16.09.24

By Frank Warren

ROLL UP, ROLL up for the Greatest Show on Earth! Maybe such a claim is a bit extreme and open to robust debate but I think what can’t be argued is that Saturday’s Wembley Stadium extravaganza is the greatest show in modern British boxing history.

Riyadh Season Wembley Edition is a showcase of the best of British boxing, with six fights and 12 Brits fighting on the biggest stage of all in front of a record attendance at England’s sporting cathedral.

We are all in for something very special on Saturday and I cannot wait to witness it all unfold.

The heavyweight headline attraction is a showdown that captures the imagination of a nation, not just boxing fans. Heavyweight fights of real jeopardy are the lifeblood of the sport because they cross over into the wider public sphere and provide a genuine tonic for the industry as a whole in terms of the interest generated.

In Daniel Dubois, the IBF world champion, going up against two-time former unified world champ Anthony Joshua we have a sporting collision where literally anything could happen.

Nothing is off the table because all scenarios are highly possible. Everyone has got an opinion on what the outcome will be, but not many are 100% nailing their colours to the mast.

As you would expect, I am backing my man Daniel to the hilt and I think this is the fight that will bring him the recognition his talent and ability deserves.

To be quite honest, as much as I wanted to see it, I didn’t really imagine AJ would consider going up against the next generation of heavyweights led by Daniel. The old guard tend to be reluctant when it comes to taking on the threat of the new and often just stick to their own era.

I suspect AJ and his team didn’t much want this fight and it is only the fact that Daniel is in possession of the IBF world title that they were compelled to accept it. Would they have done it minus the belt? I very much doubt it.

Also Daniel is the man in form heading into battle. He has defeated two top previously unbeaten contenders – Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic – in his last two fights, while AJ embarked on a confidence-building mission against the likes of Robert Helanius and Otto Wallin.

Of course, all that being said, this fight remains fraught with danger for both men and AJ does carry the far greater experience. Both have huge power, which will come into play, no doubt, but this will be about generalship and who can dominate the tempo of the fight with his jab and create the openings.

As I have said before, the result of this fight could hinge on who lands the first mighty blow and how the other reacts to it.

Elsewhere on this bumper card are fights of huge significance with a major Queensberry flavour.

Hamzah Sheeraz, our strapping middleweight force, challenges for the European title against a resurgent Tyler Denny. It is a solid step for Hamzah, who is on the cusp of world title contention, so picking up more experience in a good fight for a prestigious title is ideal for him.

Willy Hutchinson doesn’t believe in baby steps. When he got himself firing again he said he wanted the biggest names in the British light heavyweight division and he started with a fine victory over former world title challenger Craig Richards.

Now he goes up against the celebrated 2016 Olympian Joshua Buatsi for the WBO Interim world title. If he can capture this belt he is really in business, with Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrii Bivol set to meet on October 12 for all the belts, with the possibility of some of them fragmenting.

Our world super featherweight champion Anthony Cacace is rewarded for his exploits in ripping the title from Joe Cordina with a tasty looking scrap against former featherweight world champion Josh Warrington.

This one, I feel, is destined to be an absolute cracker and I fancy Anto’s world title reign to continue.

Then we’ve got the Riyadh Golden Boy Mark Chamberlain adding another chapter to his tale of the unexpected against an unbeaten opponent in Josh Padley. Mark is on the brink of very big things and simply cannot afford to take his eyes off the prize.

So there is plenty to feast your eyes on when this banquet of boxing is served up at Wembley Stadium. Don’t miss a punch by tuning into from 4pm on Saturday.

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