Running Towards Adversity - Fight Night Programme

Fight Night Programme

Good evening everybody and welcome to what will be a special and spectacular night here at Portman Road, Fabio Wardley’s Field of Dreams.

https://tinyurl.com/Wardley-vs-Huni

Promoters Message

When we discussed teaming up with Fabio, his No.1 priority and burning desire was to headline a show here at the home of his beloved Ipswich Town. We are always happy to stage stadium shows and fulfil the dreams of our fighters, as we have done before with the likes of Joe Calzaghe, Kevin Mitchell, Josh Warrington and Carl Frampton and will hopefully do again next year with young Ryan Garner.

So I am delighted to be here at Portman Road delivering for Fabio, who is fully deserving of his big night. It means so much to him to perform in front of his people, many of whom he knows well through the connection to Ipswich.

Unfortunately, on the football side of things, it didn’t go so well for Ipswich in the season just gone after the remarkable exploits of the previous two seasons, so hopefully we can all enjoy a home win tonight.

It won’t be a routine victory. Justis Huni means business and is an unbeaten heavyweight who has travelled over all the way from Brisbane, Australia.

Huni is gambling. He was ranked as No.1 contender by the WBO and has forfeited this position for a shot at the WBA Interim world title against Fabio.

We originally had Jarrell Miller set for the opposite corner and now, if anything, we’ve got a tougher opponent for Fabio in Justis, who was an excellent amateur and undefeated in 12 as a pro.

My appreciation goes to Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing, along with Tasman Fighters and Goldstar, for their help in making this fight happen.

It might be a bit more nip and tuck than it would have been against Big Baby Miller, so Fabio will have to figure out the code to unlock the gate to land his big bombs - and I am sure he will.

The winner tonight, as Interim world champion, will be right in line to face the WBA champion, who is Oleksandr Usyk. However, after July 19, I hope and believe it will be Daniel Dubois in possession of all the belts following a glorious night at Wembley Stadium.

Supporting the main event tonight we’ve got a European super lightweight title fight between our man Pierce O’Leary, the tough and talented Dubliner, taking on the rugged, battle-hardened Londoner Liam Dillon.

You just know this will be a top fight because attack is the only way both fighters know. If successful, Pierce is only a step or two away from world title contention and becoming world champion, I believe, is his destiny.

I am delighted to welcome the big Albanian heavyweight Nelson Hysa onto the card tonight. He is a big punching KO-artist with 20 stoppages to his name and unbeaten in 22. Nelson enjoys a massive following and, if he impresses tonight, we’ve got more than a few heavyweights we could consider matching him with.

We also have the professional debut of British Olympic medalist Lewis Richardson. Lewis was Britain’s sole medal winner at the Games and he is looking to become a middleweight force in the pro game.

I am very much looking forward to watching his progression towards title contention.

We’ve got a very interesting scrap at cruiserweight between former world title challenger Mike Perez and popular Irishman Steven Ward. The Cuban Perez actually lives in Ireland so there is a peculiar local rivalry between the pair.

Before I close, I would like to extend my thanks, as always, to our wonderful sponsors Riyadh Season, 32Red, Global Next Trade, Fleximise, Unibet and That Prize Guy for their magnificent support, along with the Global Home of Boxing, DAZN. Most of all, my appreciation goes to you, the fans, for coming out in support of the boxers and making the watching of live boxing such a special experience.

I hope you enjoy your evening.

Best wishes

Frank Warren