We’re back for Round 2 of the Boxing Christmas run-in this Saturday night with The Magnificent 7 series, brought to you by Frank Warren & Queensberry Promotions, live on TNT Sports (Discovery+).
It is the second of four Fight Nights which BBTV will be reviewing, with the three main Promoters and Broadcasters throwing their hats into the ring to close out 2024 and culminating with them all working together for the final (and most exciting) fight to end the year, which is of course Reignited, Usyk vs Fury II.
Last Saturday night (30th November), the first of the four fight nights came in the form of Sunny Edwards Vs Galal Yafai (Matchroom Boxing/DAZN), with the latter winning the fight with a comfortable stoppage victory. It was a good night of boxing with a solid card, which I will review come the end of December with the remaining cards coming up.
Turning our attention now to Saturday night, The Magnificent 7 series (brought to us by Queensberry Promotions on TNT Sports/Discovery+), is a concept which has been brought into existence by Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions and has provided British Fight Fans a consistently enjoyable evening of boxing. After a little bit of research, I managed to trace back as far as I could to locate a Magnificent 7 Card, and my findings took me all the way back 14 years ago to September 18th, 2010, where Frank Warren put a Magnificent 7 Card on Sky Sports, with talent including Kell Brook, Derek Chisora, Enzo Maccarinelli, Nathan Cleverly, James DeGale, Matthew Macklin and Frankie Gavin (which is an incredible card considering the careers which all of those fighters went on to have).
From 2010, The Magnificent 7 Card has gone on to be a well-liked fixture in the boxing calendar, and a concept which puts all of the 7 main fighters on a pedestal; as if their very own main event. It’s always great to see a Magnificent 7 Card, and this one promises to be a cracker on Saturday Night.
Now then fight fans, should we look at the card itself? I feel like I have rambled on enough, and my nostalgia for old cards has gone too far…
Brad Pauls Vs Denzel Bentley
The main event of the evening comes in the form of a fantastic British Middleweight clash between Brad Pauls and Denzel Bentley for the British, Vacant European and WBO International Middleweight Titles. Both men are well known across the Boxing World, with plenty of great experience at this level and both men will be hoping for a victory on Saturday night to catapult them onto the world stage.
Out of the two, Denzel Bentley will be the most well-known; and for good reason. The Wandsworth man fought for a World Title back in November 2022, where he faced off against Zhanibek Alimkhanuly for the WBO Middleweight World Title. After a tough yet well fought 12 Rounds, ‘2Sharp’ Denzel Bentley didn’t do just enough to win the fight (but collated many a fan along the way for his brave performance). Since then he has faced off against Kieran Smith (Victory), Nathan Heaney (Defeat), Danny Dignum (Victory) and Derrick Osaze (Victory). Although the defeat to Heaney came as an upset to some (not to us close by to the Staffordshire border), his perseverance has given him this opportunity on Saturday night, and one that many people think he goes on to win.
Brad Pauls has been a bit of a phenomenon over the past 12 months, with big fights aplenty and big names along the way! Born in Cornwall, Pauls made his professional debut in December 2015 and has never looked back. His only defeat comes in the form of West Midlands man Tyler Denny back in February 2023 on points. And we know Tyler Denny went on to defeat Felix Cash and then fight Hamzah Sheeraz on the Joshua vs Dubois Card back in September (where he was defeated). Brad Pauls brings grit, determination and perseverance to a fight, which he had shown in his to fights with Nathan Heaney, including one draw and one stoppage victory.
Verdict
Look out for a great Middleweight match up to headline Saturday Night, where I think Denzel Bentley will win a close points decision with his slick style that will scupper Pauls plan of heavy hits.
Sam Noakes Vs Ryan Walsh
Sam Noakes Vs Ryan Walsh is a cracking fight on Saturday night for that age old saying in boxing, ‘Experience vs Youth’. And that is exactly what this fight is (and also for the British, Commonwealth & WBO International Lightweight Titles). I think it proves to be an interesting fight, which will go one of two ways.
Sam Noakes is on the up, and he’s pretty good. He comes into Saturday Night with a record 16-0 at Lightweight, and I feel as though he is the up-and-comer at British Level and will want that emphatic victory against Ryan Walsh to really put a statement out there.
Ryan Walsh is your quintessential British Boxing hard man. He’s been around the block and has seen plenty of tough nights in his time, and he quite likes a bit of a tare up. But this is where the ‘one of two ways’ comes into play.
Verdict
Do I think Sam Noakes wins this fight? Yes. But it is the method of which he does. If he boxes Ryan Walsh’s head off, he will win very comfortably on points or the Referee might even intervene. However, if Noakes gets dragged into a dog fight, then it could be a very different story come 12 Rounds (his face will tell this story). I’m going Noakes, points. Either close or wide. It’s tough to call.
Solomon Dacres Vs David Adeleye
Out of all of the main 7 fights on the Bill this evening, Dacres Vs Adeleye is the one that I’m looking forward to the most. Two young, English Heavyweights who can bang and both scrapping it out of the English Heavyweight Title. It’s great to see to be honest, and it isn’t something we see often enough! We have seen Joshua Vs Whyte for the British Title, we have seen Wardley vs Clarke and we have also seen Wardley Vs Adeleye, but there is something intriguing about this match up.
Solomon Dacres is 9-0, but with only 3 Knockouts. I say only because when you’re an up-and-coming Heavyweight, knockouts are important. However, it tells me that Dacres has an engine and can hold in fights if ever they get tough; this is important. I feel with the confidence of winning his last fight against Michael Webster (which should have been Adeleye before he got injured), and clashing with Adeleye in the dressing room after said fight, I think Dacres comes into Saturday Night with bags of confidence.
Adeleye is a bit of a wild card for me. He is 12/1 with 11 Knockouts, which shows me he can bang. His only defeat has come against Fabio Wardley who has gone on to do great things in the sport already, but could I sit here now and say that fight maybe came too soon for Adeleye? As I’m writing this, I am starting to feel like Adeleye may have a dog in this fight.
Verdict
I genuinely thought that Dacres would wipe the floor with Adeleye, but as time goes on I feel like the Wardley fight came too early for Adeleye, and he also went 7 Rounds with Wardley. I don’t know you know. If I’m a betting man, I’m going Dacres late stoppage after Adeleye gets too emotionally involved.
Lawrence Okolie Vs Hussein Muhamed
We all know the name Lawrence Okolie, don’t we? The ex Cruiserweight World Champion turned Bridgerweight World Champion turned Heavyweight prospect. I’ll be honest, I always backed Okolie. He fought everyone who was put in front of him and he won the British, Commonwealth, European and WBO World Title as a Cruiserweight. Say what you want, but that’s no mean feat. The man was a World Champion. That was until he fought he Chris Billam-Smith and it all went a bit pear shaped. After winning the newly formed Briddgerweight WBC World Title, and moving up to Heavyweight, it will be interesting to see how he gets on the Blue Ribbon Division of Heavyweight boxing.
His opponent, Hussein Muhamed, is an 18-1 Heavyweight from Germany. In all fairness, it isn’t a complete gimmick of a fight, as the guy has a winning record! But he did get stopped by Zhan Kossobutskiy who is 19-1, who was defeated by… never mind. I’ll be here all night.
Verdict
Safe bet; go Okolie. Just to win the fight. He hasn’t fought at Heavyweight yet and it’s a jump up. Who knows, he might knock Hussein Muhamed spark out?
Aloys ‘Junior’ Youmbi Vs Lewis Oakford
A London Cruiserweight clash of Penge Vs Homerford comes in the early spells on Saturday Night as Aloys ‘Junior’ Youmbi takes on Lewis Oakford in a great Cruiserweight scrap. Both have only 1 defeat on their records, and I will tell you now it is fights like these that make Boxing Cards tick. 1 Defeat each, and the opportunity to get a result and fight for maybe an Area Title afterwards. In all fairness, this should have an Area Title on the line.
Verdict
It’s a pick ‘em for me! Let’s go Aloys ‘Junior’ Youmbi stoppage; he’s first on the bill for a reason.
Sean Noakes Vs Mathew Renie
This will be a good fight to be fair. And ANOTHER fight with the English Title on the line, Noakes Vs Renie for the English Welterweight Title is a good fight. Sean Noakes (older brother of chief support Sam Noakes), has taken his Amateur pedigree into the pro game, and after becoming 8-0 and he will be vying for that English Title. Mathew Renie 14 Wins/1 Draw in the game and he will bring a stern test on Saturday night. It will be a good fight.
Verdict
I am going to go Sean Noakes. 4 Knockouts in 8 wins compared to Renie who has 14 wins and 1 knockout. Noakes stoppage.
Pierce O’Leary Vs Jose Edgardo Perdomo
The kick-off for the evening, we have Pierce O’Leary Vs Jose Edgardo Perdomo in another Welterweight contest.
Verdict
Jose Edgardo Perdomo was brought in very last minute, so let’s go Pierce O’Leary for a win (whichever way you see fit).
Another night of British Boxing will grace our eyes on Saturday night, and it is Frank Warren’s, Queensberry Promotions and TNT Sport/Discovery+ turn to show us what for! Tune in, and compare Hearn and Warren one last time before they join forces on DAZN in 2025!
Catch all the action live on TNT Sport/Discovery+ from 18:00.
Greg Cooke/BBTV
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