Kiko Martinez and Josh Warrington came face to face today ahead of their March 26 rematch in Leeds with an intriguing all-British clash in the chief support slot.
Maxi Hughes (24-5-2, 5 KOs), the IBO lightweight champion, will be looking to continue his rich vein of form when he makes the first defence against Ryan Walsh (27-3-2, 12 KOs). Hughes has history with the Walsh family having fought and lost to Liam over 10 rounds in 2019.
Traditionally a featherweight, although he weighed 144lbs for his last fight against Ronnie Clark, Ryan is moving up to lightweight, officially, for the first time in his career. The 35-year-old has shared the ring with Lee Selby, James Tennyson, Isaac Lowe and Jazza Dickens. And on his day is capable of being a banana skin for Hughes.
‘Blonde Bomber’ Ebanie Bridges (7-1, 3 KOs) has landed a second world title shot with a fight against Maria Cecilia Roman (16-5-1) for the vacant IBF bantamweight title. Bridges contested the WBA version in a toe-to-toe battle with Shannon Courtenay. While the Australian came up short, she gained plenty of respect in defeat.
Elsewhere Hopey Price, who also has a slot on the Jacobs-Ryder card, will hope to be 7-0 by the time he gets to Leeds. Calum French (1-0), Mali Wright (1-0, 1 KO) and Cory O’Reagan (5-0) will all feature too. The opponents for all four fighters will be announced in due course.