Jack Rafferty wanted to fight Mark Chamberlain, and he’s got exactly that. The two fighters are set to clash on Saturday, August 23, at the Altrincham Ice Dome in a British and Commonwealth title fight. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN.
Mark Chamberlain looked set to compete for a world title shot at lightweight, but after suffering a decision loss to Jos Padley in September last year, he decided to reset at super-lightweight. After making the move up to 140lbs, he now finds himself in a new division and an opportunity to fight Rafferty.
Both fighters have been hinting at a potential fight for quite some time.
“Demolition Man” Rafferty wanted to face Chamberlain on the Usyk-Dubois 2 card at Wembley Stadium on July 19. Chamberlain answered the call, and while the fight hadn’t happened then, it’s now set to headline its own night titled “Make or Break” in front of a crowd in Altrincham.
Sportsbooks see Rafferty as the favourite to win, while Chamberlain is placed as the underdog. Still, all is set for the fight to be a tough, close contest.
Fans are already heading to Non-Gamstop betting sites and placing their bets ahead of the fight night. These platforms have become a popular choice for boxing fans and are known for offering great odds and freedom to wager without the limitations tied to UK sportsbooks.
With Rafferty priced as the favourite and Chamberlain looking to prove himself in the super-lightweight division, there’s action on both sides.
Rafferty enters the fight undefeated (26-0, 17 KOs) and full of confidence after stopping 14-0 Cory O’Regan in the fifth round in his previous fight.
Ever since moving to 12 rounds, Rafferty has been impressive. He earned the Commonwealth belt in a first-round stoppage win against Lee Appleyard before defeating Henry Turner for the British junior welterweight title.
As mentioned above, Mark “Thunder” Chamberlain (12-1, 12 KOs) suffered a defeat against Pedley last year, losing his undefeated record. He has since returned with an eight-round points win over Miguel Angel Scaringi. He looks ready to make a serious push in the new division and prove he still belongs at the title level. The bout with Rafferty gives him the perfect stage to do just that.
While the two fighters were scheduled to meet earlier this year, this was stalled due to scheduling issues and financial terms tied to Riyadh-based shows.
Commenting on the potential fight before the “Make or Break” event was announced, Chamberlain called it a good domestic fight for both the British and Commonwealth titles.
Although he said that he’d fight Rafferty in a telephone box if he needed to, there’s respect between the two fighters and an understanding of the show they’re supposed to put on for the fans.
The original idea for the fight may have slipped away, but both sides remained interested, and the matchup has now finally landed its own platform. Both fighters are locked in, and August 23 is shaping up to deliver the domestic headliner fans have been waiting months to see.
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