One of the biggest fights that could be made in boxing right now was announced this week. George Kambosos Jr and Devin Haney will go at it for the undisputed lightweight world championship in Australia on June 4.
Oleksandr Usyk leaving Ukraine, open workouts, Eubank Jr-Brook speculation and more of Dillian Whyte’s dogs on Instagram seemed to take up the rest of the last several days. But as ever, here at Hooks and Jabs, we seek to bring you the news that doesn’t tend to dominate the clicks and views.
Welcome to this week’s edition.
Britain’s Danny Dignum (14-0-1, 8 KOs) will get a chance to make a name for himself in America soon. A deal has been struck for the WBO number three contender to take on unbeaten Kazakh Zhanibek Alimkhanuly (11-0, 7 KOs). Up for grabs will be the governing’s body’s Interim middleweight title. A rumoured date of May 21 and location are still to be announced.
James Tennyson believes he can still campaign at world title level despite a devastating loss last time out. The Belfast fighter was stopped in the first round by Jovanni Straffon 11 months ago and has used the time to recharge the batteries. “That one eats me up because I know I lost the fight down
to my own stupidity,” he told The Irish News. “Getting back up to world title level is the plan. I think you’ll see an all-round better fighter. I’ve still got high hopes of winning a world title.”
Staying in Northern Ireland and Caoimhin Agyarko looks to be moving down from 160lbs to 154lbs.
The unbeaten 25-year-old has made an impressive 11-fight unbeaten start to his career. His management team STN Sports simply tweeted “Invading 154lbs” in response to Agyarko’s own hint about switching to super-welterweight. And there would be no shortage of opponents particularly
under the Matchroom umbrella where Agyarko now trades.
Keyshawn Davis (4-0, 3 KOs) will face Esteban Sánchez (18-1, 8 KOs) in the co-feature to the featherweight unification clash between Shakur Stevenson and Oscar Valdez on Top Rank’s April 30 promotion in Las Vegas. The lightweight prospect, who won the Olympic silver medal in Tokyo, is tipped by many as a future world champion. “I have little doubt that Keyshawn is on his way to becoming a pound-for-pound great,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.
Tim Tszyu wants Jermell Charlo to defeat Brian Castaño in their undisputed super-welterweight title rematch on May 14. The Aussie returned home after a successful U.S debut against Terrell Gausha and had this to say to Code Sports. “I hope it’s Charlo just because I want to shut his mouth. It’d be a massive fight. But at the same time, I think Castaño is gonna win. I don’t rate Charlo as a fighter. I think he’s a pussycat.”