Key points:
- Briton Jack Rafferty lands IBO world title shot
- Belgian Hovhannes Martirosyan has won two IBO belts before
- The welterweights battle on the Buatsi-Hutchinson card
Unbeaten British boxer Jack Rafferty (27-0-1, 18 KOs) will challenge for the vacant IBO World welterweight title against Hovhannes Martirosyan (20-1, 12 KOs) on November 7 at the AO Arena in Manchester, live on DAZN.
The welterweight rivals will clash on the Joshua Buatsi-Willy Hutchinson undercard at the AO Arena on Fireworks weekend.
The IBO World welterweight title on the line originated in 1993 and has been held by the likes of Roger Mayweather and his nephew Floyd Mayweather.
Local lad Rafferty is 31 from nearby Shaw and has won British, Commonwealth and WBC International Silver Super-lightweight titles during his nine-year pro career.
Following a draw with fellow Brit Mark Chamberlain in August 2025, the ‘Demolition Man’ moved up to welterweight and stopped in-form Ekow Essuman, not long after Essuman had sent former undisputed champ Josh Taylor into retirement.
Belgian champion Martirosyan, 34 from Genk, has won IBO International and IBO Inter-Continental titles before.
He has only lost once in his career – to future IBO World super-lightweight champion, Pierce O’Leary.
The vacant IBO World welterweight title up for grabs was recently in the hands of Jaron Ennis, but has only been won by one British boxer in the past – Jawaid Khaliq. The Nottingham boxing legend held the title over two reigns during 2001-2004.
The rough, rugged Rafferty will be firing on all cylinders to bring the belt back to Britain.