Tete vs Narvaez
If you are like me you are eagerly awaiting some boxing action in the UK. But fear not ladies and gentleman we do not have to wait long for another night of boxing.
Today I’d like to preview a card I am particularly looking forward to. Dubbed ‘The Untouchables’ live at the Copperbox Arena on February 10th, marks the first big card of the year from Frank Warren.
The card features Daniel Dubois, Anthony Yarde, Bradley Skeete and is headlines by WBO World Bantamweight Champion Zolani Tete. Each man looking to use this as a platform to springboard onto bigger and better fights in 2018.
2017 was a fantastic year for Essex Light Heavyweight Anthony Yarde. Capped off by being the first man to stop Nikola Sjeckloca. Bear in mind Sjeckloca ha shared the ring with world champions past and present like Arthur Abraham, Robert Stieglitz and Callum Smith, making Yarde’s feat all the more impressive. Yarde fought 5 times last year, picking up the BBBofC Southern Area Light Heavyweight, WBO European Light Heavyweight and WBO Inter-Continental Light Heavyweight titles. You could easily argue that Yarde has already cemented his place as the #1 guy at the weight in Britain with Hosea Burton moving to cruiserweight and Fank Buglioni and Eddie Hearn showing no desire to make that fight happen. That being said Yarde now holds the #5 rank with the WBO and could easily move onto bigger and better things should he and Frank Warren choose to do so. Yarde’s opponent is TBC, as soon as we hear anything we will let you know.
2017 proved to be a frustrating year forBradley ‘Super’ Skeete. He did manage to win the Lonsdale belt outright with wins against Shane Singleton & Dale Evans. However, the world title shot he so desperately craves failed to materialise after WBO Champion Jeff Horn took what could easily be seen as an easier fight and bypassed Skeete in favour of fellow brit Gary Corcoran. Bradley is a very slick operator and I for one am keen to see what he could do on the world stage. But with Horn mooted to be fighting Crawford next, he may have to keep waiting that little bit longer.Skeete’s opponent is TBC, as soon as we hear anything we will let you know.
What a debut yearDaniel Duboishad. 6 fights, 6 knockouts and already Southern Area and WBC World Youth Champion! I expect big things from him this year, and he isn’t even 21 yet! Yes he is rough around the edges, yes he has a lot to work on, but good god that man hits like a train. With rumours circulating mid last year that he had knocked out a certain Unified Heavyweight Champion of the world! The issue this young may face is finding willing participants to face him. But if I’m British Champion Sam Sexton id be looking very closely over my shoulder!!Dubois’sopponent is TBC, as soon as we hear anything we will let you know.
Finally and last but by no means last headlining this talent filled card is WBO Bantamweight champion Zolani Tete. Actually this first thing I can say about this fight Is that I hope it goes on longer than his last one!! But WOW what a knockout, I implore those reading this article. If you haven’t seen his KO of Siboniso Gonya go watch it! Easily one of THE best knockouts of 2017, and now the world record holder for the fastest KO ever recorded in a world title fight. He steps in the ring against Omar Narvaez. Narvaez is a 42 year old Argentinian that is bidding to become a three weight world champion having held world titles at Flyweight and Super Flyweight. My sense is that Tete will prove too big and too strong for his opponent and that we could easily see another early KO. I expect big things from Tete this year. Whilst it seems Ryan Burnett is reluctant to sign a unification fight with the South African. Frank Warren has been talking about a fight with Japanese superstar (and one of my favourite fighters) Naoya Inoue should he step up to the 118 division … what a fight that could be.
By: Aaron Cooper
Aaron is the UK Correspondent for 3KingsBoxing.com
He can be reached atAaron@3KingsBoxing.com