AN evenly matched British and Commonwealth super-lightweight title clash between Jack Rafferty and Reece MacMillan could quite easily steal the show this Saturday.
The pair will square off on the undercard of Derek Chisora vs Otto Wallin, with Rafferty, 24-0 (15 KOs), putting his newly acquired trinkets on the line at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England.
Despite claiming his Commonwealth strap with a blistering first-round stoppage victory over Lee Appleyard back in 2023, ‘Demolition Man’ nonetheless entered last October’s showdown with Henry Turner as a slight underdog.
Yet still, the 29-year-old swiftly showed (a) why he is undefeated and (b) why his knockout ratio is somewhat misleading, producing a destructive performance to halt his opponent inside nine rounds.
Not only that, but Rafferty’s relentless aggression and fierce combinations to the body of Turner made for a highly engrossing spectacle, one that ultimately saw him capture the vacant British title in tremendous fashion.
Now, the Lancashire bruiser is not only regarded as a sturdy operator at 140lbs – always displaying sound fundamentals – but also a dangerous puncher who carries dynamite in both fists.
MacMillan, 17-1 (2 KOs), meanwhile, has trudged through the small hall scene long enough to hone his craft ahead of what promises to be the sternest test of his career.
Luckily for him, the 29-year-old comes off a gleaming victory over Kane Gardner, narrowly outpointing the awkward customer through 10 rounds to claim the vacant Central Area belt.
During their fiercely contested dustup – which was streamed by Boxing News last November – MacMillan, like Rafferty, showcased his unrelenting work rate and remarkable will to win.
Often, that can be enough to emerge victorious in a competitive matchup. But against a fighter like Rafferty, who holds the power advantage firmly in his favour, MacMillan will most likely struggle to put a dent in his opponent.
After all, while ‘The Raging Bull’ overcame a challenging night at the office in his last outing, Gardner was equally in no danger of getting stopped.
As the more seasoned and spiteful fighter, Rafferty should, therefore, extend his flawless run with a fifth consecutive victory inside the distance, outlasting MacMillan in what could deliver an all-action shootout for however long it lasts.
