WITH BEING OUT of action for a couple of weeks across the New Year period I am little late in jumping on the 2021 boxing bandwagon when it comes to making my personal wish – or To Do – list for the year ahead.
The first major fight of 2021 for Queensberry Promotions is one where the company is hardly guaranteed to leave with a world champion under its banner. Jamel Herring will cross the Atlantic to defend his junior lightweight title versus former two-division champ Carl Frampton atop a BT Sport-aired event taking place Feb. 27 at a location to be determined in London. The oft-postponed title clash will mark the first ring appearance for both fighters since separate showcase fights last summer.
Frank Warren, co-promoter for WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, is confident Oleksandr Usyk will not prevent a unification showdown with IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. The handlers for Fury and Joshua are in serious negotiations to finalize a two-fight series.
FIRST THINGS FIRST, a belated Happy New Year to you all. Some of you may have heard from a couple of interviews I did on Monday that I saw in 2021 from the confines of the Lister Hospital in Stevenage, having been struck down by Covid-19 just after Christmas.
FRENCH Amateur great Sofiane Oumiha has signed a long-term promotional deal with Queensberry, with his professional journey due to begin with Queensberry Poland. During his run to the Olympic final in 2016 he defeated the current unified World Lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez - the last time the American lost. Although British fans will eventually see the 2017 World Amateur champion in action, Oumiha will box exclusively on Queensberry Poland shows early in his professional career.
The only direction is forward for Joe Joyce. On the heels of a career-best 10th round knockout of Daniel Dubois last November, the 35-year old Joyce (12-0, 11KOs) is now being groomed for the title stage in 2021. An aggressive schedule is already being planned by promoter Frank Warren, beginning with a potential clash with unbeaten former World cruiserweight king Oleksandr Usyk (18-0, 13KOs).
Frank Warren, promoter for Olympic silver medal winner Joe Joyce, reveals that there are ongoing discussions to make a fight with Oleksandr Usyk - in what would be a clash for the interim-WBO heavyweight title. Usyk is the mandatory challenger to the WBO title. Joyce is sitting in the number 2 position within the WBO's rankings.
German super middleweight Leon Bauer (17-0-1) has pulled out of the fight for the vacant EBU title against Giovanni De Carolis (28-9-1). The date was February 20 in Rome. Buccione Boxing Team were the sole bidders for the fight and the offer was for 28,600 Euro and that may have something to do with Bauer pulling out.
JOE JOYCE AND Lyndon Arthur succeeded in turbo-charging their prospects for 2021 and it is my intention for opportunity to knock loudly for a good few more in the year to come. Forget the form guide, the highlight reels and the hype. The only way to truly discover who is ready to make the next big move is to put the front runners in together and let the best of the crop fight the best.
Frank Warren, co-promoter of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, is not expecting a fire-fight when Anthony Joshua steps in the ring with Kubrat Pulev. Joshua will defend the WBO, IBF, IBO, WBA heavyweight titles against Pulev on Saturday night at SSE Arena at Wembley.