THIS weekend, Dalton Smith and Ben Whittaker seek to prove that they are each capable of becoming world champions down the line. The pair compete in must-win main events that span Saturday and Sunday.
With reputations on the line in both headline attractions and plenty of jeopardy in the undercard bouts too, Boxing News looks at five of the key talking points ahead of this weekend’s action.
How much does Josh Warrington have left?
A two-time featherweight world champion, Josh Warrington, 31-4-1 (8 KOs), has now suffered three consecutive defeats and seemed to announce his retirement after his most recent outing at Wembley Stadium – a defeat to Anthony Cacace.
Nevertheless, ‘The Leeds Warrior’ returns on Saturday against Asad Asif Khan, 19-6-1 (5 KOs), who notably took Michael Conlan the distance last month. Khan should ultimately prove no match for the West Yorkshireman if he resembles anything of his former self.
Warrington has been linked to Conlan in the past and could be teeing up the Irishman for his final contest, which would gain further momentum if he impresses against a presumably overmatched Khan.
Should Dalton Smith start fast?
In Sheffield’s main event, Dalton Smith, 17-0 (13 KOs), defends his WBC mandatory challenger position against Canada’s Mathieu Germain, 26-2-1 (11 KOs). Smith is bidding for a fourth consecutive stoppage win.
Germain has been stopped in both career defeats thus far, lacking the punch power to deter hard-hitting rivals Uriel Perez and Yves Ulysse Jr. from marching him down. Smith will expect a similar outcome here.
Although Smith is usually a calculated puncher rather than a flat-out aggressor, anything other than a win inside the distance would be considered a disappointment.
It will be intriguing to see whether the 28-year-old attempts to jump on the visitor from the get-go or bides his time and waits for the correct opportunity to pounce.
What impact did defeat have on Frazer Clarke?
Last time out, Frazer Clarke, 8-1-1 (6 KOs), was the victim of one of the most devastating punches of 2024, left dented both physically and mentally after being on the wrong side of a first-round demolition in his rematch with Fabio Wardley.
Returning sooner than many thought he would, ‘Big Fraze’ collides with Ghana’s Ebenezer Tetteh, 23-2 (20 KOs), who has been stopped by Brits in each of his two defeats – against Daniel Dubois and Dillian Whyte, respectively.
Expected to make easy work of the African, Clarke will be hopeful that he gets back into the winning column with a stoppage win. Still, it remains to be seen if defeat to Wardley has had a lasting impact and whether we will see a more hesitant version of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medallist here.
Will Lee Cutler vs. Sam Eggington catch fire and steal the show?
Across both undercards, the super-welterweight scrap between Lee Cutler, 15-1 (7 KOs), and Sam Eggington, 35-9 (20 KOs), is the one that sticks out as a must-watch affair.
Eggington’s wars with Ted Cheeseman and Bilai Jkitou are forever ingrained into the memory of British boxing fans. The Smethwick-born ‘Savage’ is established as one of the most fan-friendly fighters in the country, although it often takes two to tango.
Luckily, Cutler is coming into the meeting fresh from an upset win over Stephen McKenna in December, flooring the much-fancied Irishman twice in what was a ‘2024 Contest of the Year’ nominee at the BBBofC awards in March.
Both men are on the verge of a world ranking and could be thrust into the top 15 with a win in a fight that is sure to deliver as a thriller.
How many rounds is Whittaker-Cameron II and how many can Whittaker fight?
The fact that it is now fight week and that the participants in Sunday’s main event do not know how many rounds they are fighting is nothing short of a joke. At present, Liam Cameron, 23-6-1 (10 KOs), maintains that he signed for a 12-round contest and that he expects to take part in one, unless his terms for an updated fight contract are adhered to.
However, with an assumed career-high payday in the hands of Boxxer, the likely outcome is that Sunday’s bill-topper, which also features Boxxer’s most marketable fighter, will instead be fought over 10 rounds.
Hopefully, this will come by agreeing to Cameron’s terms rather than an uglier situation. Boxing is traditionally a dirty business, and it would be no surprise to see a less cooperative resolution.
Regardless, whether 10 or 12 rounds, the question remains as to whether Ben Whittaker, 8-0-1 (5 KOs), has the gas tank to go the distance and win against Cameron, who has a habit of making his opponents tire through unrelenting front-footed pressure.
In their first fight, Whittaker looked physically drained after just three rounds of action against ‘Cannonball’ before toppling over the ropes in the fifth round. Ben escaped Riyadh with a controversial technical draw to somewhat save his blushes.
Relatively unproven as a puncher, there is every chance that ‘The Surgeon’ would need his scalpel to make an incision on the rough and rugged Cameron, meaning the result of the contest could hinge on Whittaker’s fitness levels. This may allow him to outbox his rival for the entirety, if much improved, or instead prove to be his downfall once again.
