A WELCOME FROM EDDIE HEARN

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3 A WELCOME FROM EDDIE HEARN HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE FLYDSA ARENA HERE IN SHEFFIELD FOR ANOTHER BRILLIANT NIGHT OF BOXING. There s a number of reasons why I m looking forward to this excellent card, one of course is the return of Kell Brook under a new trainer in John Fewkes, but there s three guys on the card who are in big step up fights. Main event sees Brook take on Australia s Michael Zerafa in a final eliminator for the WBA Super- Welterweight World title. He wants nothing more than to secure a longawaited British battle with Amir Khan but he s not prepared to wait around any longer. I think he looks fitter, healthier, chirpier and more excited than I ve ever seen him in his career so far. A fit, hungry and healthy Kell Brook is a very dangerous fighter. I believe that we re going to get a fantastic performance from him tonight. There s talk about the future, there s talk about Khan, one thing I know is that Kell Brook has many miles left on the clock. When there s hunger in his heart, I believe he s one of the best 147lbs fighters in the World. One of the picks on the card is Josh Kelly against former WBA Welterweight World Champion David Avanesyan. Josh is taking a major step up in class here and you can be sure that David will give absolutely everything to get the win. Unbeaten Irish star Jono Carroll faces French former European Champion Guillaume Frenois in a final eliminator to become mandatory challenger to IBF Super-Featherweight World Champion Tevin Farmer. Tevin is under the Matchroom banner as well and he wants a fight with Jono badly. It s already been pencilled in for New York in March, there won t be any waiting about if Jono gets the win. Anthony Fowler has by far the toughest fight of his career against Jose Carlos Paz - a former opponent of current WBO World Champion Jaime Munguia. Fowler is a fighter who has wanted to be let off the leash for a long time now and he gets that opportunity this evening as he goes in against a rugged opponent who has shared the ring with a number of quality operators. Kid Galahad returns after a great win in America against Brayan Mairena, he s now the mandatory challenger for the winner of Josh Warrington vs. Carl Frampton later this month there s nowhere for either of them to run Rio Olympian Qais Ashfaq takes a step up against Liverpool s Jay Carney as he targets his first title in 2019 and Yorkshire is well represented on the undercard with Lightweight Terri Harper, Welterweight Anthony Tomlinson, Super- Middleweight Callum Hancock and Middleweight Shakiel Thompson all in action. We would like to thank the FlyDSA Arena, all our sponsors, Sky Sports, DAZN and all of tonight s officials. WE HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT Programme Editor: Daniel Barnard (daniel.barnard@matchroom.com) Programme Design: Freeze Creative Group (jim@freeze-design.co.uk) Photographs: Mark Robinson Master of Ceremonies: Michael Buffer and David Diamante

4 BROOK: THIS COULD BE MY LAST FIGHT IN SHEFFIELD THE SPECIAL ONE READY FOR EMOTIONAL SHEFFIELD FAREWELL. Kell Brook says tonight s clash with Michael Zerafa could be the final time he fights in Sheffield, as he looks to pursue careerdefining fights at Welterweight. The Steel City hero feels reborn and will target the Welterweight division s elite fighters if con man Amir Khan turns his back on a long-awaited domestic dust-up. Brook takes on Australia s Zerafa in a final eliminator for the WBA Super-Welterweight World title, confident of producing another explosive performance. Sheffield s FlyDSA Arena holds happy memories for The Special One, with successful defences of his IBF World title against Ionut Dan Ion in 2015 and then Kevin Bizier in He was last in action in March when he swept away Sergey Rabchenko inside two rounds in Sheffield to claim the WBC Silver Super-Welterweight title and is aiming for a similar performance against former Commonwealth Champion Zerafa. I m not interested in what Zerafa s going to do, I m going to be 100 per cent, no man can deal with me on tonight said Brook. I m very explosive and looking to put on a serious performance. This will be an emotional fight for me because I think this will be my

last in Sheffield. In training, we re getting all the hard work done and having a good crack in between. Camp could not have gone any better. I m raring to go.

5 last in Sheffield. In training, we re getting all the hard work done and having a good crack in between. Camp could not have gone any better. I m raring to go. I want any elite fighter and could weigh in at 147 tomorrow if I wanted, I ve got that buzz again. I want the top guys, Shawn Porter with the WBC title if he wants a rematch or I d love to bring Errol Spence Jr back in the summer and get the win. I feel very fresh, 12 months ago I gave myself a year before I would hang them up. Now I feel reborn, a happy fighter is a dangerous fighter and I m so happy. Amir Khan is a con man, they should call him Amir con. This is his last big fight under Matchroom and I thought it was nailed on. He shook my hand and looked me dead in the eye and said we would fight next. What can I do, I ve bent over backwards and said I d come down to 147. I m doing everything I can for the fans, he s turned his back on them. Everyone knows it s him that s running off. I want any elite fighter and could weigh in at 147 tomorrow if I wanted, I ve got that buzz again.

6 ZERAFA: BROOK IS UNDERESTIMATING ME AUSSIE VOWS TO SHOCK THE SPECIAL ONE. Michael Zerafa has accused Kell Brook of overlooking him and says he ll thrive off the underdog status in their WBA World Super- Welterweight title final eliminator clash. Zerafa, 26, is a former Commonwealth Super- Welterweight Champion and has secured 14 of his 25 wins via knockout. He has lost just two of his 27 professional fights, including a stoppage loss to former WBO Middleweight ruler Peter Quillin in The Melbourne fighter admits that former IBF World Champion Brook is another step up in class but says he is ready for whatever the Sheffield star throws at him. I m really up for this fight, I m in the best condition of my life, said Zerafa. Halfway through the first round Brook and his team will realise they ve underestimated me. I ve got two losses on my record but that was years ago. I was a kid back then and very inexperienced. Now I m a more complete fighter, more power, more speed & more boxing IQ. I respect Kell Brook, he s a great fighter and he s been at a higher level than me for longer, but that s exactly why he s looking past me. I m going to make a lot of people eat their words. This is the biggest opportunity of my career, I m taking it with both hands and I m definitely going to put on a show in Sheffield. I m going into this fight with absolutely nothing to lose. I m a completely different fighter to the man that lost to Peter Quillin and tonight I will prove that. I ve already dreamt of beating Kell and replayed the fight over and over in my head. I was born for greatness and this win will be the beginning of my rise to the top of the sport. Kell is a true warrior and a great Champion but he s been in some tough fights and put a lot of miles on the clock. I see a ship with a lot of holes and too many holes leads to a sunken ship.

7 CARROLL: I LL BEAT FRENOIS THEN SMASH FARMER KING KONG FIRES AT FARMER AHEAD OF IBF WORLD TITLE ELIMINATOR. Jono Carroll has branded IBF Super- Featherweight World Champion Tevin Farmer a joke of a man ahead of his final eliminator clash with Guillaume Frenois. The unbeaten Dublin star can win the right to challenge Farmer by overcoming France s former European Champion Frenois. Farmer took aim at King Kong on Twitter this month, promising to KO the former Prizefighter winner should they ever meet in the ring. A major money fight with Farmer is within touching distance and Carroll believes the American is only keeping the IBF crown warm for him. Tevin is an idiot, he s a joke of a man, blasted Carroll. He gives backhanded compliments to his previous opponents that he s beaten. He does a lot of immature things. He hasn t got respect for anybody. He s a fake person. All that flashiness is ridiculous. He does my head in as a person. He s not a true Champion, he doesn t hold himself like a Champion and he doesn t behave like a Champion. I can t wait to put him on a platform and smash him up. I ll show everyone that he s nothing but a heartless little b*tch. I m going to tear him apart. I m as real as they come but I m a fighter, I m a warrior. I ve seen him quit before in the past. I ve watched his fights where he was beaten. Even the commentators said that he looked to the referee for help. If you re once soft, you re always soft. For me, he hasn t got a heart. He s just had opponents smartly picked for him at this stage of his career and the ones that weren t smartly picked for him smashed him up and beat him. I guarantee you I m going to take that belt off him. I visualise the fight happening and I visualise winning the belt. There s many ways it can happen. He s literally just keeping that belt warm for me. Despite the heated back and forth with American Idol on social media, Carroll remains fully focused at the task at hand and insists he is not overlooking 47 fight veteran Frenois. I don t know too much about him, admitted Carrol. He s experienced, that s as much as I know. He s experienced and in boxing you cannot buy experience. I have to be switched on and I have to be on my game. In some ways this is my World title fight because it s all or nothing. He s a very dangerous opponent, I m not overlooking him. But at the same time I believe that I m operating at World level. I ve looked at one or two of his fights and I believe he is European level. I ll adapt to him and I ll beat him, and hopefully stop him.

8 KELLY: I M DOWN FOR THE YELEUSSINOV REMATCH PRETTY BOY OUT FOR REVENGE AGAINST AMATEUR RIVAL. Josh Kelly says he is on a collision course with former amateur rival and Olympic Gold medallist Daniyar Yeleussinov. Pretty Boy faces the toughest test of his eight-fight professional career this evening when he defends his WBA International Welterweight crown against former World Champion David Avanesyan. The North East sensation has made a blistering start to life in the paid ranks, landing his first professional title in just his sixth fight against former World ruler Carlos Molina before stopping Kris George in his next fight to earn the Commonwealth strap in Newcastle. And now the Adam Booth-protege has set his sights on the World title picture in One of the greatest amateurs of modern times, Yeleussinov defeated Kelly on the way to Olympic glory at the 2016 Rio Games, but PBK feels he has made a smoother transition to the pro game and would be keen for a rematch with the Kazakh star when the time is right. I m down for the rematch with Daniyar Yeleussinov, said Kelly. He beat me in the Olympics but as a professional I ve made the transition much better than he has. When s the right time to meet? When does it make sense? Those questions are to play out but we re definitely on a collision course. I ll enjoy that one in particular, there s unfinished business. My full attention is on Avanesyan and I m glad to be boxing in Sheffield for the first time as a pro. I m obviously familiar with the area from the Team GB days so it s nice to be coming back. Adam is moving me quickly, it s been a short turn around since the last fight in Manchester. Avanesyan is an ex World Champion. He s boxed Mosley and Peterson who are at the top level. I ve done my due diligence and we think this is the right step. I m ready to make that leap and I m hoping he can test me. The Welterweight division is stacked from top to bottom and that excites me and helps me to switch on to remain there for the coming years. I ve won two belts but this is only the start. It s down to Adam and Eddie about what moves we make. Getting to World level you need to make these little steps, my goal is to lift a World title. People seem to forget I ve only had eight fights as a professional. If I skip or fight for a British Title early then so be it. I m just developing day in, day out.

FOWLER: I M DESPERATE FOR A PROPER FIGHT THE MACHINE TARGETS TITLE ACTION IN 2019.

10 FOWLER: I M DESPERATE FOR A PROPER FIGHT THE MACHINE TARGETS TITLE ACTION IN Anthony Fowler is ready to blast through the domestic scene with Scott Fitzgerald and Ted Cheeseman the primary targets for early next year. Fowler firstly takes on Jose Carlos Paz - a former opponent of current WBO Champion Jaime Munguia - over 10 Super-Welterweight rounds. Fowler is a fighter who has wanted to be let off the leash for a long time now and he gets that opportunity this evening as he goes in against a rugged opponent who has shared the ring with a number of quality operators. I m ready, I ve been ready all year for these fights, said Fowler. I just want to be in big fights, showing what I am about. I work very, very hard in the gym and there s no point doing all the work and then having an easy fight. This next guy will come to fight me, he s tough, a lot more experienced and it ll make for a great fight. Paz has been at top level and boxed World Champions. This is a fight where I show what I m about, being cool, calm and collected and doing the job. I ve had eight fights but, without being cocky, I haven t even broke a sweat so far, they ve been easy and straight-forward. Dave Coldwell knows that I need tests, there s no point in me getting in the ring and just dominating people like I have been. It s unfortunate that Fitzgerald injured his hand because we wanted him for this fight. It s been so frustrating, so many fighters turning the offer down, we re desperate for a proper fight. The fight with Ted Cheeseman is there to grow over the coming months. He got a good win over Byfield and now has something in the British title that I want. From my side, I ll get in there with anyone. When Dave and Eddie say it s time to pull the trigger it s on.

11 GALAHAD: I WANT YORKSHIRE DERBY WITH WARRINGTON SHEFFIELD ACE GUNNING FOR IBF CHAMPION. Kid Galahad says he wants to set up an all-yorkshire World title battle with IBF Featherweight Champion Josh Warrington after taking the mandatory position with a win over Toka Kahn Clary at the TD Garden in Boston. Galahad returns against Nicaragua s Bryan Mairena on the Kell Brook vs. Michael Zerafa undercard at the FlyDSA Arena in Sheffield this evening and will be keeping a close eye on Warrington s first defence against two-weight king Carl Frampton on December 22. The 28-year-old, a former British, Commonwealth and European ruler, is rooting for the Champion to defeat the Belfast star so they can set up a tasty local derby in 2019 and aims to impress on in front of his home crowd next week. I did what I needed to do against Clary, said Galahad. He was very tricky and very awkward. I was a bit disappointed that I didn t knock him out to be honest with you. I knew it was going to be scrappy, he s long and wiry, I had to break his spirit. I got the job done and now I m looking forward to fighting back in Sheffield - I ll be looking to end the year on a high. I hope Josh gets the win against Frampton. That is a huge Yorkshire derby, Leeds versus Sheffield, that s a big fight. Now I have the mandatory position, there s no excuses, nowhere to run for Josh or Carl. I hope they don t vacate the title and go elsewhere, that fight has to be made. If Josh wins I don t think he d vacate, but Carl might as he s done it before, he vacated the WBA instead of fighting Guillermo Rigondeaux. It s a great division with Leo Santa Cruz, Gary Russell Jr. and Oscar Valdez in there as Champions. Back home obviously there s Josh, Carl and Scott Quigg. I don t like Scott, he thinks he s better than he is, and I d love to smash him. Scott has come up short and I think that people would expect me to win, so I d rather fight Josh or Carl, we re the big three in Britain.

ASHFAQ: I M READY TO STEP UP LEEDS TALENT AIMS FOR FIRST TITLE IN 2019. Qais Ashfaq is determined to make up for lost time and is targeting his first title success in 2019.

12 ASHFAQ: I M READY TO STEP UP LEEDS TALENT AIMS FOR FIRST TITLE IN Qais Ashfaq is determined to make up for lost time and is targeting his first title success in Ashfaq represented Team GB at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, the culmination of a blossoming amateur career that included Commonwealth Youth Games gold and silver in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in The Leeds talent is now focusing on getting his career up-and-running in the paid ranks, winning all three of his professional contests since his debut in February. I can t wait to get out there now, it s been a long training camp, said Ashfaq. I m starting to finally feel myself in the pro game. Before I turned pro I had a good year and a half off with injuries and sorting a promotional deal out but now I m in the best place in the World at Matchroom Boxing. I m out to prove a point and I want to be part of more big shows in I ve still got a lot of catching up to do and I want to be as busy as possible. I feel amazing, it s a little step up against Jay Carney this weekend and I m looking forward to showing what I m made of. I m ready to step up, I ve taken my time so far. I m ready to step up slowly and next year hopefully get a few titles around my waist as well.

13 Official Ticketing Partner THE BRAWL TO SETTLE IT ALL WHYTE VS CHISORA The O2, London Saturday 22 December Official tickets available at StubHub

BEST OF THE REST Elsewhere tonight on this excellent Sheffield show, fans will be treated to the next generation of Yorkshire talent as a number of local prospects will be giving it their all as they

14 BEST OF THE REST Elsewhere tonight on this excellent Sheffield show, fans will be treated to the next generation of Yorkshire talent as a number of local prospects will be giving it their all as they continue their ring education and that includes home fighter, Anthony Tomlinson. The Truth has enjoyed a flawless start to his professional career since relinquishing his beloved amateur vest last year, and after capturing the Central Area Welterweight belt last time out in September against Jayce Dixon, he ll be looking to impress once more as he faces the threat of Nigeria s Innocent Anyanwu in a six round contest. Another Sheffield fighter looking to wow his audience on the big stage is Shakiel Thompson. A newcomer to the sport and only 21 years old, Thompson has built a formidable reputation within north England gyms. He made his pro debut back in September with a one round blowout over Geiboord Omier, and tonight he faces a tougher examination as he will be opposed by Konstantin Alexandrov. The Bulgarian knows the British circuit well following previous visits when he was defeated by the likes of James Metcalf and Marcus Morrison, so Thompson has some decent measuring sticks to compare himself against as he participates in his second four rounder. Continuing with the Sheffield theme brings us to Super- Middleweight hope, Callum Hancock. A professional for over six years, Hancock has not enjoyed the busiest starts to his paid career with only eight fights appearing on his ledger. He ll be looking to make up for lost time tonight as he goes in with Bulgaria s Ivan Nikolov. The 12st division in Britain has always been a hotbed of talent and it has catapulted some of our finest boxers onto the world scene in historic fights that have passed the test of time. Hancock will no doubt be aware of his country s wonderful relationship with the weight category he currently plies his trade, and he can set himself up for a successful 2019 by winning in style tonight. Female sensation Terri Harper from nearby Denaby is another young fighter seeking to make a lasting impression on tonight s grand platform. Undefeated in her four fights since turning over at the backend of last year, Harper has adapted to the professional code in a refreshing manner. Her progress is well worth monitoring and she ll be looking to add further experience to her repertoire tonight as she ll be faced with the challenge of overcoming Tanzanian import, Feriche Mashouri.

15 AJ PROFESSIONAL BOXER # IAMJD Anthony Joshua wears Under Armour fleece suit

12 X 3 MINS FINAL ELIMINATOR WBA SUPER-WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP KELL BROOK VS MICHAEL ZERAFA (SHEFFIELD) (AUSTRALIA) 12 X 3 MINS WBA INTERNATIONAL WELTERWEIGHT TITLE JOSH KELLY VS DAVID AVANESYAN

16 12 X 3 MINS FINAL ELIMINATOR WBA SUPER-WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP KELL BROOK VS MICHAEL ZERAFA (SHEFFIELD) (AUSTRALIA) 12 X 3 MINS WBA INTERNATIONAL WELTERWEIGHT TITLE JOSH KELLY VS DAVID AVANESYAN (SUNDERLAND) (RUSSIA) 12 X 3 MINS FINAL ELIMINATOR FOR IBF SUPER-FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP JONO CARROLL VS GUILLAUME FRENOIS (DUBLIN) (FRANCE) 10 X 3 MINS SUPER-WELTERWEIGHT CONTEST ANTHONY FOWLER VS JOSE CARLOS PAZ (LIVERPOOL) (ARGENTINA) 8 X 3 MINS SUPER-FEATHERWEIGHT CONTEST KID GALAHAD VS BRYAN MAIRENA (SHEFFIELD) (NICARAGUA) 6 X 3 MINS SUPER-BANTAMWEIGHT CONTEST QAIS ASHFAQ VS JAY CARNEY (LEEDS) (LIVERPOOL) 6 X 3 MINS WELTERWEIGHT CONTEST ANTHONY TOMLINSON VS INNOCENT ANYANWU (SHEFFIELD) (NETHERLANDS) 6 X 2 MINS LIGHTWEIGHT CONTEST TERRI HARPER VS FERICHE MASHAURY (DENABY) (TANZANIA) 4 X 3 MINS SUPER-MIDDLEWEIGHT CONTEST CALLUM HANCOCK VS IVAN NIKOLOV (SHEFFIELD) (BULGARIA) 4 X 3 MINS MIDDLEWEIGHT CONTEST SHAKIEL THOMPSON VS KONSTANTIN ALEKSANDROV (SHEFFIELD) (BULGARIA)

A WELCOME FROM EDDIE HEARN

A WELCOME FROM EDDIE HEARN HELLO EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO ARENA BIRMINGHAM FOR THE BEGINNING OF AN EXCITING NEW SEASON FOR MATCHROOM BOXING, SKY SPORTS AND DAZN. It s brilliant to be back after a very short