This Saturday’s Joshua vs Molina headliner will be accompanied by an array of British talent at the Manchester Arena, England. Let’s jump straight in and see what’s ahead on this Matchroom Boxing card set to air live on Sky Sports Box Office and Showtime.
Joshua vs Molina: Full Undercard
Luis Concepcion vs Khalid Yafai
WBA Junior Bantamweight Championship, 12 rounds
Concepcion:
Record: 35-4, 24 KO … Birthplace: Panama … Age: 31 … Height/Reach: 5’ 2”/63” … Stance: Orthodox … BB Ranking: No.5 … Last 5: 4-1, 2 KO … Latest Bout: Kohei Kono (UD 12) … Notable Bouts: Kohei Kono (UD 12), Hernan Marquez (UD 12), David Sanchez (RTD 10), Carlos Cuadras (LOSS: UD 12), Carlos Fontes (TD 9)
Yafai:
Record: 20-0, 14 KO … Birthplace: UK … Age: 27 … Height/Reach: 5’ 4″/Unobtainable … Stance: Orthodox … BB Ranking: No.6 … Last 5: 5-0, 4 KO … Latest Bout: Johnson Tellez (KO 3) … Notable Bouts: Jason Cunningham (UD 12)
This is a major step up for Khalid Yafai as he looks to dethrone a serious threat in newly-crowned WBA champion Luis Concepcion. It’s not an impossible task, but one that will certainly require the very best Yafai to turn up. Concepcion has great experience at world level, and has come a long way since being stopped twice by Hernan Marquez at Flyweight in 2011.
He rebuilt at Junior Bantamweight, giving then-WBC champ Carlos Cuadras a good scrap in 2015 before rematching and outpointing the aforementioned Marquez in December. Concepcion’s latest victory is an impressive upset of WBA titlist Kohei Kono, obviously telling us this guy can really fight. Concepcion’s seen a great deal in boxing, and now with that elusive world accolade finally at his waist, won’t be keen on losing it anytime soon.
So how can Yafai conquer a guy like Concepcion? Well, like I said, it’s a big ask. Yafai is four-years younger at 27, has a two-inch height advantage, and won’t be carrying the attrition of any hard wars like his opponent might be. It’s something, at least. But the records of these guys, that all important experience at top-level, seems to be key here. Concepcion was trading with world champ Kohei Kono in his last outing, while Yafai was playing with a 9-27-5 Johnson Tellez. But whatever. I could be seriously wrong, and hope I am. Let’s hope all this means nothing and that we’re in for a good scrap.
Hosea Burton vs Frank Buglioni
British Light Heavyweight Championship, 12 rounds
Burton:
Record: 18-0, 9 KO … Birthplace: UK … Age: 28 … Height/Reach: 6’ 4”/Unobtainable … Stance: Orthodox … BB Ranking: Unranked … Last 5: 5-0, 4 KO … Latest Bout: Fernando Castaneda (TKO 3) … Notable Bouts: Miles Shinkwin (TKO 6)
Buglioni:
Record: 18-2-1, 14 KO … Birthplace: UK … Age: 27 … Height/Reach: 6’ 1”/Unobtainable … Stance: Orthodox … BB Ranking: Unranked … Last 5: 3-1-1, 3 KO … Latest Bout: Olegs Fedotovs (TKO 1) … Notable Bouts: Fedor Chudinov (LOSS: UD 12), Lee Markham (DRAW 10)
If a good Frank Buglioni shows up, this could be one of the best matchups of the evening. On paper, these guys stack up pretty well against one another, with the more experienced Buglioni taking on a decent-looking prospect in Hosea Burton. Right now, we don’t know an awful lot about Burton, simply because he’s not had to deal with any real challenges to date. But we do know that, at 6’ 4”, he’ll be the taller man by three inches.
As for Buglioni, we know a great deal more. He’s a failed prospect in many ways, but has a big fighting heart. It’s also very easy to forget the man is still only 27-years-old, which actually makes him a few months younger than Burton (do with that what you will). Anyway, Buglioni may be considered a underachiever by many right now, but his gutsy performance against then-WBA champ Fedor Chudinov last September was an inspirational crowd-pleaser. Buglioni lost big, sure, but his resolve and bravery earned him a ton of respect.
Things are on the up for Burton at the moment, but he shouldn’t go overlooking Buglioni. In fact, that would be incredibly unwise. This will be his first 12-rounder against the best opponent he has faced to date, after all. Here’s hoping it’s a cracker.
Callum Smith vs Luke Blackledge
British Super Middleweight Championship, 12 rounds
Smith:
Record: 21-0, 16 KO … Birthplace: UK … Age: 26 … Height/Reach: 6′ 3″/Unobtainable … Stance: Orthodox … BB Ranking: No.6 … Last 5: 5-0, 4 KO … Latest Bout: Norbert Nemesapati (RTD 6) … Notable Bouts: Hadillah Mohoumadi (TKO 1), Rocky Fielding (TKO 1), Christopher Rebrasse (UD 12)
Blackledge:
Record: 22-2-2, 7 KO … Birthplace: UK … Age: 26 … Height/Reach: Unobtainable … Stance: Orthodox … BB Ranking: Unranked … Last 5: 5-0, 1 KO … Latest Bout: Elvis Dube (PTS 6) … Notable Bouts: Liam Cameron (UD 12), Lee Markham (UD 12)
Callum Smith is a quality operator, often credited for an all business style that is never rushed. There’s as much brains as brawn in this guy, and that is usually enough to satisfy just about every boxing fan’s appetite. But 2017 has been a dull year for Smith’s career, with not a lot of momentum. A real shame considering his potential. Smith has been dominant in his three outings, scoring an impressive 1st round drumming of Hadillah Mohoumadi in April, but that’s been the only talking point.
Saturday night’s affair will see the British Super Middleweight title on the line. And with that in mind, it almost seems like a credible matchup. Except it’s not. While that title may look pretty on the mantelpiece, Smith is miles above domestic level at this point. He has already captured that accolade once – after annihilating domestic rival Rocky Fielding last November – and has even gone on to capture the European and WBC Silver varieties. You know, the fluffy but apparently better straps.
Anyway, while Blackledge is no tomato can, this looks like another showcase affair for Smith. It’s all about levels once again, and that’s not harsh either, considering Blackledge had to suffer a knockdown before outpointing a 7-52-2 Elvis Dube in October. On a positive note, with this matchup taking place on the mass-exposure Joshua vs Molina card, Smith should be going places in 2017.
Dillian Whyte vs Dereck Chisora
British Heavyweight Championship, 12 rounds
Whyte:
Record: 19-1, 15 KO … Birthplace: Jamaica … Age: 28 … Height/Reach: 6’ 4”/78” … Stance: Orthodox … BB Ranking: Unranked … Last 5: 4-1, 3 KO … Latest Bout: David Allen (UD 10) … Notable Bouts: Ian Lewison (RTD 10), David Allen (UD 10), Anthony Joshua (LOSS: TKO 5), Brian Minto (TKO 3)
Chisora:
Record: 26-6, 18 KO … Birthplace: Zimbabwe … Age: 32 … Height/Reach: 6’ 2/74” … Stance: Orthodox … BB Ranking: Unranked … Last 5: 4-1, 4 KO … Latest Bout: Drazan Janjanin (KO 2) … Notable Bouts: Tyson Fury (UD 12), Robert Helenius (LOSS: SD 12), Vitali Klitschko (LOSS: UD 12), Malik Scott (TKO 6), Kevin Johnson (UD 12)
This could well be the last we see of Dereck Chisora in the top end of a marquee card. ‘Del Boy’, who’s been on a steady decline since a overachieving distance defeat to Vitali Klitschko in 2012, seems destined to hang around the domestic and fringe international scene until the gloves finally come off. And he’ll be considered a legitimate gatekeeper-type if he loses to Dillian Whyte. Then there’s the argument that, actually, he already is one.
Whyte isn’t a blue chip prospect by any means, but he’s the superior boxer in every department. That really shouldn’t be up for debate. He’s also the heavier-handed man, and has a two-inch height and four-inch reach advantage on his side. Let’s also remember, at 28-years-old, Whyte is still young enough to carve out what could be a colourful career despite a crushing defeat against Anthony Joshua last December.
Chisora has the more experience, granted. But that seems irrelevant since every defeat on his slate came against elite opposition (David Haye, Vitali Klitschko, Tyson Fury), good (Kubrat Pulev), and even plain decent (Robert Helenius). Going in, Whyte is coming off a British title stoppage of Ian Lewison in October, and Chisora a wipeout of listless Drazan Janjanin in September. The Joshua vs Molina card holds lofty exposure for these guys, so the pressure is on, and for the seasoned Chisora in particular.
Scott Quigg vs Jose Cayetano
Featherweight, 12 rounds
Quigg:
Record: 31-1-2, 23 KO … Birthplace: UK … Age: 28 … Height/Reach: 5’ 8”/Unobtainable … Stance: Orthodox … BB Ranking: No.2 (122 lbs) … Last 5: 4-1, 3 KO … Latest Bout: Carl Frampton (LOSS: SD 12) … Notable Bouts: Carl Frampton (LOSS: SD 12), Kiko Martinez (TKO 2), Hidenori Otake (UD 12), Stephane Jamoye (TKO 3), Tshifhiwa Munyai (TKO 2)
Cayetano:
Record: 20-4, 9 KO … Birthplace: Mexico … Age: 29 … Height/Reach: 5’ 5”/66” … Stance: Orthodox … BB Ranking: Unranked … Last 5: 3-2, 1 KO … Latest Bout: Alexis Santiago (UD 10) … Notable Bouts: Alexis Santiago (UD 10), Felipe Orcuta (RTD 6)
In an ideal world, an immensely talented former world champion like Scott Quigg shouldn’t be fighting this early on an undercard. On the flip side, you could argue that Quigg’s name has fizzled out somewhat due to a nine-month layoff (brought on by a broken jaw suffered during February’s Carl Frampton matchup). So, maybe Eddie Hearn has his reasons.
The important thing is that Quigg will be back in the ring, this time following Frampton’s latest move by climbing up to Featherweight. Quigg’s return against Jose Cayetano isn’t actually a bad matchup, considering his absence and serious injuries. Cayetano doesn’t stand out in any particular area – he’ll also give away three inches in height – but he can fight, and could be a tough assignment if Quigg isn’t on good form.
It looks like a decent comeback outing. And if Quigg’s chilling pre-fight staredown and gnarly, ferocious style is still in town, the Featherweight division will become a whole lot more interesting overnight.
Luis Ortiz vs David Allen
Heavyweight, 8 rounds
Ortiz:
Record: 26-0, 22 KO … Birthplace: Cuba … Age: 37 … Height/Reach: 6’ 4”/84” … Stance: Southpaw … BB Ranking: No.6 … Last 5: 5-0, 4 KO … Latest Bout: Malik Scott (UD 12) … Notable Bouts: Tony Thompson (KO 6), Bryant Jennings (TKO 7)
Allen:
Record: 9-1-1, 6 KO … Birthplace: UK … Age: 24 … Height/Reach: 6’ 3”/Unobtainable … Stance: Orthodox … BB Ranking: Unranked … Last 5: 4-1, 3 KO … Latest Bout: Dillian Whyte (LOSS: UD 10) … Notable Bouts: Dillian Whyte (LOSS: UD 10), Jason Gavern (RTD 4)
It’s not surprising to see Luis Ortiz on the lower end of the Joshua vs Molina card, but it is startling to imagine David Allen in the other corner. Both men fight under Matchroom, but there’s a gulf between them in way of ability. Ortiz, a soaring Heavyweight Top 10 destroyer, is ready to challenge for a world title, so why are Matchroom feeding ‘King Kong’ their very own prospect Allen?
Well, there’s a few possible answers. Perhaps Matchroom have already written off Allen? That sounds harsh given Allen is yet to clock up a dozen pro fights, but it’s true that he looked totally unremarkable en route to getting owned by Dillian Whyte in July. Or, perhaps this is Allen seizing a big opportunity simply because it’s there? Maybe Allen really does believe he can beat Ortiz? If he genuinely does, then fair enough. Bring it, Allen.
Unfortunately all signs point to an absolute slaughter right now, however. That’s the reality. And it’s one of those bouts my eyes might not forgive me for watching for some time. Because, come on, it just feels like a nasty, nasty mismatch in every sense. But there’s something positive that could come out of Ortiz vs Allen: it should be eventful enough to erase Ortiz’s recent snooze-fest with Malik Scott from our memories.
Also on the Joshua vs Molina Undercard:
- Katie Taylor (1-0, 1 KO), who made her explosive Featherweight debut a couple of weeks back, will be in another 6-rounder, this time taking a surprisingly steep step up against Viviane Obenauf (9-1, 4 KO)
- Middleweight prospect Marcus Morrison (13-0, 10 KO) will be hoping to extend his unbeaten run as he takes on journeyman Harry Matthews (14-21-2, 2 KO) in a 6-rounder
- Conor Benn (5-0, 3 KO) will be kicking off the evening’s televised action, taking on Josh Thorne (1-5-1, 0 KO) in a Junior Welterweight 4-rounder
So there it is. The Joshua vs Molina card is pretty stacked, but what are your picks for fight night? Will the A-sides be triumphant, or are there some cloaked spoilers lurking, ready to spring an upset or two?
