Boxing News – June 27, 2019

PREVIEWS

★★★★★ OUTSTANDING ★★★★GOOD ★★★ FAIR ★★ DISAPPOINTING ★ RUBBISH

The star ratings indicate how well the writer believes the fighters match up, the fight(s)’ contextual significance, and how good the fight(s) will be

32 lBOXING NEWSlJUNE 27, 2019 http://www.boxingnewsonline.net

Photo: MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM

mandatory challenger Norbelto

Jimenez, 29-8-4 (16), of the Dominican

Republic. The Dunkin’ Donuts Center in

Providence, Rhode Island is the venue

for this Matchroom Boxing promotion,

which will be televised live on Sky Sports

Action/Main Event (UK) and DAZN (US).

After defeating Concepcion for the

title, Yafai retained it twice the following

year, both times via unanimous verdict.

Suguru Muranaka was beaten in May,

before another tough Japanese fighter,

Sho Ishida, was conquered in October.

In 2018, Kal successfully defended his

crown on two more occasions. In what

was David Carmona’s third crack at world

honours, the tenacious Mexican was

forced to retire after the seventh round in

May. Six months later, Yafai was expected

to cruise past Israel Gonzalez, who had

been dominated in his only previous

attempt at becoming a world champ.

Despite prevailing by scores of 117-111

and 116-112 (twice), the West Midlander

was pushed hard by Gonzalez. So much

so, in fact, that some observers felt that

Yafai was slightly fortunate to receive the

decision. The 30-year-old is determined

to improve on a disappointing display

last time out.

“I think at times I’ve got a bit

complacent, but that’s completely

changed for this one, so I’ll be on top of

my game, 100 per cent,” Yafai promised.

“I wasn’t myself [against Gonzalez].

Hopefully I can show that it was just an

off night.”

With his focus firmly on securing

a unification contest later this year, it

is imperative that Yafai gets the job

★★ YAFAI-JIMENEZ

★★★ REST OF CARD

HEN Anthony Joshua

was shockingly

stopped by Andy

Ruiz Jnr earlier this

month, he lost his

status as the longest-

reigning current

British world champion. That distinction

now belongs to Kal Yafai, 25-0 (15).

The Birmingham boxer has been the

WBA super-flyweight king ever since his

comprehensive unanimous points victory

over former two-weight world titlist Luis

Concepcion in December 2016.

This Saturday ( June 29), Yafai makes

the fifth defence of his belt against

W

Yafai has his

first fight as

the longest-

reigning

current

British world

champion,

writes

Paul

Wheeler

UNDER THE RADAR:

This will be Yafai’s third

consecutive appearance

away from UK audiences

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