Matchroom announce their first six shows in 2025
New year. New intentions. Matchroom will kickstart 2025 with an almighty bang as it brings Boxing fans an unmissable double header direct from the UK and USA on Saturday, January 25 – live worldwide on DAZN.
Two events. Two Continents. One broadcast.
Dalton Smith vs Walid Ouizza
An unrivalled 12-hours of action – streamed by the global home of Boxing, DAZN – starts at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena where No.3 WBC ranked Dalton ‘Thunder’ Smith (16-0, 12 KOs) begins his charge towards greatness as he challenges Walid Ouizza (19-2, 8 KOs) for the EBU European and WBC Silver Super-Lightweight Championships.
On a stacked undercard, Ellie Scotney (9-0) defends her IBF & Ring Magazine Super-Bantamweight World Titles against Mea Motu (20-0, 8 KOs), whilst Conah Walker (14-3-1, 5 KOs) challenges Harry Scarff (13-3, 3 KOs) for the British & Commonwealth Welterweight Championships.
Mark Dickinson (7-1, 2 KOs) challenges undefeated Reece Farnhill (11-0, 4 KOs) for the English Super-Middleweight belt, whilst undefeated rising homegrown stars Ibraheem Sulaimaan (6-0, 4 KOs) and Hamza Uddin (3-0, 1 KO) return to action.
Diego Pacheco vs Steven Nelson
Then it is over to the US, where Diego Pacheco (22-0, 8 KOs) will defend his USWBC and WBO International Super-Middleweight Titles against Steven Nelson (20-0, 16 KOs) at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas – with Cuban Olympic star Andy Cruz (4-0, 2 KOs) taking on Mexico’s Omar Salcido (20-1, 14 KOs) and Pomona’s Ernesto Mercado (16-0, 15 KOs) facing Jose Pedraza (29-6-1, 14 KOs) on his Matchroom debut.
George Liddard vs Derrick Osaze
And the big nights keep coming in Q1, as Matchroom delivers a octane evening of NXTGEN drama on Saturday, January 31, when unbeaten 10-0 Middleweight prospect George Liddard (10-0, 6 KOs) co-headlines at London’s indigo at The O2 against Birmingham’s Derrick Osaze (13-2, 3 KOs), as Rotherham talent Junaid Bostan (10-0, 8 KOs) battles Bilal Fawaz (9-1, 2 KOs) with the English Super-Welterweight crown up for grabs.
Plus, a crop of exciting Matchroom talent will bid to extend their 100% starts to the professional ranks as Jimmy Sains (8-0, 8 KOs), Giorgio Visioli (5-0, 4 KOs), Leli Buttigieg (6-0, 1 KO), Taylor Bevan (1-0, 1 KO) and Jesse Brandon (4-0, 1 KO) feature in the capital.
Eduardo Hernandez vs Tellez Giron
Eduardo ‘Rocky’ Hernandez (36-2, 32 KOs) will return to action on Friday, February 28, when he takes on Rene Tellez Giron (20-4, 13 KOs) at the Auditorio Guelaguetza in Oaxaca, Mexico.
KO artist Hernandez is back after an accidental head clash in his showdown with Thomas Mattice caused a cut to his left eye in Hermosillo back in September, ending a contest that was bubbling nicely with a technical decision win.
That was a second win for ‘Rocky’ in his rebuild after his thrilling World title fight with O’Shaquie Foster in October 2023, and the WBA Continental Americas and IBF USBA Super-Featherweight titles when he takes on Giron (20-4 13 KOs), the fiery Mexican who gave future World Title challenger Floyd Schofield a real scare when he floored him in the 11th round of their clash in Las Vegas in November in a spirited performance.
Lewis Crocker vs Paddy Donovan
A mouth-watering Matchroom Fight Night awaits in Belfast one day later on Saturday, March 1, when local favourite Lewis Crocker (20-0, 11 KOs) and Limerick’s Paddy Donovan (14-0, 11 KOs) light up the SSE Arena in a huge all-Irish battle.
Match 28: Pat Brown
And March ends with the professional debut of Olympian Pat Brown as the Cruiserweight standout headlines at Planet Ice Altrincham on the outskirts of his hometown Manchester on Saturday, March 28.
Eddie Hearn
Further blockbuster nights are still to be announced for February and March across the globe – and excited promoter and Chairman of Matchroom Sport, Eddie Hearn, said: “This is how you get things started.
“2025 is guaranteed to be our biggest year yet – and it’s all exclusive to fight fans on the global home of Boxing, DAZN.
“Going back-to-back on January 25 underlines our strength worldwide with two incredible shows.
“Our January 31 we have a stacked night of NXTGEN boxing in London to look forward to, which leads us to a string of exciting events across the world up until March – with plenty more blockbuster nights and unmissable fights still to be announced. Watch this space.”
“We are incredibly excited to be announcing our first shows of 2025,” said Alfie Sharman, VP DAZN. “Featuring some of the biggest names and best prospects in the sport, these shows will kick off an action-packed year for the platform. In 2025, DAZN promises to bring our subscribers an unrivalled schedule of world class boxing and closer to the action than ever before”.