but Shakiel Thompson has shown his power at the domestic level and can make a big statement here.

The chief support also looks a good one between Willy Hutchinson and Ezra Taylor.

It looks like it will be a competitive fight with Taylor protecting an unbeaten record, but stepping up his level against Willy Hutchinson who has the best win on the resume when getting the better of Craig Richards.

Losses to Lennox Clarke and Joshua Buatsi perhaps highlight a limit to where Hutchinson can go in his career, but he may still have a bit too much for Ezra Taylor.

Both fighters should have their moments, but Hutchinson may do enough to nick this one on the cards.

Sebastian Fundora vs Keith Thurman

The WBC will have to make a decision about their Light Middleweight World Title sooner than later if Sebastian Fundora continues to insist that he will be targeting the big money fights rather than other Champions or his mandatories.

Those involve taking on big name veterans and there have been reports that Sebastian Fundora has already explored a fight with Errol Spence Jr, who is expecting to return after a three year layoff in the summer.

Overlooking Keith Thurman would be a mistake, but the 37 year old has been incredibly inactive and you do have to wonder what he has in the tank- at his peak, Thurman would have been a real threat with his style, but it feels like it will be much harder to execute across the full Twelve Rounds of this Title fight and especially against the relentless pressure that Sebastian Fundora will bring.

Keith Thurman has had just two fights since his 2019 defeat to Manny Pacquiao and just three Rounds since 2022- this is not ideal preparation against an awkward, active fighter like Sebastian Fundora.

Three years ago Sebastian Fundora was being KO'd by Brian Mendoza, who is on the undercard, but he has bounced back with three wins in a row- he fought twice last year, including a second win over Tim Tszyu and the momentum is going to be tough to stop.

A competitive fight is expected, at least early, but Sebastian Fundora may be able to wear down and ultimately overwhelm Keith Thurman in this main event.

A Stoppage could come from a compassionate corner or referee and that is likely after Keith Thurman has spent his gas tank, which is some time after the bell for the Seventh Round is rung.

The aforementioned Brian Mendoza is on the chief support against once beaten Yoenis Tellez- the latter is continuing his rebuild following the defeat to Abass Baraou.

Brian Mendoza is 32 years old, but he has not been active enough.

If he had been, Mendoza could be in a position to earn an upset, but the likelihood is that Yoenis Tellez will do enough to take this one on the cards.

There is plenty of action scheduled for the undercard, but the other fight that stands out is the continued development of Yoenil Hernandez who is unbeaten in nine fights and has earned eight Stoppages.

Not only does he fight in the wide open Middleweight Division, but Hernandez has already got himself a solid Ranking with a number of the organisations.

It would be a pretty big upset if veteran Terrell Gausha is able to derail Hernandez, especially having not been in the ring for twelve months.

However, Gausha is very savvy and tough and he has given opponents something to think about- he was beaten on a Split Decision by Elijah Garcia last year and was outpointed by Carlos Adames for the WBC World Title in this Division.

That toughness could see him push Yoenil Hernandez and at least force the unbeaten contender to have to lean on the scorecards for the victory.

MY PICKS: Moses Itauma to Win Between 1-5 @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Nathan Heaney to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.60 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Shakiel Thompson to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.80 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Willy Hutchinson to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.50 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Sebastian Fundora to Win Between 7-12 @ 3.00 William Hill (1 Unit)

Yoenil Hernandez to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.37 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing 2026: 7-15, - 9.97 Units (37 Units Staked, - 26.95% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2026- George Liddard vs Tyler Denny (Saturday 21st March)

More announcements are expected in relation to cards through to the middle of the 2026 season, but we are in the midst of a good run of Boxing nights.

There are intriguing fights scheduled for this weekend and we should begin to get some idea as to who is going to be the leading name in the Middleweight Division, which has been one that has been lacking a clear number one fighter for a while.

Next week we begin a run featuring the British Heavyweights who will be vying for World Titles and it remains a very good time to be a Boxing fan.

For those in the United Kingdom, the news that Zuffa Boxing have signed a deal with Sky Sports is intriguing, especially as it was stated they want to host five nights a year in the country.

Matchroom and Queensberry Promotions have to be a little concerned about that entire deal with fighters already intrigued by the idea of joining Zuffa and the strong backing of Turki Alalshikh.

This is certainly something that will be in the headlines going forward, while the place of Boxxer feels like it is behind the new kids on the block and it may actually work for Ben Shalom.

George Liddard vs Tyler Denny

With the right steps, George Liddard could be moving towards a World Title shot within the next eighteen months.

As mentioned, the top of the Middleweight Rankings feels pretty open at the moment and this is the next stage of the development of the unbeaten 23 year old.

George Liddard picked up the British Middleweight Title with a Stoppage win over Kieron Conway and he is given the chance to defend against another veteran.

Tyler Denny won't want to think of himself as a gatekeeper, but a strong run of form was ended emphatically by Hamzah Sheeraz and the 34 year old has won a couple of fights since then. He is capable of producing an upset, as he has done against the likes of Felix Cash, but you have to question how much is left in the tank eleven years after making his debut.

This does feel like a showcase fight for George Liddard who became the first fighter to Stop Kieron Conway last time out.

Nothing will come easy against a veteran like Tyler Denny, but George Liddard may have a gear or two that can overwhelm him and he can earn a Stoppage.

On the undercard, Jimmy Sains is expected to retain his English Middleweight Title, but he may not be able to add to the ten Stoppages produced in eleven previous wins against a tough, grizzled opponent.

Giorgio Visioli is also expected to retain his English Title, but he may have to settle for another victory on the cards when taking on Levi Giles.

There is also an important card run by Matchroom over in the United States this Saturday.

Carlos Adames versus Ammo Williams was supposed to have taken place on the big Teofimo Lopez-Shakur Stevenson card at the end of January, but the former had to withdraw on the eve of the contest.

Eddie Hearn promised Williams he would rearrange the fight as soon as possible and the Challenger had a comfortable Ten Round win on the night against a replacement.

Four wins in a row since losing to Hamzah Sheeraz have pushed Ammo Williams into this World Title shot, but Carlos Adames is a tough out.

The WBC Champion should have been given the nod when on the end of a Split Decision draw against the aforementioned Sheeraz, but Carlos Adames has been out of the ring for thirteen months.

That is a potential issue, but Adames has been on a good run since his lose career defeat and the feeling in January was that he would have too much power for this opponent.

He may need a bit of time to just shake off any ring rust, but Carlos Adames can go through the gears and push for a late Stoppage.

The last time Lester Martinez was in action, he did himself proud and enhanced his reputation.

One frustration was that an interim WBC Super Middleweight Title was allowed to be contested in a Ten Rounder rather than a Twelve Rounder as expected.

His team felt Martinez was well on the way to upsetting Christian Mbili, but the unbeaten fighter can make up for lost time by picking up the same strap on Saturday.

Immanuwel Aleem has shown some toughness, but he will have rarely faced someone who is as relentless and powerful as Lester Martinez and this may be a one-sided contest.

MY PICKS: George Liddard to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.72 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Carlos Adames to Win Between 7-12 @ 4.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Lester Martinez to Win Between 1-6 @ 3.25 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing 2026: 7-12, - 5.97 Units (33 Units Staked, - 18.09% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2026- James Dickens vs Anthony Cacace (Saturday 14th March)

There has been some drama out of the ring in recent weeks with the two leading British promoters finding themselves on the opposite side of the Saudi power-brokers who are now aligning with Dana White and Zuffa Boxing instead.

Politics have meant some fighters have switched promotions, while the Tyson Fury fight in April looks to be excluding Queensberry from the promotional side, despite the deal Fury seemingly had with Frank Warren and his company.

This is going to be a part of the future of the sport, at least in the immediate future, but there are some very good nights already locked in for the weeks and months ahead.

James Dickens vs Anthony Cacace

Ten months have passed since Anthony Cacace was last out in the ring and you do have to wonder if his career is not progressing as quickly as he would like.

Back in May 2025, Anthony Cacace beat Leigh Wood comprehensively, but he has not been able to build on that as he may have hoped and at 37 years old, time is not on his side.

This is an opportunity to win the WBA World Super Featherweight Title though and there should be a fine atmosphere in Dublin on Saturday night.

James Dickens has had an Indian summer in his own career after moving up to Super Featherweight and upsetting the odds to pick up a World Title. This is the first big World Title earned and James Dickens will not want to give it up easily, although it should be noted that he has been Stopped in five of the six career defeats suffered.

He will stand his ground, but Anthony Cacace is the naturally bigger fighter and he does punch much harder than the overall record may suggest.

They should gel together, which is always great news for the fans, and Anthony Cacace may pick up another World Title with a Stoppage win as he did when beating Joe Cordina in May 2024.

On the undercard, Pierce O'Leary is looking to take the next step in his development by beating veteran Maxi Hughes.

There is no doubt that Hughes has mixed in stronger company, but at 36 years old, you do have to wonder how much is left in the tank.

Maxi Hughes may have come in at short notice, but he has shown he still has a level that has proven too good for some domestic level fighters and it is up to O'Leary to prove he is better than that.

This is going to be far from easy for the home fighter, but Pierce O'Leary may have just enough to edge to a Decision on the cards.

We also have a decent card in Anaheim on Saturday evening- Oscar Callazo holds two of the four World Titles in the Minimumweight Division and he is expected to have far too much for Jesus Haro before targeting the other Champions.

Arnold Barboza Jr was last seen losing to Teofimo Lopez in the Light Welterweight Division, but can upset the odds and Kenneth Sims Jr in the move to Welterweight.

This is anything but a foregone conclusion with Sims Jr knowing a win would push his name forward for big World Title fights of his own in what is an open Division, but Arnold Barboza Jr is perhaps a little underrated and can secure the victory on the cards.

MY PICKS: Anthony Cacace to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 3.00 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Pierce O'Leary to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.75 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Oscar Callazo to Win Between 1-6 @ 2.05 William Hill (2 Units)

Arnold Barboza Jr to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.87 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing 2026: 5-10, - 6.94 Units (27 Units Staked, - 25.70% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2026- Mario Barrios vs Ryan Garcia (Saturday 21st February)

You never want to make a lot of assumptions, but there is clearly a feeling amongst those who follow Boxing that something has changed for the United Kingdom Promoters who had been in lockstep with Riyadh Season over the last couple of years.

That has meant a lot of the big fights have ended up in Saudi Arabia, but Turki Alalshikh has joined forces with Dana White and TKO to produce a new 'Boxing League' and that has perhaps meant less interest in partnering up with the likes of Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn.

The latter of those Promoters is still having some work together with the Saudis, but there seems to have been a real breakdown between Turki Alalshikh and Frank Warren.

Of course nothing has been said, but it is interesting that the WBO World Heavyweight Title will be defending in Manchester, while Callum Smith vs David Morrell heads up a card in Liverpool.

That fight and Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois are the kind of bouts that have not really been seen over in the United Kingdom over the last eighteen months and rumour will continue to swirl that all is not well between the big parties involved.

Ultimately it matters little to fans of the sport as long as the big fights are being made and there are several big cards taking place between April and May.

Before all that, we have a big fight taking place in Las Vegas this weekend when the WBC World Welterweight Title is on the line- the Division is still looking for a dominant force to come through and take over from the likes of Terence Crawford and Jaron Ennis who had been the leading names in the 147 pound Division.

And while the headliner in Nottingham is between two fighters who are perhaps past their best and the days when they won World Titles, fans have to be really excited about seeing Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington for the second time.

Two weeks ago, Britain lost a World Champion when Nick Ball was Stopped in the final Round by Brandon Figueroa and it was a missed opportunity for the Boxing Picks.

My feeling was that Figueroa might not have gotten a fair crack if the fight went to the cards, but he was someone that I wrote I would have backed in any neutral setting.

The last twelve months have been a little like that when not quite having the full conviction to follow through with a Pick and being disappointed at missing out.

2026 is still a long year and there are plenty of opportunities in front so you cannot be thinking backwards and instead have to stick to the plan and look for that to reap its own rewards.

Mario Barrios vs Ryan Garcia

There is a huge amount of controversy around Ryan Garcia- he has been Stopped by Gervonta Davis and the win over Devin Haney is massively tainted after Garcia failed a drugs test.

The last time we saw Ryan Garcia he was being dropped in the Second Round and putting in a listless performance in losing to Rolly Romero.

Of course that has been seen as good enough for the WBC to allow their Champion to fight Ryan Garcia having kept the latter in the top four of the Rankings(!)

The Welterweight Division is lacking real star power, although Devin Haney is now holding the WBO World Title and there is a natural rivalry with Garcia that can be explored further if the 27 year old is able to win the WBC World Title.

It is hard to know what to expect from Ryan Garcia who has won one of the last four fights if you consider the Devin Haney bout a No Contest.

He does feel like a fighter who has a big reputation without actually having proved he deserves that in the ring and Ryan Garcia is going to have a tough day in the office if he is not fully prepared.

However, it has long been stated that Mario Barrios may be one of the weakest World Champions in ANY Division and he has only managed to earn two Draws since being upgraded from Interim to full World Champion.

To say his run has been underwhelming would be an understatement and the last time anyone saw Mario Barrios, he had just drawn with Manny Pacquiao who had not fought in four years.

Prior to that, Mario Barrios had been given another Draw with Abel Ramos in a controversial Decision and that was against an opponent who had lost three of the previous five bouts.

So many people have thought about targeting Barrios for an 'easy' World Title bid, but he has managed to retain the support of the WBC and this will be just the third defence of this Title since October 2024.

Both fighters have come up short when they have stepped up their level and that makes the World Title clash tougher to call, but you have to feel that Ryan Garcia has the higher ceiling. He cannot afford to think he can coast to a win though and will have to put together a lot more intensity than he showed in the loss to Romero last year, while inactivity has been a real issue for both (at least Ryan Garcia had an 'excuse' of being given a ban after his failed test following the Devin Haney clash).

The winning fighter may be presented with a few opportunities, but you have to imagine most at the top of the sport would prefer that to be Ryan Garcia.

He does have the faster hands and the flashier combinations, while Mario Barrios will want to dig in and make this a rough fight.

Ryan Garcia does carry some power though and that may end up being the difference in the Championship Rounds of this World Title fight, although he needs to put together a really strong effort to impress and erase the memories of some of those recent outings.

There will be some expectation on Ryan Garcia to make a statement and perhaps push through the gears and Stop Mario Barrios, but he may have to settle in becoming World Champion thanks to the Judges.

This is a card being headed up by Riyadh Season and The Ring Magazine, which means there is a healthy looking undercard that has been put together.

Young prospect Amari Jones can continue his move up towards the top of the Middleweight Division, which could soon have a number of vacant World Titles available if Janibek Alimkhanuly is banned after failing a drugs test.

He is facing a veteran in Luis Arias who has only been Stopped once before.

However, Arias has become a fighter used to give prospects Rounds and has lost two in a row against unbeaten opponents, but taking both to the cards.

His best days are behind him and Amari Jones has shown a bit more spite than most as he has moved up the Rankings and he can become the second fighter to force a Stoppage against Luis Arias after Erickson Lubin managed that in 2023.

We should also see Bektemir Melikuziev continue his winning run as he takes a step back in level of opponent in the wide open Super Middleweight Division.

Recent outings have not been the most impressive, but Bully is facing an opponent who has been out of the ring for fifteen months and who had been Stopped very early in back to back fights before a blowout in his most recent outing.

Sena Agbeko has not been able to handle the early power and that may be the case again in this bout.

One of the intriguing undercard bouts features a returning Frank Martin who is back out just two months after ending a year long layoff.

He is now operating at the Light-Welterweight level, but he looks a very short favourite against Nahir Albright.

The underdog was only beaten by Keyshawn Davis in a Majority Decision in the Lightweight Division, but upset his brother Kelvin Davis last June. That victory was marred by a backstage scrap with the other Davis brothers, but Nahir Albright has shown he is a tough out and his style could make things very tough for The Ghost.

On paper the Gary Antuanne Russell World Title defence against Andy Hiraoka looks like an appetising support for the main event.

Combined they have suffered just one defeat between them, while thirty-seven of the forty-two combined wins have been in Stoppages.

It most definitely feels like the Champion has been in with the higher calibre of opponent, while there has to be some serious doubts about Andy Hiraoka's decision to arrive in the United States just a couple of days before the fight is due to take place.

At one point it sounded like he would not be given a Visa to travel, but the late arrival is not going to be ideal in what could develop into a really good fight.

You would not describe Gary Antuanne Russell as the most active fighter out there, but he may just outlast the Challenger and he can force the Stoppage after an entertaining battle.

Another who may earn a Stoppage in defence of his World Title is Richardson Hitchins who will be defending the IBF Light-Welterweight Title for the second time.

His Promotional team have asked Hitchins to move through the gears and impress fans by putting his shots together and the Stoppage of George Kambosos Jr in his first defence has given the Champion a real boost.

There is a dangerous opponent in front of him as Oscar Duarte Jurado is unbeaten in four fights since losing to Ryan Garcia to earn this shot.

The Mexican earned a couple of wins in 2025 to earn this opportunity, but it does feel like this is a step up compared with recent opponents and the toughest fight since he was beaten by Ryan Garcia.

In the main Richardson Hitchins has been happy to rack up the points and use the cards to remain unbeaten, but the performance against Kambosos Jr showed a bit more.

An open Division is going to be calling for Unifications soon and Hitchins will want to remind the fans of his own quality by matching the Stoppage earned by Ryan Garcia against this opponent.

Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington II

There is no love lost between these fighters, but there is also a healthy respect having shared the ring once before.

October 2023 was the first time Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington faced off and it was not the first time that Wood had seemingly been losing a fight before turning it around by displaying his huge punching power.

Josh Warrington has seemingly been haunted by the defeat and felt the referee had let him down by Stopping things right at the end of Round Seven instead of allowing him to have that minute between Rounds.

In fairness Warrington looked done in the fight having dominated, but then caught by some huge shots from the gloves of Leigh Wood.

He is the underdog in this fight back in Nottingham, although not at the City Ground as Leigh Wood would have liked, and both fighters know that this could be a career-ender for the loser.

The defeat to Wood was the second of a three fight losing run for Josh Warrington, which culminated in a defeat on the cards by Anthony Cacace- that took place in September 2024 and Warrington left his gear in the ring to suggest he was calling time on his career before surprisingly returning in 2025 and shaking off the ring rust in a Ten Round Decision win.

Leigh Wood has only had one fight since the win over Warrington and that was also a defeat to Antony Cacace, although this time it was in a Ninth Round Stoppage in May last year.

There is no doubt that both have moved past their primes, but that should mean we are in for another barnstormer with some of the punch resistance gone and the two at a similar stage in their careers.

Plenty of leather was thrown in the original bout and that ended in the Seventh Round.

The pattern is likely to be the same when Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington meet again and it would be a surprise if this one goes the distance.

It will either be Josh Warrington wearing out Leigh Wood or the latter finding another combination of big punches, but the wear and tear on both fighters at 35 and 37 years old respectively should be shown up in the ring on Saturday.

Ultimately the fans should be getting their money's worth when these two face off with neither looking like they will settle for taking a backwards step.

The chief support sees the British Light Middleweight Title on the line.

Ishmael Davis won the that Title and the Commonwealth Light Middleweight Title in a close victory over Sam Gilley in November and he has won two fights in a row having suffered three straight defeats.

Those came in contests when Davis was willing to step in on short notice, but he impressed enough to be given more opportunities and he is the favourite.

However, Bilal Fawaz has to be respected having beaten a highly touted prospect in Junaid Boston- he had to fight the youngster twice after a controversial Draw the first time around, but Fawaz deserved the Decision in the rematch and he has been signed by Matchroom, which underlines the potential they still see in a 37 year old who has been held back in his career as his immigration status has been fought out in the courts.

In another life Fawaz would have competed for Great Britain in the Olympic Games and there is some momentum in his career right now and an opportunity you feel he can grasp.

This is a tough step up and Ishmael Davis has overcome plenty of disadvantages in his own life, while also operating against a higher level of opponent.

Beating Troy Williamson is impressive and Davis certainly gave Josh Kelly and Caoimhin Agyarko real tests, which also look more impressive especially after Kelly has moved on to become a World Champion.

Both are tough, grizzled and with everything to gain and so it does feel like the Judges will be needed.

Bilal Fawaz is hugely motivated, but Ishmael Davis has shown he can do enough to win fights against this kind of level of opponent and it makes for fascinating viewing.

The undercard is littered with a number of one-sided women fights with the A side names all expected to come out on top.

There is still a real lack of depth in the women's side of the sport, which means Sandy Ryan is able to fight for a World Title just one fight removed from back to back defeats. She should be able to get a Belt back around her waist and both Molly McCann and Tiah Mai Ayton are also expected to continue their development towards the top of the Rankings with wins.

One fighter who is expected to impress is Dave Allen who returns and is expected to make short work of Karim Berredjem.

The latter is experienced and only been Stopped in three of his ten defeats, but those have come in the Fourth, Third and First Round and Allen should be able to come in and just get back to winning ways pretty quickly.

MY PICKS: Ryan Garcia to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 3.50 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Amari Jones to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.61 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Bektemir Melikuziev to Win Between 1-5 @ 1.83 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Gary Antuanne Russell to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.75 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Richardson Hitchens to Win Between 7-12 @ 10.50 William Hill (1 Unit)

Leigh Wood-Josh Warrington Fight to Go Distance- No @ 2.10 Bet Fred (2 Units)

David Allen to Win Between 1-3 @ 2.00 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Boxing 2026: 2-7, - 6.66 Units (16 Units Staked, - 41.63% Yield)