Conor Benn, Jake Ball, Ted Cheeseman and Felix Cash will also be in action
Tuesday 29 August 2017 16:28, UK
The British boxing season kick-starts live on Sky Sports this Friday as the latest edition of the NXTGEN series hits London’s famous York Hall where some of boxing’s finest prospects will be in action.
After the sheer magnitude of the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor showdown in Las Vegas, heads now turn to the other end of the spectrum where a group of young boxers, still just starting out in their careers, will no doubt harbour dreams of one day reaching the biggest of stages for themselves.
Olympians Joshua Buatsi, Lawrence Okolie and Joe Cordina head an exciting card as they all seek to extend their perfect unbeaten records live on Sky Sports, while Conor Benn will hope to produce another explosive knockout win.
Having made a successful start to life in the paid ranks back in July, via a dominant stoppage win over Carlos Mena, Buatsi will again box this Friday, before fighting in Manchester next month.
The Croydon light-heavyweight, an Olympic bronze medallist, was calm and composed in his professional bow and then showed vicious power to finish the contest early.
Having recently graduated from University, and mentored by Anthony Joshua, everything seems in place for the bright, young star to follow in the heavyweight's footsteps.
Cruiserweight Okolie has been devastating so far in the professional ranks and he has already notched up four straight first-round stoppage victories.
Not many will be queuing up to face the Hackney knockout-artist whose heavy hands are seemingly flooring everyone in their path.
A mooted fight with London rival Isaac Chamberlain has been earmarked for further down the line, but at the pace with which Okolie is moving, a big fight of that sort may come around quicker than expected.
Cardiff's Cordina will face his toughest test to date when he takes on two-time Southern Area champion Jamie Speight over six rounds this Friday.
Like fellow Rio Olympian Okolie, Cordina has so far stopped each of his former opponents inside the opening stanza.
The Welsh wizard, operating at super-featherweight, seems to have all the attributes - skills, quick hands, explosiveness and a smart ring temperament - that could see him go very far in the sweet science.
Cordina's gym mate Conor Benn may be younger than the rest, but at just 20, 'The Destroyer' is already showing the devastating power that we became so accustomed to when talking about his father.
Benn does not have the amateur pedigree of say the Olympic stars on the bill and the welterweight is still very much learning his craft and improving with each fight.
He recently took time away from the sport to work behind closed doors and it appeared to pay dividends as he dismantled previously unbeaten Mike Cole. He will now look to improve further as he takes on Kane Baker.
Another of the Tony Sims' young guns is Ted Cheeseman who dazzled as he won the English super-welterweight title last time out.
For Cheeseman, the apprenticeship is now over and after nine wins from nine, with seven coming inside the distance, a British title shot is on the horizon.
The 22-year-old has already featured on some huge cards over the past two years and he will look to keep the momentum going at the famous York Hall.
Heavy-handed light-heavyweight Ball faces unbeaten prospect Joe Sheriff (11-0-KO3) this Friday over ten rounds in an English title eliminator.
Having walked through his first seven opponents at ultimate ease, 'The Blade' suffered a shock first-round stoppage defeat to JJ McDonagh last November that forced the Surrey fighter to start along the rebuilding process.
With two knockout victories since, the southpaw now has a chance to again confirm to people that he does have star potential, but Coventry's Sheriff will be looking to take the big opportunity for himself.
Cash been out of action since he defeated Jay Byrne in convincing fashion last March and he returns to York Hall to this time take on Spain's Fernando Heredia.
With five wins from five, Cash, who came through the Team GB squad as an amateur, will hope that the new season will see him march towards a maiden middleweight title.
Friday's NXTGEN bill will be streamed first on the Sky Sports website and the Sky Sports Facebook page, before TV coverage begins at 7.45pm.
Live coverage of the NXTGEN bill, featuring Joshua Buatsi, Lawrence Okolie, Joe Cordina and Conor Benn, will start at 7.45pm on Sky Sports Action.
