Sky Sports and Matchroom’s boxing season will draw to a short close this Saturday headlined by Josh Warrington vs Patrick Hyland, with the boxing then commencing again in the UK in September.
Josh Warrington vs Patrick Hyland will end the season and boxing will be buzzing at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, as Josh Warrington once again leads his army another step closer to a world championship.
Warrington 23-0(4KO’s) will defend his WBC International Featherweight title against the experienced fringe world class campaigner Patrick Hyland 31-2(15KO’s).
The 32-year old Dubliner is fresh off a 2nd round stoppage defeat. But if that is meant to give Warrington confidence, it probably won’t.
The sound defeat came at the hands of the ruler of the Featherweight division – that is thanks to Vasyl Lomachenko moving up to Super Featherweight – Gary Russell Jr.
The exceptionally talented and hard hitting Russell Jr walked through Hyland in style, but Hyland was able to walk out of Foxwoods Resort with his chin held high – although I’m sure it was aching after the flush shots he took from the American.
Hyland’s only other defeat came at the highest level too. He lost a competitive fight with puncher Javier Fortuna. At the time Fortuna was on the rise and many saw him walking through Hyland.
However, it was a competitive 12 rounder against the now former WBA champion – having lost his title last month in China.
Warrington’s rise has been well documented, following a career-first knockout live on Sky Sports against Samir Mouneimne. Since then his fan base in Leeds has shot up and he has become must see TV – and must see live for the people of Yorkshire.
But his last three contests have all gone the distance, and he will have to do the same to come away with victory on Saturday night.
(Fight promo video via Matchroom Sport YouTube)
Hyland will be competitive from start to finish, but the busier Warrington will do just enough to narrowly edge out Hyland in what could turn out to be a British Fight of the Year candidate.
The rest of the card is stacked, including Luke Campbell’s meeting with former world champion Argenis Mendez 23-4-1(12KO’s).
Campbell 13-1(11KO’s) jumps straight back into the deep end after last year’s defeat to Yvan Mendy. But a convincing stoppage of Gary Sykes has put the Olympic Gold Medallist right back to where he wanted to be.
On paper Mendez is the toughest opponent of Luke’s career, but a recent stoppage at the hands of the impressive prospect that is Robert Easter Jr may just have given us a glimpse as to what we can expect on Saturday night.
Mendez was in the contest early, but the long-limbed and hard-hitting Easter made an impressive statement with a 5th round knockout.
Mendez’s best days came at Super Featherweight and there is a chance that Campbell may force a stoppage, but the safe bet is to say that Campbell is taken the distance in a dominant win.
Tyrone Nurse 33-2-1(7KO’s) may finally be on the path to a much deserved breakthrough. The British Light Welterweight ruler can make a statement against the smaller but durable Tommy Coyle 22-3(10KO’s).
Nurse managed to cut-up and break down Willie Limond in May and he may force another late stoppage over Coyle in a highly entertaining match-up.
Coyle will attempt to get on the chest of Nurse, who on many occasions has allowed his shorter opponents on the inside.
But following on from a career-best performance Nurse looks in form and he should be just too hot to handle for the Hull fighter. Nurse wins the battle of Yorkshire with a stoppage between rounds 9-11.
The durable Josh Wale 20-8-2(11KO’s) can push newly crowned Commonwealth Super Bantamweight champion, Gamal Yafai the full 12 rounds.
Yafai 9-0(4KO’s) went toe-to-toe with Bobby Jenkinson in March before forcing the finish in 7 rounds. Jenkinson is an all-action fighter, while Wale will prove much harder to break down.
Wale’s experience will see him through some rough patches while he can also teach Yafai a few lessons on the inside.
Dillian Whyte 17-1(14KO’s) has let emotions get the better of him ahead of another grudge match, this time against the confident David Allen 9-0-1(6KO’s).
Both are heavy hitters and both have looked lethargic in recent victories. But it will be the experience and durability of Whyte that should win out in a hard-hitting affair.
Both will start cautiously, but it will be Whyte to put his foot on the gas first, before getting rid of Allen in the later stages of the vacant WBC International Heavyweight title fight.
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