It’s a card packed full of variety at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff this Saturday night, as a grudge match tops the bill, with Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Williams looking to settle a score over twelve rounds at middleweight.
Sky Sports televises Eubank Jr vs Williams in the UK, whilst the card is available on FITE TV pay-per-view in the USA, with Ben Shalom and BOXXER on promotional duties.
Eubank Jr (31-2, 23 KOs) is not getting any younger at 32, and his career has stalled somewhat since handily outscoring James DeGale back in February 2019.
The Brighton native then stepped up against Matvey Korobov, dropping down to middleweight, but the fight was over in two rounds, with Korobov unable to continue due to a shoulder injury.
Then came a lay-off of nearly 18 months, and Eubank Jr returned under the tutelage of the great Roy Jones Jr, but he decided to bank rounds, taking a ten round decision win over Marcus Morrison in May 2021.
‘Next Gen’ was last out in October of last year, and he forced the overwhelmed Wanik Awdijan to retire after five rounds when hurt with a body shot.
A fight with Welshman Williams (23-3-1, 18 KOs) may well be just the test that he needs, and the pair have been involved in relentless goading and barb exchanging in the build-up.
The contest has been marinating nicely following a push back due to COVID-19 cases cancelling UK boxing for a month, and now the pair will meet in the principality.
‘The Machine’ lost back to back fights to Liam Smith in 2017, and then moved up to middleweight, turning in some impressive performances to work his way up the world rankings.
The 29-year-old waited patiently for a shot at the WBO belt, and it finally came in his last fight in April last year, and he was spirited in defeat against Demetrius Andrade in Hollywood.
Williams was down in the second, but had his moments before losing on the scorecards. The winner of this will surely be in line for a world title shot of some description.
Prediction: This could be a really tight affair, with both men adept in dishing out punishment. I give a slight edge to Eubank Jr though, as his posturing and awkward style may force Williams into more mistakes during the fight. I lean towards Eubank Jr taking a tight points win, but wouldn’t be surprised to see the result go the other way.
Shields clashes with Kozin
Claressa Shields is the self-proclaimed ‘GWOAT’, and the American makes a UK debut as she drums up interest in a future showdown with old amateur rival, Savannah Marshall, who holds the WBO middleweight belt.
Here, Shields (11-0, 2 KOs) defends her unified world middleweight titles against Slovenia’s Ema Kozin.
The 26-year-old has been dabbling in MMA, and the Michigan native won her first fight in the Octagon by stoppage, but then lost on the cards to Abigail Montes in October.
Shields made history in her last fight, winning every round against Marie Eve Dicaire to become undisputed super welterweight champion and the first fighter to become a two-weight undisputed titlist.
Kozin (21-0-1, 11 KOs) only fought once in 2021, and that was a six rounder, and the bout only went two rounds as she stopped Radana Knezevic in May.
Prediction: This one looks a showcase for Shields, and she should win every round to earn a landslide decision win.
Jenkins faces Indongo
There are a couple of curious match-ups on the card. Former British and Commonwealth welterweight champion Chris Jenkins is in action, and the Welshman is in with former unified super lightweight world champion, Julius Indongo.
Jenkins (22-4-3, 8 KOs) lost his belts last time out, halted in eight by Ekow Essuman in July, while Namibia’s Indongo is firmly on the slide, stopped early four times in his last five fights, against the likes of Terence Crawford, Regis Prograis and Daniyar Yeleussinov.
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In his last fight, Indongo (23-4, 12 KOs) was stopped in four by his countryman, Hasan Mwakinyo.
Prediction: Jenkins can force a retirement around halfway.
Wallin meets Sokolowski
At heavyweight, Otto Wallin (22-1, 14 KOs) appears on the card, months after a high profile fight with Dillian Whyte fell through.
Prediction: The Swede takes on tough journeyman, Kamil Sokolowski (11-24-2, 4 KOs) over six, and he may well need the scorecards to take victory.
Dubois makes debut
Precocious amateur talent, Caroline Dubois makes her professional bow and she takes on Vaida Masiokaite (2-14-4, 1 KO).
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Prediction: Dubois will likely win on points, with Masiokaite only stopped once, by Chantelle Cameron in 2019.
Remaining Undercard
In a solid match at welterweight, Samuel Antwi (13-1, 6 KOs) defends his English title for the first time, and he can halt the unbeaten Conah Walker (10-0-1, 3 KOs) inside schedule.
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Welsh featherweight, Rhys Edwards (11-0, 4 KOs) will likely need all eight rounds to see off Ruslan Berchuk (13-13, 4 KOs), and Steve Robinson (4-0, 3 KOs) can take his heavyweight clash with Shane Gill (0-1) inside the four round distance.
