Last Friday, James Metcalf (23-2, 14 KOs) claimed the biggest win of his career to date with a unanimous decision against Kerman Lejarraga, in Bilbao, Spain.
‘Kid Shamrock’ had previously played against Ted Cheeseman and Kieron Conway, but his efforts were not enough as he was stopped in the 11th round against the former and dropped a close decision for the man. after.
Back under the guidance of Joe McNally, Metcalf looked young again as he unboxed the Spaniard a large portion of the competition.
The win brought the 33-year-old the WBA Continental super middleweight title. While the strap itself has little reputation, it will likely lead to a high ranking with the sanctioning authority.
Then promoter Eddie Hearn promises to bring great battles to Shea’s son Neary.
However, that may be easier said than done. Currently, all 4 world championship titles belong to Jermell Charlo, he, along with most of the top contenders at 154lbs, fights under the Premier Boxing Champions title. PBC tends to be reluctant to work with other advertisers, such as
The caliber to which Metcalf aspires may be out of hand at the moment.
Here are four battles that can be made next:
Johan Gonzalez (31-1, 31 KOs)
Currently ranked 3rd with the WBA, Gonzalez is the highest ranked boxer since the sanctioning agency ordered a rematch between Israil Madrimov and Michal Soro, two men above him in the rankings. While the Panamanian-Venezuelan doesn’t offer much in terms of name, his high ranking will give Metcalf a chance to move closer to the world title. As Gonzalez’s record shows, he can pull through. However, his technique is somewhat basic. Having just beaten a vaunted boxer in Lejarraga, Metcalf could potentially imagine a chance to repeat the feat against Gonzalez.
Kieron Conway (17-2-1, 3 KOs)
Conway overcame their first game by one point on two judges’ scorecards and by two other points, their rematch from last year will make sense for both sides. It will give Metcalf a chance to prove he’s the better one, while Conway can hit the high ranks with
WBA. Their previous encounter was not a classic, so it remains to be seen whether it makes sense from a commercial standpoint, but for the fighters, there is enough risk to make the showdown. become valuable.
Mason Cartwright (17-3-1, 7 KOs)
Cartwright’s shares rose exponentially in March when he gave British champion Troy Williamson a tough match, even if the scorecards didn’t reflect that. ‘Nutty’ knocks Williamson down with a right-hander that puts the champion in a difficult position. Cartwright wasn’t able to find the punch that ended the fight, but put in a great performance. With Metcalf from Liverpool, and Cartwright from nearby Ellesmere Harbour, the fight will be a local derby. Metcalf may have his sights set on bigger bouts, but Cartwright could be a viable opponent for the return leg, following Metcalf’s winning performance in Spain.
Dennis Hogan (30-4-1, 7 KOs)
The Irishman twice challenged for the world title, who at 37 seems to be on the decline. It’s the perfect match for an away corner boxer, at least from a promoter’s perspective. Tim Tszyu destroyed Hogan’s 5 rounds last year, causing hype around him to grow
significantly. If this tactic worked for one son of a famous former boxer, it might work for another. Hogan is currently on a two-game winning streak, which helps increase the marketability of the match.
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