Jordan Gill’s shot at European glory has been rearranged for February 27 in London.
The 27-year-old from Chatteris had been scheduled to face EBU featherweight champion Karim Guerfi on the Conor Benn-Chris Algieri card in Liverpool last month. The fight was pulled however after the 34-year-old Frenchman withdrew due to illness.
Gill kept his spot on the show but suffered a nasty cut in what should have been a straightforward night against Alan Isaias Luques Castillo over eight rounds. The fight was stopped after three completed rounds due to the cut with the result being declared a technical draw taking Gill’s record to (26-1-1, 7 KOs).
While the end of 2021 proved to be somewhat disappointing the early stages of 2022 are potentially lucrative for the former Commonwealth champion. Gill will look to follow in the footsteps of former world champions Josh Warrington and Lee Selby when he fights Guerfi on the Lawrence Okolie-Michal Cieslak undercard at the O2 Arena, London, live on DAZN.
Guerfi is no stranger to facing British opponents with a won one, lost one record after beating Ryan Farrag (TKO 3) in 2016 but losing to Lee McGregor (TKO 1) in March last year. Both were European bantamweight title fights, a belt he has won twice. Guerfi then added to his EBU collection by beating Spain’s Andoni Gago via split decision last August.
The man from Manosque has also shared the ring with former world bantamweight champion Zhanat Zhakiyanov and recent Naoya Inoue opponent Michael Dasmarines, losing on both occasions by knockout in rounds four and five.
Gill is currently ranked in the top 10 by the WBA (number six), where his close friend Leigh Wood sits as champion, and with the IBF (number nine). A win against Guerfi should also see him enter the WBC’s top 15.
Further additions to the Okolie-Cieslak card will be announced in due course.