After a memorable final months of boxing in 2021, Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing will look to continue that momentum heading into 2022.
The promoter announced multiple fight nights in the UK and US with some of the biggest names in boxing on Friday.
“We ended 2021 with a bang and I can’t wait to start in 2022. It’s going to be a very exciting year for Matchroom and DAZN with massive events around the world, and I’m delighted with the anticipated schedule that ‘I have put together: unifications, action by the world title and career defining nights; there’s so much drama packed into these nights, and we have so much more to add soon, ”Hearn said in a statement.
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From the February 5th, Jessie Vargas will face Liam Smith. The WBC super flyweight title will also be on the line when Srisaket Sor Rungvisai takes on Carlos Cuadras. This card will take place at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
Vargas, a former WBO welterweight champion, won the title in 2016. After losing the title to Manny Pacquiao, Vargas has gone 2-1-2 in his last five fights. He last fought in February 2020, losing to Mikey Garcia. Smith is a former WBO light middleweight champion who lost the title to Canelo Alvarez in 2016. He has been 7-2 since then, the last time he fought and beat Anthony Fowler by TKO in October.
About February 12 From inside the Alexandra Palace in London, Daniel Jacobs will face John Ryder. Jacobs, a former WBA and IBF middleweight champion, last fought in November 2020. On a two-game winning streak, he last defeated Gabriel Rosado by split decision. Ryder, a former title contender, has also won two in a row.
Lawrence Okolie and Michal Cieslak will meet in London on February 27. Okolie, 29, has been a British, European and Commonwealth cruiserweight champion. He won the WBO cruiserweight title against Krzysztof Glowacki and beat Dilan Prasovic in September to defend him. Cieslak is on a two-game win streak, having beaten Yury Kashinsky in May by TKO. He fought for the WBC cruiserweight title in January 2020, losing to Ilunga Makabu.
One of the biggest clashes of 2022 will take place on March 5th as Juan Francisco Estrada and Román “Chocolatito” González will compete in a trilogy fight in San Diego. González faced Estrada in 2012, defeating him by unanimous decision to retain the WBA light flyweight title. They met again last March, with Estrada prevailing in a Fight of the Year contender for many for the WBA, WBC and The Ring super flyweight titles. The fight will be inside the Pechanga Arena San Diego.
MORE: Result of Estrada vs. Chocolatito 2: Estrada takes revenge on González with a split decision in a total war
A clash will take place around St. Patrick’s Day, as Michael Conlan fights Leigh Wood for the latter’s WBA featherweight championship in March 12. Conlan, the WBA interim featherweight champion, last fought in August, defeating TJ Doheny by unanimous decision. Wood beat Xu Can in July to become the WBA champion. The fight will take place at the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham in the UK.
Finally, Kiko Martinez will defend the IBF featherweight title in a rematch against Josh Warrington at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on March 26. Martinez, who beat Kid Galahad for the title in November, lost to Warrington in May 2017 by majority decision.
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.