The Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai is the place for the first promotional outing of Probellum this Saturday, and there are two world title fights to look forward to. Sunny Edwards is the nominal main event attraction, and he defends his IBF flyweight title against Jayson Mama in a fight postponed from earlier this year.
Edwards was due to defend against Filipino Mama in September in London, but ‘Showtime’ suffered an ankle injury in training, and was forced to withdraw.
The Sheffield-based, 25-year-old was tipped for big things alongside his brother Charlie, but he really came of age last time out, stepping up several levels to take on long-reigning world champion, Moruti Mthalane at York Hall, Bethnal Green, back in April.
On that night, Edwards (16-0, 4 KOs) boxed brilliantly, wrenching the IBF belt from the South African with an impressive display of punch picking and accuracy in a fantastic unanimous decision win.
’Showtime’ has one eye on some big fights down the line, with WBC champion, and a former opponent of his brother, Julio Cesar Martinez.
First though, Edwards must deal with his mandatory challenger, who has an identical record to the champion. Mama (16-0, 9 KOs) boxes outside of Asia for the first time this weekend, but ‘Smasher’ has not fought in anything approaching world class level.
The 24-year-old has also been the ten round distance twice and in his last outing, Mama forced the 7-5-2 Romshane Sarguilla to retire after eight rounds.
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Prediction: I think after a few feeling out rounds, Edwards will go through the gears and claim a straightforward and clear points win.
Casimero clashes with Butler
The second world title fight comes at bantamweight, where John Riel Casimero (31-4, 21 KOs) defends his WBO crown against former IBF champion, Paul Butler.
Casimero, 32, is a three-weight world champion, and won this belt in sensational style, stopping Zolani Tete in three rounds in Birmingham in November 2019.
The Filipino has defended twice since, a third round stoppage of Duke Micah, and, last time out, a drab split decision win against the tricky Guillermo Rigondeaux.
Butler (33-2, 15 KOs) won his world title in 2014 with a win over Stuart Hall, but vacated to go back down to super flyweight, but he was routed and then knocked out by the previously mentioned Tete in March 2015 in a challenge for the WBO title.
The 33-year-old has won seven straight since a wide points loss to Emmanuel Rodriguez in 2018, and he was last out in June, edging Willibaldo Garcia via split decision over ten.
Fight week 🥊📆@1PaulButler challenges for @WorldBoxingOrg title this Saturday @cocacolaarena in Dubai #BFA #Boxing pic.twitter.com/YmDi9YlGlu
— Joe Gallagher (@JoeG) December 6, 2021
Prediction: Casimero can retain his title widely enough on the cards.
Nietes meets Jimenez
Four-weight world champion Donnie Nietes takes on a twelve round assignment here against Norbelto Jimenez.
Nietes (43-1-5, 23 KOs) is now at super flyweight, and has already served as WBO champion. Jimenez (30-9-5, 16 KOs) has challenged for world honours twice before, unsuccessfully.
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Prediction: Nietes can win this one early, with Jimenez halted four times in his nine defeats.
Carroll faces Mesquita
Jono Carroll (20-2-1, KO5) is in action, and the Irishman takes on Brazil’s Aelio Mesquita (20-5-1, KO18) at super featherweight.
Carroll, who had been in camp with WBC lightweight champion, Devin Haney has won two on the bounce since a shock defeat to Maxi Hughes last year, and he was last seen taking a majority win over Andy Vences in September.
Mesquita, 30, has lost five of his last ten, and has been stopped on four occasions, including against Shakur Stevenson.
Prediction: Carroll can seal the win inside schedule.
Remaining Undercard
2020 Olympic Gold medallist Bakhodir Jalolov (8-0, 8 KOs) returns to the pro ranks, and he should deal with Colombia’s Julio Cesar Calimeno (4-1, 4 KOs), who was stopped in eight last time out.
Prediction: A knockout win for the Uzbek is expected in this scheduled heavyweight six rounder.
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Undefeated 21-year-old Afghan, Hasibullah Ahmadi (13-0, 4 KOs) should be able to defend his WBC Asian Boxing Council featherweight title with a points win over Pakistan’s Nadir Baloch (10-0, 8 KOs) over eight.
In the remaining six rounders, Rohan Date (12-0-1, 9 KOs) can remain unbeaten with a points win in his welterweight affair with Kelvin Dotel (14-4, 7 KOs), while at super featherweight, Anthony de Bruijn (10-0-1, 6 KOs) can also take a points victory against Diego Valtierra (6-4, 2 KOs).
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In four round action, super flyweight Sultan Al Nuaimi (5-0, 4 KOs) can outscore Sahil Rahman N (0-2), and at flyweight, Fahad Al Bloushi (6-1, 1 KOs), can deal with Kamarudeen Boyefio (11-9, 11 KOs) inside the distance.
