The Bridge Lad
Striker
So today, Eddie Hearn has as expected added Kell Brook vs Frankie Gavin to the packed O2 May 30th bill, and again as expected, has made this PPV.
But looking at the card, it is full of genuine 50/50 relevant title fights instead of the 'names' vs cans in 1/100 fights like the Bellew-Cleverly undercard.
Dave Ryan vs John Wayne Hibbert
Commonwealth Light Welterweight title
http://www.oddschecker.com/boxing/dave-ryan-v-john-wayne-hibbert/winner - Both fighters 10/11.
A rematch for the belt Ryan was supposed to defend against Bradley Saunders in the main event at Newcastle last Saturday
John Ryder vs Nick Blackwell
vacant British middleweight title
http://www.oddschecker.com/boxing/john-ryder-v-nick-blackwell/winner - Ryder 5/6, Blackwell evens
2 highly rated domestic middleweight contenders.
Scott Cardle vs Craig Evans
vacant British lightweight title
http://www.oddschecker.com/boxing/scott-cardle-v-craig-evans/winner - Cardle 1/4, Evans 11/4 - wider, but still fairly close odds in boxing terms
2 young prospects putting their unbeaten records on the line. Cardle with Hearn, Evans with Warren
Anthony Joshua vs Kevin Johnson
I won't put the odds up here as Joshua is a clear favourite and you could probably count the number of shots Johnson throws on two hands and still have fingers remaining, but it is the best 'name' AJ has faced and Johnson despite being in with Vitali, Fury, Chisora etc has never been stopped in his losses, so it would be a bit of a statement if AJ stops him early. Not a great fight, but should add a few buys for the more casual fan with the big man on the card.
Evgeny Gradovich vs Lee Selby
IBF Featherweight title
http://www.oddschecker.com/boxing/lee-selby-v-evgeny-gradovich/winner - Selby 2/5, Grad 2/1
Defending champ Gradovich travels to take on Welshman Selby. Gradovich is unbeaten and the highly rated Selby just has one blemish on his record. Close fight that will likely go the distance, but a great chance for Lee to take the belt.
Jorge Linares vs Kevin Mitchell
WBC Leightweight title
http://www.oddschecker.com/boxing/kevin-mitchell-v-jorge-linares/winner - bookies can't really split them here. Both around 10/11
Another chance for Mitchell to finally win world honours in possibly his last attempt. Linares is well known and has been in some great fights in the past, but this may be the right time for Mitchell to face him as he has looked pretty decent recently, particularly in his last fight. I would expect a stoppage here
Kell Brook vs Frankie Gavin
IBF Welterweight title
http://www.oddschecker.com/boxing/kell-brook-v-frankie-gavin/winner - closer than a lot will expect. Gavin generally 4/1, Brook 1/6 (Gavin was 3s at Lads but has drifted)
Many will criticise this fight and they will have a right to, but i don;t mind it. Hearn always planned this as a fight when he signed Gavin, so in some ways it is good to get it out of the way in a very good show rather than as a stand alone PPV down the line. Gavin is highly ranked by the IBF and was due a final eliminator against Bradley (after Khan pulled) out, but has jumped the queue due to both having the same promoter and a voluntary defense for Brook. Kell should win and if this was it for him until Dec/Jan (fighting twice a year like most) then it would be a bit poor, but it is a ranked opponent and he is plannig on fighting Rios at the end of July / early August so at least he is active and gives himself an opportunity to build himself as a PPV fighter.
I've written a lot more than i intended here, but what an overall card that is . Loaded with genuine of 50/50 fights where you generally can't call it, unlike the Bellew PPV where it was a case of how many rounds Quigg, McDonnell, Groves etc would lose, if any. All these fights are relevant. I know PPV gets a lot of stick (mainly from me ), but no complaints here. It should be a top night of boxing. The only main issue is 2 PPV's in one month and a lot of the regular Sky shows have been weak of late, possibly because all the efforts have gone in this, but this really is a night of boxing not to be missed.
It is more of a 'hardcore' card with some might not be that interested in Ryan, Cardle etc, but who on here are planning to watch (buy, stream) this?
A couple more fights still to be added as well apparently. Roll on May 30th
But looking at the card, it is full of genuine 50/50 relevant title fights instead of the 'names' vs cans in 1/100 fights like the Bellew-Cleverly undercard.
Dave Ryan vs John Wayne Hibbert
Commonwealth Light Welterweight title
http://www.oddschecker.com/boxing/dave-ryan-v-john-wayne-hibbert/winner - Both fighters 10/11.
A rematch for the belt Ryan was supposed to defend against Bradley Saunders in the main event at Newcastle last Saturday
John Ryder vs Nick Blackwell
vacant British middleweight title
http://www.oddschecker.com/boxing/john-ryder-v-nick-blackwell/winner - Ryder 5/6, Blackwell evens
2 highly rated domestic middleweight contenders.
Scott Cardle vs Craig Evans
vacant British lightweight title
http://www.oddschecker.com/boxing/scott-cardle-v-craig-evans/winner - Cardle 1/4, Evans 11/4 - wider, but still fairly close odds in boxing terms
2 young prospects putting their unbeaten records on the line. Cardle with Hearn, Evans with Warren
Anthony Joshua vs Kevin Johnson
I won't put the odds up here as Joshua is a clear favourite and you could probably count the number of shots Johnson throws on two hands and still have fingers remaining, but it is the best 'name' AJ has faced and Johnson despite being in with Vitali, Fury, Chisora etc has never been stopped in his losses, so it would be a bit of a statement if AJ stops him early. Not a great fight, but should add a few buys for the more casual fan with the big man on the card.
Evgeny Gradovich vs Lee Selby
IBF Featherweight title
http://www.oddschecker.com/boxing/lee-selby-v-evgeny-gradovich/winner - Selby 2/5, Grad 2/1
Defending champ Gradovich travels to take on Welshman Selby. Gradovich is unbeaten and the highly rated Selby just has one blemish on his record. Close fight that will likely go the distance, but a great chance for Lee to take the belt.
Jorge Linares vs Kevin Mitchell
WBC Leightweight title
http://www.oddschecker.com/boxing/kevin-mitchell-v-jorge-linares/winner - bookies can't really split them here. Both around 10/11
Another chance for Mitchell to finally win world honours in possibly his last attempt. Linares is well known and has been in some great fights in the past, but this may be the right time for Mitchell to face him as he has looked pretty decent recently, particularly in his last fight. I would expect a stoppage here
Kell Brook vs Frankie Gavin
IBF Welterweight title
http://www.oddschecker.com/boxing/kell-brook-v-frankie-gavin/winner - closer than a lot will expect. Gavin generally 4/1, Brook 1/6 (Gavin was 3s at Lads but has drifted)
Many will criticise this fight and they will have a right to, but i don;t mind it. Hearn always planned this as a fight when he signed Gavin, so in some ways it is good to get it out of the way in a very good show rather than as a stand alone PPV down the line. Gavin is highly ranked by the IBF and was due a final eliminator against Bradley (after Khan pulled) out, but has jumped the queue due to both having the same promoter and a voluntary defense for Brook. Kell should win and if this was it for him until Dec/Jan (fighting twice a year like most) then it would be a bit poor, but it is a ranked opponent and he is plannig on fighting Rios at the end of July / early August so at least he is active and gives himself an opportunity to build himself as a PPV fighter.
I've written a lot more than i intended here, but what an overall card that is . Loaded with genuine of 50/50 fights where you generally can't call it, unlike the Bellew PPV where it was a case of how many rounds Quigg, McDonnell, Groves etc would lose, if any. All these fights are relevant. I know PPV gets a lot of stick (mainly from me ), but no complaints here. It should be a top night of boxing. The only main issue is 2 PPV's in one month and a lot of the regular Sky shows have been weak of late, possibly because all the efforts have gone in this, but this really is a night of boxing not to be missed.
It is more of a 'hardcore' card with some might not be that interested in Ryan, Cardle etc, but who on here are planning to watch (buy, stream) this?
A couple more fights still to be added as well apparently. Roll on May 30th