Queensbury’s Princes to Become Kings at CopparBox

James DeGale and Lee Selby will defend their IBF world titles at the Copper Box Arena this weekend, with an undercard full of future champions, run by Frank Warrens Queensbury Promotions. Mihail Mitov previews the action.

Copper Box
Copper Box

James DeGale (23-1-1) will attempt to make his forth successful title defence against 34-year-old American Caleb Traux (28-3-2).

DeGale, who made history by becoming the first Brit to win an Olympic Gold and World Title will return to fight in the UK for the first time in four years. The London based fighter last fought on these shores against Marco Antonio Periban at the Echo Arena in 2014.

Lee Selby (25-1) will defend his IBF World Featherweight Title against 24-year-old southpaw Eduardo Ramirez. The 30-year-old Welsh Champion will step into the ring for the first time after his unanimous decision win in July against Jonathan Victor Barros.

The undercard will also feature heavyweight prospect ‘Triple D’ Daniel Dubois who has been in ferocious form, and ‘The Beast’ Anthony Yarde who will be defending his WBO European and Inter-Continental Light Heavyweight Titles.

MAIN EVENT
James ‘Chunky’ DeGale will face Caleb Traux for the IBF Super Middleweight Title after his unification fight against Sweden’s Badou Jack ended a draw at the Barclays Centre in January, where He lost a tooth.
The 31-year-old Olympic gold champion has a new tooth and will be competing for the first time in his home country after three years on the road in America and Canada.

The IBF champion told BoxNation “this is a good opponent. I actually got a bit of a stick when it was first announced. This is the perfect fight back.”

The fighter also gave his opinion about the current situation in the Super Middleweight Division:
“It is hot right now, especially in England. There a lot of big fights out there for me. Everyone wants to see the rematch between me and Groves. Eubank is another who has a lot to say and his dad as well.”

For DeGale’s opponent Caleb Traux, this will be his second world title shot, after he was stopped on his feet in the 12th round against Danny Jacobs in 2015 for the WBA World Middleweight Title.

EXCITED
Lee Selby, who faces Eduardo Ramirez, also for IBF World Title this time at featherweight, is excited for the challenge. The 30-year-old Welshman Selby nicknamed ‘Lightning’ is defending his belt for the fifth time after defeating Evgeny Gradovich at the O2 Arena in May 2015.
Speaking to iFL tv Selby said:

“I am very excited. It’s one of the biggest shows we’ve seen in Britain. We’ve got, I believe pound-for-pound two of the best boxers on the show.”

Selby also shared that a fight with fellow Brit Carl Frampton is ‘possible’.
For Eduardo Ramirez this will be his first World Title fight and first bout in the United Kingdom.

YOUNG LIONS
One of the hottest names in the Heavyweight division and former sparring partner of Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois will also be on the card. The 20-year-old nicknamed ‘Dynamite’ will fight for the sixth time in his career, and look to extend his 100% knockout record after turning professional this April.

Dubois, who has been deemed by Frank Warren as the hardest hitting Heavyweight since Tyson, will face Weshman Dorian Darch.

Anthony Yarde also features on the undercard. The 26-year-old will defend his WBO European Light-Heavyweight Title against former World title challenger, Nikola Sjekloca.For Yarde this would be a second defence of his European belt after his win against Norbert Nemesapati in September.

Archie Sharp is the last of the three young prospects who will be fighting on the bill. The 22-year-old Super-Featherweight’s opponent is to be announced, but this would be Sharp’s fourth consecutive fight at the Copper Box, and with his ever growing army of fans from Essex combined with his recent devastating form, the venue is starting to become regarded as his home stomping ground.

 

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