Thursday, October 1st
DAZN, 1:30 pm ET Chaos in the Ring
From Lagos, Nigeria. The latest in a series of mixed pro and “crossover” African celebrity boxing shows. If you remember previous fight capsules about a colorful lad with a lively history named “Portable?” This is more of the same. This time out, your headliner is Carter Efe, who Wikipedia says is a “Nigerian comedian, online streamer, singer and songwriter” and the most followed Twitch streamer in Africa. As the most followed Twitch streamer in Whirlyball, I can understand
the pressures he feels, and the need for an outlet to punch someone. For Efe, that punchable someone is rapper Speed Darlington, who you obviously don’t need me to remind you broke through with his song “BangDadaDang!” But, Wikipedia and I will tell you that his profile “has been fueled as much by his controversial persona as by his music.” It seems that Speed was arrested for defamation after releasing the diss track “Baby Oil” in his feud with Burna Boy (apparently, Burna has ties to Sean “Puffy” “Puff Daddy” “Diddy” “P.Diddy” Combs). Speed presciently ended that diss track with a “shoutout to my lawyer!” (Yes, I listened, and no, you shouldn’t.) Also, Speed brandished a knife while ranting during an Instagram Live stream about a woman that accused him of being a rapist. Controversy! In more serious boxing, it looks like Bulgarian Olympian Radoslav Rosenov, who looked promising in a couple of fights in Paris, is on the undercard here for his 4th pro outing.
Friday, October 2nd
DAZN, 8:00 pm ET Matchroom Boxing Rising Stars
From Orlando, Florida. Headlining is Omari Jones, taking on Alan Sanchez, who ProBox regulars may know from his multiple appearances on those shows. That’s an eight-rounder, and there’s also a 10 round fight featuring Jordan Orozco. But, don’t expect that one to go the full 10, as Orozco is 17-0 with all previous wins coming by knockout, and 12 of those coming in three rounds or fewer.
DAZN, 10:00 pm ET Red Owl Boxing: BOXFEST XXI
From El Paso, Texas. Main event is either Naomi Cardenas vs Melanie Timko or Deonte Brown vs Leonardo Padilla. DAZN is spotlighting the Cardenas-Timko fight, but Brown-Padilla runs longer and seems likelier since Brown is essentially a Red Owl house fighter. Helpful tip for anyone reading who may be making the trip for this show… Chico’s Tacos closes at 11 pm, so make sure you get yours before the fights start. This card starts too late to enjoy them as a local treat after the show!
Saturday, October 3rd
Ben Whittaker vs Conor Wallace (DAZN, 2:00 pm ET)
BLH will have live results and updates
From Birmingham, England. Whittaker is a year into his Matchroom deal after starting his post-Olympic pro career (he won a silver medal!) with Boxxer. He faces Wallace, who fights outside of his native Australia for the first time as a pro. Actually, this is just the second time Wallace has ever fought outside of Queensland, Australia as a pro… The one field trip was to adjacent state New South Wales in August of 2024. Only one blemish on Wallace’s record, a 2021 majority decision loss to Leti Leti that Wallace avenged with a knockout a year and a half later.
ON THE UNDERCARD: British titles galore are on the line! Bilal Fawaz defends his super welterweight belt against Eithan James. Sean Bruce defends the flyweight belt against Hamza Uddin, with a vacant Commonwealth belt in the mix for good measure. And Ibraheem Sulaimaan brings the super featherweight strap to a matchup against fellow undefeated fighter Sonny Hardy. God help any Englishman who shows up wearing suspenders, because they’ll stick out like a sore thumb. Prelims start at noon, Eastern time.
