The Manchester Arena hosts the heavyweight rematch between Joseph Parker and Derek Chisora this Saturday night, on top of a lengthy Matchroom promoted card that can be seen on DAZN.
Their original meeting took place at the same venue in May, where Parker had to get off the deck in the opening seconds of the contest before taking a split decision win in a bruising and scrappy affair against Chisora.
Chisora (32-11, 23 KOs) is the heavyweight that simply won’t go away. Every time he takes a loss, he breathes new life into his career, but, at 37, the Londoner’s days at top level competition are surely numbered if he suffers defeat here.
On a packed slate ‘War’ has been in with the likes of Tyson Fury (x2), Dillian Whyte (x2), David Haye, Kubrat Pulev and Carlos Takam to name a few, and he recently gave Oleksandr Usyk a decent argument before losing on the cards in October last year.
Former WBO champion, Parker (29-2, 21 KOs) has struggled to impress in his last few outings, but has been basing himself alongside Tyson Fury in Morecambe ahead of this rematch, and is having his second fight under new trainer Andy Lee, with the Irishman only having limited time with the New Zealander ahead of the first meeting with Chisora.
The 29-year-old is looking to find the form that took him to the world title, before back to back defeats to Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte in 2018 and will close in on an opportunity with victory, given he is ranked in the top four of the three governing bodies, with a #2 rating with the WBO.
Chisora himself is back with Dave Coldwell, who guided him to some impressive victories during their time together.
Prediction: Parker needs to put on a performance here, but Chisora is notoriously a tough nut to crack, and won’t make it easy for the visitor. After a rough opening half, Parker can pull away down the stretch for a clear points win.
Gongora faces Richards
An intriguing undercard clash comes at super middleweight, where the talented Lerrone Richards attempts to take the IBO title away from the tall, awkward southpaw, Carlos Gongora.
Gongora (20-0, 15 KOs) won the vacant belt in an upset in December 2020, dominating and then knocking out Ali Akhmedov in the final round. The Ecuadorian has made one defence, knocking out Christopher Pearson in eight in April.
Richards (15-0, 3 KOs) is a stylist, and has won British and Commonwealth belts, before securing the European strap in his last outing, widely outscoring Giovanni De Carolis in May.
Prediction: As long as Richards can stay out of early trouble, he can become the new champion on the cards.
Barrett battles Tarimo
Zelfa Barrett is closing in on a world title shot, and ‘Brown Flash’ is in with Tanzania-born, Australian Bruno Tarimo in what is a final eliminator for the IBF super featherweight title.
That belt is currently the property of Kenichi Ogawa, who outscored Azinga Fuzile last month to win the vacant title.
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In order to secure a world title shot in the near future, Barrett (26-1, 16 KOs) must get past Tarimo (26-2-2, 5 KOs), a durable type that has climbed the IBF rankings by winning fringe titles.
Prediction: Barrett should take a clear points win.
Cullen clashes with Sadjo
The vacant European super middleweight title is up for grabs, and Jack Cullen takes on dangerous Frenchman, Kevin Lele Sadjo, a late replacement for Emre Cukur.
Cullen (20-2-1, 9 KOs) took a decision win over former world title challenger Avni Yildirim last time out, while Sadjo (16-0, 14 KOs) has been the distance in his last two contests after 14 straight early wins.
Prediction: I think Sadjo may take Cullen out after halfway.
Babic meets Spilmont
Croatian heavyweight Alen Babic (9-0, KO9)goes for win and knockout number ten as a pro, and he shouldn’t meet much resistance in his contest with Frenchman, David Spilmont (11-7-1, KO7). Babic has feasted on limited or faded opposition thus far, and Spilmont has been stopped twice in seven defeats at a low level so it should be another early night for ‘The Savage’
Thompson, Pattinson, Ryan, Nyika, Dixon feature
Jordan Thompson (11-0, 9 KOs) is a cruiserweight to keep an eye on, and the Manchester man should be able to take care of Clement Oppenot (5-1, 3 KOs) inside the distance of their six rounder.
At super welterweight, Cyrus Pattinson (2-0, 1 KOs) may need the distance to take the win against Evgenii Vazem (9-21, 4 KOs), and New Zealand cruiserweight David Nyika (1-0, 1 KO) should be able to stop France’s Anthony Carpin (5-6-2, 2 KOs).
Unbeaten super lightweight, Sandy Ryan (2-0, 1 KO) looks to build on her impressive stoppage of Aleksandra Vujovic last time out. Ryan is a real talent, and the Derby super lightweight should make it three from three with a points win over 40-year-old Argentine Maria Soledad Capriolo.
Anthony Crolla-trained lightweight, Rhiannon Dixon (3-0) returns and also meets an Argentine, and she should also need the cards to take care of the never before stopped Paola Pamela Benavidez.
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