Nathan Heaney 18-0 (6) v Brad Pauls 18-1 (10)
British Middleweight Title
One of the most talked-about moments in British boxing in 2023 was when Nathan Heaney shocked Denzel Bentley to claim the British title in Manchester last November.
After the match, Richie Woodhall told TNT Sport viewers, “Nobody expected him (Heaney) to even reach the last round, let alone win the fight.”
Heaney secured a well-deserved majority points victory and is now set to defend his title against Brad Pauls, also known as ‘The Newquay Bomb’, a 30-year-old fighter.
Pauls, known for his punching power, proved too strong for Mitchell Frearson in their battle for the vacant English title last September, ultimately securing the victory in the eighth round.
Although Pauls had previously been outpointed by Tyler Denny in a bid for the St. George’s belt, he is expected to put up a tough fight against Heaney this weekend.
Pauls, who left his hometown in Cornwall to pursue his boxing career in Essex, stated, “I have sacrificed family occasions to chase my dream.”
In facing Heaney, Pauls will be up against a taller opponent standing at 6ft 1ins, who outpointed Bentley using his boxing skills and precise punching, a strategy he may employ against Pauls as well.
Liam Davies 15-0 (7) v Erik Robles 15-1 (9)
Super-bantamweights, 12 rounds
Davies considers this fight to be one of the toughest challenges he has faced, second only to Naoya Inoue, the undisputed champion at 122lbs.
Robles made an impression on British audiences when he defeated Lee McGregor in Edinburgh last July, showcasing his skills with a strong start and finish to secure a unanimous victory.
Although Robles has only fought once since then, winning a points decision over Cesar Vaca Espinoza last December, he has proven to be a formidable opponent with eight first-round wins under his belt.
Despite Robles’ southpaw stance, Davies remains confident in his abilities, having faced similar opponents like Marc Leach and Jason Cunningham recently and outboxed Ionut Baluta in November 2022.
McGregor was able to outbox Robles for parts of their fight, and Davies aims to do the same over the 12 rounds.
Davies, who was knocked down for the first time by Vincenzo La Femina in November, plans to use his boxing skills to outpoint Robles in the upcoming match.
Zach Parker 23-1 (17) v Tyron Zeuge 27-1-1 (15)
Super-middleweights, 10 rounds
In a rematch from the summer of 2017, Zach Parker, who was 12-0 at the time, sparred with WBA super-middleweight title-holder Tyron Zeuge in Germany.
Parker impressed during the sparring sessions and was told he wouldn’t be needed for the remaining rounds, describing the experience as “easy” and enjoying some time off afterward.
They are set to face each other again in a crossroads fight in Birmingham.
Parker has his sights set on future fights against Billy Joe Saunders and Anthony Yarde if he emerges victorious against the 31-year-old Zeuge from Berlin.
Zeuge, who lost his world title to Rocky Fielding in his fourth defense, staged a comeback with three wins after being out of the ring for nearly four years between June 2019 and February 2023.
Parker, coming off a 301-day layoff due to injury, returned last September with a win over Khalid Graidia, demonstrating his skills as a rangy and skillful switch hitter.
Parker is expected to use his strategy to lead Zeuge onto punches and secure a stoppage victory by the middle rounds.
Dennis McCann 14-0-1 (8) v Brad Strand 11-0 (3)
British and Commonwealth super-bantamweight titles
Promoter Frank Warren has labeled this upcoming fight as his “personal favorite.”
This fight was initiated by Strand after his victory over Joshua John last December when he called out McCann or Liam Davies for his next match.
McCann and Strand are scheduled to fight for the British title vacated by Davies, with McCann also defending his Commonwealth belt.
Since his draw with Ionut Baluta last August, McCann has made changes in his team, switching trainers from Alan Smith to Joe McNally in Liverpool.
The buildup to the fight has seen McCann attempting to rile Strand up by claiming to have a larger fan base in Strand’s home city.
Strand, on the other hand, is focused on his boxing approach, having dominated John in his last fight with a strong showing and is set to take on McCann’s style of waiting and picking his moments.
McCann, who was ahead on the scorecards against Baluta before an accidental clash of heads, is expected to have a slight edge over Strand in their upcoming battle.
Joe Joyce 15-2 (14) v Kash Ali 21-2 (12)
Heavyweights, 10 rounds
Joe Joyce is determined to secure a convincing victory in his upcoming fight to show his capabilities and potential future opponents.
Following his two losses to Zhilei Zhang, Joyce is looking to rebuild his confidence and showcase his skills in the ring.
Ali, who sparred with Joyce before his fight with Bryant Jennings in 2019, believes he has a shot at defeating Joyce and is prepared for the challenge awaiting him.
With a change in coaching staff and training approach, Joyce is looking to overcome the setbacks from his recent losses and show improvements in his upcoming fight.
Ali, who suffered a defeat in his last match against Bohdan Myronets, is aware of Joyce’s knockout power and will need to be defensively sound to avoid falling victim to Joyce’s relentless attacks.
Joyce is expected to secure a victory by the midway point in the fight with his determined approach and powerful punches.
Pierce O’Leary 13-0 (7) v Hovhannes Martirosyan 16-0 (10)
Super-lightweights, 10 rounds
This upcoming fight poses a tough challenge for O’Leary, the skilled boxer-puncher from Dublin, who has switched gyms since his last win over Kane Gardner.
O’Leary made the move from Alan Smith at the iBox Gym in Bromley to Joe McNally in Liverpool, citing cost and family proximity as reasons for the change.
As O’Leary made his exit from iBox, Martirosyan arrived to spar with Sam Noakes, leaving a positive impression with his skill and toughness.
Martirosyan recently secured a stoppage victory over Tony Rashid, but faced some challenges against similar opponents like O’Leary in previous matches.
O’Leary’s precise punching and ability to create openings will likely be key factors in this match, as he looks to outpoint Martirosyan with his polished boxing skills and solid jab.
Eithan James 12-0 v Owen Cooper 9-0 (3)
Vacant English welterweight Title
These two 23-year-olds, Eithan James and Owen Cooper, have a longstanding history in boxing, having grown up together in the sport.
Both fighters have remained unbeaten throughout their careers and have firsthand experience of each other’s fighting styles.
Cooper aims to engage in close combat and exchange blows, while James prefers a more strategic approach to his fights.
James demonstrated his skill and sharpness in his previous victory over James Moorcroft, showcasing his adaptability in the welterweight division.
Cooper, known for his defensive prowess and power, presents a different challenge compared to James’ previous opponents.
With both fighters expecting a tough battle, James is favored to secure a victory on points with his tactical approach in the ring.