Press Release:
New year. New intentions. Matchroom will kickstart 2025 with an almighty bang as it brings Boxing fans an unmissable double header direct from the UK and USA on Saturday, January 25 – live worldwide on DAZN.
Two events. Two Continents. One broadcast.
An unrivalled 12-hours of action – streamed by the global home of Boxing, DAZN – starts at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena where No.3 WBC ranked Dalton ‘Thunder’ Smith (16-0, 12 KOs) begins his charge towards greatness as he challenges Walid Ouizza (19-2, 8 KOs) for the EBU European and WBC Silver Super-Lightweight Championships.
On a stacked undercard, Ellie Scotney (9-0) defends her IBF & Ring Magazine Super-Bantamweight World Titles against Mea Motu (20-0, 8 KOs), whilst Conah Walker (14-3-1, 5 KOs) challenges Harry Scarff (13-3, 3 KOs) for the British & Commonwealth Welterweight Championships. Mark Dickinson (7-1, 2 KOs) challenges undefeated Reece Farnhill (11-0, 4 KOs) for the English Super-Middleweight belt, whilst undefeated rising homegrown stars Ibraheem Sulaimaan (6-0, 4 KOs) and Hamza Uddin (3-0, 1 KO) return to action.
Then it is over to the US, where Diego Pacheco (22-0, 8 KOs) will defend his USWBC and WBO International Super-Middleweight Titles against Steven Nelson (20-0, 16 KOs) at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas – with Cuban Olympic star Andy Cruz (4-0, 2 KOs) taking on Mexico's Omar Salcido (20-1, 14 KOs) and Pomona's Ernesto Mercado (16-0, 15 KOs) facing Jose Pedraza (29-6-1, 14 KOs) on his Matchroom debut.
And the big nights keep coming in Q1, as Matchroom delivers a octane evening of NXTGEN drama on Saturday, January 31, when unbeaten 10-0 Middleweight prospect George Liddard (10-0, 6 KOs) co-headlines at London’s indigo at The O2 against Birmingham's Derrick Osaze (13-2, 3 KOs) as Rotherham talent Junaid Bostan (10-0, 8 KOs) battles Bilal Fawaz (9-1, 2 KOs) with the English Super-Welterweight crown up for grabs. Plus, a crop of exciting Matchroom talent will bid to extend their 100% starts to the professional ranks as Jimmy Sains (8-0, 8 KOs), Giorgio Visioli (5-0, 4 KOs), Leli Buttigieg (6-0, 1 KO), Taylor Bevan (1-0, 1 KO) and Jesse Brandon (4-0, 1 KO) feature in the capital.
Eduardo ‘Rocky’ Hernandez (36-2, 32 KOs) will return to action on Friday, February 28, when he takes on Rene Tellez Giron (20-4, 13 KOs) at the Auditorio Guelaguetza in Oaxaca, Mexico.
KO artist Hernandez (36-2 32 KOs) is back after an accidental head clash in his showdown with Thomas Mattice caused a cut to his left eye in Hermosillo back in September, ending a contest that was bubbling nicely with a technical decision win.
That was a second win for ‘Rocky’ in his rebuild after his thrilling World title fight with O’Shaquie Foster in October 2023, and the WBA Continental Americas and IBF USBA Super-Featherweight titles when he takes on Giron (20-4 13 KOs), the fiery Mexican who gave future World Title challenger Floyd Schofield a real scare when he floored him in the 11th round of their clash in Las Vegas in November in a spirited performance.
A mouth-watering Fight Night awaits in Belfast one day later on Saturday, March 1, when local favourite Lewis Crocker (20-0, 11 KOs) and Limerick's Paddy Donovan (14-0, 11 KOs) light up the SSE Arena in a huge all-Irish battle.
And March ends with the professional debut of Olympian Pat Brown as the Cruiserweight standout headlines at Planet Ice Altrincham on the outskirts of his hometown Manchester on Saturday, March 28.
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