Featured image: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing.
Manchester light-heavyweight Lyndon Arthur (22-1, 15KOs) will finally meet Argentina’s Braian Suarez (18-1, 17KOs) at the Bolton Whites Hotel on Friday after the pair were initially set to meet earlier this year.
A medical issue forced Suarez to withdraw at 24 hours notice six months ago but while the 31 year old is set to compete this time around, a failure to make the 175lb limit at Thursday’s weigh-in means he will not secure the lesser IBO trinket on the line if his hand is raised.
Arthur gets Suarez at second time of asking
Arthur headlines a venue which has hosted three of his last four fights, all of which have ended in victory for the former Commonwealth champion.
Sparring partner Boris Crighton was forced to step in following Suarez’ late withdrawal in March and succumbed to a wide ten-round unanimous decision which also saw Arthur send the Glaswegian to the canvas in the final round.
“The original pullout was a bit disheartening [but] it’s boxing, you’ve just gotta get on with it,” Arthur told BBTV during camp.
“[We have] the same plan. He’s gonna be confident and come to win. He’ll believe after seeing me fight Crighton that he’ll have the upper hand on me but we’ll see on the night.”
The fight will mark Suarez’ first time fighting outside of his native Argentina where he has racked up 17 stoppages in 18 victories, with the only blemish being a first-round knockout in June last year.
While such a record leads to more questions than answers about what can be expected come the sound of the final bell, there has been a growing list of Central and South Americans who have travelled to British shores to land the upset and alter the trajectory of their career.
Antwi and Cartwright collide for vacant British crown
The chief support sees London’s Samuel Antwi (16-2, 7KOs) and Chester’s Mason Cartwright (19-3-1, 8KOs) collide for the vacant British super-welterweight title.
Antwi previously reigned as English champion down at welterweight but made the move to 154lbs earlier this year after an unsuccessful shot at Ekow Essuman‘s British 147lb crown eleven months ago.
The 31 year old has won both fights since moving up in weight, most recently securing a third-round stoppage in a scheduled six-round contest in July.
Cartwright meanwhile has already challenged for the Lord Lonsdale belt at super-welter.
A second-round knockdown against then champion Troy Williamson wasn’t enough for him to get the nod on the scorecards as he lost a narrow unanimous decision over 12 rounds in a fight many felt he’d done enough to win.
Two victories, one inside the distance while another on points, saw him rebound at the end of 2022 as the 31 year old eyes up securing the British crown at the second time of asking.
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