Queensbury promotions, Zuffa Boxing and Top Rank bring three entertaining boxing shows throughout March and April.
March 28th Top Rank present a show at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, featuring undefeated US Olympic heavyweight Richard Torrez 14-0 (12 Ko’s) pitching himself into the stiffest test of his career when he meets the once beaten and much avoided Cuban Flash, Frank Sanchez. Sanchez 25-1 (18 Ko’s) last boxed in February of last year, bouncing back from his sole loss to Kabayel, stopping Ramon Echeverria. Frank’s most notable win was his 2021 victory over the on form Efe Ajagba which earned him the NABO belt. Torrez most notable win to date was a unanimous win over the tough Guido Vianello last April to earn the NABO that once belonged to Sanchez. The hard punching Torrez last boxed in November with a 1 round blast out of Tomas Salek.
On April 11th at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London Zuffa Boxing has added an interesting bout to the Tyson Fury v Arslan Makhmudov card, featuring the return of once beaten action fighter, Conor Benn 24-1 (14 Ko’s) meeting former world champion and equally exciting southpaw Regis Prograis 30-3 (24 Ko’s). Prograis, a former 2 time super lightweight champion has faced a glossary of notable opposition throughout his 14 year career, including Devin Haney, Jack Catterall, Josh Taylor and Julius Indongo. It’s fair to say that his premium years are in the rear view mirror, however he’s a class operator who always entertains. Regis last boxed in august where he earned a unanimous win over Joseph Diaz.
Benn appears to riding the crest of a wave, enjoying his new found fame since his two high profile fights with Chris Eubank Jr at Middleweight. However despite these popular performances, the only notable name at his current and more natural weight was a 4th round knockout of Chris Algieri in 2021. Conor hasn’t boxed at 146 pounds for 4 years and may find Prograis a level above where he has been operating. Benn recently caused a stir by signing a very unique 1 fight 8 figure deal with Zuffa boxing without consulting personally with his current promoter Eddie Hearn who appeared to have salvaged Benn’s career several years prior, following the dark cloud of the banned substance allegations. Youth and energy may win the day in this one, but the questions that may be asked surround Conor’s return to 146 pounds.
Finally on April 25th at the Adidas arena in Paris France, Queensbury boxing in association with DAZN, present a clash of two former Olympians who have ambitions of gatecrashing the very active heavyweight scene when once beaten former 2 weight world champion Lawrence Okolie 23-1 (17 Ko’s) takes on the enigmatic and erratic 2016 Olympic super heavyweight champion, Tony Yoka of France 15-3-0 (12 Ko’s).
Going into 2022, Yoka appeared to have the world at his feet with an undefeated record of 11-0 with 9 knockouts, however, Tony took a step up in 2022 and suffered a damaging defeat to Martin Bakole, followed by back to back defeats at the hands of Ryad Merhy and Carlos Takam. The tall rangy former Yoka has since sprung back into contention with 4 straight wins albeit against sub par opposition. Yoka has also since based himself primarily in the Uk and harboured aspirations of landing the AJ fight. Yoka’s most impressive performance on paper was possibly his 2020 stoppage of former World title challenger Johann Duhaupas. Yoka last boxed in November, scoring a 1 round stoppage of Patrick Korte.
Since moving up to heavyweight, Lawrence Okolie has been begging for the more notable names and Yoka shouldn’t disappoint. This will be Lawrence’s 4th fight up at heavyweight having previously held both the WBC Bridgerweight and WBO cruiserweight championships. and his sole loss was a 2023 majority decision defeat to Chris Billam Smith, weighing almost 70 pounds less than he does currently. At heavyweight Okolie appears to have found his true calling, he has reinvented himself as a monster, frequently weighing between 260 and 270 pounds. In Okolie’s last appearence, he forced a second round stoppage last December over the usually durable Ebenezer Tetteh in Nigeria.