Teen Heavyweight sensation Daniel Dubois will fight for his first professional title in only his fourth fight when he takes on Mexico’s Julian Fernandez for the Vacant WBC World Youth Heavyweight strap at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday 8th July, live on BT Sport and BoxNation.
Dubois made a sensational start to his professional career by demolishing Marcus Kelly in just 35 seconds at the Manchester Arena. The Peacock Gym giant then blasted out former Olympian and Commonwealth Games Bronze Medallist Blaise Mendouo at the Leicester Arena before racking up another devastating first round KO against Dave Howe at the Copper Box Arena.
Undefeated Fernandez has raced to five professional wins since turning professional at the end on 2016. Three of his wins have come via knockout and the man from Tijuana has racked up eleven rounds, compared to 19-year-old Dubois' four rounds.
“I'm coming for all of the belts,” said Dubois. “I have a chance to make a big statement by winning my first professional title in only fourth fight. Fernandez is another opponent with an unbeaten record and will be coming over here determined to win the belt.
"Looking at the current Heavyweight scene, I know I can go out there and make my mark. Winning the WBC World Youth strap will prove that I am one of the very best Heavyweight prospects in the World.
"This has been planned since I was five years old and it really has gone to plan. I’m working hard towards being the best the I can possibly be and I’m feeling good. I've worked very hard on my physical strength and that's showing now.
"I've heard it has been very difficult finding me an opponent. Not a lot of guys want to get in the ring with me, I must be doing something right! There is still a long way to go, but I believe I will be number one in the World some day soon."
Promoter Frank Warren said: "Daniel is one of the best, if not the best, young Heavyweight prospects in the World today. The fact that he is fighting for his first professional title in only his fourth fight tells you everything you need to know about his talent and determination.
"This is only the beginning of a long and exciting journey for Daniel and I am confident Saturday's belt will be the first of many. There is a huge buzz around him at the moment and I think the fans will be in for another treat on Saturday."
Elsewhere on the card Bradley Skeete has the chance to win his British Welterweight strap outright against Dale Evans; Light-Heavyweight monster Anthony Yarde challenges Richard Baranyi for the WBO European belt; Darryll Williams and Jahmaine Smyle rematch for the English Super-Middleweight belt after their Fight of the Year contender in April; Sam McNess gets his first pro title shot against Southern Area Super-Welterweight Champion Asinia Byfield and undefeated Heavyweight Hughie Fury makes his eagerly-awaited return.
Sam McNess is out to prove he is no daddy’s boy by hammering “deluded” rival Asinia Byfield on ‘The Future Is Now’ bill at London’s Copper Box Arena on Saturday night.
The West Ham nut will be bidding to rip the Southern Area Super-Welterweight title from the Champion, just steps from his beloved club’s home ground.
Reading’s Byfield has riled undefeated McNess by claiming his challenger is getting the hype because of his dad, Steve, a former top amateur and then a professional.
Angry McNess said: “I read an article with him saying that I had been fed a silver spoon on the tail of my dad. Byfield’s deluded to be honest.
“I am not being fed from a silver spoon. I earned my way onto these shows because I had a long, successful amateur career.
“I deserve to be boxing on these big Frank Warren shows.
“I respected everything my dad did, but I am fighting for a professional title and he never fought for one so I am not trading on what he did.
“I used to be frustrated over it when I was a young boy. I would read the local newspaper and it would say, ‘following in Steve’s footsteps’, but I’m on my own journey.
“I like them mentioning dad because a lot of people tell me he was a good fighter, but after this fight people wont keep bringing dad up.”
McNess, 25, has had just seven professional fights and insists it is no gamble by contesting a title so early in his career.
McNess explained: “We were offered the fight, my trainer Mark Tibbs had a little look at Byfield and was confident I would win.
“I’ve been fighting a lot of journeymen, but I want a test. Someone who is there to win because that will bring the best out of me.
“I haven’t shown what I am about, but Byfield will come to win so you will see the best of me. I am confident in my ability and that I will do a good job on Saturday night."
Elsewhere on the card Bradley Skeete has the chance to win his British Welterweight strap outright against Dale Evans; Light-Heavyweight monster Anthony Yarde challenges Richard Baranyi for the WBO European belt; Darryll Williams and Jahmaine Smyle rematch for the English Super-Middleweight belt after their Fight of the Year contender in April; undefeated Heavyweight Hughie Fury makes his eagerly-awaited return and teenage Heavyweight sensation Daniel Dubois looks to move to 4-0.
Underdog Richard Thomas (5-1) upset the odds to stop favourite Daniel Slaney (8-2-1) in the sixth round of their Central Area title clash on June 10th at Doncaster Dome on a Stefy Bull Promotions show.
It was a local derby with Slaney, 32, from Harworth and Bircotes and Thomas, 31, living in the village just next door called Tickhill.
It was Thomas who threw the fight’s first meaningful punches, starting with the jab to find his range in the opening seconds, he then threw a right to the body to set up a left-right combination that rocked Slaney off balance into the corner where he held on for dear life for the following 20 seconds. He recovered but spent the remainder of what was a long round for him holding on, stunned.
Thomas was the livelier and more aggressive of the two from the opening bell, forcing the action. He rocked Slaney’s head this way and that with straight left and rights to the head. The southpaw was not fully recovered from the right hand that previously stunned him and could only return fire with his back to the ropes, but landed a lovely left hand at the midway mark that almost took Thomas’s head off, but it was just one successful shot compared to his opponent’s many, who out-landed him at least five to one in the opener.
Slaney finished the round with some good inside work, managing to land the left uppercut repeatedly during clinches, but only in the final 20 seconds when it was all too little too late.
Slaney bucked his ideas up in the second segment and took the fight to Thomas. The three minutes were largely spent in holds which suited Slaney more. However, it was an even round, neither fighter giving up any ground.
Incentivised, Slaney began the third round by being the first to the punch, much sharper and quicker on his toes than before, committing to combinations for the first time in the fight. He also outboxed Thomas on the inside, who was looking for the one big shot again. He found it on the midway mark with a jaw-breaking overhand right that Slaney took well.
A laboured right hook that swiped the air above Slaney’s ducked head in the final 10 seconds would certainly have awarded Thomas a ticking off in the corner in-between rounds.
In a seemingly even fourth round, Slaney threw successful one-twos but caught a rocking right hand in return on the midway mark that clearly got him in trouble. Thomas sensed his opponent was hurt so steamed in to capitalise but the southpaw recovered well and stood his ground, fighting fire with fire.
The scorecards were relatively even going into the fifth section. Slaney tried to adopt his jab more to keep Thomas away and was the busiest of the pair in the first half of the round. His inside work was also better than Thomas’s but, once again, got caught flush and looked hurt. Thomas, with a clever feint, landed a strong jab to snap Slaney’s head back with one minute of the round remaining. Despite being the most telling punch of the round, it still wasn’t enough to swing it completely his way.
Slaney started the sixth round as the more energetic and livelier boxer, bouncing around on his toes until a short right hand from Thomas during an exchange sent him crashing through the ropes.
He looked unsteady on his feet as he took the eight-count from referee John Latham but immediately put up his gloves ready to continue.
Slaney attempted to hold on to recover his senses but a left hook that brushed the back of his head and a follow up right hand on the chin left him staggering around the ring on shaky legs, resulting in the official giving a standing eight-count and consequently calling an early end to the fight when not convinced he could continue, with 1:31 on the clock in the sixth round.
Slaney always appeared to be surviving for large parts of the scheduled 10-round contest despite having the ability to outbox his counterpart but Thomas had the power – moving up to three KO’s from five victories – and the far better game plan on the night to win the fight.
Manager Joe Elfidh commented, “They underestimated him and he gave it his all. So many people told me, naming no names, that he didn’t have a chance of winning that title, and I don’t know if anyone has ever won an Area title in their sixth fight before.
“He was in the away corner but sold a few tickets anyway, being a Doncaster boy. He’s a pleasure to work with and I don’t think anyone from Tickhill has ever achieved this before.
“He’s hardworking in the gym and never says no to any fight, he’s not bothered about boxing in the away corner, he’s so naturally heavy-handed with both hands.
What’s next for Richard is that he likes being up against it so we’ll look for a big name next.”