Not six months ago at a press conference in London, I asked light-welterweight contender Harlem Eubank how it would feel to headline his own show on the Brighton seaside after watching Joe Cordina do the same to reclaim world champion status in Cardiff. Much different situations but on November 10, Harlem does exactly that to finish a busy 2023 with bigger steps on the horizon.
Stakes gradually growing for Harlem as he returns home
Harlem Eubank (18-0, 7 KOs) vs. Timo Schwarzkopf (22-5, 13 KOs)
Light-welterweight main event at Brighton Centre on Friday, November 10
Undercard and more information to be announced over the coming weeks
Again on free-to-air TV in UK with Channel 5 partnership, FiteTV in US
- Harlem in Wednesday’s introductory presser: “The hairs on the back of my neck stand up whenever I think about November 10, fighting in Brighton, in-front of my hometown fans. You could say this has been my destiny, that it was meant to be and written in the stars – but this isn’t going to be a one-off – I want to make this the first of many big nights of boxing in my city.”
- 29-year-old contender (18-0, 7 KOs) looks to cap busy-but-successful year with Wasserman that included him headlining a second York Hall show with UD10 win over Miguel Antin, before scoring a seventh-round stoppage win vs. Ishmael Ellis in Scotland and now the toughest test yet
- Timo Schwarzkopf (22-5, 13 KOs) makes his UK debut after a UD10 win over Miguel Vazquez in Germany. Besides avenging an MD6 Gift Bholo defeat in 2019, he’s only lost against notable names – Anthony Yigit, Chris van Heerden, Jack Catterall and Adam Azim’s last opponent Aram Faniian
- Schwarzkopf relishing his role as spoiler next month as Eubank yet to be truly tested as a pro: “I fully understand how everyone expects this fight to go, buying tickets and watching on television, expecting to see Harlem win in spectacular fashion. But sorry, that is not going to happen – I am far too experienced, tough and skilful for Eubank and will ruin his homecoming.”
Improved matchmaking for Harlem Eubank hasn’t been an easy task for Wasserman, though the plan was likely to make a showdown with Lewis Ritson (23-3, 13 KOs).
After being stopped in R9 of a competitive clash against WBA mandatory world title challenger Ohara Davies seven months back, it appears he’ll headline a Matchroom show against Pat McCormack on the same November weekend instead.
Instead, Eubank faces another European name unheralded on UK shores and that much will not be lost on him – nor a promoter that has frequently flirted the possibility of matching the 29-year-old with intriguing domestic duels before long.
Since a R8 KO win over Martin McDonagh in Sept. 2020…
Harlem’s had eight bouts, Schwarzkopf will be the ninth in little under three full years
Opposition: Combined win/loss record of 118-50-4 (68.6% win percentage) pre-fight
Ritson as mentioned, as well as unbeaten British champion Dalton Smith (15-0, 11 KOs) and more besides. Wait too long though, and they’ll feel inclined to look elsewhere – especially as the boxers themselves are aligned with rival promotions.
“I think Ritson is a great fight. Dalton is a talked about talent, like Harlem, and if that is ordered, we won’t shy away from it. I think we need to build both guys a bit more, for them to maximise that fight.”
- Kalle Sauerland on Eubank’s options, back in March
Adam Azim (9-0, 6 KOs) will headline a show the following weekend in Wolverhampton, looking to wrestle European gold from current champion Franck Petitjean – armed with more than three times as many fights as the 21-year-old.
Sky’s prodigious rising star, the Slough-born youngster was heavily revered for his amateur success despite opting against the Olympic route and is now benefiting from a broadcaster willing to push him faster through the pro ranks than most.
No two journeys are the same, and given his work on the small hall circuit as well as away trips to Monte-Carlo and Latvia, Eubank has earned a steady rise of his own to stand at a juncture where he belongs in the same conversation as these names.
There’s an understandable hesistancy for Wasserman to build their asset slowly, ensuring he doesn’t get overawed as they step closer towards at world level and gets ample time to continue developing skills in the gym with trainer Adam Booth.
Albion’s Euro trip continues, Brighton boy levelling up too
At the time of writing, Brighton have lost consecutive games for only the second time this calendar year and will be looking to remedy that in France tomorrow night as Marseille await on MD2 of their maiden Europa League group stage campaign.
AEK Athens secured a smash-and-grab win on the south Coast to kick off the competition last month, one where captain Lewis Dunk watched helplessly from the dugout with a muscular knock and I’m reminded of just how versatile Harlem could’ve been in my match report that night had things gone differently for him.
One of the club’s former academy players from ages 12-16, he played alongside Dunk and versatile winger Solly March – only committing to boxing full-time at 18.
After being released by his boyhood club two years earlier, an unsuccessful West Ham trial in the rearview mirror and a late growth spurt finally showing itself, the former fullback could focus on breaking through in a completely different sport.
Unlike his older cousin Chris Eubank Jnr, Harlem hasn’t benefited from the public fanfare of having an iconic surname but built his own following organically as a reflexive puncher with quick hands who can punish opponents from distance.
Defensively, he still leaves some things to be desired and is guilty of getting tagged too often in the pocket, something that must be curbed as the challenges intensify.
Perhaps we’ll get a clearer picture against Schwarzkopf, who has a credible cohort of divisional counterparts – Jack Catterall chief among them – in his resume. The proximity of these light-welterweight matchups next month can’t be a coincidence.
Picture source: Wasserman Boxing
Mo and Sports 