Matchroom NXTGEN Preview: Masoud vs. Sanmartin

Matchroom NXTGEN Preview: Masoud vs. Sanmartin

By Matt Elliott

Matchroom bring their NXTGEN concept back to Newcastle this weekend, as Shabaz Masoud returns to the ring a year to the day since he defeated Jack Bateson, as he takes on Jose Sanmartin for the WBA Intercontinental super-bantamweight title in the night’s headline event.

This is the second time Matchroom have hosted a show in Newcastle during 2023, as they look to build the reputation of their plethora of North East fighters, but this event hasn’t gone as originally planned. When November 11 was first touted as a potential date, it was widely rumoured that Cyrus Pattinson would headline in a ‘changing of the guard’ type fight against Lewis Ritson. When Pattinson then lost to Conah Walker in a brutal showdown back in August, that plan was derailed, with Pat McCormack promoted to the main event and scheduled to face Peter Dobson. Unfortunately, a couple of weeks ago, it was announced McCormack had sustained an injury, ruling him out and leaving Matchroom desperately searching for a replacement.

Step forward Masoud. It was announced back in June that the undefeated super-bantamweight had signed with Matchroom, and as part of Ben Davison’s stable, alongside McCormack, he was the obvious person to turn to in their time of need. An exciting fighter, Masoud debuted in 2018 and comes into this one with an 11-0 record, including four victories inside the distance. Last time out, he stopped Jack Bateston in the final round of their twelve-round battle, but he has not fought since. Against Sanmartin, he will be looking to pick up where he left off but faces a tough opponent who has forty-two fights to his name, with only four defeats, which includes losses to Emmanuel Naverette and Mauricio Lara. Sanmartin also lost last time out, as he took on the unbeaten Kevin Gonzalez at the MGM Grand on the undercard of David Benavidez and Caleb Plant back in March, falling to a unanimous points defeat. He will undoubtedly be the biggest test so far for Masoud, and it will be interesting to see how this one plays out.  

The remainder of the card is stacked with locally based fighters, except for Jimmy Sains, who looks to move to 2-0 against Jesus Lobeto. At the top of the undercard, Birtley Boxing Club’s Mark Dickinson steps up to ten rounds for the first time as he faces Grant Dennis in an English middleweight title eliminator. Perhaps the most intriguing fight of the night, outside of the main event, is another eliminator, this time for the English super-welterweight title, as Jarrow’s Ewan Mackenzie takes on Ishmael Davis. Both men are unbeaten and are also stepping up to ten rounds for the first time. Mackenzie is a lively fighter with a strong engine, but this is a tough test against a strong opponent.

As well as Dickinson, Birtley Boxing Club is well represented, with Calum French, Cameron Vuong, Ben Rees, and Owen Rees also featuring. French has had a shoulder operation since his last appearance, a victory over Jordan Ellison back in March, and he will be hoping that there are no ill effects as he takes on Jeff Ofori, as a late replacement for Shaun Cooper. Vuong fights in front of a home crowd for the first time as a professional as he faces John Henry Mosquera, whilst brothers Owen and Ben Rees take on Konrad Czajkowski and Sadam Moamed Da Silva Caetano respectively.

The show is being broadcast live on DAZN with, Before the Bell expected to get underway from 5:20 pm, before the main card at 7 pm.

MASOUD VS. SANMARTIN WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER

ALL TIMES ARE LOCAL

17:00 DOORS OPEN
17:20 LIVE ON BEFORE THE BELL

6 x 3 mins International Super-Lightweight contest 
OWEN REES 141.55 lbs v KONRAD CZAJKOWSKI 141.5 lbs
(Birtley, England)              (Skladowice, Poland)

followed by

4 x 3 mins International Middleweight contest
JIMMY SAINS 162.45 lbs v JESUS LOBETO 165.75 lbs 
(Brentwood, England)         (Principado de Asturias, Spain)

followed by

6 x 3 mins International Light-Heavyweight contest
BEN REES 184.45 lbs v SADAAM MOAMED DE SILVA CAETANO 183.6 lbs
(Ashington, South Africa)  (Brugge, Belgium)

followed by

19:00 LIVE ON DAZN

10 x 3 mins Eliminator for English Super-Welterweight Title
EWAN MACKENZIE 153.4 lbs v ISHMAEL DAVIS 153.65 lbs
(Jarrow, England)                      (Leeds, England)

followed by

10 x 3 mins Eliminator for English Middleweight Title
MARK DICKINSON 159.3 lbs v GRANT DENNIS 163.4 lbs
(West Rainton, England)       (Chatham, England)

followed by

8 x 3 mins Lightweight contest
CALUM FRENCH 137.75 lbs v JEFF OFORI 138 lbs
(Gateshead, England)               (Tottenham, England)

followed by

6 x 3 mins International Lightweight contest
CAMERON VUONG 137.55 lbs v JOHN HENRY MOSQUEURA 139.5 lbs
(Blyth, England)                           (Tottenham, England)

followed by

10 x 3 mins WBA Intercontinental Super-Bantamweight Title
SHABAZ MASOUD 121.7 lbs v JOSE SANMARTIN 120.2 lbs
(Stoke, England)                         (Barranquilla, Colombia)