FRIDAY night sees Ben Shalom and Boxxer stage yet another all-female card on Sky Sports. Two world title contests, a European title clash, and Cindy Ngamba’s debut make the event a must-watch affair.
Now, as the clock ticks towards fight night, the British Boxing Board of Control have added further incentive to one bout on the card, with the coveted yet vacant Lonsdale Belt now up for grabs.
Macclesfield-born Karriss Artingstall, 6-0 (1 KO), entered the professional ranks with impressive amateur pedigree, having claimed the bronze medal at both the 2019 World Championships and 2020 Olympic Games, defeating Skye Nicolson in the semi-final of the latter.
Since her debut in 2022, Artingstall was near faultless in her first five professional contests and lost just one round from 26, announcing herself as a threat to the featherweight marbles, but was less convincing last time out against Brazilβs Lila Furtado, scraping a 77-75 decision.
Now Artingstall returns to action after a near-14-month spell of inactivity as she collides with Raven Chapman, 9-1 (2 KOs), who lost out to reigning WBC world champion Nicolson back in October but comfortably disposed of Furtado when they met in March 2023.
With Artingstall keen to re-establish herself as Britainβs best chance at featherweight honours, she has also been vocal in her hopes that the British title could be added to the contest. She told Sky Sports that the fight is between the top two 126-lbers in the country, and therefore, the vacant title should be on the line.
“How can it [the British title] not be [on the line]?”
“These are fights that need to be happening. No.1 and No.2 in Britain.”
Today, Boxxer have officially announced that the British strap will indeed be on the line, making Artingstall-Chapman the fourth title fight of the mammoth card.
Artingstall already has a win over Chapman as an amateur and will hope to repeat the feat at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday night. The victor is likely to move on to fights at world level later in the year.
