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Frank Warren has one eye on the future, despite making a lightweight world title clash between two of his own fighters. The promoter revealed that he has sent an offer of £500,000 to WBA lightweight champion Anthony Crolla.
Luke Keeler will return to the ring, live on Sky Sports, in the New Year. The Dublin middleweight, who has just one defeat on his 10-fight professional ledger, with five early finishes, will feature on the undercard of George Groves’ comeback on January 30. Keeler will box an opponent to be confirmed at the Copper Box Arena in only his second display since returning from a hand injury suffered in Prizefighter, the tournament in which he was a semi-finalist, in February.
Peter McDonagh has had his next fight date confirmed. The three-time Irish champion, who has won the national crown at lightweight, super lightweight and welterweight, will return to the ring at the scene of his last victory. McDonagh (25-28-1, 3 KOs) outpointed Dean Byrne to claim the welterweight version of the belt in their fight at the National Stadium in Dublin last month.
John Ryder has been handed the chance to claim a fringe title in his next fight. The Islington middleweight, 27, was made aware of his next outing earlier this week and it has now been confirmed that the crunch clash is for a belt. Ryder (21-2, 12 KOs) will come up against Sergey Khomitsky at the Copper Box Arena on January 30, live on Sky Sports, and the fight –– which will be for the vacant WBA International strap –– comes just eight months after he suffered his second defeat and only three after he got back to winning ways at York Hall.
Joe Selkirk is set to return from an eight-month injury layoff before the end of the year. The former WBO European super welterweight champion has been out of action since a stoppage victory over Yuri Pompilio in April at Liverpool’s ECHO Arena. Selkirk, 13-0 (7), suffered a hand injury in that fight and has had surgery on it to repair the long-standing problem, but is now scheduled to return, live and exclusive on BoxNation.
Andrew Selby has been handed a date for his next professional outing. The former Team GB amateur star (2-0, 2 KOs) has made a storming start to his ledger in the paid code, with a four-round stoppage of Haji Juma in Newport on his debut before ending the challenge of previously undefeated Jozsef Ajtai inside two rounds on November 14.
Billy Joe Saunders has signed a new managerial deal ahead of his next fight. The Hatfield middleweight, who is set to challenge for a world title in just over a fortnight, agreed terms on a three-year contract with Daniel Kinahan. Saunders, 26, will challenge Andy Lee for his WBO middleweight title on December 19 at Manchester Arena, live and exclusive on BoxNation, but is now part of the ever-growing MGM Marbella team.
Stephen Smith will challenge for a world title in the New Year. The Liverpool super featherweight is set to come up against José Pedraza for the IBF title after it was revealed that terms for the fight have been agreed. Smith demolished Italy’s Devis Boschiero inside five rounds back in September at the Olympia in his home city in a final eliminator. Promoter of the 30-year-old (23-1, 13 KOs), Eddie Hearn, confirmed that plans were underway for a third of the four fighting siblings to vie for the ultimate honour.
Tyson Fury refused to eat –– or even drink –– in the wake of his finest win to date. The newly crowned heavyweight champion of the world revealed that he didn’t take a sip of water after his 12-round points victory over Wladimir Klitschko last Saturday. Fury, 27, claimed the IBO, WBA Super, WBO Super and IBF titles after being awarded an unanimous decision at the ESPRIT Arena in Düsseldorf, but said that he left the venue dehydrated through fear of his post-fight drugs test being sabotaged.
Steve Wood revealed that the future plans in Terry Flanagan’s career played a part in the location of his next fight. The VIP Promotions boss, who manages the career of the world champion alongside promoter Frank Warren, has admitted that there was an ulterior motive behind the decision to fight in Liverpool.