MTK Global promote at York Hall, Bethnal Green this Friday night, as Danny Dignum makes a third defence of his WBO European middleweight title against Grant Dennis in the main event.
Dignum vs Dennis will be broadcast on IFLTV’s YouTube channel.
Essex-based, Dignum (13-0-1, 7 KOs) is looking to kick on after a less than busy couple of years, with this only his second fight since March 2020.
The 29-year-old took the belt in November 2019 with a fifth round stoppage of Conrad Cummings, and defended with a ninth round win over Alfredo Meli.
He was last out in April last year, but struggled against Andrey Sirotkin, cut on his left eye and eventually having to settle for a draw.
38-year-old ‘Go-Getter’ Dennis (17-3, 3 KOs) isn’t getting any younger, and his defeats have come at English title level, in an Ultimate Boxxer tournament, and to the previously mentioned Sirotkin in October 2020.
Dennis was down four times in all against the Russian, before being halted in eight in Belarus.
The Kent native has won two low-key four rounders since, the last a points win against Kearon Thomas in December 2021.
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Prediction: Dignum will want to kick on in 2022 starting here against Dennis, and I can’t see him slipping up. With Dennis not carrying power, I think Dignum will figure his man out quickly, and coast to a points win.
McGregor returns against Ruiz
There’s an appearance on the bill for Lee McGregor and the talented Scot takes on Diego Alberto Ruiz in a ten rounder at super bantamweight.
McGregor (11-0, 9 KOs) has had a setback in hopes for a rematch with Kash Farooq, with his countryman forced to retire from the sport last month, so ‘Lightning’ will now seek other options as he moved towards world level.
The Edinburgh man has impressed thus far as a pro, and has kicked on since defeating Farooq via split decision in November 2019.
He picked up the European title in just under a round in March last year with a ruthless win over Karim Guerfi, but had to survive a scare in his last fight, coming off the deck in the second round before knocking out Vincent Legrand in four rounds in Belfast in August.
Ruiz (23-4, 12 KOs) has only been stopped once in four defeats, to Michael Conlan in 2019, and is coming off a wide points loss to McGregor’s stablemate, Shabaz Masoud in November over ten rounds.
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Prediction: McGregor is a pressure fighter, and he can remove Ruiz from battle around halfway here.
Remaining Undercard
The rest of the show is prospect heavy.
At bantamweight, Nina Hughes (1-0) should bank win number two, but will likely need the cards, to see off Bec Connolly (3-11) over the eight round distance.
Irish super welterweight, Paul Ryan (2-0, 1 KO) may also need the distance to seal victory against CJ Wood (3-1-2, 1 KO) over six.
A six rounder at lightweight should see Jordan Flynn (3-0) take a points win over Marian Marius Istrate (3-11), a Romanian who has never previously been stopped.
IT’S #MTKFIGHTNIGHT FIGHT WEEK 🥊
⭐ @dannydignum1 🆚 @GoGetterDennis
⭐ @LeeMcGregor3 🆚 Diego Ruiz
⭐ @NinaSmith888 🆚 @Bec_Connolly11
⭐ @BilalFawaz_
⭐ @jordz_flynn
⭐ @paulryanboxing
⭐ Joe Giles
⭐ George Mitchell📍 York Hall
📅 FRIDAY
📺 IFL TV#Boxing #UKBoxing pic.twitter.com/81HXEsNd0q— MTK Global Boxing (@MTKGlobal) February 7, 2022
The ever dependable Lewis van Poetsch (9-137-2, 2 KOs) should take Joe Giles (1-0) the distance over four rounds before being defeated at super middleweight, while at super welterweight, Bilal Fawaz makes his professional debut, and can score an early win in his scheduled four rounder against Vladimir Fleischhauer (1-12, 1 KO), who was stopped in a round in his last fight.
Also at super welterweight, George Mitchell (2-0, 1 KO) may need all four rounds to take the win against Vasif Mamedov (2-9-2).
