As Leicester Square, London, bustled with fight fans, boxers from the undercard of Saturday’s showpiece card at Wembley Stadium – headlined by the heavyweight clash between IBF champion Daniel Dubois and challenger Anthony Joshua – made their grand arrivals.
The fighters took turns to talk to the media and world middleweight contender Hamzah Sheeraz, 20-0 (16 KOs) who meets in form European champion Tyler Denny, said: “I’m very well. Looking forward to putting on a great performance Saturday night, I just want to thank my team, thank His Excellency Turki Alalshikh and yeah, I’m buzzing.
“No pressure. I don’t feel pressure at all, to be fair. I’m blessed to be in the situation I am, and I’ll make good use of it for sure.
“It gives me the opportunity to perform in front of the people who couldn’t come out to Riyadh.”
Southpaw Denny is 19-2-3 (1 KO) and coming off a June victory over Felix Cash.
“I’m buzzing for it, man. Buzzing for it,” said Denny. “This is crazy, isn’t it? I’m just enjoying myself, and embracing it.
“It’s very different. There’s more people here than have been at some of my fights earlier on. I’m grateful for it and appreciate it.
“I enjoy it, them calling me the underdog. I’m used to it now. I’ve been underdog for, probably, the last six or seven fights, and I keep coming out on top, and it’ll be no different Saturday.
“When I get the win on Saturday… I don’t know [what’s next]. I’ll leave that to everyone else. But the progress is mad… world titles? Let’s sort Saturday out first.”
Belfast southpaw Anthony Cacace, 22-1 (8 KOs), will meet Josh Warrington at junior lightweight, but Warrington won’t be able to win Cacace’s IBF title, even if Cacace can lose it in defeat.
“I’m feeling great. Look around,” said Cacace, soaking in the occasion. “It’s unbelievable. It’s great to be part of this Riyadh Season again.”
Cacace burst onto the title scene with an emphatic stoppage of Joe Cordina – as the underdog – in June. He is expected to defeat Warrington, but many cite the contest as a potential show-stealer.
“[Being the] favorite means absolutely nothing. I know Josh, he’s a great fighter, but I believe I’m a better fighter and it’s just my time,” said the Irishman.
“I know the style Josh brings, I know what I bring, I believe it’s going to be the best fight of the night.”
The experienced Warrington, 31-3-1 (8 KOs), will likely bring several thousand fans from his Leeds stronghold and he is no stranger to boxing in stadiums.
“It’s an honor to be part of such a spectacle, and such a show. I’ve done many, many big shows up in Leeds – arenas, and stadiums – but this is a [new] level… What it comes down to is me, and the man in front of me. I’ve experienced being in big shows, but it’s just about me and Anthony and that’s what I’m focused on.
“Throughout my career the chips have always been stacked against me, for whatever reason. But when my back’s against the wall it seems to bring the best out of me. My last fight [against Leigh Wood], even though I come away on the wrong side of the fight, it were a fight I were dominating. So this one – people might be overlooking me a little bit, but I’m fully focused, and I’ve got enough to get the [win].
“I can’t cry over spilt milk, but I probably should have done it [moved up in weight] a few years ago. These extra few pounds – it might not sound a lot to a lot of people, but I feel absolutely fantastic. The best I’ve felt in a long time.
“I think so [we’ll steal the show]. We’ve been respectful throughout, Anthony and his team have been very good. We’re going to prove that you don’t need to trash talk or talk absolute bollocks – it’s about letting the fists do the talking. I think we’re both gonna deliver on Saturday night.”
Up at light heavyweight, Scotland’s Willy Hutchinson, 18-1 (13 KOs), will be hoping to pick up from where he left off when defeating Craig Richards earlier in the year. He meets undefeated contender and former Olympian Joshua Buatsi, 18-0 (13 KOs), in a fight that boasts bad blood between the fighters.
Asked about getting into Buatsi’s head before the fight, Hutchinson said: “It’s just me being me. I’m living the dream.
“Listen, once he’s knocked out, the statement is there itself. There’s nothing else to say.”
Also predicting victory, Buatsi said: “It’s been a long time coming, but we’re a couple of days away and I’m looking forward to it.”
The big stage has only added to Buatsi’s motivation.
“It does, man, look. Everybody’s going to be watching it and I’m looking forward to it myself.”
Last week, former WBO junior middleweight champion Liam Smith withdrew from his scheduled fight against Josh Kelly, 15-1-1 (8 KOs). Flashy Kelly remains on the bill, with undefeated Ishmael Davis, 13-0 (6 KOs), stepping in to face the gifted former Rio Olympian.
“[I’m] Feeling blessed,” said Kelly. “UK do it properly. I can’t wait to do it in front of these fans.”
Kelly said he was unperturbed by the change of opponent and added: “I just switched off. As soon as the opponent thing happened, I switched off social media and locked in, I’m grateful, I’m grateful to the guy taking the fight.”
Davis, who is managed by former IBF champion and flyweight star Sunny Edwards, said: “I’m feeling good. I belong here and I’m going to show it Saturday night. I’m always ready. ‘BP’ [his nickname is Black Panther] don’t get tired.
“This is massive, it will change not only my life but my kids’ lives, so I won’t be taking it lightly.”
Portsmouth lightweight Mark Chamberlain, a 16-0 (12 KOs) southpaw contender, has become a firm Riyadh Season favorite and said of the occasion: “It feels the same [as Riyadh]. Just, the weather isn’t with us. Other than that, it’s great to be part of another big platform and I’m looking forward to it.
“I’ve done it a couple of times now. The big platforms – it’s what I wanna get used to, because I always want to be welcome back on them, so I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing and no doubt I’ll be part of these big shows in the future.
“I’m not looking past Saturday. It’s an unbeaten fighter in front of me. But I’m pretty confident we’ll get the job done within the distance, and I’m looking forward to it.”
The man he’s facing, 14-0 (4 KOs) Josh Padley, called the grand arrivals “amazing.”
“Look at what we’ve put on – I’m excited to be a part of this.
“Completely different [to fight weeks I’ve been involved in]. I’m used to the small shows, so none of this glitz and glamour, so I’m just soaking it all in and taking it in my stride.
“This is what I’ve been missing in my career – exposure like this. So I had to take it.
“I’m alright. My nerves go as soon as I get in the ring, so let’s get to it.”
