The latest Matchroom NXTGEN card lands at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham this Saturday evening, and in the main event, 2020 Olympic Gold medalist, Galal Yafai headlines, as he defends his WBC International flyweight title for a third time against Sheffield’s former British champion, Tommy Frank over 10 rounds.
Yafai vs Frank is live on DAZN worldwide.
Yafai (4-0, 3 KOs) has been matched well so far, with the only man to take him the distance being Gohan Rodriguez Garcia, who pushed the 30-year-old all the way to a split decision over ten rounds last November.
Yafai returned in April, and stopped Moises Calleros in four rounds at the O2 Arena on the undercard of Anthony Joshua‘s victory over Jermaine Franklin.
On paper, Frank (15-3-1, 3 KOs) looks an ideal opponent. The 30-year-old started his career brightly, winning Commonwealth and a ranking-building title at super flyweight before dropping down, only to lose a pair of thrillers to Rosendo Hugo Guarneros, one by eighth round retirement, and the rematch via split decision.
‘Super’ rebounded to win the British title in 2021, but his last two results are a reflection of where he’s at, first drawing with Craig Derbyshire in April last year, and he was then stopped by Jay Harris in May.
Prediction: This looks like an opportunity for Yafai to make a statement, and I don’t expect him to disappoint. I think he can blitz Frank early on, and score a swift stoppage within the first four rounds.
Pattinson faces Walker
Cyrus Pattinson (6-0, 4 KOs) impressed last time out, stopping former British and Commonwealth champion Chris Jenkins in nine rounds, and the Newcastle welterweight can be the first to halt Wolverhampton’s Conah Walker (11-2-1, 3 KOs) in their scheduled ten rounder.
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Dacres takes on Thompson
Also in a ten round contest, rising English heavyweight champion, Solomon Dacres (6-0, 2 KOs) faces South Africa’s Chris Thompson (12-4-1, 7 KOs).
Prediction: Dacres can extend his unbeaten streak with a stoppage victory.
Remaining Undercard
At super featherweight, Jordan Flynn should be able to secure a points win in his meeting with Kane Baker (19-10-1, 1 KO), which is a rematch of their April clash, that Flynn (9-0, 1 KO) took by two points over eight rounds.
The sole eight rounder is at super lightweight, where Khaleel Majid (10-0, 3 KOs) should take care of Italy’s Alessandro Fersula (9-4, 1 KO) on the cards, and the only six rounder should see Aaron Bowen (2-0, 1 KO) come through on points at middleweight against Wilmer Baron (6-1, 5 KOs).
In four round attractions, Muhammad Mustafa Ali (2-0) should outscore Francisco Rodriguez (1-16, 1 KO) at super bantamweight.
Debutant Ibraheem Sulaimaan can do the same at lightweight against Michel Gonxhe (5-4-1), and Sahil Khan should also take the long route in his bantamweight bow against Sean Jackson (0-14-1).
