STAR PREVIEW Fri: ‘Fight Camp’

The second instalment of the ‘Fight Camp’ series goes ahead this evening and promoter Eddie Hearn will be hoping for a repeat from last weekend where fans witnessed everything from dramatic knockouts to fight of the year contenders.

The main event here is a historic clash between Terri Harper and Natasha Jonas. For the first time in history, two British women will fight for world title and it feels like a landmark moment for boxing as a sport.

These two fighters are at opposite ends of their careers which adds to the intrigue. Jonas was a member of Team GB at London 2012 and enjoyed a decorated career in the amateur ranks, but she arrives here as the challenger and a huge underdog, something that nobody could have predicted a couple of years ago.

Terri Harper has burst onto the scene in last year, seemingly out of nowhere. Unlike Jonas, she had a short-lived amateur career and walked away from boxing with opportunities limited. Now, after just ten professional fights she holds the WBC super featherweight world title and at just 23, she is quickly becoming one of the stars of the Matchroom roster and seems to have the boxing world at her feet.

Despite this fight not needing any further promotion, tempers have flared between both camps during fight week with cross words being fired between both fighters and trainers. The unexpected animosity has shifted this fight from a genuine respectful bout between two pioneers of women’s sport to a hostile battle between two arch-rivals.

On the undercard, reigning Commonwealth cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith takes on undefeated Nathan Thorley over twelve rounds. Billam-Smith was one of the standout British prospects in 2019 and his five-round destruction of the highly regarded Craig Glover in November put the British cruiserweight division on notice, and he looks like a fighter that could progress well beyond domestic level.

Thorley on the other hand, has had to wait patiently for his big opportunity in front of the TV cameras and he has spoken confidently during fight week and made it clear that he is not in Essex to make up the numbers. In these higher weight classes, nothing is for certain and a single punch can change everything, but Billam-Smith is a huge step up for Thorley and the reigning champion will be looking to end this one quickly and impressively.

Another former Olympian also features this evening as Anthony Fowler continues his rebuild under new trainer Shane Mcguigan. Fowler takes on Adam Harper over ten rounds and will be looking to steal some headlines to keep his name relevant in the 154lb weight division.

Harper comes to the ring with just one defeat in ten fights, but this will be his first fight in two years. A win here could not only change his career but change his life and he has never been a fighter to back down easily. Fowler starts the fight as a heavy favourite but will need to be at his best to force a stoppage over someone like Harper who is yet to be stopped.

The remaining fight on the card fighters a prospect who is being primed for big things in the future. ‘Hopey’ Price has only had two fights but he is already stepping up the quality of opposition by taking on Johnny Phillips, but he will be keen to show fans why he is so highly regarded by Eddie Hearn.

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale of 1-100 points)
BET Anthony Fowler to win by decision 1.5 pts @ 31/10 with starsports.bet
BET Terri Harper vs Natasha Jonas fight to go the distance 2 pts @ 7/5 with starsports.bet
BET Chris Billam Smith to win in rounds 4-6 1 pt @ 9/4 with starsports.bet

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