John Ryder and Dalton Smith both travel to Austria for an away day
On September 10 at the Wörthersee Stadium in Klagenfurt, Londoner John Ryder (29-5, KOs) returns to the ring against hard-hitting Slovakian Jozef Jurko (8-2, 6KOs), live on RTL in Croatia and DAZN in over 170 countries and territories worldwide.
Now 33, world title contender Ryder is approaching the twilight years of his career and aims to secure another world title shot having fallen so marginally short to Liverpool's Callum Smith in November 2019.
'The Gorilla' from Islington bounced back with a resounding UD victory over Californian Mike Guy (12-6, 5KOs) in December last year in Hollywood on the undercard of IBF and IBO World middleweight champion's successful title defence to challenger Kamil Szeremeta.
In July this year, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed on Twitter: "Just received the order for negotiations from WBA for John Ryder vs David Morrell – great fight!"
Cuban sensation and undefeated WBA Super Middleweight Champion David Morrell Jr. (5-0, 4 KOs) defeated unbeaten challenger Mario Cázares (12-1, 5 KOs) with a knockout just 2:32 in to the first round of their contest on June 27.
The Santa Clara southpaw, known as 'Osvary' Morrell, is just 23 years of age and became a world champion in only his fifth fight, following an amateur career that saw him win national championships in Cuba and a Youth World gold medal in 2016, finishing with an amateur record of 130-2.
He stopped his first two opponents in 2019 in the first and second rounds, respectively, to land a WBA interim World super-middleweight title shot against unbeaten Lennox Allen (22-1-1, 14KOs), which he went the full 12 rounds to win unanimously on points. The former holder of this interim title was his forthcoming foe, John Ryder.
Based in Minneapolis, the Cuban stopped American Mike Gavronski in three rounds on Boxing Day to set up his world title shot, which he blitzed through devastatingly with a first-round KO.
Ryder is ranked WBC #11; WBA #3; WBO 14; and IBO #5 and is in pole position to challenge either WBA champ Morrell or even IBO titlist Carlos Gongora next. However, reports suggest that he could be aiming upwards at light-heavyweight WBA holder Dmitry Bivol (18-0, 11KOs), who was last seen beating Briton Craig Richards in May this year.
Dalton Smith vs Brian Pelaez
English super-lightweight champion Dalton 'Thunder' Smith (8-0, 7KOs), 24 from Sheffield, is also in action on the undercard against Madrid's Brian Pelaez (10-5, 1KO).
The 25-year-old Spaniard recently went the distance over eight-rounds with Puerto Rican sensation Abraham 'Super' Nova, now 20-0 with 14KOs. He also contended for the IBO Continental super-featherweight title in 2019, losing by two points on one judge's scorecards. He has only been stopped once, which was well over five years ago.
Trained by his father, Grant, at the Steel City Gym in Sheffield, Smith benefits from sparring and training with the likes of Sunny Edwards and many more top prospects.
He faces Pelaez over 10-rounds at super-lightweight.
Main Event
Filip Hrgović vs Marko Radonjic
Unbeaten heavyweights Filip Hrgović (12-0, 10 KOs) and Marko Radonjic (22-0, 22 KOs) clash in a ‘Battle of the Giants’.
Hrgović, the 29-year-old from Zagreb, Croatia, is one of the most feared fighters in the heavyweight division. He returns to action following a sensational knockout win over American heavyweight Rydell Booker on November 7 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medallist has his sights set on a World title fight with IBF ruler Anthony Joshua but knows he must first overcome Radonjic as he makes the maiden defence of his IBF International crown.
Radonjic, who is known as the ‘Montenegro Hammer’, holds an incredible record of 22 knockout wins from 22 contests. The 31-year-old from Cetinje, Montenegro, will face his toughest test against Hrgović, a man many are tipping as a future world champion, but is confident of maintaining his perfect record and taking home the IBF International strap.
“This is going to be a great fight between two top heavyweights,” said Hrgović. “I have a lot of respect for Radonjic for taking this fight when many wouldn’t. I’m excited to box at the Wörthersee Stadium. I expect a lot of Croatians to travel to support me and I look forward to fighting in front of the Austrian fans too. Radonjic has a good record, he has won all his fights by knockout, but he has never fought anyone like me. On September 10, he will feel my power and the ‘Montenegro Hammer’ will fall!”
“Filip Hrgović is a great fighter and I’m really looking forward to fighting him,” says Radonjic. “It will be an exciting fight between two big punching heavyweights. I know Hrgović is a good boxer but I’m confident I can beat him. I will take the IBF International Title home with me. The ‘Montenegro Hammer’ is coming to win!”
The IBF International Heavyweight Title contest between Filip Hrgović and Marko Radonjic headlines an action-packed event at the Wörthersee Stadium in Klagenfurt, Austria promoted by Wasserman Boxing and Matchroom Boxing in association with SEH Sports and Entertainment Holding.
Promoters
Kalle Sauerland, Head of Global Boxing at Wasserman, said: “We’re delighted to bring the ‘Battle of the Giants’ to the Wörthersee Stadium in Klagenfurt. This is going to be a sensational night of heavyweight action. Filip Hrgović is the most avoided heavyweight on the planet. He is the man no one wants to fight and for good reason! In the opposite corner, we have the ‘Montenegro Hammer’, another unbeaten fighter with a perfect record of 22 fights and 22 knockouts. This is a real treat for boxing fans. Two top heavyweights with dynamite in their fists. This fight is not going the distance. Expect fireworks on September 10!”
Matchroom Sport Chairman, Eddie Hearn, said: “Filip Hrgović is one of the most avoided men in the Heavyweight division and finding an opponent with the courage to step in the ring with him has been a challenge. Virtually the whole of the IBF top 15 turned down the opportunity to face him in a Final Eliminator. It’s great to see the Croatian contender in action against the undefeated ‘Montenegro Hammer’ Marko Radonjic. Both men hold perfect records and I’m expecting an explosive Heavyweight fight in Austria on September 10.”
Zeljko Karajica for SEH Sports and Entertainment Holding, said: “Filip has been training hard these last months and can’t wait to enter the Wörthersee Stadium. There are a lot of Croatians living around Klagenfurt who will be there to support him and many more travelling from Croatia. The fans can look forward to another explosive performance from Filip as he shows why he is the most exciting fighter in the heavyweight division today.”
Tickets are on sale now and available via https://www.snapticket-live.de/battleofthegiants
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