The Copper Box Arena in London is the venue for a good old-fashioned heavyweight dust-up this Saturday, as Johnny Fisher and Alen Babic go head to head over a scheduled ten rounds.
Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom promote Fisher vs Babic and DAZN televise live worldwide.
Babic (12-1, 11 KOs) was built by Hearn and manager Dillian Whyte as a raw brawler, and the Croatian bulldozed his way into contention with a series of early wins, which eventually led to a shot at the WBC bridgerweight title last April.
The jump in class proved too much though for ‘The Savage’, as he was stopped inside a round by Lukasz Rozanski in Poland.
The 33-year-old returned in March, taking a sixth round stoppage win against Steve Robinson in an energy-sapping affair.
He now meets another crude, rugged type in Fisher (11-0, 10 KOs), who will bring his usual army of fans with him from Romford.
‘The Romford Bull’ has been the distance only once, and has won six inside schedule on the spin since, including a Southern Area title win.
The 25-year-old was last out in February, halting Dmytro Bezus inside a round in Las Vegas.
Prediction: I can’t see anything other than a war in this one, and I certainly don’t see it lasting the distance. I think Fisher can land the cleaner first, and take victory within the first four rounds.
Bellotti battles Giles
The undercard is headed by an intriguing clash at super featherweight, where the resurgent Reece Bellotti defends his British and Commonwealth titles against Levi Giles.
Bellotti’s career looked in tatters when he lost five times in seven outings from 2018 to 2021, but he has rebounded impressively, claiming the vacant Commonwealth crown with an upset eighth round retirement win against Aqib Fiaz last October, and he followed that by relieving Liam Dillon of the British belt, taking a clear decision win in February.
Giles (15-1, 4 KOs) has lost just once, a tight split decision defeat to Michael Gomez Jr last March, but has won twice since, although this is a step-up for the Grimsby man.
Prediction: Bellotti (18-5, 14 KOs) is in fine form, and I expect that to continue here with a clear points win.
Hedges returns
There are two more ten rounders on the bill, and the first comes at cruiserweight, where John Hedges can secure the vacant Southern Area title with a points win against Lewis Oakford.
Hedges (9-0, 3 KOs) hasn’t been past eight rounds, while Oakford (5-0) hasn’t been past six.
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Courtney clashes with Zapotoczna
Flyweight prospect, Maisey Rose Courtney (6-0) can go ten rounds for the first time, and take a comfortable points win against Jasmina Zapotoczna (7-1), who gave Shannon Ryan a decent test before losing on points in February.
Remaining Undercard
In six rounders, Giorgio Visioli (3-0, 3 KOs) can keep his perfect record with an early win at super featherweight against Tampela Maharusi (10-6-4, 5 KOs), and at middleweight, Jimmy Sains (5-0, 5 KOs), who secured a stoppage victory on Saturday, can do the same against Damien Lacoudray (3-1-1, 1 KO).
Popular super welterweight, Emmanuel Buttigieg (4-0, 1 KO) can come through on points in his meeting with Oliver Chudzik (3-0, 1 KO).
The only four rounder is at heavyweight, where Lewie Pochetty (2-0, 2 KOs) may hear the final bell for the first time in a points win against Amine Boucetta (8-13).
