BN Preview: Now finally set to go ahead, Lyndon Arthur cannot afford to take Braian Suarez lightly

CHANNEL FIVE cameras are in Bolton on Friday evening when light-heavyweight punchers Lyndon Arthur and Braian Suarez meet over 12 rounds. The combat was initially set for March 24 on the similar De Vere Whites Hotel however, the day earlier than, Suarez had an unspecified medical downside and had to pull out.

The Argentine was changed by Boris Crighton, a Scot Arthur knew nicely having sparred him forward of his fights with Anthony Yarde.

Mostly, it was an attention-grabbing 10-rounder quite than an thrilling one. Crighton was reluctant to commit, and Arthur was content material to peck away along with his jab. There was drama within the third after Arthur circled onto a proper, however he held himself collectively nicely sufficient to make Crighton miss along with his subsequent six punches.

George Groves, commentating on the combat for Channel Five, had them stage after 5, however for 2 of the judges, Arthur was doing sufficient.

He made certain of a unanimous factors win with a knockdown within the dying seconds; a chopping proper hander sending Crighton to the canvas moments after the Scot had some success himself. Arthur mentioned he felt “flat” and had been getting ready for “a completely different style.”

Suarez is aggressive, whereas Crighton stood off.

Perhaps extra ought to have been anticipated of Arthur towards a late substitute who had a stoppage loss to Diego Costa on his 10-1 document.

But then Arthur is Arthur. The 32-year-old can drift via fights wanting to just do sufficient to win, until he’s hit onerous or his coach tells him off.

Coach – and cousin – Pat Barrett has had to remind Arthur of his stage when he has obtained too snug towards the likes of Davide Faraci and Walter Gabriel Sequeira. Arthur stopped each after Barrett learn him the riot act.

He was switched on from the opening spherical towards puncher Anthony Yarde of their first combat and landed sufficient jabs to declare a career-best win however appeared undermotivated for the rematch – he believed he deserved greater than going over previous floor – and was subsequently overwhelmed in 4 rounds.

Arthur has had three wins since, stoppages of Sequeira (25-9-1) and English champion Joel McIntyre (20-4), and the factors win over Crighton.

We ought to see a superb model of Arthur on Friday evening. Suarez has the status – 15 wins inside three rounds on his 17-1 document – to swap him on from the opening bell.

If the 31-year-old begins throwing bombs at Arthur, he’s doubtless to throw heavy photographs again at him.

We know Arthur is an effective finisher and Suarez has been stopped early, by Venezuelan southpaw Albert Ramirez (13-0), an actual knockout specialist who boxed on the 2016 Rio Olympics. Suarez was down twice within the first.

He has additionally proven he can get off the ground to win, beating Durval Elias Palacio (9-1) in seven after being down within the first final March.

He seems to be the same measurement to Arthur – presumably half-an-inch shorter than the Mancunian’s 6ft 2ins – however Arthur seems to have the faster lead hand and when he stiffens it, there’s weight behind it. Expect Athur to harm Suarez after which end him across the center rounds.

The vacant British super-welterweight championship can be on the road in Bolton.

Ellesmere Port’s Mason Cartwright meets Samuel Antwi for the belt vacated by Josh Kelly, who took the title from Troy Williamson with that masterclass final December.

For each, it’s their second shot on the Lonsdale Belt. Cartwright misplaced narrowly to Williamson (Darlington) in a problem for the 154lbs title final March.

That was certainly one of 2022’s finest home fights, Cartwright dropping a unanimous choice by 5 rounds on two playing cards and one on the opposite after scoring a second-round knockdown and rallying late.

Antwi challenged Nottingham’s Ekow Essuman (17-0) for the British and Commonwealth welterweight titles on the Joe Joyce-Joseph Parker undercard in Manchester final September and misplaced by 5, three and one rounds.

The South Londoner celebrated on the ultimate bell, satisfied he had achieved sufficient.

Antwi says his nook advised him he was forward.

The 31-year-old has made a change since and may have Gary Logan in his nook on Friday evening.

Logan is a part of Adam Booth’s staff and made two unsuccessful bids for the British super-welterweight title himself, being stopped in six by Manchester puncher Ensley Bingham in April 1996, and 5 by Jamie Moore seven years later, the Londoner’s final combat.

Antwi admitted he wasn’t planning to field for titles at 154lbs. He has had a few wins across the weight, over imports Omir Rodriguez (13-4-1) and Ruben Angulo (8-7-2), however says it wasn’t a profession transfer.

Rather, he wanted to combat and that was the burden the place he discovered a match.

Regarding this shot, he mentioned: “It’s not on daily basis you get an opportunity like this come alongside.

“I’m not going to rule out going back down to 147, but I know I can handle myself at 154.”

Cartwright has additionally fought at 147lbs and 154lbs in his 19-3-1 profession and admits the transfer up could make Antwi “feel 10 times better.”

Cartwright has seemed higher on the greater weight. At 147lbs, he was stopped on a lower by widespread opponent Darren Tetley and outgunned by Danny Ball, however he went 12 onerous rounds towards Williamson, forcing the sturdy champion to field quite than brawl after dropping him and hurting him early.

Antwi has a stoppage win over fighter Cartwright has misplaced to (Tetley), however that was at 147lbs. He is unproven at super-welter.

Cartwright, who’s had routine wins over Angel Emilov (10-40-1) and Vasif Mamedov (3-31-3) since, is an inch taller than Antwi at round 5ft 9ins, however the Londoner has lengthy arms and fires a quick right-hand counter.

Essuman beat him – as he beats all his opponents – along with his work-rate.

Cartwright, educated by Danny Withington and managed by Steve Wood, is extra doubtless to depend on his aggression and energy.

He may have round 300 supporters cheering him ahead and we go for Cartwright to ship them house pleased by grinding out a factors win.