A talent-packed undercard for Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn II has been announced, featuring Jack Catterall, Richard Riakporhe and IBO world champion Adam Azim.
‘The Ring: Unfinished Business’ takes place on on Saturday, November 15 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – screened live on DAZN.
Jack Catterall vs Ekow Essuman
Undisputed lightweight contender Jack ‘El Gato’ Catterall (31-2, 13 KOs) bids to improve his welterweight world ranking when he battles former British and Commonwealth ruler Ekow ‘The Engine’ Essuman (22-1, 8 KOs).
Catterall defeated Harlem Eubank – cousin of headliner Chris Eubank Jr – in his last fight in July, winning via a unanimous technical decision after the bout was cut short in the seventh round due to both fighters sustaining cuts from an accidental clash of heads.
Botswana-born Brit Essuman’s most recent win was against Catterall’s former arch-nemesis Josh Taylor in May. ‘The Engine’ from Nottingham upset the former undisputed champion with a comfortable, unanimous points victory, thus sending the Scot into retirement.
A win for either man, currently ranked WBO #8 and #3, respectively, would propel them into the world title frame.
Richard Riakporhe vs Tommy Welch
‘The Midnight Train’ Richard Riakporhe (18-1, 14 KOs) will be rolling into the capital for his first heavyweight scrap on home soil when he takes on the undefeated Tommy ‘Hell Boy’ Welch (16-0, 9 KOs) – son of former world heavyweight title contender, Scott Welch.
Londoner Riakporhe, who fell short in his bid to dethrone Chris Billam-Smith from his WBO cruiserweight reign in June 2024 at Selhurst Park, made the move up in weight last May when he defeated Kevin Nicolas Espindola on the Canelo-Scull undercard in Riyadh. Tough Argentinian Espindola took Moses Itauma the distance over six-rounds, but Riakporhe dropped him and forced him to retire after four.
Now aged 35, he aims to make a statement against undefeated Brighton boxer, Welch, who has built up an impressive record of 16-0, with five first-round KOs.
Adam Azim vs Zaur Abdullaev
IBO world super-lightweight champion Adam Azim (13-0, 10 KOs) will be on display, as he returns to the ring for the first time since February, when he won his world title.
‘The Assassin’, 23 from Slough, stopped Sergey Lipinets in round nine to claim the vacant IBO 135lbs crown, a title which has formerly been held by the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Ricky Hatton, and Roger Mayweather.
The young Brit steps up to face dangerous Armenian-based, Zaur Abdullaev (20-2, 12 KOs), who has mixed it with the likes of Devin Haney, Jorge Linares and Raymond Muratalla.
Now 31, the Russian aims to halt Azim’s meteoric rise to improve his world ranking, currently positioned at IBF #9 at lightweight.
Mikie Tallon vs Fezan Shahid
Another exciting British youngster Mikie Tallon (10-0, 1 KO) bolsters the undercard too, when the unbeaten Liverpool flyweight faces Fezan ‘Fizzy’ Shahid (4-2-2).
The 20-year-old prospect has won all his 10 fights within two years, but his next assignment won’t be as easy as it looks on paper, as the Bradford boxer he faces has won his last two on the spin.
Sam Gilley vs Ishmael Davis
Sam ‘Magic Man’ Gilley (18-1-1, 9 KOs) will be hoping to conjure up a magical night at his beloved Tottenham Hotspur when he challenges Ishmael ‘The Black Panther’ Davis (13-3, 6 KOs) for the vacant British and Commonwealth super-welterweight belts.
Leeds’ Davis is on a run of three successive losses, but is deemed by many to have been unlucky to have lost a thrilling encounter with Caoimhin Agyarko earlier this month in Belfast. He also took Josh Kelly to a mixed decision result in September 2024.
After coming so agonisingly close, he’ll be keen to change his luck and stop Gilley on the big stage at Spurs.
The event is brought to fight fans by Riyadh Season, The Ring, SELA, Matchroom Boxing, and BOXXER, with the undercard fights in association with Queensberry Promotions and Goldstar.
Tickets are on General Sale now via Ticketmaster.co.uk, starting at £55 plus booking fees.
