Callum Johnson: record, next fight and profile →
Beterbiev, Johnson Press Conference Photos Gallery - Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing USA are delighted to confirm the line-up for the first American show live on DAZN at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago on October 6. (photos by Ed Mulholland).
World-rated Welterweight and former two-weight World champion Jessie Vargas headlines the bill as he targets World honours in a third weigh class, and Vargas’ journey to that goal starts against former World Super-Lightweight World title challenger Thomas Dulorme, the Puerto Rican looking to derail the Las Vegas man’s ambitions at 147lbs.
Frank Buglioni (21-3-1, 15 KOs) is ready to show his character and mettle once again. The 29-year-old Londoner nicknamed ‘Wise Guy’, returns to the ring this Saturday night on the Dillian Whyte-Joseph Parker card four months on since losing his British light heavyweight title.
Light heavyweight contender Callum Johnson (17-0) was in Las Vegas this weekend to support Liam Smith who lost a hard fought decision to WBO super welterweight champion Jaime Munguia at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
There was string of announcements at the Tuesday's press conference to reveal various aspects connected to Perform Group's DAZN streaming service, which signed a multi-year deal with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom USA. Hearn has entered into several multi-fight deals with numerous fighters who will appear on the service in the upcoming months.
The fictional Rocky, like Boston light-heavyweight Callum Johnson, was an underdog and one of his greatest challenges was to take on a machine from the Eastern Bloc who was deemed an unbeatable destroyer.
Callum Johnson has been through too much over the last couple of years to be concerned about who stands across from him in a boxing ring. His father, Paul, passed away in February 2016 and with that Johnson would lose a man who he described as his “best friend” and “hero”. Speaking, at the time, to his local newspaper the Boston Standard, Johnson said: “I felt like I could jump out of a plane without a parachute on and he would catch me.”
In the coming months, British champion Callum Johnson (17-0, 12 KOs) will get the biggest challenge of his entire career, when he faces IBF light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev (12-0, 12 KOs). Inactivity could be an issue in the contest. Johnson has only fought one round since September of 2016.
Eddie Hearn had more pressing, Anthony Joshua-related business to address to Tuesday, but that didn’t stop him from announcing another title fight. Hearn revealed through his Twitter account that he has reached an agreement for British contender Callum Johnson (17-0, 12 KOs) to challenge IBF light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (12-0, 12 KOs). According to Hearn, whose company promotes Johnson, their fight for Beterbiev’s 175-pound championship will take place October 6 at an undetermined location in the United States.
Promoter Yvon Michel of GYM is a busy man these days. The Canadian promoter is currently in discussions for several potential showdowns in the near future. Michel has revealed that NABF heavyweight champion Oscar "Kaboom" Rivas (24-0, 17 KOs) has received an offer to face former world title challenger Bryant Jennings (23-2, 13 KOs), ranked #8 by the WBO and #13 by the WBA.