THE DIY Kitchens Stadium is commonly known as the home of rugby league for Super League side Wakefield Trinity, but this Saturday, it’s boxing that will take centre stage. Wakefield’s own Dom Hunt is the headline act as the 33-year-old prepares to battle James Moorcroft in a much-anticipated trilogy bout.
Former world title challenger Zelfa Barrett will also feature in what will be his third fight this year, with the 31-year-old taking on Ramiro Garcia Lopez. The event is organised by VIP Boxing, with promoter Steve Wood taking on a stadium show for the first time in his promoting career.
“It’s 30 years since we started, and it’s the first time we’ve done a stadium event,” he said. “I’m really excited about it, as it shows the ambition for us as a promotion company that we still want to grow and get better.
“We’ve put a great card together, which warrants being put outside in a stadium. I’m really looking forward to it.”
With over 2,000 fans expected to attend the show, Wood is hopeful the weather will play ball, saying: “We’ve obviously gone in July, it should be a nice day. The weather’s been kind to us recently. The majority of [the setup] is undercover anyway, but obviously [the rain] would dampen the event. Hopefully the sun shines.”
Wood is primarily excited for the main event trilogy bout, with the winner set to be awarded a ranking in the super-welterweight division. Hunt and Moorcroft have boxed a total of 20 rounds since November 2024, with both fights taking place in Bolton and both ending in draws.
“We expect another great fight,” said Wood when asked about the main event.
“Sometimes promoters get accused of not putting on 50-50 fights, but this has had two draws, so it is a 50-50 fight, and everybody is looking forward to it. We just hope that we get a winner out of this one.”
The promoter is also happy to keep Barrett busy, with the lightweight boxer awaiting big opportunities in the near future. ‘Brown Flash’ has won four of his five fights since his defeat to Shavkat Rakhimov in the vacant IBF super-featherweight title bout back in late 2022.
“Unfortunately, Zelfa is not getting the TV work that you’d expect with him being contracted to Matchroom,” added Wood.
“We’re just keeping him busy, because I know an opportunity will come up for him. I don’t want him to have been inactive when that opportunity comes. It’s something that Zelfa needs, and it’s something that adds the show.”
The chief support in Wakefield also has high expectations as 14-1 Ibrahim Nadim takes on 7-2 Kurt Jackson.
Nadim is on a five-fight win streak, but Pontefract’s Jackson certainly cannot be underestimated after claiming the Commonwealth Silver belt away in Scotland last time out.
“That is a genuine, genuine, even fight,” said Wood. “With the title on the line, it’s just going to be a great event overall.”
The rest of the card is full of exciting prospects, including 9-0 Connor Lawrence, debutant Joel Granger, 2-0 Ellis Ward and the undefeated Wakefield duo of Andrea Cikalleshi and Keanan Holford.
