HEAVY-handed Mexican Jose Felix stunned Dublin’s 3Arena last May when he knocked out previously unbeaten local favourite Gary Cully and ‘Josesito’ plans to do the same when he takes on high-flying Lewis Crocker in Belfast on January 27.
Crocker is going into the fight on the back of a practically flawless exhibition of power and skill against Tyrone McKenna in December. From the first bell of their grudge match, ‘Croc’ was all over his experienced opponent and he bossed every round against a warrior who had shared the ring with quality operators including Regis Prograis and Jack Catterall.
Crocker didn’t rest on his laurels after his breakthrough win and he goes straight back into action against the dangerous Mexican who faced McKenna at Falls Park in the summer of 2021.
“To get straight back into the ring is brilliant for Lewis,” says Jamie Conlan of promoter Conlan Boxing.
“When I was fighting after a big show you might have had to wait a year to have another one but not anymore. Felix comes with power, he comes with relentless attacks and I’ve seen him up close twice against Tyrone and Gary Cully so he’s not to be taken lightly.
“He’ll be confident after beating Cully so it’s another good test for ‘Croc’ against the biggest puncher he’s ever been in with. He’ll test his chin and Mexican’s never go away easy so it’s a good progressive fight to keep Croc’s career moving.”
Last year Crocker linked up with Scottish trainer Billy Nelson and his victory over McKenna meant he finished 2023 with four wins and progressed his career to 18-0, the jumping-off point for a serious assault on the major lightweight title scene.
“He’s had the building fights, learning fights and he finished the year by beating Tyrone to establish himself as a bona fide star in the city,” said Conlan, who confirmed that brother Michael has yet to confirm whether he will retire after a disappointing loss to Jordan Gill in December.
“He really has an opportunity to progress and grab the bull by the horns and keep this thing moving. He has Matchroom and Conlan Boxing behind him and when we signed Lewis we identified him and Pody McCrory as carrying the flag for Belfast boxing forward in the years to come. This is his opportunity to really grab it.
“We have the quality here and we also have the quantity and we just need the stage for them to showcase their talents. For a long time the shows were few and far between so the fighters didn’t get opportunities to grow, to learn, to build their profile with the public. I believe the times have changed and we’re getting opportunities to showcase our fighters on an international stage against world class fighters.
“We can grow and build our fighters here and we’re close to a sell-out for this show even though it was only announced four weeks’ ago.”
The January 27 bill also includes cruiserweight Tommy McCarthy who comes up against Jamaica-born Cheavon Clarke and Andy Lee-trained Paddy Donovan who moved to 12-0 with a stunning display against Sam Ball on the undercard of Taylor-Cameron 2 in November.
ANTO Cacace will challenge Joe Cordina for the IBF super-featherweight title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the undercard of Tyson Fury versus Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship on February 17.
Cacace won the IBO super-featherweight title in 2022 and defended it in his only fight last year but this is undoubtedly ‘his shot’ - the biggest opportunity of his career to date. The 34-year-old has been boxing for 25 years and has spent long periods of his time as a professional building up to this moment.
It is understood that he took the fight on relatively short notice but he has fully recovered from the hand injury he picked up last year and, according to reports, is confident and determined to dethrone Cordina and take the prized IBF belt to Belfast.
Cordina beat Japan’s Kenichi Ogawa in his native Cardiff to win the title in June 2022 and has since defended it twice, most recently in Monte Carlo, Monaco where he peppered opponent Edward Vazquez with left hooks to the body and right uppercuts but was on the receiving end of a few himself on the way to a majority points win - one judge had it a draw.
Cacace won’t have to go looking for Cordina in Riyadh. The ‘Welsh Wizard’ likes to stand and trade and Cacace has the skills and power to cause him trouble if he matches his workrate in Saudi.
The only sticking point could be whether the Fury-Usyk headline act actually goes ahead because uncertainty still surrounds the heavyweight rumble. Fury had to get off the canvas to beat rookie Francis Ngannou in October and after that unconvincing performance there are fears that he may yet pull out of his duel with Ukrainian Usyk who knocked out Daniel Dubois in his only appearance last year.
SWEDEN’S Anthony Yigit looks likely to be in the opposite corner for Sean McComb’s first fight of 2024 in Belfast on January 27.
McComb finished 2023 with a statement of intent by dropping Sam Maxwell three times at the SSE Arena to move to 18-1 as a professional. Yigit (28-4-1) is an experienced operator at title level and is a good test for McComb in what should be a breakthrough year for the Belfast southpaw.
“It’s another step in the right direction for Sean,” said Jamie Conlan of Conlan Boxing.
“Activity is key for Sean moving forward. He showed his intent by getting straight back in – just like Lewis Crocker – and he wants to get bid fights and continually progress his career.”