With Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing set to stage their first card of 2024 on Saturday night, they have now extended their schedule by confirming another four shows that will take place within three month’s time.
Smith-Zepeda – March 23 – Utilita Arena, Sheffield
World Honours in sight ? @daltonsmith08 takes on three-time World Title challenger @ChonZepeda in front of a home Sheffield crowd on March 23!
Plus @sandyryan93 defends her WBO 147lbs gold against @TerriHarper96 in an all-British World Title showdown ? #SmithZepeda |… pic.twitter.com/06WbrXl14V
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) January 23, 2024
Dalton Smith (15-0) takes part in perfect ‘step-up’ that will test whether the Yorkshireman is ready to make the jump to the world level of the super-lightweight division, as the current British 140lb champion fights three-time world title challenger, Jose Zepeda (37-4), in his hometown of Sheffield on March 23.
Meanwhile two world champions collide on the undercard as both Sandy Ryan and Terri Harper look to bounce back from unfortunate draws in their respective last fights, with Harper dropping down to welterweight in a bid to become a two-division champion and claims Ryan’s WBO Welterweight Title.
Hitchins-Lemos – April 6 – Fontainebleau, Las Vegas
A big double header coming to Las Vegas on April 6 ?@HeIsRichardson fights 29-0 Gustavo Daniel Lemos in an IBF World Title final eliminator and @realdpacheco takes on 15-0 Shawn McCalman!#HitchinsLemos | @DAZNBoxing | #PachecoMcCalman pic.twitter.com/CEYljagH6G
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) January 23, 2024
Just one of the recently-announced Matchroom shows takes place away from British shores, that being another super-lightweight contest in Richardson Hitchins’ (17-0) IBF Final Eliminator against Gustavo Lemos (29-0), after Jack Catterall reportedly turned down the chance to face the American in favour of a rematch with Josh Taylor.
Also on the card is highly-rated super-middleweight prospect, Diego Pacheco (20-0), who will be aiming to thrust himself into world title contention with a strong performance against Shawn McCalman (15-0).
Gill-Barrett – April 13 – AO Arena, Manchester
? The Thrill vs Brown Flash ⚡️@_JordanGill and @zelfaflash roll the dice in Manchester plus European and Commonwealth Champ @RhiannonDixon3 steps up to contest the vacant WBO World Lightweight Title vs Karen Carabajal ? #GillBarrett | @DAZNBoxing | #DixonCarabajal pic.twitter.com/Iuf1HYjSaX
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) January 23, 2024
Matchroom will then return to the U.K. with world title ambitions on the line once again as Jordan Gill (28-2-1) seeks to follow up his career-best win against Michael Conlan with a victory over Zelfa Barrett (30-2) in the latter’s backyard. Barrett has been continuously linked to a challenge with Joe Cordina for the IBF Super-Featherweight Title and the winner will be expectant of that opportunity in the near-future.
The highlight of the undercard will see Rhiannon Dixon (9-0) face Karen Carabajal (21-1) for the vacant WBO Lightweight Crown, which was recently dropped by Katie Taylor.
O’Quinn-McGrail II – April 27 – Exhibition Centre, Liverpool
Take two ?@peter_mcgrail gets his shot at vengeance over @GreatLakes_King on Apr 27 ?#OQuinnMcGrail2 | @DAZNBOXING | #NXTGEN pic.twitter.com/8BCuv2omgQ
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) January 23, 2024
Finally, Hearn will head to Merseyside with a ‘Nxt Gen’ card that will surely have him biting his nails with nerves. Ja’Rico Quinn (17-1-1) shocked the world with a knockout of the year contender against Liverpool’s McGrail (8-1) last month, but the scouser has jumped at the chance of a rematch after dominating all but two seconds of their first encounter.
The 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist will be keen to avenge the loss and get back to winning ways, whilst O’Quinn will attempt to show that his win was no fluke in an intriguing bout at the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool.
British fans will be pleased that Hearn has stayed true to his word and continued to stage quality shows in the United Kingdom, despite his newfound relationship with Turki Al-Alshikh and Saudi Arabia. But, for those who can’t attend, all four cards will be available to watch live on DAZN, at no additional cost to the standard subscription fee.
