Queensberry Promotions officially announce WBC final eliminator

Rematch confirmed for WBC final eliminator.

The rumours were true.

Queensberry Promotions have confirmed that Cristobal Lorente (20-0-3, 8 KOs), the European featherweight champion of Spain, shall be defending his belt in a rematch with a familiar face.

Previously, the Spaniard picked up the title with a majority decision over the undefeated Mauro Forte, then made his first defence in a fight with Francesco Grandelli.

His next defence ended in a split-decision draw with the 8-0 Ruben Gil. And after that, he would fight the man who held the title before him.

When Scotsman Nathaniel Collins (17-0-1, 8 KOs) won the European title from Francesco Grandelli, nobody could have guessed that just a few weeks later, he would be hurried to the hospital for life-saving twisted bowel surgery.

That he survived the eight-hour procedure was one thing. That he has fought three times since then?

It’s utterly remarkable.

After recording a career-best performance over fellow Scot Lee McGregor, Collins would face off against Cristobal Lorente for the title he owned so recently, yet so long ago.

The two would do battle like they were fighting for a championship of the world, not merely one of Europe. And once they were done battering each other, they were forced to settle for a draw.

Over six months later, they get to do it again, as Queensberry have announced that they shall run it back on the 17th of April at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland.

Not just a fight for the European title this time; Collins-Lorente 2 will be a final eliminator for the WBC featherweight title currently held by newly-crowned champion Bruce Carrington.

We also have confirmation of the undercard action.

Sam Gilley (18-2-1, 9 KOs) will be making his debut at middleweight following his British and Commonwealth title super-welterweight loss to Ishmael Davis. He will be taking on Glasgow’s Aston Brown (9-0, 4 KOs), the Celtic middleweight champion.

Sparkling young prospect Royston Barney-Smith (15-0, 7 KOs) will be fighting for the British and Commonwealth featherweight titles (previously held by Collins) against Conor McIntosh (10-2, 1 KO).

Lastly of the confirmed entertainment, Dylan Arbuckle (9-0, 3 KOs) takes on Nico Leivars (7-0, 1 KO) for the British super-bantamweight title.

 

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