TORONTO, ON—On Wednesday afternoon in Toronto, we may see the best collection of boxing talent assembled in a Canadian gym in quite some time.
In addition to WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders preparing for his December 16 HBO clash with Canada’s David Lemieux, Saunders’ stablemates Kell Brook and Kid Galahad will also be appearing at Hardknocks Boxing Club in downtown Toronto.
Brook is the former IBF welterweight champion, considered to be the best 147-pound fighter in the world for quite some time. “Special K” is now pondering a move to the 154-pound weight class, where he is reportedly targeting new WBO champion Sadam Ali, who scored a massive upset over Miguel Cotto this past weekend.
Galahad, meanwhile, is one of the world’s best featherweights, ranked in the Top 10 by the IBF and marching his way towards the top dogs in the division, including Leo Santa Cruz, Abner Mares and countryman Lee Selby.
Saunders, Brook and Galahad will be working out alongside the stars of the Lee Baxter Promotions stable who are preparing for their own showdowns on December 8 at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto. Local favorite Kane Heron will put the finishing touches on his camp as he gets set to battle Dwayne Durel for the Canadian welterweight championship. In addition, Canada’s best middleweight, WBA-NABA Canadian champion Patrice Volny, can size up against the world’s best in Saunders as he readies himself for a clash with Janks Trotter the same night.
In addition, Kurdish-Canadian star Mazlum Akdeniz will shake out ahead of his Ontario debut on December 8. Akdeniz was an amateur standout based in Quebec, winning the 2015 Ringside National Championship before becoming the first Quebec-based fighter to defeat a Cuban fighter in the amateurs since Jean Pascal. Akdeniz is now a part of the Baxter stable and fighting as a professional out of Ontario.
“It’s a rare opportunity to see a world champion up close like this. It’s been our pleasure hosting Team Saunders as he prepares for David Lemieux,” said Baxter. “This is a chance to see some of the world’s best and Canada’s best all in the same place, and for our fighters to see first hand what it will take to get to the top of the mountain where Billy is.”
Tickets for “Civil War,” the December 8 card at Danforth Music Hall are nearly sold out, but remain available via Ticketmaster.
NEED TO KNOW
WHO: WBO Middleweight Champion Billy Joe Saunders, Former welterweight champion Kell Brook, UK featherweight star Kid Galahad, Canadian middleweight champion Patrice Volny, Canadian star Kane Heron
WHEN: Wednesday, December 6, 4:00 PM ET
WHERE: Hardknocks Boxing Club, 358 Queen St. E, Toronto, ON
