The Box Off – Full fight night details
Innovative new boxing format, The Box Off, will host its inaugural show this month
The Box Off event will see the four city-based teams, led by Ricky Hatton (Manchester), Johnny Nelson (Leeds), Tom Skinner (London), and Jaykae (Birmingham), compete head-to-head in an exciting knock-out competition, which will pitch some of the country’s best up and coming talent against each other.Everything you need to know about the brand-new boxing tournament below:
Fight Details
Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023
Venue: Telford International Centre
Times: TV coverage begins at 6:15pm
Tickets: Visit https://theboxoff.ticketco.events/uk/en/m
How to Watch
TV Coverage: Watch live on Boxing Social YouTube Channel
Live Reports: BBN will be reporting LIVE from ringside HERE
Format
The Box Off is backed by the British Boxing Board of Control:
Each team consists of five fighters, one from each weight class, plus a team captain
Fighters will clash over four rounds in the semi-final, with the winners of each progressing to box off in the final to see who will be crowned Box Off champions
Finalists will also earn four points for their team, with winners/champions in the final stage also gaining a further six points
The team with the highest points total amassed over the two stages will be crowned The Box Off team champions
Semi-final bouts will consist of 4 x 3-minute rounds
Final bouts will consist of 6 x 3-minute rounds
The Teams
Manchester: ‘Revolution’
Team Captain: Ricky Hatton
Sylwia Doligala (2-1-1) Women Bantamweight
Liam Gaynor (10-3) Men Super-featherweight
Reece Wood (5-2-1) Men Light-middleweight
Ryszard Lewicki (4-0-1) Men middleweight
Ben Thomas (3-18-3) Men Light-heavyweight
Leeds: ‘The Armoury’
Team Captain: Johnny Nelson
Bree Wright (3-0) Women Welterweight
Levi Smith (7-0) Men Super-featherweight
Jake Goodwin (6-1) Men Light-middleweight
Richard Popham (2-0) Men middleweight
Daryl Sharp (7-114-1) Men Light-heavyweight
London: ‘The Guv’nors’
Team Captain: Tom Skinner
Sarah Worsfold (1-0) Women Welterweight
Daryll Tapfuma (2-13-2) Men Super-feather
Michael Likalu (2-2) Men Light-middleweight
Liam Wells (9-3) Men Middleweight
Robbie Chapman (11-32-4) Men Light-Heavyweight
Julian Wilson (4-0) Cruiserweight
Birmingham ‘The Tribe’
Team Captain: Jaykae
Tanya Ledger (debut) Women Bantamweight
Samuel Pikire (3-1) Men Super-featherweight
Kutaiba Chomi Jimenez (3-0) Men Light-middleweight
Jackson Osagie (2-1) Men Light-heavyweight
Quotes
Hatton (Manchester): “I want to support boxing and opportunities for up and coming fighters to build their profile and get further opportunities. Obviously I am fiercely proud to be from Manchester, so when I heard that the city was going against Birmingham, London and Leeds on the boxing front it already got my competitive edge going. I love Manchester and will not let the city’s name not be associated with a loss. Ideas like this give people another chance at their big break and I love that thought. I was a carpet fitter to pay for my petrol and travel to training and events, and that kind of background makes you hungry as a fighter. I am looking forward to seeing how it can give a platform to boxers and further enhance the sport as a whole.”
Nelson (Leeds): “It’s a real honour to be representing the city of Leeds through this revolutionary new tournament. As a proud Yorkshireman, I’ll be giving everything to ensure we’re recognised as THE home of boxing in the UK. I was fortunate enough to have Brendan Ingle mentor me through my career and if I can pass on any of his legacy to my team, then I’m certain Leeds will be victorious in Telford next month.”
Skinner (London): “The beauty about The Box Off is that it gives real boxers opportunities and allows them to further their careers. One of the biggest problems facing boxing today is that big-ticket sellers are often given opportunities ahead of talented fighters. This card is full of talented fighters, and The Box Off gives them opportunities without the need to sell tickets. Not only that, but Ricky Hatton, Johnny Nelson, Jaykae, and I will support, promote and push them forward, and that's how boxing should be. These are actual fighters who want to succeed in a unique format, and that's what I love about it. There will be 2000 people in the venue, cheering on my team, “The Guvnors” and I will be in the crowd having a beer with everyone. My fighters will make London proud. They're a talented and hungry bunch, and I'm backing them 100 per cent to win the tournament.”
Predictions
Tim Rickson, BBN Editor: “There are some really recognisable names in the competition for someone like me who reports on and attends many small hall shows. To many other British fight fans, they may not have had a chance to watch fighters perform live and appreciate their skills like I have, such as Michael Likalu; Levi Giles; Liam Wells; 'The Caretaker' Robbie Chapman, who deserves a win; and Darryl Sharp who is tough as nails and always puts on a show. I like the concept of this tournament and wish all the fighters the very best. I hope they earn some recognition, money and a few new fans, and that we discover a some new rising stars by the end of it.”
Weights
Check back one day before fight night
Running Order
Bree Wright vs Sarah Worsfold
6×2 Super-lightweight contest
Julian Wilson vs Sheldon McDonald
6×3 Cruiserweight contest
Liam Wells vs Ryszard Lewicki
4×3 Middleweight contest
Liam Gaynor vs Levi Smith
4×3 Super-featherweight contest
Robbie Chapman vs Jackson Osagie
4×3 Light-heavyweight contest
Ben Thomas vs Darryl Sharp
4×3 Light-heavyweight contest
Michael Likalu vs Kutaiba Jiminez
4×3 Super-welterweight contest
Jake Goodwin vs Rhys Wood
4×3 Super-welterweight contest
Daryl Tapfuma vs Samuel Pikire
10×3 WBC International light-heavyweight title
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