May 11th promises to be a titanic day for British boxing, with world titles and minor shows that are sure to capture the public’s imagination at every turn.
Broadcast on BBC Wales, as well as Sky, the gaze of the general public turns to Cardiff, where Olympian Lauren Price dares to become the first Welsh female world champion, taking on the current Ring Magazine, WBA and IBO World Female Welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill.
Soaring through six professional fights – and with immeasurable amateur experience under her belt – Price is already capable enough to challenge the ‘CasKILLA’, who boasts much less amateur experience and a shaky few performances last time out; particularly a controversial draw against Sandy Ryan. Hence, it is no wonder the Olympic star enters the contest as the favourite.
Numerous other Welsh talents are to be broadcast on the card, primarily up-and-comers from Ben Shalom’s Boxxer promotional stable. Undefeated Rhys Edwards (15-0) is set to battle it out with Thomas Patrick Ward, whose only professional loss comes by way of Otabek Kholmatov, for the WBA Inter-Continental Featherweight title. This is an exciting match-up, with Edwards having faced little opposition on the level of the experienced operator Ward, who has already staked his claim to numerous national and regional titles over the years.
The bout between emerging talent Kane Shepherd (4-0) and lightweight Ishmael Ellis will prove to be noteworthy, with the majority of Ellis’s losses coming at the hands of noticeable talent – Dalton Smith, Harlem Eubank and Cameron Vuong, to name a few. Ellis will be looking to change his fortunes after a recent slate of losses, whilst Shepherd seeks to establish himself alongside these names.
Of course, it would be negligent not to mention the return of Hughie Fury to the public consciousness, after a low-key return in April. His opponent looks to be 40 year old German Patrick Korte (21-3-1), certainly a step-up from his last fight but still a lower-tier fighter; perhaps Fury is apprehensive about mixing at the top level again so soon after such a long absence.
Elsewhere, in London, Denzel Bentley is back; headlining a minor York Hall barnburner in his return fight after a major upset against Stoke-on-Trent native Nathan Heaney.
Bentley, who had only lost in the pursuit of greatness before (against Felix Cash and Zhanibek Alimkhanuly respectively) was the cause of major upset when he lost a majority decision to Nathan Heaney on the Magnificent Seven card last November.
Despite the loss to Heaney, Bentley is showing clear heart and determination by soldiering forwards, demonstrating he should be operating towards a world level. With the WBO International Middleweight title on the line, a win against 16-1-1 Danny Dignum would put him back in line for contention. Bentley, having taken Alimkhanuly the distance and Dignum suffering a second round KO loss to the same man, Bentley will be looking to make a statement at York Hall. A win under his belt could take Bentley ever-closer to an Alimkhanuly rematch.
Further down on the card, a European belt is on the line; with Francesco Grandelli (18-2-2), the current holder of the European Boxing Union Silver Featherweight title, putting it on the line against southpaw Nathaniel Collins (14-0). Frank Warren will be betting that the unbeaten Brit can snatch the belt away from the tricky but flawed Italian and put himself in line for the full title, currently held by another Italian, the 20-0-1 Mauro Forte.
York Hall will be privy to one more title defence, with 14-0 Ryan Garder defending his WBC International Super Featherweight title from the former English and British champ Liam Dillon, coming off a loss to Reece Bellotti. This is a chance for both men to make a statement and further establish themselves.
With two cards highlighting the wealth of growing and proven British talent, May 11th promises to be a showcase that is remembered on the world stage and the local scene alike.
Date, Time, Streaming Details, and Venue:
- Date: May 11th, 2024
- Start Time (USA): 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT
- Start Time (UK): 8:00 PM BST
- Streaming Details (USA): Peacock
- Streaming Details (UK): Sky Sports
- Venue: Utilita Arena, Cardiff
Fight Card
- Jessica McCaskill vs. Lauren Price, 10 rounds, for McCaskill’s WBA women’s welterweight title
- Rhys Edwards vs. Thomas Patrick Ward, 10 rounds, featherweights
- Mark Jeffers vs. Darren Johnstone, 10 rounds, super middleweights
- Kane Shepherd vs. Ishmael Ellis, 6 rounds, junior lightweights
- Kyran Jones vs. Lewis Howells, 6 rounds, super middleweights
- Hughie Fury vs. Patrick Korte, 6 or 8 rounds, heavyweights
- Moses Jolly vs. TBA, 6 rounds, heavyweights
- Lewis Edmondson vs. Joel McIntyre, 6 rounds, light heavyweights