Saturday 4 November 2017 10:44, UK
Jamie McDonnell will look to remove any controversy in his rematch with Liborio Solis as fearsome Russian Dmitry Bivol heads a starring cast in Monte Carlo.
Knockout-artist Bivol, 26, (11-0-KO9) will defend his WBA light-heavyweight world title against Trent Broadhurst, while McDonnell's much-anticipated rematch with Solis will be the chief support at the Casino de Monte Carlo Salle Medecin this Saturday, live on Sky Sports.
Scott Quigg will also be in action in a world title eliminator against Oleg Yefimovich, with Dereck Chisora challenging European champion Agit Kabayel as the glitz and glamour of Monaco's famous district again takes centre stage.
The unbeaten Bivol defends the WBA title, which was recently vacated by Badou Jack, against Australian Broadhurst as the iron-fisted Kyrgyzstan native, by way of Russia, looks to add yet another KO to his shining resume.
With Sergey Kovalev, Artur Bertebiev and Olexsandr Gvodzdyk heading the light-heavyweight ranks, and Gennady Golovkin continuing his powerful streak a few divisions below, the Eastern European grip remains a strong one. Bivol, who was recently elevated to champion status, will hope to tighten that hold and start his title reign in destructive fashion.
Broadhurst, who has just one defeat on his 21-fight record, will hope to spoil the party though as the 29-year-old Queenslander fights for the first time away from the Australian mainland.
McDonnell and Solis went toe to toe in Monte Carlo a year ago and it was the WBA world champion McDonnell who narrowly held on to his crown after a closely-fought contest.
Many felt that the spirited Venezuelan had done enough to take the verdict, but the Doncaster bantamweight got the nod. An immediate rematch was called and now the pair will finally look to settle the score once and for all.
McDonnell is one of Britain's longest reigning world champions and the 31-year-old, who has potentially huge domestic clashes against Paul Butler and Ryan Burnett lying in wait, can not afford to slip up.
'Del Boy' is back and, after the disappointment of not getting his desired return fight with London rival Dillian Whyte, Chisora gets a crack at the European title.
The 33-year-old previously held the belt in 2013 before Tyson Fury ripped it away from him and Chisora recently challenged for it again but just fell short against Kubrat Pulev in Germany last year.
With the heavyweight division seemingly returning to its former glory days, Chisora will want to keep his name well in the world level mix, but unbeaten German Kabayel, who claimed the vacant belt in his last outing, stands an imposing figure in his way.
Quigg's resurgence continues to gather momentum following his super-bantamweight unification defeat to Carl Frampton almost two years ago.
The heavy-handed Bury star will take on highly-rated Ukrainian Yefimovych in an eliminator for the WBA featherweight world title, currently held by Mexico's Leo Santa Cruz.
The contest marks Quigg's second fight under the tutelage of new trainer Freddie Roach and with Lee Selby, Josh Warrington, Oscar Valdez, Abner Mares and old foe Frampton joining Santa Cruz at the division's summit, big fights no doubt await the winner of Saturday's clash.
