Short-format and fast-paced tournament boxing is back when the BOXXER Series returns on Saturday night.
Eight British lightweights will battle it out in seven three-round fights. There’s plenty of prize money up for grabs and we have seen before that lifting the trophy in this competition can open the door to bigger and better things.
There are six unbeaten fighters in the line-up and here is everything you need to know ahead of the event.
Where and when does the BOXXER lightweight tournament take place?
The event will take place at Coventry’s Sky Dome on Saturday, April 16th, with the first of the seven bouts expected to get under way at 8.15pm.
Where can I watch the BOXXER Series?
The competition will be shown live on Sky Sports Action in the UK.
How are the fighters matched?
The eight boxers will be drawn at random into a fixed-draw, before the action gets under way on Saturday evening.
Who is taking part in the event?
Tion Gibbs
Tion Gibbs and Joe Underwood Hughes headline the lightweight tournament. Gibbs is unbeaten in eight professional bouts and the 27-year-old won the Midlands Area lightweight title last time out.
Cori Gibbs, the older brother of Tion, won the super-lightweight version of this event in Liverpool last year and the younger of the siblings looks set for a good run in Coventry.
The 27-year-old represented England as an amateur. lifted four national titles, including the coveted senior Four Nations trophy, and he could be a class above in this event.
Joe Underwood Hughes
Underwood Hughes is also an undefeated fighter, having won his opening seven professional bouts. Just one of those low-key victories has come via stoppage and the Beeston boxer doesn’t carry huge punch power.
Underwood Hughes is also making the step-up from super-featherweight, but the 25-year-old is an interesting and unexposed contender.
Rylan Charlton
We have seen Rylan Charlton on our screens a few times already and we know he is a tough and game fighter.
The Norwich man upset Joe Laws, before performing with credit against Florian Marku and Luke Willis. Marku is looking to make moves on the world scene, so clearly there is no disgrace in losing to the Albanian King, and Charlton was able to go eight rounds with Lushnje punchers.
What Powerhouse lacks in skills, he makes up in heart and effort and Charlton is another interesting runner.
Scott Melvin
At just 21 years of age, Scott Melvin certainly has youth on his side and the Castle Bromwich boxer is unbeaten in four pro bouts. The Terrier won 32 of his 48 amateur contests and he is a six-time Midlands area champ.
Melvin has boxed for England and he is another product of Birmingham’s famous Eastside Gym.
Otis Lookham
Otis Lookham only made his pro debut last month and the Nottingham man is the least experienced boxer in the field.
However, the 29-year-old looked in good condition and created a nice impression when stopping Paul Scaife in two rounds and it will be interesting to see what Lights Out can do.
Brooklyn Tilley
Brooklyn Tilley has won all three of his professional bouts by decision and the 22-year-old is another inexperienced performer.
The Kent puncher is a former cage fighter and he will be looking to make a successful transition to the boxing ring.
Dylan Cheema
Local lad Dylan Cheema should have a home crowd on his side. The Natural was a former two-weight world kickboxing champion, before making the switch to the professional boxing ranks last year.
The Coventry man has won his opening two bouts and he brings the experience of performing on the big stage in the kickboxing world.
Shaun Cooper
Shaun Cooper made a promising start to his boxing career, winning his opening nine bouts. However, there are three defeats on the Scorpion’s card and two of those have come by knockout.
Copper beat Boy Jones for the WBO Youth lightweight title in 2019, and although he is more exposed than most of the field, the Walsall whacker has boxed at a decent level.
BOXXER Series prediction
There are plenty of unexposed fighters in this competition and the draw will play a key part in the outcome. However, from what we know, Tion Gibbs should follow in his brother’s footsteps and win this event.
The 27-year-old was a gifted amateur and he should have too much class for his Coventry rivals.
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