MARKING YOUR CARD ABOUT CARDIFF

By Frank Warren

Our return visit to Cardiff on October 22 promises to be some night – the show just keeps getting bigger and better.

So successful was our last stop in the Welsh capital back in July, we are going back to a bigger venue with an even more stellar cast list.

Once again the headline attraction will obviously be the home favourite Liam Williams, who has once again accepted the sternest of examinations.

Last time out he was drawn into a war with Wembley’s previously unbeaten Gary Corcoran, but this time he will have to show a different side to his game against the stealthy stylist Ahmet Patterson.

The 28-year-old from East Dulwich operates under the stage name of ‘Punch Picker Patterson – and it is true to say he doesn’t waste many shots.

He is the holder of the IBF international title at super welterweight and originally was mandatory challenger to Williams’ title before injury forced a delay.

Patterson will present Williams with plenty to think about and a more patient approach than that shown against Corcoran will need to be employed.

It makes for a fascinating contest, one that again is hard to call and we are so fortunate that the British scene is throwing up these matches at the moment and even more so that the fighters are happy to sign up for them.

If Williams can come through this one he really is in business. He has just been declared as Young Boxer of the Year by the Boxing Writers’ Club, an award he fully merits for his ability and attitude towards the sport.

He backs himself and is willing to take on all-comers.

Liam Smith will be back in the fold before long and if they both maintain current form and are high in the rankings, don’t rule out the pair of them getting it on with a world title at stake.

Once again Cardiff will witness world title combat as Billy Joe Saunders has been added to the bill for the first defence of his WBO middleweight title against the Russian Artur Akavov.

For Bill this is about sharpening the tools after a period of inactivity before stepping up to the mega-fights he so much wants to be a part of.

It isn’t the best kept secret who we are seeking to match Bill with – should he fend off the Russian threat – and it is a fight we are well down the road in making. I fully expect it to happen either late this year or the beginning of next.

Another with eyes on the prize at middleweight is young Tommy Langford, who recently suffered the major disappointment of his challenge to British champion Chris Eubank jnr being sidestepped.

His frustrations – and that of his army of fans – will have subsided with the news that he will still be competing for the British title.

Others who have recently been added to the Cardiff cocktail are Paul Butler, who is back on the world title hunt after hooking up with Liam Smith’s trainer, Joe Gallagher, plus a return to the ring for Jamie Cox.

Cox is on a mission to clean up at super middleweight, but his highlights reel must be a big deterrent to champions and fellow contenders as there is a remarkable reluctance to step in the ring with him.

He can’t be avoided forever and if he continues to bludgeon his opponents in such a merciless fashion then he will become a mandatory challenger before too long.

Also on the card is Bradley Skeete, making a first defence of the British title he won so emphatically against Sam Eggington at welterweight last year.

He faces an extremely confident Shayne Singleton, but Bradley is particularly adept at snuffing out any pre-fight bravado once he gets that jab working in the ring.

Home fighters Chris Jenkins, Alex Hughes and Jay Harris are also in action at the Motorpoint Arena, as well as Anthony Yarde, who made quite an impression on his Stateside debut in Texas a couple of weeks back.

Another one not to miss on the night is Tom Stalker defending his WBO European title against Craig Evans. It will be the third meeting between the pair and the first two didn’t disappoint.

Both were scored as draws and now Evans will enjoy home advantage. Surely something has got to give this time around!

All the action from Cardiff will be shown live and exclusive on BoxNation