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Predictions for Heavy Duty

Written by British Boxing News on 7th September 2015.

Joshua vs Cornish fight predictions

With a trilogy of WBC International title fights on the cards, Matchroom's 'Heavy Duty' event at the O2 Arena in London looks set to provide top class entertainment this weekend, live on Sky Sports. Anthony Joshua MBE (13-0) will face unbeaten Scot Gary Cornish (21-0) in the main event in what will be the Olympic gold medallist's first major title bout with the vacant Commonwealth heavyweight title on the line. Joshua's rival, the Brixton 'Villain' Dillian Whyte (15-0) takes on 40-year-old Pennsylvanian Brian Minto (41-9) for the WBC International Silver heavyweight title. To complete their exciting trilogy, Commonwealth and WBC International light-welterweight titleholder Dave Ryan (17-8) goes up against challenger John Wayne Hibbert (15-3) from Essex. Last time, their fight was scheduled early on in the evening but due to the fireworks it produced, it is providing chief support this time around. BBN asked for predictions from the people in the know…

Bradley Saunders (12-0) Former WBO Inter-Continental light-welterweight champion

"Joshua all day for me  – a growing talent getting better all the time. I am enjoying watching him.
 
 
Never seen much of Dillian Whyte but heard a lot so I can't see why he won't win, too.
 
 
Ryan v Hibbert – I will be all eyes! Was a cracker the last time and it's a future possible fight for me with the both of them. May the best man win on the night and I wish them both good health after it."

Lloyd Ellett (17-0) Unbeaten light-middleweight

"You can't really pick against Anthony Joshua at the moment, he hits way too hard but the only fight everyone wants to see is against Dillian Whyte. I expect him to get rid of Cornish quite early.
 
 
I fancy Whyte all day long. Minto has come in late notice and Whyte has been training with Klitschko's trainer Johnathon Banks and he's got Joshua in mind so he'll be in the best shape ever. I'd say middle rounds stoppage depending on what shape Minto is in.
 
 
Ryan looks like a bit of a beast at that weight. If Hibbert can keep him off and get his boxing going then he can win but it's how much you can give out and keep Ryan at bay."

Luke Blackledge (19-2-2) Commonwealth super-middleweight champion "Joshua will stop him before five rounds. I think Whyte will win on points. I think the champion will be more likely to win in the Ryan v Hibbert fight – on points."

Liam Desmond (5-0) Unbeaten middleweight "AJ to win by KO within six rounds, Hibbert to win on points, Whyte will win by KO in the fourth round."

George Hennon (1-0) Unbeaten welterweight "I predict another Joshua stoppage, Dillian Whyte stoppage and John Wayne Hibbert to edge it on points."

Dean Gillen (1-0) Unbeaten middleweight "Joshua faces his biggest test to date, against another unbeaten fighter in Gary Cornish. Cornish has beaten everyone he's faced but none of the faces have been recognisable. Joshua is the biggest name and heavy weight he's faced – Joshua inside five rounds!

Dylan White is set to face the big American in Brain Minto, I'm no spring chicken but Minto might by minty by name but he's certainly not fresh in his 40's! So, I'm backing the younger man to win by KO in the mid rounds, that's Dillian White. This will set up a big grudge match against Joshua!!
 
The Dave Ryan V John Wayne Hibbert fights are cracking! I'm backing Hibbert to do the business this time round – third time lucky!! It will be another great fight, that will end with a split decision win for Hibbert!"

Ricky Leach (0-4-1) Bantamweight "Joshua will win by stoppage, I think. He is so talented and I think he's the best heavyweight boxer out there, he has a bright future ahead of him. Whyte will stop Minto and Hibbert should edge it on points. I also think that Charlie Edwards will win on points, he's another talented boxer and he deserves the win with the amount of training that he does – fingers crossed he wins the belt."

Matt Marsh (13-2) Former British super-bantamweight champion "Joshua wins within three rounds, for me. I'm hoping and willing for John Wayne Hibbert to do the business. Dillian Whyte will win by late KO."

Johnny Greaves (4-96) Pro boxer from 2007-2013, now a boxing manager "Joshua gets his hardest first few rounds, stopping Cornish within five rounds. Hibbert – Ryan fight is very close again so could either way. Dillian Whyte comes through on a late stoppage."

George LaceyKICCA "I'll go with AJ in the second round."

Tim RicksonTR Sports "Anthony Joshua wins within the first three rounds, for me. Just because the 'Highlander' is undefeated, it doesn't mean that we will see anything different here but he could present the 'Big Man' with his hardest few rounds yet. Minto only has a six wins out of the last 10 fights, he's got an impressive record and shared the ring with World heavyweight champions Marco Huck and Tony Tubbs. I'm sure that he knows his way around the ring with the experience that he's got so I'm saying a stoppage at the hands of Whyte in the middle rounds. I think that we all know by now that Dave Ryan just can't be stopped and there's a good reason why he's called 'Rocky'. The only person to ever widely outpoint him was former British champion Darren Hamilton. All other losses have been just a point or two in it. If it goes the distance and he can box clever and not get caught, then Hibbert by mixed decision, for me."

Schedule:

  • Anthony Joshua VS Gary Cornish 12 x 3 mins vacant Commonwealth Heavyweight title
  • Dave Ryan VS John Wayne Hibbert 12 x 3 mins Commonwealth & WBC International Light Welterweight titles
  • Tommy Martin VS Michael Devine 10 x 3 mins Light-Welterweight contest
  • Ricky Boylan VS Danny Connor 10 x 3 mins Light-Welterweight contest
  • Dillian Whyte VS Brian Minto 10 x 3 mins WBC International Silver title
  • Charlie Edwards VS Louis Norman 10 x 3 mins for English Flyweight title
  • O'Hara Davies VS Dame Seck 6 x 3 mins Lightweight contest
  • Jake Ball VS Haidir Sadiq 4 x 3 mins Light-Heavyweight contest
  • Ted Cheeseman VS TBA 4 x 3 mins
  • Reece Bellotti VS Adel Hadjouis 6 x 3 mins Featherweight contest
  • Lucien Reid VS David Happal 4 x 3 mins Super-Bantamweight contest
 

Tickets on general sale with £40, £60, £80, £100 and £150 tickets available from The O2 at www.theO2.co.uk and on 0844 856 0202, with the £250 VIP tickets exclusively available from www.MatchroomBoxing.com.Buy tickets on StubHub.co.uk the official ticketing partner