Daniel Blenda Dos Santos defends his European light heavyweight title against late-notice replacement, Bradley Rea at York Hall on Friday.
DAZN televise Dos Santos vs Rea live and Izzy Asif’s GBM Sports promote.
Rea steps in at just two days’ notice for Shakan Pitters, who has been hospitalised, although it isn’t thought to be serious.
Dos Santos (22-1, 10 KOs) is best known on British shores for his only loss, where he fell to a fourth-round defeat to Joshua Buatsi in May 2021, but he has rebounded with seven straight wins.
After four low-key victories, the Frenchman moved back into ten round level, and widely outscored Cyrille Joly to secure the French title, before winning the vacant European title in Germany in April 2023, taking a majority decision win over Tom Dzemski.
The 34-year-old defended for the first time last June, winning a landslide unanimous decision against Thomas Faure in France.
He now defends against Stretford’s Rea (20-1, 10 KOs), who is on a run of six straight wins himself.
The 27-year-old lost on the cards to Tyler Denny in a challenge for the English middleweight title in 2022, and his rebuild came against several low-level opponents, mainly in scheduled six rounders.
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Rea is on a run of five straight early wins, the last in November 2024, where in a scheduled ten rounder, he knocked out the 4-1 Adam Hepple in three frames.
Prediction: Rea will come to win, but on short notice, I lean towards the champion retaining by mid to late stoppage in this one.
Dolan faces Parker
Emma Dolan appears on the undercard, and defends her British and Commonwealth super flyweight titles against Lauren Parker.
Dolan (7-0, 1 KO) won the vacant Commonwealth title in March 2023, outscoring Halima Vunjabei and made a routine defence against Nicola Hopewell before adding the vacant British belt last time out, dropping Shannon Ryan on the way to a split decision victory.
After a couple of early career setbacks, Parker (10-1-1, 2 KOs) has won eight on the spin, picking up IBO Intercontinental and European titles along the way.
‘Lionheart’ was last seen in December last year, halting Kira Carter in three rounds.
Prediction: Dolan is a decent operator, and Parker has not fought at super flyweight since December 2023, and this could be a factor. I favour Dolan to retain on points.
Fury returns
Hughie Fury was out three times in 2024, all at a much lower pace and level than he has been used to, and the Manchester heavyweight has his first outing of 2025 against Dan Garber.
Garber (9-4, 2 KOs) has been stopped by Moses Itauma and Viddal Riley and Fury (29-3, 16 KOs) will want to do the same.
Prediction: Fury should bank a win inside schedule.
Remaining Undercard
Ben Crocker (14-0, 2 KOs) should defend his IBF European super lightweight title and he can do it on the scorecards against fellow unbeaten, Tiernan Bradley (10-0, 5 KOs).
The sole eight rounder is at welterweight, where unbeaten prospect Kieran Molloy (10-0, 5 KOs) can stay unblemished with a points win over the tough Italian, Riccardo Crepaldi (11-6, 1 KO).
In scheduled six rounders, Lillie Winch (3-0) can bank a points win over Valgerdur Gudsteinsdottir (7-6, 2 KOs) at super lightweight, and light heavyweight novice Gradus Kraus (4-0, 4 KOs) can score another early win this time against Tony Amoaku (5-0-1, 2 KOs).
Essex super lightweight, Louie O’Doherty (8-0, 2 KOs) can come through on points against Reuquen Cona Facundo Arce (18-18-2, 7 KOs).
