BOXXER is thrilled to unveil four bouts added to the undercard for the long-awaited rematch between Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jr, set for Saturday, September 2nd, at the AO Arena, Manchester. This high-stakes event will be broadcast live exclusively on Sky Sports Box Office.
Smith and Eubank Jr are due for their second fight following their explosive January showdown, which saw Smith, known as ‘Beefy’, secure a remarkable fourth-round stoppage win.
Tensions between the two have intensified since their initial bout and are anticipated to reach a fever pitch when they step back into the AO Arena on September 2nd.
Eubank Jr is keen on settling the score, contending that Smith used an elbow in the combination that knocked him out. On the other hand, Smith is hell-bent on scoring another conclusive victory, aiming to end both their rivalry and Eubank Jr’s career definitively.
With over 70% of tickets already sold during a record-breaking pre-sale, the hype for the rematch is enormous. This excitement is expected to surge further with the announcement of four thrilling additions to the undercard.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Bronze Medallist Frazer Clarke is back in action after going ten rounds against former world title challenger Mariuz Wach at York Hall in June. He’s poised to go head-to-head with ‘The White Rhino’ Dave Allen.
With a current record of 7-0, Clarke from Burton aims to continue his journey from a highly-rated amateur to a victorious professional as he challenges Allen in a gripping ten-round domestic heavyweight showdown.
Undefeated in his last four bouts, Allen has enlisted acclaimed coaches Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis, joining Roger Sampson in his corner for this battle. Having already faced top names like David Price, Tony Yoka, Luis Ortiz, and Dillian Whyte, and secured notable wins over Lucas Browne and Nick Webb, the fan favorite from Doncaster aims to add another significant win to his record before an eager Manchester audience.
‘The Albanian King’ Florian Marku will engage Ireland’s Dylan Moran in a ten-round welterweight showdown. Marku, recovered from a hand injury suffered during his unforgettable homecoming fight against Miguel Parra at Air Albania Stadium last year, looks forward to showcasing his skills honed under coach Grant Smith.
Moran, coming off a triumphant homecoming fight with a win against Mauro Maximiliano Godoy at the WIT Arena in Waterford in April, now has the chance to validate his ‘The Real Deal’ moniker by boosting his stature against his well-known adversary.
2020 Olympic Silver Medallist Ben Whittaker continues to impress with his flamboyant approach to boxing. Trained by SugarHill Steward, the young prodigy from Wolverhampton secured his fourth professional win by defeating Vladimir Belujsky in the eighth round on the undercard of Savannah Marshall’s title bout against Franchón Crews-Dezur in Manchester. Whittaker is set to return to the AO Arena on September 2nd, seizing the opportunity to once again display his star potential on a grand stage.
In another eagerly-awaited domestic showdown, Oldham’s Mark Heffron will defend his British and Commonwealth Super Middleweight titles against Jack Cullen.
Heffron, training under the mentorship of Joe Gallagher at Manchester’s Champs Camp gym, was compelled to withdraw from a scheduled British title defense against Zak Chelli on July 2 due to injury. Now fully recovered, the 31-year-old will put his titles on the line against ‘Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver’, the former WBO and IBF International Champion, who aims to rebound from a stoppage loss to Californian Diego Pacheco.
Ben Shalom, BOXXER’s promoter and CEO, remarked, “We’re thrilled to announce the first four additions to what promises to be a jam-packed undercard. The response to Smith-Eubank II has been astounding. Manchester will be buzzing on September 2nd. We’re eager to share more undercard updates soon.”
SMITH vs EUBANK JR
Smith KO’d Eubank Jr within the first minute of round four in their previous match-up, but Eubank Jr seemed unfazed at today’s press conference. He still refused to admit that Smith, having bagged the first win, was the superior fighter.
“If he takes me down again, props to him,” said Eubank Jr. “But the show I’m going to put on this Saturday is going to be next-level, like something out of a superhero movie.”
Smith shot back, dismissing Eubank Jr’s claim that his earlier win was a “miracle.” “What miracle, Chris? The only miraculous part was how effortlessly I took you down. Same mistakes, same outcome.”
Eubank Jr acknowledged the new kind of pressure he’s facing. “I’ve never had a rematch against someone who’s beaten me. It’s a new vibe, but I’m digging it.”
MARKU vs MORAN
Florian Marku and Dylan Moran had an intense face-off, with Marku later claiming that Moran seemed shaky. “You could see it in the video, his legs were trembling.”
“I’ll be all over him. He’ll try to box, he’ll try to dodge, but I’ll overwhelm him,” Marku said.
Moran wasn’t buying it. “Me, scared of you? Not in this lifetime. I’m the better boxer. He’s just an obstacle in my path.”
CLARKE vs ALLEN
Another match generating buzz is Frazer Clarke vs David Allen in the heavyweight division. Allen knows he’s the underdog but is full of confidence.
“I know Frazer well, we’ve sparred countless rounds. He’s a strong fighter, but I’ve got a winning mindset,” said Allen.
Clarke, undefeated in seven pro fights, dismissed Allen’s confidence. “Beating me in a boxing match is as likely as me becoming an underwear model. It’s not happening.”
AZIM vs FANYAN
Young talent Adam Azim faces Aram Fanyan in what he calls his toughest challenge yet. Despite having just eight pro fights, Azim is optimistic.
“Every fight for me is like a world title bout. I’ve got to push myself, and right now, my confidence is sky-high. Get ready for a performance of a lifetime,” Azim said
