Kal Yafai will face Spanish bantamweight champion Jorge Perez on the Betfair ‘Christmas Cracker’ bill on December 8 at the London Olympia.
The 2008 Beijing Olympian has thrived in the pro ranks since turning over in July and added a fourth stunning stoppage to his 5-0 record in Nottingham on the Carl Froch vs. Yusaf Mack undercard when he took just 52 seconds to stop Pio Nettuno with a set of brutal body shots for his second impressive stoppage win in a row live on Sky Sports.
Perez won the Spanish title with a third round KO win over European title challenger Ivan Pozo in October and the 28 year old from Mallorca and represents another step up for the exciting Birmingham talent.
“Everyone is talking about Kal Yafai right now and Perez represents a significant step up in class for him,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “We are fast tracking him to the top, this being his 6th fight in as many months and we expect him to challenge for title honours early next year.”
Yafai’s clash with Perez is part of a great night of action in London as former European middleweight champions Darren Barker and Kerry Hope meet and a there’s tasty welterweight clash for the IBF International title between holder Lee Purdy and BBBoC overseas fighter of the year Carson Jones.
Erick Ochieng makes the third defence of his English light-middleweight title, unbeaten middleweights John Ryder and Eamonn O’Kane lock horns while unbeaten Canning Town cruiserweight Wadi Camacho fights for his first title as he takes on Toks Owoh for the vacant Southern Area belt, and former Team GB stars Martin J. Ward and Callum Smith continue their pro development on show.
Tickets for Betfair’s ‘Christmas Cracker’ are on sale now priced £40 unreserved, £60 corner ringside, £80 ringside and £150 VIP. Tickets are available from Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900 and at www.matchroomboxing.com
