Monday 20 April 2015 13:26, UK
Anthony Joshua will face South American heavyweight champion Raphael Zumbano Love when he makes his Midlands debut at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham on May 9, live on Sky Sports.
Joshua extended his perfect professional record to 11 wins with a third-round stoppage victory over Jason Gavern earlier this month as he prepares to face Kevin ‘Kingpin’ Johnson on May 30.
Knockout specialist Love stands 6ft 4in tall and has 36 wins from 47 fights, stopping 29 of his opponents inside the distance.
But the former Brazilian heavyweight champion faces the stiffest test of his career on his British debut when he fights Olympic gold medallist Joshua on an action-packed card.
Stourbridge youngster Sam Eggington gets his first crack at a major title when he takes on Joseph Lamptey for the Commwealth welterweight title vacated by Frankie Gavin.
Birmingham’s Kal Yafai faces Rey Megrino for the WBC silver flyweight title, while Blackpool favourite Brian Rose and Liverpool super-middleweight Callum Smith also return to action.
Kal’s unbeaten younger brother Gamal is also on the bill and Matthew Macklin will be in action, boxing in Birmingham for the first time in five years.
“I'm excited to bring Anthony to the Midlands in our first show there for over 13 years,” said promoter Eddie Hearn.
“It's a big night for a number of Midlanders as Kal Yafai takes a huge stride towards a world title shot, Matthew Macklin returns to the ring chasing a world title shot later this year and Sam Eggington looks to continue his march in the 147lbs division.
"There is the long-awaited return of Callum Smith from injury and Brian Rose begins his campaign in the middleweight division.”
It’s a huge night of boxing on Sky Sports with two massive fights involving British fighters being shown from Hidalgo, Texas. WBA bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell meets WBO king Tomoki Kameda and former two-weight world champion Ricky Burns tackles unbeaten former lightweight world champion Omar Figueroa.
