IT’S DIFFICULT to not really feel desperately sorry for Deion Jumah, the gifted cruiserweight whose profession was final week ended by the sort of dangerous luck that can now possible outline it. Retinal harm pressured the Londoner to tug out of his alluring battle with 27-year-old Mikael Lawal and, with this being his second severe eye damage in recent times, Jumah introduced his retirement at the age of 33.
What we’re left with at the November 27 card at Alexandra Palace is not almost as interesting however, with solely 10 days’ discover, Boxxer pulled in a good late substitute in the form of East Kilbride puncher, David Jamieson. The vacant British title will nonetheless be on the line inside Alexandra Palace.
Lawal and Jumah had historical past. It was a contest that had been a very long time in the making, stemming again to outdated sparring periods from a decade or so in the past. So it’s helpful, if you happen to’re a broadcaster like Sky Sports, that Lawal and Jamieson have historical past, too.
In an precise struggle, no much less.
Back in 2019, in an Ultimate Boxxer semi-final, Lawal outhustled Jamieson over three aggressive rounds. It stays the Scot’s solely skilled loss. That backstory was possible the kicker for getting the rematch over the line.
Lawal is additionally the solely actual ‘name’ on Jamieson’s 9-1 (6) ledger. That’s if you happen to don’t embody Jake Darnell, the heavyweight who achieved infamy after being plucked from obscurity to be mauled by fellow debutant Frazer Clarke in February. Darnell, now 1-11, lasted 38 seconds longer with Jamieson however was nonetheless halted inside one spherical final month.
In February, David outpointed Samo Jangirov over 10 rounds and, at the similar Boxxer match he and Lawal acquired acquainted, Jamieson gained a decent three-rounder over Dan Cooper. Twelve rounds for the nationwide championship is an altogether completely different proposition.
Lawal’s report isn’t precisely gushing with proof that he can go on to rule the world, nevertheless. A harmful puncher he could be, albeit one with dangerous habits born of his come-forward model, Lawal, 16-0 (10), is definitely beatable. Throw in the indisputable fact that Lawal had spent an enormous proportion of his camp coaching for southpaw Jumah and it’s simple to grasp why some imagine Jamieson has an opportunity right here.
Yet the Nigeria-born, Shepherd’s Bush resident has quick and highly effective arms, he’s cellular and seems to have a good chin. When in full move he’s spectacular, and his background, one which options homelessness and flirtations with crime, is sure to push him ahead now he’s approaching massive alternatives as a part of the burgeoning Boxxer steady.
Lawal is but to go previous six rounds so his stamina stays a query mark however we fancy him to slowly pummel the resistance out of Jamieson to get the win in the second half.
Harder to name is the super-middleweight conflict between world-ranked leftie Lerrone Richards, 16-0 (3), and Fulham’s proficient Zak Chelli, 12-1-1 (6). English champion Chelli is in high-quality kind after wrecking the unbeaten ledgers of Jack Kilgannon (rsf 6) and Germaine Brown (pts 10) in April and June respectively. Richards, in the meantime, has been out of motion since scoring a career-best win over Carlos Gongora final December.
Don’t rule out the upset fully. Richards, although he has the makings of one thing particular, tends to coast and nearly swap off at instances. Chelli is technically sound and can include perception aplenty for this 10-rounder. However, we anticipate Richards to rise to the problem on this well-matched contest for which Boxxer needs to be applauded – it will, frankly, have been tempting to match each of them in separate, simpler, bouts. We go for Richards to win this one on the playing cards.
Slough’s Adam Azim may finish up as the bill-topper, such is the good feeling round the thrilling and gifted 20-year-old. There’s no query that Boxxer, and Sky Sports, are banking on this younger 6-0 (5) super-lightweight to attain massive issues in the sport. On all proof we’ve seen up to now, that religion is comprehensible.
Azim tackles the all the time prepared Rylan Charlton, 9-3-1 (4), of Norwich. The heavily-muscled Charlton, although a feisty tryer with a good dig, appears made for Azim. He decked Florian Marku in February 2021 earlier than being halted in eight and acquitted himself effectively in an April Boxxer match solely to fade in opposition to Dylan Cheema in the last. Expect Charlton, as per, to provide this the whole lot he’s acquired earlier than he’s taken out in the center rounds.
Walthamstow’s “Magic Man”, Sam Gilley, defends his English super-welterweight title in opposition to Ruislip’s Sean Robinson, 11-1-1. This is a giant step-up for Robinson who has solely banked 4 rounds in three years and this is his first struggle since December. Gilley, 14-1 (7), seemed good whereas stopping Drew Brown in April to win the belt and we anticipate the same lead to his first defence.
THE VERDICT: A stable ‘trade’ card that ought to enchantment to the hardcore.
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