Telford’s unbeaten British champion Liam Davies (12-0) will face Spanish-based Romanian contender Ionut Baluta (15-3) for the vacant European Super Bantamweight (122 lbs) title this Saturday at the 4,000-capacity Telford International Centre in Shropshire, England. The main event, broadcast live on BT Sport, promises to be a thrilling encounter as Davies looks to add the European belt to his growing list of accolades.
Liam Davis Headlining in Telford
Davies signed with Queensberry Promotions in 2021 after an impressive English title victory over Sean Cairns on a Matchroom/Sky behind-closed-doors card. Following three tune-up fights later that year, he faced setbacks with injuries derailing scheduled bouts against Andrew Cain and a much-anticipated clash with Dennis McCann.
In June, Davies silenced doubters by dethroning Marc Leach to claim the British title in front of a hometown crowd. Now, the 26-year-old aims to cap off his meteoric rise by defeating Baluta, a top 15-ranked super bantamweight, to claim the European crown.
Baluta The Underdog Turned Giant Slayer
Known for his “upset-minded” performances, Ionut Baluta has made a career out of defying expectations. In 2019 and 2020, he secured consecutive away wins over Kyle Williams, David Oliver Joyce, and a stunning victory over former world champion TJ Doheny as a 10-1 underdog. Although he narrowly lost to Michael Conlan in 2021, Baluta bounced back with a decisive win against former British and Commonwealth champion Brad Foster earlier this year.
Baluta enters the fight as the favorite, thanks to his proven track record against higher-ranked opponents. For Davies, overcoming Baluta will require his best performance yet, with the victor poised to secure a world title shot or a potential clash with South Africa’s Zolani Tete.
Undercard Highlights: Yarde, James, and More
The event boasts a stacked undercard, headlined by WBO’s #1 ranked light heavyweight Anthony Yarde (22-2, 21 KOs), who faces Bulgaria’s Stefani Koykov (14-1, 12 KOs) in a tune-up fight ahead of his world title challenge against Artur Beterbiev.
- Eithan James (9-0) takes on Keanen Wainwright (8-1) over ten rounds after Connor Parker’s late withdrawal.
- Jamie Stewart (3-2-2) defends his Midlands Area welterweight title against Queensberry prospect Owen Cooper (6-0, 2 KOs).
- Rising talents like Ezra Taylor, Macaulay Owen, Willo Hayden, Brad Strand, and George Davey round out the night with exciting matchups.
Broadcast Details
The main card action begins at 7:00 pm BST (2:00 pm ET, 11:00 am PT) on BT Sport 1 in the UK and ESPN+ in the US. Preliminary fights, not broadcast live, start at 5:00 pm BST (12:00 pm ET, 9:00 am PT). The highly anticipated main event ring walks are scheduled for 10:30 pm BST (5:30 pm ET, 2:30 pm PT).
Fight Weights and Line-Up
Main Event:
- Liam Davies: 120.7 lbs
- Ionut Baluta: 121.4 lbs
Key Undercard Bouts:
- Anthony Yarde (179.2 lbs) vs Stefani Koykov (176.6 lbs)
- Eithan James (140 lbs) vs Keanen Wainwright (134.9 lbs)
- Jamie Stewart (144.5 lbs) vs Owen Cooper (146.5 lbs)
Additional bouts include rising stars like Ezra Taylor, Brad Strand, and Macaulay Owen, promising an action-packed evening for boxing fans.
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