5 things to watch this weekend in boxing: Williamson-Simpson rematch, Zuffa 10 and Johnson-Thorslund for undisputed title

Without wanting to sound like my late grandmother, doesn’t time fly?!

We’re racing through August as boxing’s summer schedule continues to canter along at a satisfying pace, with a beautiful blend of brutality expected this weekend across three big-ticket cards. 

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If 50/50 fights are your thing, then we’ve got two this weekend in the shape of Troy Williamson vs. Callum Simpson and Cherneka Johnson vs. Dina Thorslund. And if that’s not enough? Well then why not tuck into Zuffa Boxing’s 10th offering in Dublin, Ireland.

Let’s take a closer look at the weekend’s action:

1. Williamson and Simpson run it back as BOXXER jumps to DAZN

BOXXER is the latest promotional company to climb aboard the Good Ship DAZN, bringing a 50/50 super middleweight rematch to Leeds, England, between Troy Williamson and Callum Simpson.

BBC’s loss is the global streaming platform’s gain, and you’d be hard-pressed finding a better matchup across the world of boxing this weekend. 

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So what’s changed since December?

Simpson (18-1, 13 KOs) had never tasted defeat as a pro until Williamson found him in the 11th round eight months ago, a stoppage that came with the British super-middleweight strap attached — the first real dent in what had, up to that point, been a spotless record.

But that doesn’t mean he has found respect for Williamson (22-4-1, 16 KOs) — well, not that he’s willing to admit publicly. Williamson should have moved on to a shot at the vacant IBF super middleweight title, but a rematch clause raised its hand before the 34-year-old was able to accept.

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So, we’re running it back inside the First Direct Arena in a fight where if you are to tell me you know what is going to happen, you are simply lying.  

2. Johnson and Thorslund meet for bantamweight supremacy

We outlined the backstory to Cherneka Johnson vs. Dina Thorslund in our 5 fights to watch in August rundown, so let’s pivot and concentrate on the stylistic matchup we are expecting on Saturday night for the undisputed bantamweight championship.

Johnson (19-2, 8 KOs) is the busier, more aggressive fighter of the two, at her best when she’s walking opponents down and working behind a high output that eventually cracks them open; that’s exactly how she got to Shurretta Metcalf in the ninth round to become undisputed in the first place in an unforgettable night inside a raucous Madison Square Garden.

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Thorslund (24-0, 9 KOs) is a different proposition altogether — a taller, rangier boxer who likes to work off the back foot and pick shots, and who was near-unhittable doing exactly that against Almudena Alvarez in January. 

Forgive us for labelling this one as the classic ‘clash of styles’ that so many commentators like to throw out when a fight doesn’t gel, but this could well turn into one of the better versions of this category. 

3. Zuffa 10 heads to Dublin as McKenna-Oliha headline

My, don’t they grow up fast [teary-eyed emoji].

Sorry, I know I promised to stop channeling Grandmother Watson, but seeing Zuffa Boxing turn the big 1-0 fights old is enough to make me well up.

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We’re in Dublin, Ireland, this weekend as Aaron McKenna and Etinosa Oliha mix it for the vacant IBF middleweight title — the first time this title has been contested on Irish soil for more than three decades.

McKenna (20-0, 10 KOs) is a big favorite here, and you can see why. Oliha (22-0, 10 KOs) hasn’t fought outside of Italy and Germany, and arrives inside the lion’s den of the 3Arena fresh off the back of a win over a guy with a 19-33 record … 11 months ago.

But that won’t impact the Dublin atmosphere this Saturday night. Boy, there’ll be some noise inside that arena, and 14 months after upsetting Liam Smith, McKenna is overdue for a homecoming, crowning performance. 

4. Callum Walsh’s middleweight push continues

The unbeaten Irish middleweight theme continues in Zuffa’s co-main event, as Callum Walsh (16-0, 11 KOs) matches up against England’s seasoned Tyler Denny (21-4-3, 1 KOs).

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Fifteen of Walsh’s 16 professional fights have been stateside, so the Cork southpaw has been long overdue for a return to Irish shores.

There’s been a big push behind Walsh in recent years, and his talent is undeniable, but for those of you that remember the onetime ‘Watson’s Potential Upset of the Weekend’ segment, we’ve got our second installment in Dublin …

Listen, Walsh will probably get past 35-year-old Denny. He’ll be eager to prove to his home faithful what he has been learning across the pond and there is usually a reason why fighters are given such committed backing. But Denny’s recent performance in defeat to George Liddard gives the underdog big hope in Dublin.

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Denny is experienced, game, crafty and capable of capitalizing on any weaknesses in Walsh’s game this weekend. Perhaps he lacks that punching power to assert enough dominance in this scheduled 10-rounder, but if you’re expecting an easy night’s work for Walsh — think again.

5. Michael Zerafa, Teremoana Teremoana headline Down Under

You know what us party animals are like over at Uncrowned — the weekend never ends.

So much so, I’ve taken the executive decision to extend it to Wednesday, and more specifically to Australia’s sunny Gold Coast.

There we find wrecking-ball heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana (like Nigerian soccer player Jay-Jay Okocha, so good they named him twice) looking to extend his perfect 11-0 (11 KOs) record against American DeAndre Savage (11-1, 11 KOs).

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Teremoana has been using the build-up to fight week to call out a who’s who of heavyweight contenders, and with Matchroom losing the heavyweight war to Queensberry’s stacked stable, the big Aussie may well get his wish in getting fast-tracked to the upper-echelons of the division.

“Pretty Boy” Michael Zerafa (34-5, 22 KOs) is in middleweight action against Venezuela’s Alejandro Ortiz (26-1, 25 KOs) in the co-main event, returning for the first time since his bizarre No Contest outing against Nikita Tszyu where it’s safe to say he didn’t win any fans.