IT’S DIFFICULT to not really feel desperately sorry for Deion Jumah, the gifted cruiserweight whose profession was final week ended by the sort of unhealthy luck that can now possible outline it. Retinal harm pressured the Londoner to drag out of his alluring battle with 27-year-old Mikael Lawal and, with this being his second critical eye harm lately, Jumah introduced his retirement on the age of 33.

What we’re left with on the November 27 card at Alexandra Palace shouldn’t be almost as interesting however, with solely 10 days’ discover, Boxxer pulled in an honest late substitute within the form of East Kilbride puncher, David Jamieson. The vacant British title will nonetheless be on the road inside Alexandra Palace.

Lawal and Jumah had historical past. It was a contest that had been a very long time within the making, stemming again to outdated sparring periods from a decade or so in the past. So it’s useful, in the event you’re a broadcaster like Sky Sports activities, that Lawal and Jamieson have historical past, too.

In an precise battle, no much less.

Again in 2019, in an Final Boxxer semi-final, Lawal outhustled Jamieson over three aggressive rounds. It stays the Scot’s solely skilled loss. That backstory was possible the kicker for getting the rematch over the road.

Lawal can also be the one actual ‘identify’ on Jamieson’s 9-1 (6) ledger. That’s in the event you don’t embody Jake Darnell, the heavyweight who achieved infamy after being plucked from obscurity to be mauled by fellow debutant Frazer Clarke in February. Darnell, now 1-11, lasted 38 seconds longer with Jamieson however was nonetheless halted inside one spherical final month.

In February, David outpointed Samo Jangirov over 10 rounds and, on the similar Boxxer event he and Lawal obtained acquainted, Jamieson received a decent three-rounder over Dan Cooper. Twelve rounds for the nationwide championship is an altogether totally different proposition.

Lawal’s report isn’t precisely gushing with proof that he can go on to rule the world, nonetheless. A harmful puncher he is likely to be, albeit one with unhealthy habits born of his come-forward model, Lawal, 16-0 (10), is actually beatable. Throw in the truth that Lawal had spent an enormous proportion of his camp coaching for southpaw Jumah and it’s simple to grasp why some consider Jamieson has an opportunity right here.

But the Nigeria-born, Shepherd’s Bush resident has quick and highly effective arms, he’s cellular and seems to have an honest chin. When in full circulate he’s spectacular, and his background, one which options homelessness and flirtations with crime, is definite to push him ahead now he’s approaching huge alternatives as a part of the burgeoning Boxxer steady.

Lawal is but to go previous six rounds so his stamina stays a query mark however we fancy him to slowly pummel the resistance out of Jamieson to get the win within the second half.

More durable to name is the super-middleweight conflict between world-ranked leftie Lerrone Richards, 16-0 (3), and Fulham’s proficient Zak Chelli, 12-1-1 (6). English champion Chelli is in high-quality type after wrecking the unbeaten ledgers of Jack Kilgannon (rsf 6) and Germaine Brown (pts 10) in April and June respectively. Richards, in the meantime, has been out of motion since scoring a career-best win over Carlos Gongora final December.

Don’t rule out the upset fully. Richards, although he has the makings of one thing particular, tends to coast and virtually swap off at instances. Chelli is technically sound and can include perception aplenty for this 10-rounder. Nevertheless, we anticipate Richards to rise to the problem on this well-matched contest for which Boxxer must be applauded – it will, frankly, have been tempting to match each of them in separate, simpler, bouts. We go for Richards to win this one on the playing cards.

Slough’s Adam Azim may find yourself because the bill-topper, such is the nice feeling across the thrilling and gifted 20-year-old. There’s no query that Boxxer, and Sky Sports activities, are banking on this younger 6-0 (5) super-lightweight to realize huge issues within the sport. On all proof we’ve seen up to now, that religion is comprehensible.

Azim tackles the all the time prepared Rylan Charlton, 9-3-1 (4), of Norwich. The heavily-muscled Charlton, although a feisty tryer with an honest dig, seems made for Azim. He decked Florian Marku in February 2021 earlier than being halted in eight and acquitted himself effectively in an April Boxxer event solely to fade in opposition to Dylan Cheema within the remaining. Count on Charlton, as per, to provide this the whole lot he’s obtained earlier than he’s taken out within the center rounds.

Walthamstow’s “Magic Man”, Sam Gilley, defends his English super-welterweight title in opposition to Ruislip’s Sean Robinson, 11-1-1. This can be a huge step-up for Robinson who has solely banked 4 rounds in three years and that is his first battle since December. Gilley, 14-1 (7), regarded good whereas stopping Drew Brown in April to win the belt and we anticipate the same lead to his first defence.

THE VERDICT: A stable ‘commerce’ card that ought to enchantment to the hardcore.