Izzy Asif from GBM Sports is pumped to drop the big news: Reece Mould is defending his WBA Continental Lightweight Championship title against Martin McDonagh, it’s the first-ever event at Sheffield’s cutting-edge Canon Medical Arena, happening on Friday, October 6.
Tagged “Clash On The Court,” this mega-event is double-barreled, featuring an additional showdown for the Commonwealth Super-Flyweight Championship between Emma Dolan and Nicola Hopewell. Plus, local phenoms Naphtali Nembhard and Nohmaan Hussain will be showcasing their skills, among a bunch of other hot talents.
Here’s why the Canon Medical Arena is more than just a venue. Nestled at the core of Sheffield’s Olympic Legacy Park, it’s the UK’s first-ever carbon-neutral multipurpose sports facility, complete with an integrated health diagnostics center. This state-of-the-art arena is a game-changer for public health in South Yorkshire.
Quick stats on the arena: This versatile sports hub can house three full-sized basketball courts and host up to 2,500 fans. Pro basketball teams B. Braun Sheffield Sharks and Hatters have already called dibs on this as their new home base, but it’s also open to a broader range of sports and community organizations.
Back to the main event! Reece Mould (18-1-0, 6 KOs) is risking it all, defending his title against his domestic nemesis, Martin McDonagh (12-2-0, 1 KO) from Sheerness, Kent. The stakes couldn’t be higher in this all-Brit duel, with the winner inching closer to international fame and a potential world title.
Co-headlining the night, we have Emma Dolan (5-0-0, 1 KO) squaring up against Nicola ‘Hurricane’ Hopewell (3-0-0, 1 KO). Dolan, representing Newark, is defending her Commonwealth Super-Flyweight Championship against Worksop’s undefeated Hopewell. Bragging rights are definitely up for grabs.
And the undercard is not to be overlooked. Former basketball star Naphtali Nembhard is making a career pivot, stepping into the boxing ring for his pro debut in the middleweight category.
Also in the lineup is Nohmaan Hussain (3-0-0), an undefeated Sheffield bantamweight who’s also an NHS cardiac ICU specialist. More local talents like Sheldon McDonald, Faraqat Ali, Bree Burbeary, and Red Johnson will be throwing punches too.
Wrapping up the card is Ben Davison’s newest protégé, the unbeaten bantamweight Will Cawley (3-0-0, 1 KO), along with welterweights Joe Hayden (10-0-0) and Declan Cairns (6-1-0, 1 KO).
With a track record of five sold-out events, Izzy Asif is all-in, believing this will be his most epic show yet, making it the perfect way to inaugurate the Canon Medical Arena.