Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn believes the undisputed super-lightweight world title fight between Jessica McCaskill and Chantelle Cameron in Abu Dhabi will be a watershed moment for boxing in the Middle East.
Undisputed welterweight champion McCaskill will drop down a division to take on WBC and IBF super-lightweight holder Cameron at Etihad Arena, with the vacant WBA and WBO straps also on the line.
The November 5 fight features on the undercard of Dmitry Bivol's WBA super world light heavyweight title defence against unbeaten challenger Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez.
The event is the first of the new Champions Series organised by Matchroom Boxing and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.
“This is a historic encounter not just for the careers of the two fighters, but also for the sport of boxing in the Middle East,” Hearn said.
“To have two of the game’s best female fighters facing off in Abu Dhabi for the undisputed super-lightweight world title is the perfect way to show the world that Matchroom and DCT Abu Dhabi mean business with this partnership.
"We are making history on November 5 and looking forward to doing so in front of a sold-out Etihad Arena.”
Undefeated Cameron (15-0) has held the WBC women's light-welterweight title since October 2020 when defeating Adriana dos Santos Araujo and added the IBF belt 12 months later with a points win over Mary McGee. The 31-year-old British fighter previously held the IBO lightweight title between 2017 and 2019.
McCaskill (12-2) has held the undisputed welterweight titles since 2020, and recently defeated Alma Ibarra to complete her third successful defence. The 38-year-old American was also the WBC super-lightweight champion from 2018 to 2020, and held the WBA super-lightweight title from 2019 to 2020.
Tickets for fight night, which also features Joe Cordina’s first defence of his IBF super-featherweight title against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov, start at Dh295.
Tickets are available at www.etihadarena.ae.
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Undefeated light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, left, is putting his title on the line against Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez at Etihad Arena on November 5. All photos: Victor Besa / The National -
Left to right: Dmitry Bivol, Eddie Hearn, Zurdo Ramirez, Saleh Mohammed Al Geziry and Eric Gomez in front of the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. -
Russia'a Dmitry Bivol with his WBA light heavyweight belt in Abu Dhabi. -
Left to right: Dmitry Bivol, Eddie Hearn, Saleh Mohammed Al Geziry and Zurdo Ramirez. -
The press conference on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, for Dmitry Bivol v Gilberto Ramirez at the Etihad Arena. -
Left to right: Eddie Hearn, Dmitry Bivol, Saleh Mohammed Al Geziry, Zurdo Ramirez and Eric Gomez during the press conference. -
Undefeated light heavyweight champ Dmitry Bivol with Eddie Hearn. -
Left to right: Eddie Hearn, Dmitry Bivol, Saleh Mohammed Al Geziry, Gilberto Ramirez, in front of the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. -
Saleh Mohammed Al Geziry and Mexico's Zurdo Ramirez during the press conference. -
Undefeated light heavyweight champ Dmitry Bivol. -
Promoter Eddie Hearn during the press conference in Abu Dhabi.
