Having vacated his domestic honours last month, Isaac Chamberlain faces a stern test as he plots his way to world-level contention against European champion Michal Cieslak on the June 15 undercard – where he’ll undoubtedly have one eye on the main event between former foe Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe, who beat the WBO world champion five years ago.
Undercard presser as Chamberlain targets European gold
- Teenage bantamweight talent Francesca Hennessy (3-0, 1 KO) happy and raring to go in her first eight-round contest after February outing
- High praise! Ben Shalom on Hennessy: “She’s different to a lot of girls in the sport and a phenomenal talent. I expect her to go all the way, she has ambitions to unify and become a multi-weight world champion.”
- Active and with a target: Ben Whittaker vows to take Ezra Arenyeka “10% serious” and make an example of prospective opposition, he won’t entertain more hecklers as he prepares for fourth fight in 188 days
- Isaac Chamberlain insists he’s trying to do bigger and better things than entertain domestic British cruiserweight scene, ahead of a tough European title shot against two-time world title challenger Michal Cieslak
- BOXXER chief Ben Shalom tells me EBU European light-heavyweight champion Dan Azeez will likely return on this card, while English light-middleweight titlist Lee Cutler is among those also wanting to feature
- Natasha Jonas (c) vs. Mikaela Mayer 2 was targeted to feature on a stacked undercard here, but Shalom also confirmed they’re hopeful of finding another date for that rematch. Unclear whether they’d stick with 10×2-minute rounds – Mayer advocated for three-minute rounds instead
Michal Cieslak (c) vs. Isaac Chamberlain
EBU European cruiserweight title
Cieslak is currently ranked #2 with WBO, #3 WBC
AS I reported in February, Isaac Chamberlain has opted to instead exercise his opportunity to box for European honours rather than defend the now vacant British cruiserweight title against mandatory challenger Cheavon Clarke. Clarke will now instead box Ellis Zorro on the Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall 2 bill in Leeds on May 25.
Chamberlain’s return will come against Poland’s Michal Cieslak, who twice challenged for world titles vs. Ilunga Makabu (Jan. 2020) and Lawrence Okolie (Feb. 2022) and suffered unanimous decision defeats against both former champions.
The 35-year-old, into his 11th year as a professional, has won five straight since his first trip to London ended in a wide loss – all coming by way of stoppage, most recently a fourth-round TKO win over 10-0 pro Juan Diaz in Wroclaw on April 20.
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He wasn’t able to make the trip over for Wednesday’s Liverpool Street press conference, but Chamberlain knows the challenge awaiting him is anything but kind:
“It’s gonna be an amazing spectacle, he’s a great fighter – ranked top 3-4 in the sanctioning bodies – it’s a world title eliminator. He’s the next step in my career, I don’t want to dibble around English level – Chev and Viddal can fight each other – I’m trying to do bigger, better things.
“I need to be on point, not really looking at those little fishes [domestic rivals] over there. Definitely a much harder fight, he’s a solid strong Polish champion and it might get gritty, crazy, who knows what might happen. I want to win emphatically, give the fans a great fight to remember.”
In the weeks leading up to his UD12 win over former British champion Mikael Lawal, headlining a shortened York Hall fight card on October 21, I spoke to the Brixton-born talent about a range of topics – namely the desire to continue evolving as a boxer with big ambitions and learning from experiences. This satisfies that itch.
It would’ve been easier and much more convenient to cave to public demands, doing what others wanted for him instead. During this presser, that much was clear.
Isaac revealed he “nearly bit” on an offer to ultimately face Clarke instead as Matchroom and Eddie Hearn went public with their desire to match the pair while social media noise intensified about his future, having not boxed since late October.
After a phone conversation with his manager Mick Hennessy though, the 30-year-old was able to put aside his ego and accept another attractive challenge – one with more risk but equally, a higher reward dangling should he prevail next month.
Billam-Smith made three defences of his EBU European title, culminating with an entertaining UD12 win (117-111 x 3) over domestic rival Chamberlain in Bournemouth on July 30 two years ago. Two fights and ten months later, he boxed and won world honours in an even bigger occasion housed in the same town.
Whittaker vows to make example of Arenyeka
Ben Whittaker vs. Ezra Arenyeka
WBA Gold world light-heavyweight title
First fight sanctioned for what many would deem another trinket belt
Rising light-heavyweight talent Ben Whittaker will look to shake off any lingering bad feelings after going eight rounds with a determined Leon Willings last time out, when he boxes 12-0 pro Ezra Arenyeka in a battle of two unbeaten hopefuls at 175lbs.
Willings, the Central Area champion, came in on relatively short-notice and acquitted himself well especially after suffering a first-round knockdown – unexpectedly taking the Olympic silver medallist the full distance – and looking competitive in stages.
Nigerian-born Chesire resident Arenyeka rocked up to the fight week press conference for that aforementioned O2 Arena show, headlined by Fabio Wardley vs. Frazer Clarke, and had to be held back by security after criticising Whittaker’s showboating against lesser opposition. Now, he gets his chance centre-stage.
“I made it happen, this is what legacy is about, he’s a warrior – Olympic medallist – I’m glad he wasn’t a pussy, let’s go. British boxing fans will see what I’m made of, of course I rate him, it’s not an easy fight but I’m ready, he’s a man that breathes like me.”
- Arenyeka was in a complimentary mood
Whittaker was unsurprisingly unimpressed with the 28-year-old, nicknamed African King, for changing tact and being respectful now he had the fight scheduled.
“Keep that same energy. I haven’t taken any of my opponents serious yet but I’ll take him 10% serious – no disrespect – you’ve got a rubix cube head and your body is built like a bean bag. I’ll make an example of him, don’t come to my press conferences calling me out. I did three sessions yesterday, woke up at 7am today training, the lifestyle is different. You talk it, I live it.”
As for their face-off afterwards, this video speaks for itself:
Some of the verbal back-and-forth between them was cringe but Shalom added this caveat. Arenyeka may be 12-0, but only beaten three boxers with positive win-loss records in his career to date, so expectations for this matchup must be tempered:
“It’s good for someone like Ezra who wants to take Ben’s head off, he wants an opponent who comes [forward], a lot lose before they come into the ring so hopefully he comes with all he’s been talking about, it prepares everyone – Ben – for the big stages – he’s gonna have a lot of people who want to do the same.”
Pictures, videos procured by me unless stated
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