A WELCOME FROM
EDDIE HEARN T
his is a huge fight for Conor Benn and a monumental step-up. We saw Sebastian Formella tough it out with Shawn Porter a few months ago and he didn’t stop trying for 12 rounds, showing a great chin and a lot of heart. I have to give Conor a lot of credit, although he has been inactive, he hasn’t left the gym and feels that after all he has learned, now is the time to take that big leap. This is the fight that can make him a genuine World level contender - it’s sink or swim time! Fabio Wardley looked brilliant last time out at Fight Camp as he stopped Simon Vallily in three rounds to claim the English Heavyweight Title, and Dillian Whyte’s protégé doesn’t intend on hanging around. Next up for the Ipswich contender is a scheduled ten rounder with bigpunching Ghanaian Richard Lartey who isn’t afraid of having a tear-up, as we saw when he went to war over four
rounds with Daniel Dubois. Alen Babic is quickly establishing himself as everyone’s favourite Heavyweight hope and tonight he comes up against someone equally as popular in Hatfield’s Tom Little. The Croatian has enhanced his reputation as ‘The Savage’ with five straight KO wins but Little says the Croatian has finally met his match. Ben Ridings against Jez Smith over six rounds in the Middleweight division is going to be an absolute war. Boxing is all about staying ready and taking your opportunities when they come, and both of these guys leapt at the chance to fight when we offered it to them this week. Liam Davies versus Sean Cairns for the vacant English Bantamweight Title is exactly the type of fight that I want to kick off our shows with. It’s a 50-50 fight and a massive opportunity for both men to go out and make a huge statement. ■
Programme Editor: Daniel Barnard (daniel.barnard@matchroom.com) Fighter Interviews: Scott Hammerton and Jamie Ward Design: Hashtag Digital Media (hdmdigitalsales@gmail.com) Photographs: Mark Robinson Master of Ceremonies: David Diamante
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THE
DESTROYER
C
onor Benn is planning on announcing himself on the world stage when he takes on former IBO Welterweight World Champion Sebastian Formella at the top of a bill at The SSE Arena, Wembley. ‘The Destroyer’ (16-0, 11 KOs) heads into his toughest assignment to date in explosive form, having scored two big knockout wins in 2019, firstly obliterating Jussi Koivula in two brutal rounds at York Hall in June, and then taking out Steve Jamoye in four rounds at The O2 in October.
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NOVEMBER 21 2020
The 24-year-old Essex native knows he has his work cut out against Germany’s Formella (22-1, 10 KOs), who went the distance with two-time World Champion Shawn Porter last time out in his sole career defeat, but insists that fans can expect a “true Benn style” win. “My life has changed drastically over the last six months,” said Benn. “Now that I’ve got a son coming it gives you a different perspective on life. I came into this game at 19. I haven’t got big amateur pedigree. It’s all learning. There’s no ceiling to my career so I think
BENN VS FORMELLA
“I PLAN ON MAKING A STATEMENT”
that’s the exciting thing about it. “Is it all going to be smooth sailing? No, of course it isn’t. At the end of the day, you’ve got the appreciate the downs and the ups, because that’s what makes the ups so special. This is all about legacy and striving for greatness. “We’ve got a world level opponent in Sebastian Formella. His only loss came against Shawn Porter, and as we all know he lost on points. It’s a tough fight and a massive step up but I don’t believe he’s got anything that I need to worry about. “Is he tricky? Is he this, is he that? Is he
well experienced? Is he a 33-year-old man who’s just lost to Porter on points? I plan on going in there and making a statement, it doesn’t really bother me. They said the same about Koivula, people thought I was going to lose. He was a three-time European Title challenger, I banged him out in two. “I plan on really taking it to him. It doesn’t take a lot to get me going. With or without a crowd, a fight is a fight. I plan on winning this fight in true Benn style. I’ll find a way to win. Come November 21 I plan on showing exactly what I’m made of.” ■
5
HAFENBASTI
S
ebastian Formella says he is ready to inflict a first career defeat on Britain’s rising Welterweight star Conor Benn. Formella was an outstanding amateur with over 150 fights culminating in domestic honours and plenty of international experience. A keen gymnast as a youngster, Formella made the switch to boxing at the age of 15 to combat his hyperactivity. The 33-year-old worked as a crane operator at Hamburg’s famous port before turning professional with three fights in the space of two weeks in May 2014 as he stopped Pavel Herman, Alichan Tersbulatov, and Jozsef Korman. Germany’s Formella went on a 22-fight winning streak, picking up the IBO Welterweight crown against Roberto Arriaza in January earlier this year, before taking two-time World Champion Shawn Porter the distance in his first career defeat in August. Despite conceding many attributes, Formella toughed it out with the elite level American before being shut out on the scorecards. His loss to Porter demonstrated his toughness, and he’ll be confident of asserting himself at that level again someday should he get past Benn.
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NOVEMBER 21 2020
BENN VS FORMELLA
“I’LL WIN THIS FIGHT; I WON’T MAKE IT EASY FOR HIM” “Conor is a strong undefeated man who likes to box at home,” said Formella. “This will not be an easy fight. Conor is a difficult fighter to face with good skills. It will be an entertaining fight. I have trained very hard. Of course, I will win the fight on Saturday, I won’t make it easy for him. “It makes me very proud to fight in the UK this year after my debut in the USA. A fight with spectators would have been even better, but to box in the UK at all is great. I’m savouring the experience. “I learnt to put up my hands and have a good defence in my last fight against Shawn Porter. This is a short turnaround after the Porter fight, but it was enough time to change things up a little bit. I’m ready to perform. “He is a good fighter and I have seen many of his fights. He comes forward and has a good defence when he wants. It could be a tactical fight, or we could stand toe-to-toe and fight it out in the middle of the ring.” ■
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A GENUINE
CONTENDER
E
nglish Heavyweight Champion Fabio Wardley is expecting a hard night’s work from Richard Lartey when they go to war in a scheduled ten-rounder. The rising Ipswich star (9-0, 8 KOs) stopped Simon Vallily in three rounds of their highly anticipated grudge match to pick up the vacant English Title - his first professional belt - on the opening weekend of Matchroom Fight Camp back in August. Dillian Whyte’s Heavyweight protégé hasn’t put a foot wrong since turning professional in April 2017, and the 25-yearold feels like he is ready to push on towards more Title opportunities following his breakout win in the Matchroom HQ garden. Next up for Wardley is bigpunching Ghanaian Lartey (14-3, 11 KOs), who in his last two fights has gone to war in a fourth-round stoppage loss against
9
“THIS IS A GOOD TEST FOR ME” British Champion Daniel Dubois, and extended the highly-rated Nathan Gorman to a points decision in October. “I didn’t really have to take this kind of step-up,” said Wardley. “I could have taken something easier. These are the type of moves that I want to make. I want to test myself to see where I can go and what I can get out of this sport. Lartey always comes to fight so we’re going to put on a good performance. “He’s durable and he can be a bit crude from time to time. He’s always
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NOVEMBER 21 2020
there to fight and to put it on you. When he turns up, he’s there to take your face off. He’s swinging those big hooks and big rights hands. If you don’t get out of the way they’re going to clock you. “That’s what we’re looking for from him, someone who’s coming in and won’t be scared of anything. We know he can take a punch, so when I land those big shots on him, I know he’s going to keep marching forwards at me. It’s going to be a good test to see how I handle that in the ring. “We want to start moving on to those bigger rounds, those bigger fights and those bigger names. We want to keep pushing forwards and moving on. I’m always there to finish my opponents. I don’t ever want to leave it to the judges. That’s what I’ll be looking to do against Lartey. As long as I put on a good performance and finish him off, I’ll be happy.” ■
BENN VS FORMELLA
NO LARTEY
NO PARTY R
ichard Lartey made a destructive start to his professional career back in his native Ghana in January 2013 when stopping Mukadi Olaide in the second round. He maintained his devastating stoppage streak with five further TKO wins culminating in capturing the vacant Ghanaian Heavyweight crown with a second round win over Aduku Nsor. Inactive for the bulk of 2014, Lartey made a return at the backend of the year weighing nearly 80lbs more when losing in five rounds to Ergun Mersin. A near three-year hiatus from boxing ensued but Lartey returned in September 2017 to fight twice in a week when defeating Aduku Nsor once more before halting David Okai. Lartey rebuilt his ledger for the best part of 2018 with a highlight being a ninth-round stoppage of Morris Okolla for the WBO African Title. He ventured to Britain in April 2019 but was destroyed in four rounds by the impressive Daniel Dubois in an entertaining scrap. The popular African returned to England in October 2020 to face Nathan Gorman and was handily outscored over all ten rounds in
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NOVEMBER 21 2020
BENN VS FORMELLA
“I’M HERE TO PROVE MY WORTH” Stratford. A dangerous fighter in the early rounds, Lartey is hoping to make it third time lucky against British opposition when he takes on Wardley in a scheduled ten rounder. “Thank you very much for this opportunity,” Lartey told promoter Eddie Hearn at Thursday’s press conference. “I respect Matchroom for giving me such a wonderful opportunity to appear on this bill. Thank you to Wardley for accepting this contest. “I have to respect anybody that I come into contact with in the ring. No party, no Lartey is coming on Saturday. We’re coming to do some wonderful work in the ring, and I can’t wait for the opening bell to go. “I respect my opponent and the people that have brought me here to fight in London again. This is my third time being in London. I’ve got a lot of fans who I know will be watching. I thank them for what they are doing for me. “I know definitely something massive and positive is going to come on Saturday night. I’m not here to joke, I’m here to prove my worth. He might be looking at me as just an opponent, but I will be aiming to make my own statement.” ■
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THE
SAVAGE
A
len Babic became embroiled in a bitter war of words with Hatfield’s Tom Little during Thursday’s final press conference inside Matchroom’s Wembley bubble. Little has previously spoken highly of his former opponent Filip Hrgovic, who Babic is locked in an emerging all-Croatian rivalry with. Babic stared at Little and demanded to know: “Why does he talk like that? I said nothing but nice things so why do you take Hrgovic’s side? That’s a sell-out. You can’t be in ‘The Savage’ army anymore. “There is a lot of disrespect. They always talk about Hrgovic. I don’t care about him - he has fought no-one. You are not a friend; you are a sell-out. Hrgovic said you are a bum, but you take his side? “You have done cross-fit for one month and you talk like you have the biggest arms. He talks like I am nothing. I have five fights, 10 rounds. Everybody beat you, brother! “’The Savage’ is mad. I was his friend when he was as fat as a doughnut. Now he says he will finish me then say ‘Hrgovic is better’. Why does he say this? The Dillian Whyte-backed Croatian enhanced his growing reputation as ‘The Savage’ by destroying American Shawndell Winters in two rounds on the Matchroom Fight Camp finale in August.
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NOVEMBER 21 2020
BENN VS FORMELLA
“EVERYONE CAN KEEP DOUBTING ME”
The 30-year-old KO artist then blasted out Irishman Niall Kennedy in three rounds to bring up his fifth straight knockout win in five fights on the Buatsi vs. Calic undercard last month. Many have questioned whether Babic is big enough to become a major force in the Heavyweight division, saying that he lacks the size to trouble the bigger boys of the division. Despite hitting the scales inside the Cruiserweight limit for his last fight, Babic insists that size really doesn’t matter and the former doorman is happy to continue to prove his doubters wrong. “Everyone can keep doubting me. I’ve heard enough. I keep knocking everyone out in two rounds. I’ll knock him out in one round. One round is my plan. Everyone keeps questioning me. “It’s been a busy period, but I don’t want to rest, I want to fight. ‘The Savage’ is waiting to be released to score another KO.” ■
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NOTHING BUT
FIREWORKS
T
om Little has promised to “tear lumps” out of Alen Babic when they collide over eight rounds. The Hatfield native (10-8, 3 KOs) has shared the ring with some huge punchers including Filip Hrgovic, David Price and Daniel Dubois, and insists that he has nothing to fear from ‘The Savage’, who heads into this weekend’s clash with five knockouts from five fights. Little was last seen losing to former amateur standout Mahammadrasul Majidov on the Ruiz vs. Joshua 2 undercard in Saudi Arabia last December, but the 33-year-old wants to be more than just an opponent for rising contenders, and plans on
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NOVEMBER 21 2020
making his own statement against Croatia’s Babic. “I’m massively motivated for this fight,” said Little. “No disrespect to Alen. He’s a great fighter. At this particular moment in time I don’t see him as a level above anyone I’ve boxed already. I’ve had a look at him. I’ve promised him a proper fight. Me and him are going to meet in the middle and knock absolute lumps out of each other, and then we’ll drink the minibar dry. “I’m enjoying everything about training. I’ve never worked this hard in my career. I’m excited to
BENN VS FORMELLA
see what I bring at the lower weight I’m going to be coming in at. This isn’t just a coming out party for my opponent. This is an opportunity for me to showcase what I’m about and what I’m capable of. I feel like I can make my own statement.
“I’LL BREAK ALEN DOWN AND STOP HIM” “Alen is ‘The Savage’ and I’m the ‘Gypopotamus’. We’re both fighting men, and this is what we live for. We’re going to meet in the middle and I’ve planned for nothing but fireworks. I plan on giving a fight that is going to be remembered. I implore anyone to run forward at me and let me smash them on the chin. I won’t be running from anybody. I haven’t got a cowardly bone inside my body. I predict a bloodbath. “I know that a top version of Tom Little beats the top version of Alen Babic. He won’t have to look too far for me. He’s going to bring all of the fire of hell with him, I know he is. I’m not worried about a bully. His work rate is phenomenal. I feel that I’ll wear him down and knock him out. I’m going to have to weather a very hard storm. I will take him out. I think I’ll be too clinical.” ■
17
DANGEROUS
DAVIES
L
iam Davies was left devastated after his headline Shropshire show was cancelled when the sporting world was turned on its head following the outbreak of coronavirus in the UK earlier this year. After the British Boxing Board of Control cancelled all events under their remit in March, BCB Promotions decided to pull the plug on their Telford Takeover show. It was set to be the first professional card in Telford for 13 years – where Bantamweight Davies was following in his father Tristan’s footsteps after he competed on that 2007 card. Davies’ brother Bradley Thompson, with whom he shares a mother, was due to make his professional debut on the card – while fellow home fighters Raja Khan, Dean Jones, Ryan Whitehead and Nathan McFarlane made up the bill. The English Title contender was due to challenge Marc Leach for the crown if he came through the Telford test, but now faces Liverpool’s Sean Cairns, live on Sky Sports in the UK, instead. “I’m thankful to Eddie Hearn, Matchroom, BCB and Errol Johnson for making this happen,” said Davies. “I’m here and I’m ready to grab it with both hands. I’m so excited, and what a card to be on. Hopefully it’s my first title of many. “Fans can expect some good skilled boxing and a guaranteed win for Liam Davies. This is the hardest fight of my
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NOVEMBER 21 2020
BENN VS FORMELLA
“FANS CAN EXPECT SOME GOOD SKILLED BOXING” professional career and I expect that. I know he’s a tall awkward southpaw, I’m tall myself so it’s going to be a great fight and I can’t wait to get in there now.” Emphasising the importance of his team, he added: “Sometimes when it gets tough you know that deep down the horrible hard times are horrible for everyone because we all feel the same pain, we win together we lose together, we are family really and hopefully, it will all pay off. “That’s what motivates me to win something, all the time and effort each coach has put in, I’ll be the first from Donnington Boxing Club to win the British Title and that’s the aim. I’m hoping in 2021 I get my opportunity after I beat Sean Cairns.” ■
19
THE
COMANCHE
S
ean Cairns has accused Telford’s Liam Davies of looking past him ahead of their ten round clash for the vacant English Bantamweight Title. Cairns, nicknamed ‘The Comanche’, is a southpaw whose only defeats have come as a shock to Brett Fidoe and at the hands of Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sean McGoldrick. The 34-year-old made his professional debut at the backend of 2017 with a routine points win over Anward Alfadli before notching wins over Ricky Leach and Kieran Holman in the first half of 2018. Following his first career defeats against Fidoe and McGoldrick, the Liverpudlian returned to winning ways with a points win over Luke Fash at the Olympia. Two more points wins followed against Ricky Leach and Taka Bembere in 2019 before Cairns
21
“LIAM IS LOOKING PAST ME”
won his first professional title, stopping Lee Clayton for the vacant Central Area Bantamweight Title in March 2020. “We’ve both got to take our opportunities haven’t we,” said Carins. “Liam is looking past me, and I know he’s looking past me. I like that. This is what you dream of when you turn pro isn’t it. To be on big shows like this. I’m just so blessed to be here. “If you’d look at my life ten years ago, you’d have never of dreamed of me being here. Honest to god I’m just so blessed to be here and I’m going to take advantage of that. I’m going to grab this opportunity with both hands, and Matchroom will have me back again. “I’m a great advert for what boxing can do for you. I’m from probably the roughest part of Liverpool. You’re a product of your environment aren’t you. I was led down the wrong road when I was younger, but boxing took me out of that and look where I’m sitting now. “Ten years ago, you would never have expected it. Not even ten years ago, seven years ago even. Where I’m from there’s no youth clubs or anything like that anymore. There are only boxing clubs for the kids to go to. They’re the only places that keep kids off the streets. Boxing has saved my life.” ■
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NOVEMBER 21 2020
BENN VS FORMELLA
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THE
MACHINE
B
en Ridings thought his chance of a big fight on live TV had been snatched away – but the Bury prospect has landed another major opportunity this evening. The 22-year-old was set to be part of the Boxxer Super-Middleweight tournament on ITV4 and BT Sport last Tuesday night, only to test positive for Covid-19 the day before. But less than two weeks later, ‘The Machine’ will be in action against Harrow Weald’s Jez Smith over six rounds at Middleweight on the Benn vs. Formella undercard. Former Dynamics and Bury ABC man Ridings has not fought since May 2019 having picked up points victories in each of his three outings with trainer and manager Kieran Farrell, who also last week tested positive for coronavirus. “I was ecstatic when I got the call to be honest because as you all know I was supposed to be
25
“I’M GOING TO FIGHT WITH EVERYTHING THAT I’VE GOT” appearing on the Ultimate Boxxer competition fighting Zak Chelli but that fell through because me and Kieran tested positive for coronavirus, so we’ve been quarantining ever since,” said Ridings. “I was just at home with my family when we got the call for this fight. One minute it was on, one minute it was off. “Everyone is looking at my old YouTube videos. I’ve not fought like that in nearly two years now. I’ve been sparring the best every week. I’ve been sparring Callum Smith every Wednesday. Obviously there’s other great fighters in that gym. I fight completely different. I can hold my own. It’s going to be exciting. “I’m going to fight with everything that I’ve got. I’m just a local Bury lad. It’s a massive opportunity, look at all of these cameras! He’s a good fighter, I’m not taking that away from him. If he’s looking through me thinking it’s going to be an easy win for him then he needs to think different because I am game for the night. It’s the biggest stage that I could be on and I’m here.” ■
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NOVEMBER 21 2020
BENN VS FORMELLA
STAYING
READY J
ez Smith has promised to “smash” Ben Ridings when they meet over six rounds in a short notice Middleweight clash. The 26-year-old from Harrow Weald has been stopped in his last two fights but is confident that he has too much experience for 3-0 Ridings. Smith suffered his first defeat when he was floored four times by Samuel Antwi before being rescued in the eighth round in February 2019.
“RIDINGS WILL GET SMASHED”
He was dropped a further three times in his next fight when stopped by Caoimhin Agyarko in nine rounds in July 2020 at the BT Sport Studio in Stratford. “I just stay ready all of the time,” said Smith. “I’m always in good fights. On Saturday night Ben is getting smashed. It’s as simple as that. There are levels to this game and he’s taking a step up too quickly. He’s getting dealt with on Saturday. I think my experience will be too much for him. He hasn’t been in with anybody.
“He’s only fought journeymen. I know he’s been out of the ring for a while. If he comes and has a scrap, he gets knocked out. If he comes to box, he gets smashed. Either way, on Saturday night it’s going to be a dominant performance from me and I’m going to deal with him. Six rounds definitely won’t be a problem for me.” ■
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10 X 3 MINS HEAVYWEIGHT CONTEST
CONOR SEBASTIAN vs BENN FORMELLA (ILFORD, ENGLAND)
(HAMBURG, GERMANY)
10 X 3 MINS HEAVYWEIGHT CONTEST
FABIO WARDLEY vs RICHARD LARTEY (IPSWICH, ENGLAND)
(ACCRA, GHANA)
8 X 3 MINS HEAVYWEIGHT CONTEST
ALEN BABIC vs TOM LITTLE (ZAGREB, CROATIA)
(HATFIELD, ENGLAND)
6 X 3 MINS MIDDLEWEIGHT CONTEST
BEN RIDINGS vs JEZ SMITH (BURY, ENGLAND)
(HARROW WEALD, ENGLAND)
10 X 3 MINS VACANT ENGLISH BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE
LIAM DAVIES vs SEAN CAIRNS (TELFORD, ENGLAND)
(LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND)