JD NXTGEN hits the Newcastle Arena this Saturday evening, and in the absence of Pat McCormack having to pull out of being bill-topper, Shabaz Masoud steps up, and headlines against Jose Sanmartin, with the vacant WBA Intercontinental super bantamweight title on the line in the North East.
Matchroom promote Masoud vs Sanmartin, and DAZN televise.
Masoud (11-0, 4KOs) is a flashy talent, and is looking to motor into domestic title contention in 2024. The Stoke native has stepped up in the last year, first forcing Yoan Boyeaux to retire Dubai last March after two rounds, and he then impressed in his most recent outing, dropping Jack Bateson twice in the final round of twelve before forcing a stoppage, taking the belt he vies for this weekend in the process.
Sanmartin (34-7-1, 21KOs) is an experienced campaigner, and the Colombian has been in with the likes of Emanuel Navarrete and Mauricio Lara, stopped in twelve and three rounds respectively. Sanmartin is coming off a points loss over ten to Kevin Gonzalez in March.
Prediction: Masoud can likely look good against a come-forward type in Sanmartin, and I think he can get the stoppage win in this one.
A further two ten rounders head the undercard.
West Rainton middleweight Mark Dickinson (5-0, 1KO) gets a good test, as he meets Grant Dennis (18-5, 3KOs). Dickinson has made gradual steps up in duration, and last time went eight rounds for the first time against Ben Ridings, not dropping a single session in a dominant points win. Dennis is a former Southern Area champion at the weight, and is coming off a loss to Caoimhin Agyarko, losing all ten rounds in Dublin back in May. Dickinson can get home clearly on the cards.
Credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
At super welterweight, Ewan Mackenzie (8-0, 3KOs) can take the battle of the unbeatens against Ishmael Davis (11-0, 5KOs), which should be a good battle that the Jarrow man can take on points.
Lightweight talent Calum French (4-0, 1KO) has been the eight round distance in his last two contests, and he can do the same in taking a clear win on the scorecards against Jeff Ofori (12-5-2, 3KOs).
The six rounders on the bill are all novice-heavy affairs.
Talented lightweight Cameron Vuong (1-0, 1KO) may need the distance for the first time as a pro in getting his hand raised against John Henry Mosquera (5-4, 1KO), while Ben Rees (1-0-1, 1KO) may also need the scorecards to take the win at light heavyweight against Sadaam Moamed Da Silva Caetano (7-3, 5KO). Owen Rees (1-0, 1KO) can also maintain his unbeaten start with a points win against Poland’s Konrad Czajkowski (2-1-1, 1KO).
The sole four rounder comes at middleweight, where Jimmy Sains (1-0, 1KOs) can halt Jesus Lobeto (1-2-1, 0KOs)
