Matchroom Card In Liverpool, July 12th.

By Paul Hampton, @v2boxing.

Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Sports today announced the line up for their upcoming show in Liverpool, entitled Collision Course. The show is to do nothing more than set up the big rematch between Tony Bellew (21-2-1, 13kos) and Welshman Nathan Cleverly (27-1, 13kos).

The big scouser is scheduled to face Brazilian Julio Cesar Dos Santos (26-2, 23kos) in an unexciting match up. The Brazilian hasn’t fought outside of home country and has fought just eleven opponents who have winning records, it screams mismatch but it does appear that the Brazilian has some power and could trouble Bellew if he lands cleanly.

Nathan Cleverly continues his comeback following his devastating knock out defeat to Sergey Kovalev, against Argentinian Alejandro Emilio (15-4, 11kos). It’s an opponent who is no better than his last and shows no progress, which is a shame as it would have been nice to see Cleverly in with a decent test before facing Bellew again.

A fight that has sprung no surprises is Anthony Joshua MBE (6-0, 6kos) faces Matt Skelton (28-8, 23kos). Skelton certainly is a step up from what he has faced so far, but at 47 you do have to question whether he should still be fighting and going in with guys who could do serious long term damage to his health.

One thing is for sure though, Skelton will put the pressure on Joshua and we will finally see him made to work for a full three minutes, should it last that long. Also on the undercard Callum Smith (11-0, 9kos) faces American Vladine Biosse (15-3-2, 7kos), Rocky Fielding (18-0, 10kos) faces Noe Gonzalez Alcoba (30-3, 22kos) and Stephen and Paul Smith will also feature, however their respective opponents haven’t been announced yet.

http://v2boxing.com/1/post/2014/06/collision-course-opponents-announced.html

Joshua v Skelton?

Seriously?

Nothing more than cannon fodder.

No issues with the AJ fight. Reasonably tough, dirty fighting old pro - will challenge him more than all his previous opponents combined. Right sort of fight for an 8 fight novice.

He's 47, he's hardly going to offer a real challenge other than roughing him up.

That's the challenge he poses to a novice, his rough housing.

The Bellew fight could be interesting, looks he's in with a punch whereas Clev is in with an absolute nobody.

Gonzalez will give us a good indication as to where Fielding is at, he'll win but how easily is key.

The guy Bellew is fighting is dreadful. His record is more padded than a memory foam mattress. Only faced 11 opponents with winning records in 28 fights, he's no better than what Cleverly faced last time out.

I'm getting bored with these cards now, utter dross.

cheers Rodders

This is a pretty awful card. Surely Bellew and Cleverly aren't going to start going down the route that prospects take due to moving up to another division.

At least Bellews has a pretty record....but it's back to the hospitals for some nurse bashing for ole Nate

Hammersmith harrier wrote:That's the challenge he poses to a novice, his rough housing.

Exactly. He gave us reason for concern with Price, even if he did get wiped out in the end anyway.

Doubt it'll go past 4 rounds but I'd still expect those four to be the toughest AJ has had yet.

If Skelton goes charging in, AJ takes him out inside two. If he fights with a little caution, it might go five. However, Skelton will be looking for a paycheck so AJ drops him heavily in the first and finishes the job early in the second

Crap card

I'm glad there's a consensus on the standard of the card.

Who does Eddie really have in his stable that gets the blood racing? Might have to wait until the next Froch fight.

I think hes just marking time until he can pair bellew and clev their isnt a lot he can do though atm really paul smith is tied up so i supose he could put rocky fielding in with callum but dont know if he wants to risk what many see as his next golden egg yet

Paul Smith will apparently be on the card but his opponent is yet to be announced. I've edited the original post as I did a quick write up about it.

NEWSLFASH: Strongy doesn't like something Hearn has done.....

Regular shows as non-PPV events are always unlikely to have stacked cards, especially as top top boxers often split away from the main promotional cos to manage their own fate.

Paul Smith not on the card. I was at the presser yesterday.

I've got no problem with the undercard but Eddie is real protecting the fight between Bellew and Clev. Both fight mediocre South Americans. The is a good talent pool for Cruisers in Europe so why he keeps on bring over these TTAs or TTBs is beyond me.

Boxrec, plus other sources are reporting he'll have another keep busy fight on the undercard SoF. It'll be why it hasn't even been mentioned.

Well he did say he wasn't aswell if that makes it more official.

Maybe he's scared of your big cousin Rocky as I said, it probably just hasn't been confirmed yet and will be another last minute thing should it happen as with most of his recent fights.

It's a nothing card really. But you'll have that, cleverly and bellew could do with another fight with the extra 15lbs limit. I'm not sure if there is a massive clamour for a rematch. The first fight was entertaining, but at that point we suspected cleverly was world level and that bellew wasn't. The fight turned out to be close. And it also transpired they were pretty level on the world stage too.

I think they will both fall short as world level cruisers too, I'd like to see either of them in with huck.

Soldier_Of_Fortune wrote:Paul Smith not on the card. I was at the presser yesterday.

I've got no problem with the undercard but Eddie is real protecting the fight between Bellew and Clev. Both fight mediocre South Americans. The is a good talent pool for Cruisers in Europe so why he keeps on bring over these TTAs or TTBs is beyond me.

It's because he can pay them less.

hampo171 wrote:Maybe he's scared of your big cousin Rocky ;)as I said, it probably just hasn't been confirmed yet and will be another last minute thing should it happen as with most of his recent fights.

Frak hell Paul, I only said he said he wernt fighting. Its even on his Twitter. He has got is big showdown with Abraham soon hasn't he   

It was only a joke mate, calm down. Abraham only fought a month ago, if he fights it'll be another late minute job, same as it was in Manchester and his last fight.

He's not fighting on the Liverpool card   

Unless his 'deserved' title shot doesnt come off.

Lets hope Rocky can make the weight this time, get very frustrated when talent can't seem to be bothered.