The Birmingham Boxing Column has complied a list of fights it would like to see some of Birmingham and the Black Country’s finest have this year. There are some that will definitely happen but there are a few that may not due to all kinds of reasons like being from different promotions and tv channels, fighters having other options to take and promoters not wanting to take the risk with there fighters. None of these fights are confirmed and are basically just fights the column would like to see.
We start off with a fight which almost definitely will happen.
Amy Timlin v Carly Skelly
Super-bantamweight Commonwealth Title
Rematch
There first fight was on the Matchroom PPV show October 31st with Derek Chasora and Oleksandr Usyk as the main event. The Timlin, Skelly fight was a cracker with both fighters bringing the best out of each other in a very close contest. After 10 rounds the three judges could not split them with one judge going for Timlin, one going for judge Skelly and the third judge having it a draw. Myself I had it even but did think Timlin could have made this an easy victory if she had used her boxing more and not been drawn into a war. That said Timlin going to war made this fight a cracking contest but I think if she uses her technical skills she will win the rematch easy.
Craig Richards v Shakan Pitters
British Light Heavyweight title
Rematch
I’m sure this fight will definitely happen as Birmingham’s Shakan Pitters will look to rewrite the records after being stopped by Richards in the ninth round of the main event on the Hennessy Sports Promotion show live on channel 5 December 18th. This was a big shock for a lot of people, especially myself as I thought Shakan would win this easy. Richards had a great game plan and after putting Pitters down in the forth round grew in confidence, Pitters showed heart and great intestinal fortitude the get himself back into the fight and was winning on my card and the judges. Richards caught him in the ninth and took his opportunity to stop Pitters and hand him his first defeat in his professional career. I honestly have no doubt that Shakan will reclaim his title and set the record straight and will only come back stronger and wiser for this defeat. This is definitely a fight I want to see.
Ted Cheeseman v Sam Eggington
Any title available at Super Welterweight
Rematch
I’m sure this fight will definitely happen as Birmingham’s Shakan Pitters will look to rewrite the records after being stopped by Richards in the ninth round of the main event on the Hennessy Sports Promotion show live on channel 5 December 18th. This was a big shock for a lot of people, especially myself as I thought Shakan would win this easy. Richards had a great game plan and after putting Pitters down in the forth round grew in confidence, Pitters showed heart and great intestinal fortitude the get himself back into the fight and was winning on my card and the judges. Richards caught him in the ninth and took his opportunity to stop Pitters and hand him his first defeat in his professional career. I honestly have no doubt that Shakan will reclaim his title and set the record straight and will only come back stronger and wiser for this defeat. This is definitely a fight I want to see.
Rachel Ball v Ebanie Bridges
WBA World Bantamweight title
‘The Ginger Matador’ Rachel Ball was meant to fight Bridges on the 14th November last year for the World title but Bridges had to pull out due to an injury. Ball went on and fought on the same night but for the WBC interim super-bantamweight against the current IBF super Flyweight champ Jorgelina Guanini beating her on points. The fight against Bridges is unfinished business and Ball has already stated she would like to get this fight on this year. There is not much stopping this fight being made as both fighters fight on Matchroom shows.
Brad Foster v Gamal Yafai
British, Commonwealth & European super-bantamweight titles
Now this would be a cracking fight of that I have no doubt, you have the unbeaten British & Commonwealth super-bantamweight champ Brad Foster from Litchfield against the newly crowned European and former Commonwealth Super Bantamweight champ Gamal Yafai from Birmingham. This would be a fantastic clash and a great advertisement for Midlands boxing but unfortunately I can’t see it happening. Foster is with Queensberry promotions who air there fights on BT sports and Yafai is with Matchroom promotions who air on Sky sports so I could see this being a big problem. Its a shame as this has fight of the year written all over it as I honestly could not pick a winner. Both fighters have great power and boxing skills the only thing that would be in Yafai’s favour is his great amateur pedigree.
I do hope the promotion companies can sort this fight out as it would be a cracker.
River Wilson-Bent v Idris Virgo
Midlands Area Middleweight title
River Wilson-Bent made a massive statement on the undercard of the Hennessy Sports Promotion show on December 18th of last year beating the unbeaten Troi Coleman for the Midlands area Middleweight title. Wilson-Bent stopped the talented Coleman in the 3rd round to win the title live on Channel five. Wilson-Bent took no time at all to call out fellow Hennessy fighter Idris Virgo to challenge him for the title. Virgo engaged with Wilson-Bent in the interview straight after Wilson-Bent’s fight but turned it into a kind of joke. River then came on the Bbcolumn’s YouTube program ‘Welcome to Fightden’ where he said “he calls himself ‘the one and only’, his more like the one and phoney”. I then commented on one of Virgo’s many Instagram statuses asking if he would be fighting Wilson-Bent next? Virgo replied “Midlands area belt doesn’t hold weight so not interested to be honest.
This would be one of the easiest fights to make as both fighters are managed by the same manager and both fight on the Hennessy shows. The stumbling block seems to be that ‘The one and only' ‘The Body Breaker' Idris Virgo just don’t want it, he is 10 without defeat but as yet has not fought anyone of any note. Wilson-Bent has only had 8 fights and is also unbeaten but has fought at a much higher level hence why he is the Midlands champ. Virgo says the Midlands title holds no weight in boxing but if you look at his points tally on boxrec you can see that it does. Virgo who is 10 and 0 has a score of 26 on boxrec while Wilson-Bent who is 8 and 0 has a score 1313, so just on that stat you can see how much the Midlands title holds in pro boxing. I can see why Virgo wouldn’t want this fight but honestly think he needs it more than Wilson-Bent who must have his eye on English and British titles at Middle or Super Welterweight. In my opinion it is a fight Virgo should be asking for so he can prove to sceptics and haters that he is not just hype, but I won’t be hold my breath.
Kaisee Benjamin v Danny Ball
WBC International or English if Vacated Welterweight titles
Rematch
They fought for the area title in March 2019 where the fight ended in a draw, I always thought that there next fight would be a rematch but both fighters seemed to go in different directions. Ball has went on and won the WBC International Welterweight title with a third round stoppage of Mason Cartwright. The first fight was a cracker and I’m sure if these two champs got it on again it would be even better contest than the first.
Liam Davies v Kyle Williams
English or any International or Intercontinental titles at Bantamweight.
This would be a cracking fight between two Midlands fighters who are both in the top 10 in the British rankings. Davies has just won the English Bantamweight title stopping Sean Cairns in the sixth round on November 21st of last year on a Matchroom show live on Sky sports. Williams who is a former English champ has lost 3 out of his last four fights but has been fighting at a much higher level as he challenged for the British, WBO European and then took on the world class Charlie Edwards in his last fight. This would be an excellent test for Davies as you would say Williams is the next level and if he could beat him he would be better prepared to challenge for the bigger titles. It would also be a good fight for Williams as if he beat a hot prospect like Davies he could see himself challenging again for the big titles. This is a fight that would be easy to make as both fighters are managed by Errol Johnson and on paper would be a great fight.