James Tennyson will face Josh O’Reilly in an Eliminator for the WBA Lightweight World Title on the undercard of Billy Joe Saunders’ WBO Super-Middleweight World Title defence against Martin Murray at The SSE Arena, Wembley on Friday December 4, shown live on Sky Sports and DAZN.
Tennyson (27-3, 23 KOs) continued his destructive form last time out in August at Matchroom Fight Camp as he claimed the vacant British Lightweight Title with a powerful sixth round stoppage win over brave Welshman Gavin Gwynne.
O’Reilly (16-0, 6 KOs) is undefeated in 16 fights since turning professional in July 2014, and the 29-year-old Canadian holds the North American Boxing Association Lightweight Title and a top ten ranking with the WBA.
“I’ve been grafting away with Eddie for over three years now and it has been an incredible journey, and while I’ve collected British, Commonwealth & European Titles, I feel I’m only getting warmed up,” said Tennyson. “I want the full deck, so I am continuously prepared to go deep until I get the World Title.
“Josh O’Reilly is undefeated and a great test for me, he is ranked 8 with the WBA and is their North American Champion, I am number 10 and the WBA International Champion, so we both have a lot to gain and it is a great achievement for us both to get this far.
“While it is pretty amazing to be out twice this year in big fights given the current climate we are living in, I’m getting pretty fed up with hearing these American’s names being thrown about as the next big thing. I would take Gamboa out in a few rounds and after the O’Reilly eliminator, I want to be headlining bills!”
Following a stunning 11th round KO in his last fight, Zach Parker (19-0-13 KOs) will be looking to impress again as he defends his WBO International Super Middleweight title against Cesar Nunez (17-2-1-9KOs).
The fight takes place on December 4th at Wembley Arena and will be live on Sky Sports and DAZN.
Ranked second by the WBO, sitting behind only Canelo and Champion Saunders, Parker is on a journey towards a world title shot of his own.
Last time out Parker expertly dispatched highly rated Rohan Murdock, then unbeaten in 22, with a showreel knockout to claim the WBO International Super Middleweight Title.
Parker believes he’s in line to make another statement on Dec 4th.
“I’m here and I’m ready to go again” said Derby County fan Parker. “Everyone knows I’m in the game to win world titles and fight on big shows. I’m ranked by the WBO as Billy Joe Saunders mandatory, he knows who I am, and I’m coming for him.
It’s my dream to bring a World Title back to Derby and I’ve worked really hard with my team to get into a place where we’re not far from a shot at that.”
Promoter Nisse Sauerland says he can’t wait to see his charge in the ring again.
“Zach is one of the most exciting fighters in the super middleweight division and one that is within touching distance of world level fights. He’s shown on a number of occasions now that he’s got heart, he can box and most importantly he’s got big punching power, capable of finishing a fight with one punch. He’s on his way to the top and December 4th is another opportunity for him to show what he can do.”
Neil Marsh, Parker’s manager echoed the thoughts, while acknowledging the challenges the sport has faced this year.
“I’m delighted to see Zach out before Christmas in what’s been a difficult time for the sport, Zach is the real deal and a monster at super middleweight. In 2021 the kid will arrive with a bang on the world stage.
I’d like to thank the Sauerlands for the opportunity and thank Eddie Hearn and Matchroom for the place on the bill”
The card’s main event sees Billy Joe Saunders make the second defence of his WBO Super-Middleweight World Title against British rival Martin Murray at The SSE Arena, Wembley on Friday December 4th, live on Sky Sports and DAZN.
PARKER: FANS WANT TO SEE KNOCKOUTS, I’LL DELIVER
Fighting pride of Derby wants Saunders-Murray winner
Zach Parker says he’ll deliver “what the fans want to see” when he takes on Cesar Nunez for the WBO International Super-Middleweight Title this evening at The SSE Arena, Wembley, live on Sky Sports and DAZN.
Following a stunning 11th round knockout win over Rohan Murdock in his last fight, Derby’s Parker (19-0, 13 KOs) is promising to produce another show-stopping finish as he looks to capture the attention of the 168lbs World Champions.
Should Parker claim victory, he’ll remain in line for a shot at the winner of tonight’s all-British WBO Super-Middleweight World Title showdown between undefeated champion Billy Joe Saunders and challenger Martin Murray.
“The fans watch boxing because they want to see knockouts, and I deliver knockouts” said Parker, who weighed in at 167lbs at the official weigh-in yesterday.
“In 2021 I’m looking at World Title shots, I’ve already said I’m after Billy Joe Saunders as he has the belt, but any of the World Champions in this division I’m looking at.
“I know I have a job to do here, and Nunez is an experienced fighter who has got a big chance to show what he can do. I can’t look past him, and I’m not, but World Title talk motivates me. I can’t let him get in my way of becoming the best”.
Parker’s promoter Nisse Sauerland says he can’t wait to see his charge in action again, describing the 26-year-old as a “knockout artist”.
“He knocks people out, he’s unbelievable at it. He has this ability to end a fight, a perfect combination of speed, timing and power.
“The future is really bright for Zach, but he’ll have to go to work tonight. He’s capable of stopping Nunez, but Nunez won’t make it easy for him.
“He gets this job done, then we start having the exciting conversations about 2021, he’ll be Mandatory and we’ll make that fight happen.”
Parker vs. Nunez is part of a big night of action in London, Belfast’s James Tennyson (27-3, 23 KOs) meets Canada’s Josh O’Reilly (16-0, 6 KOs) in an Eliminator for the WBA Lightweight World Title, Watford Super-Bantamweight Shannon Courtenay (5-1, 2 KOs) looks to return to winning ways against Poland’s Dorota Nurek (6-1, 1 KO), Derby’s Zach Parker (19-0, 13 KOs) takes on Spain’s Cesar Nunez (17-2-1, 9 KOs) for the WBO International Super-Middleweight Title, New Malden Super-Middleweight talent Lerrone Richards (13-0, 3 KOs) makes his Matchroom debut against Finland’s Timo Laine (28-14, 12 KOs), Southampton’s Lewis Edmondson (3-0) clashes with Manchester’s John Telford (11-2-1, 2 KOs) over six rounds at Super-Middleweight and exciting Sheffield Featherweight Donte Dixon (4-0, 3 KOs) meets Welshman Angelo Dragone (5-1) over six rounds.