Joseph Parker and Richard Riakporhe will be propping up the intriguing domestic clash that is Chris Eubank Jr versus Liam Smith.
In BOXXER and Sky Sports first pay-per-view effort of 2023, Eubank and Smith will meet at 160lb for a domestic grudge match that will see the winner in good standing for a future world title shot.
Liverpool’s Smith will travel to the AO Arena in Manchester to face Eubank, who made headlines this year not from fighting, but by being let down by Conor Benn whose failed doping test caused their fight to be pulled at the last minute.
It means the 32-2 fighter last stepped through the ropes in February to face Liam Williams. Smith, who has a similar record of 32-3, fought twice in 2022, defeating Jessie Vargas and Hassan Mwakinyo.
As a box office event, BOXXER have produced some big names for the undercard.
First up is Richard Riakporhe against Krzysztof Glowacki in a 200lb contest.
Riakporhe, who has three knockouts in his last three fights, makes up part of an intriguing cruiserweight scene, not least domestically, and will be looking for a victory over the Polish fighter to move closer to world honours.
Glowacki has three losses on his record to the very best – Oleksandr Usyk, Mairis Briedis, and Lawrence Okolie.
Next is a curious contest between former heavyweight world champion, Joseph Parker, and Manchester’s Jack Massey, who will begin a heavyweight campaign by facing the New Zealander. Massey’s one loss came at the hands of Riakporhe in the cruiserweight ranks.
Parker, who signed with BOXXER and Sky this year, fought the first fight under his new promotion on a rival’s card. He was knocked out by Joe Joyce on a Queensberry and BT Sport show in September in one of the heavyweight contests of the year.
Alongside trainer, Andy Lee, the 30-year-old Parker will be keen to move on from the loss and climb back up towards mixing it with the division’s top contenders – a loss here potentially crippling.
BOXXER, who are partnering with Wasserman Boxing for the event, have branded this phase 1 of announcements, with more fights set to be made public in due course.