- Lawal and Chamberlain both make weight
- Tension between the two at the weigh in
- Caterall confident ahead of Linares bout
Mikael Lawal and Isaac Chamberlain have successfully met their weight requirements for the upcoming British and Commonwealth cruiserweight championship fight at York Hall, with the tension simmering between the pair. Meanwhile Jack Catterall is going into his clash with Jorge Linarea.full of confidence.
Tension at Lawal/Chamberlain weigh in
The fighters’ impressive physical condition at Friday’s weigh-in is a testament to their dedicated training regimen leading up to this pivotal bout, a culmination of nearly a year’s worth of preparation.
Tensions were palpable as Lawal locked eyes with a spirited Chamberlain during their final face-off before Saturday’s showdown. Lawal’s stern expression gave way to a wry smile and a dismissive shake of his head.
Chamberlain couldn’t resist breaking away from his interview with Sky Sports to throw a taunt at Lawal: “Who are you trying to intimidate?”
Lawal, however, shrugged off the incident, remarking, “He’s talking, I’m listening to the talk. I don’t know what he’s talking about. I think all the pressure’s actually on him.”
Lawal, the reigning British cruiserweight champion, weighed in at 14st 2lbs, while Chamberlain tipped the scales just a pound heavier.
“I put in the miles, I put in the hard yards, I put in the work,” Chamberlain declared confidently. “I’m knocking him out.”
In contrast, Lawal’s prediction was more straightforward. “This is my belt. I’m taking it back home with me,” he affirmed regarding the British title. “I’m going to win.”
At the time of writing BoyleSports make Chamberlain the favourite at 8/15, with Lawal 17/10 and a draw 18/1
Greene to defend title against Gilley
The undercard features an enticing clash for the Commonwealth super-welterweight title, pitting Sam Gilley (11st) against champion Louis Greene (10st 12lbs).
Gilley, visibly pleased with hitting his weight target, exuded confidence, stating, “I’m going to be absolutely massive tomorrow.”
Both Gilley and Greene, riding high on recent stoppage victories, are set to face off in a 12-round battle at York Hall. During their focused yet controlled face-off, Gilley shared a quiet word with the champion.
“I just said let’s go to war tomorrow night,” Gilley explained.
“We’ve invested so much into this for the past 10 weeks,” he added. “There’s a reason BOXXER has kept this show on, because of fights like this.”
Catterall is ready for Linares test
Meanwhile, at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena, light-welterweight Catterall is gearing up to take on Linares.
Catterall, determined to end Linarea’s unbeaten streak against British fighters, remarked, “He’s had his time in the sun. Now it’s my time.”
This fight marks Catterall’s return to the ring following his commanding performance against Darragh Foley in May, securing a unanimous points victory.
The Chorley native is on a mission to chart a course back to a world-title opportunity after a contentious loss to Josh Taylor in February 2022. The split decision defeat raised eyebrows in the boxing world, with many believing Catterall should have become the first Englishman to achieve undisputed champion status in the four-belt era.
“I entered this sport to become a world champion. We haven’t achieved it yet, but I firmly believe it’s within my capabilities,” Catterall affirmed. “[Linares] has had his time in the sun, now it’s my time.”
Linares, a three-weight champion, boasts victories over all three British opponents he’s faced. Matchroom Sport promoter Eddie Hearn acknowledged, “He’s broken our heart so many times.”
Linares, acknowledging his recent losses, revealed he had contemplated retirement. However, a renewed partnership with former trainer Ismael Salas has reignited his career.
“I feel like I’m 20 years old again,” he enthused. “I’ve come from three losses, but I’m not dwelling on it. A lot has happened in my life; this is not new.”
At the time of writing William Hill make Catterall the favourite at 1/9 with Linares at 11/2 and a draw at 18/1.
Browse our top list of the best UK betting site for boxing for more information.
