- Bakhodir Jalolov — the Olympic gold medallist with a 14-0 (14 KOs) record — fights Agron Smakici as the chief support; this is a heavyweight prospect test that could announce him as the next big thing at the Co-op
- Liam Cameron v Brad Rea is a proper British 168 grudge fight that has nothing to do with Manchester razzle-dazzle and everything to do with two lads who genuinely don't like each other
- David Morrell v Zak Chelli at light-heavy is the dark horse of the night — Chelli is live, more so than the odds suggest, and Morrell can be hit
Right Then — Why You Care About This Undercard
Make no mistake, the headliner sells the PPV. Wardley defending the WBO heavyweight strap against Dubois is one of the biggest domestic fights this country has put on in years. But the people who only show up at ringwalk are missing the part of fight night that genuinely separates the diehards from the casuals. The Co-op Live undercard on Saturday has at least three fights I'd watch even if the main event wasn't happening.
If you know, you know. Let's run the slate.
Bakhodir Jalolov v Agron Smakici — The Heavyweight That Should Scare The Division
Jalolov is a problem. The Uzbek is 6'7", 14-0 with 14 knockouts, and an Olympic gold medallist who's been kept moving carefully because his amateur pedigree is properly elite. The trouble has been getting him a name to test him. Smakici isn't quite that name — he's a journeyman with a credible record but the levels gap is significant — yet this is the kind of fight where you stop looking at the opponent and start looking at the way Jalolov gets him out.
The interesting thing is the platform. Jalolov on a major British DAZN PPV in front of 20,000 in Manchester is a different beast to Jalolov in Tashkent. If he announces himself with a brutal three-round stoppage, he's the most marketable heavyweight on the rise. If he labours, the heavyweight division has a question to answer about whether he's the real deal at this level.
My pick: Jalolov inside three. He'll touch Smakici with the jab, walk him onto a left hand, and that's that. But pay attention.
Liam Cameron v Brad Rea — Proper British Grudge
This is the fight on the bill that does not need any selling to anyone who follows British super-middleweight. Cameron is the former English champion who has had to take the long road back after the failed drug test that ended his Riakporhe rematch story. Rea is the Manchester man who has been knocking on the door for a real fight for two years and has fancied himself for ages. They properly do not like each other.
Rea will be roared on. He's a Manchester lad fighting at the Co-op on the biggest British boxing card of the year — that crowd will be at fever pitch from the first bell. Cameron is the sharper boxer, has been in with better, and crucially has the chin to weather Rea's rounds three to six push.
If Rea doesn't get Cameron out by round seven, Cameron walks the back end. My pick: Cameron on points, hard fought. But I wouldn't be shocked if Rea catches him.
Jack Rafferty v Ekow Essuman — The Welterweight Banger Nobody Is Talking About
Let's not beat around the bush — this is the fight on the card most likely to be Fight of the Night. Rafferty is unbeaten, comes forward, and throws everything in volume. Essuman is the former British welterweight champion who lost to Conor Benn but has reinvented himself since. Both men can box, both men prefer a fight, and at 147 there's no fat on either of them.
Pick: Essuman by majority decision. He's been in with sharper opposition and Rafferty's chin will get tested for the first time on this stage. But it'll be brilliant either way.
David Morrell v Zak Chelli — The Dark Horse of the Night
Morrell stepping out at the Co-op against Chelli is the bit of the card that the experts have written off as a stay-busy assignment. I'd push back on that. Chelli is live in a way that the betting market is not pricing properly. He's awkward, he's tall for the weight, he can punch at 168, and he's been telling anyone who'll listen that he's been studying Morrell's footwork for months.
Morrell, for all his class, can be hit. We saw it against Caleb Plant. We saw it again last year. If Chelli lands clean in round four or five, this gets interesting fast.
Pick: Morrell by stoppage round eight. But Chelli wins three rounds. Watch this one closely — Chelli's stock will rise even in defeat.
Khaleel Majid v Gavin Gwynne — The Lightweight Curtain Raiser
Majid is the prospect, Gwynne is the gatekeeper. This is the swing bout of the night — the one that decides whether Majid is a future title contender or a level below. Gwynne has been in with the best at 135 in this country and is brilliant value at this stage of his career. He'll make Majid earn every round.
Pick: Majid by points, but Gwynne taking three rounds and giving him the proper schooling he needs.
What Time Should You Switch On?
The DAZN PPV main card kicks off at 7pm UK Saturday. If you only care about the headliner, ringwalks are around 10pm UK. But if you want the proper experience, switch on at 7pm. Rafferty-Essuman is likely the chief support to chief support, Cameron-Rea is your second-on-the-card grudge, and Jalolov goes on right before the main. That's three hours of fights that earn the £24.99.
Stop turning up at ringwalk. The undercard is the best part of fight night.