Anthony Joshua vs. Dominic Breazeale: A Complete Guide to the O2 Arena Card
Anthony Joshua has made the O2 Arena in London his boxing home.
The IBF heavyweight champion will make his fifth straight appearance at the venue on Saturday, as he defends his title against American Dominic Breazeale.
The clash between two unbeaten big men tops a bill that will be shown on pay-per-view in the United Kingdom.
When viewers have to fork out extra to watch, they expect value for money.
With that in mind, promoters Matchroom have laid out a solid undercard to support the main event in the English capital, including a must-win fight for two well-known super middleweights.
Here, Bleacher Report breaks down all of the action.
Conor Benn and the Best of the Rest
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Conor Benn has already shown the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
The son of the great Nigel Benn has had only two professional fights so far, but in both he's shown a willingness to stand toe-to-toe and trade.
He was taken the distance last time out, although Benn still defeated Luke Keleher on points in Glasgow, Scotland, on May 28.
Ricky Burns topped the bill that night. The Scotsman knows all about Benn following their sparring sessions.
"He can box and he's young—at the moment he just wants to go out there and put on a show for everybody. He's only 19 and is going into his third fight," Burns said of Benn, per Isaac Robinson of SkySports.com.
Benn doesn't yet know who he will be facing on Saturday, but the identity of his opponent does not really matter. Expect him to try to finish the job as quickly as possible.
Also on the undercard, look out for welterweight Ted Cheeseman (4-0, 3 KOs) and Felix Cash, a middleweight making his professional debut against Yailton Neves after signing with Matchroom.
Khalid Yafai vs. TBA
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Khalid Yafai (18-0, 12 KOs) is a little man who has huge potential.
The 5'4" fighter from Birmingham, England, is hovering around at super flyweight, waiting for an opportunity to fight for a world title at the 115-pound limit.
But the 27-year-old—an outstanding body puncher who represented Great Britain at the 2008 Olympics—also has the option of shifting up in weight to explore other opportunities.
He told Mike Lockley of the Birmingham Mail, "If the opportunity comes at the right moment, I’ve always said I’ll stay here (super fly)."
In the same article, Lockley reveals how Yafai hopes to "clinch a deal" with either WBA champion Kohei Kono of Japan or McJoe Arroyo, the Puerto Rican who holds the IBF belt at super fly.
Either way, Yafai has options. His fight on Saturday should be nothing more than a tick-over contest.
Anthony Ogogo vs. Frane Radnic
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After being held up by injuries, Anthony Ogogo wants to make up for lost time.
The middleweight (9-0, 5 KOs) made his long-awaited ring return on May 28, stopping Gary Cooper in Glasgow, Scotland, in his first bout in 10 months.
Having suffered a serious Achilles injury and a dislocated shoulder, Ogogo–who won a bronze medal for Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics in London—just wants the chance to be busy.
He told Nick Parkinson of ESPN.co.uk, "Domestically there's so much talent in my division and I want to get in amongst it."
Frane Radnic—a Croatian with an 11-2 (10 KOs) record—is Ogogo's next opponent.
Prediction
Ogogo will move his perfect record into double figures. It would do him no harm if the scheduled six-rounder went the distance either.
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John Wayne Hibbert vs. Andrea Scarpa
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John Wayne Hibbert gets the chance to add another title to his collection when he takes on Andrea Scarpa.
The vacant WBC Silver title will be on the line as the two super lightweights go toe-to-toe.
Italian Scarpa (19-2, 9 KOs) is a former national champion who, judging by his record, is a durable foe. He claimed the vacant IBF Intercontinental belt last time out with a points triumph over Lyes Chaibi.
Hibbert, meanwhile, won the WBC International and Commonwealth straps in September with a somewhat fortunate TKO win over Dave Ryan.
Knocked down in Round 6 and behind on the scorecards, Hibbert (17-3, 11 KOs) was handed victory when his opponent suffered a back injury in Round 10.
He defended both titles in January, knocking out the previously unbeaten Tommy Martin in Round 12.
Prediction
Hibbert seems to always end up in good fights. Not too much is known about Scarpa, but neither man is known for carrying devastating power. Look for the former to win by late stoppage.
Dillian Whyte vs. Danny Batchelder
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Dillian Whyte (16-1, 13 KOs) was last seen in a ring giving Anthony Joshua his toughest test to date.
The two heavyweights were involved in a pulsating contest at the O2 Arena last December that saw Joshua stunned for the first time as a pro.
Whyte rocked his rival—there is no love lost between the pair stemming back to a bout during their amateur days—in Round 2, but in the process of landing a left hook also hurt his shoulder.
Joshua had to overcome the initial shock of facing an opponent capable of throwing a punch back. He eventually went on to score a stoppage victory in Round 7.
Having undergone surgery to fix his damaged shoulder, Whyte is now ready to return.
His opponent was originally scheduled to be Frenchman Cyril Leonet, but instead he will now go up against Danny Batchelder (31-11-1, 15 KOs), an American who lost to Kubrat Pulev inside two rounds in 2010.
Prediction
Considering Whyte is already scheduled to fight again on July 30, he shouldn't have too many problems with Batchelder. Expect it to be over inside a couple of rounds.
Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Tom Doran
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Chris Eubank Jr. makes the first defence of his British middleweight title against Tom Doran.
For Eubank Jr. (22-1, 17 KOs), it will be his first outing since his dramatic fight with Nick Blackwell. The latter ended up in an induced coma afterward but has thankfully made a full recovery.
Doran (17-0, 7 KOs) is a former winner in the Prizefighter series, a knockout tournament involving eight fighters.
However, Eubank Jr. has his sights set on a much bigger name.
It seems a showdown with Gennady Golovkin could actually happen later in the year, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.
Talking to John Dennen of Boxing News, Hearn revealed: "If everybody wants it as much as they say they do, that fight can happen. We’re in negotiations and it’s going very well."
Prediction
Eubank Jr. will be too much for Doran to cope with. Expect a comfortable defence for the champion, who will no doubt have to share the limelight with his father, Chris Eubank.
George Groves vs. Martin Murray
7 of 8As already documented in more detail for Bleacher Report, George Groves against Martin Murray has the potential to be the pick of the fights on the card.
The two super middleweights are drinking in boxing's last-chance saloon. A win potentially paves the way for another world-title shot, while a defeat leaves either man with nowhere to go.
Groves (23-3, 18 KOs) has looked sharper since teaming up with trainer Shane McGuigan.
However, Andrea Di Luisa and David Brophy were straightforward opponents to deal with for the new fighter-coach partnership. Now they face a serious test.
Murray (33-3-1, 16 KOs) has the upper hand over his rival in one area. He has lost in four attempts at a world title, compared to Groves' three.
Yet Gennady Golovkin is the only man to stop Murray inside the distance—and it took the great GGG until Round 11.
It is a must-watch domestic clash with major ramifications for both men. The air of desperation surrounding the bout should add even more drama to the occasion.
Prediction
Groves will win, but that isn't a prediction offered with a great deal of confidence. Murray is tough and durable, but will have to force a stoppage to come out on top.
Anthony Joshua vs. Dominic Breazeale
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After just 16 fights as a pro, Anthony Joshua is a world champion. He has just as quickly become the biggest draw in British boxing.
Now a pay-per-view regular, he is the most popular heavyweight in the United Kingdom since Frank Bruno (sorry about that Tyson Fury).
He dismantled Charles Martin inside two rounds to claim the IBF title in April. So far, his opponents have lasted a grand total of 34 rounds.
Like Joshua, Dominic Breazeale (17-0, 15 KOs) is an unbeaten heavyweight who competed at the 2012 Olympics.
However, while his next foe won a gold medal at the London Games, the American failed to clear his first hurdle in the super heavyweight division.
Both men are used to knocking people out. Both have career records that lack any names of real note. But, for however long it lasts, Joshua vs. Breazeale should be a good watch.
Preview
Per Jeff Powell of the Daily Mail, Fury said of Americans Martin and Breazeale, "They’re just big old lumps who can’t make it in basketball so they turn to boxing."
Joshua won't hang around in dispatching the latest "big old lump" put in his path.
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