You know a card is of a decent standard, and world standing in boxing when you've got the main man - Michael Buffer as the ring announcer. This card, named, Rule Britannia will see Buffer take the mic and when you look down the list of bouts on the card, it's easy to see why he wanted to be a part of proceedings.
The top billing of the night sees Kell Brook (34-0) vs. Frankie Gavin (22-1) for Brook's IBF World Welterweight title. In this alone, it will be a big fight purely as it will be the first time two British fighters will challenge for the World Welterweight title. This is a massive opportunity for both men here, Brook is already being talked about in the same sentences as Amir Khan, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao so a win will only serve to amplify that sort of positive talk. Whereas, Gavin has battled through tough periods to get here, he knows that if he can win this as the underdog he will set himself up for bigger and better things.
Brook speaking to The Star, said; “I know Frankie Gavin will be up for it. I know what he will bring. No corners have been cut - we are ready.” If Brook is up for this, it's hard to see past him - in his last five bouts he has impressed, only needing to go to points in one of the bouts."
Gavin has made it clear he feels his best chance will be in the later rounds, talking to the Daily Star, “Kell questions his stamina a bit, hopefully I will get him into the later rounds and I can ask him a few questions....I’m the best fighter Kell Brook has every fought.” Coming into the bout his last five have seen Gavin dispatch much-talked-about Bradley Skeete by UD, however, Gavin also faced his first career loss last year in a SD against Leonard Bundu.
Eddie Hearn, speaking to SkySports was visually excited when talking of the match-up, saying, that the fight is "going to be a fantastic all-British world title fight on Saturday."
We then have Russia's Evgeny Gradovich (19-0) defending his IBF World featherweight title against Welshman Lee Selby (20-1) who will be challenging for his first every World title on Saturday evening. Gradovich nicknamed the 'Mexicano Ruso' for his forward aggressive fighting style, while, Selby has been (not by himself he's quick to note!) dubbed the 'Welsh Mayweather'. With a shorter and stockier fighter in Gradovich, against a taller and rangier fighter in Selby - the fight could take a lot of the headlines if the styles do indeed produce the fight many fans are expecting.
Selby going into the fight seems as focused as always, speaking to The Telegraph, "There's no doubt in my mind that I'll become featherweight champion of the world on May 30," To be honest, there isn't much doubt in many peoples minds, many make Selby the favourite for this one.
Gradovich speaking to SkySports, seemed extremely determined to keep his title come what may, “He'll want to be at his best because he's the home fighter but for me it doesn't matter where I fight because I am the champion...I am not going to let him take the title from me. I worked too hard to get it and even harder to keep it."
Further down the card is another British fighter looking to win a World title. Kevin Mitchell (39-2) will have his third World title shot, having fallen short against Michael Katsidis and Ricky Burns, he hopes his bout with Jorge Linares (38-3) will land him his first world title, Linares' WBC World lightweight title. Many fans thought Mitchell's chance and aspirations in boxing had passed him by, all, due to him being his own worst enemy - now though, he has a chance to finally put all the negativity behind him and beat an impressive opponent in front of him.
Mitchell speaking to barkinganddagenhampost.co.uk was adamant, having put his alcoholism behind him, he can now pursue titles at this level; “I am certain I will knock Linares out...My fans have been marvellous to me with their support over the years. Now I will give them what they have not seen in the past, me winning the world title.”
The rising star of British Heavyweight boxing, Anthony Joshua (12-0) will face off against veteran in the ring in the form of American Kevin Johnson. Joshua has impressed in his fights, showing some incredible power and speed of hand, but, Johnson will pose his toughest test yet - let us not forget even Vitali Klitschko couldn't floor Johnson when Klitschko beat him via UD in 2009. But, fast forward to now, and Johnson has lost four of his last five bouts via UD. Okay, he can defend, but, there doesn't seem to be much else to him now. Johnson has attempted to get under the skin of Joshua with his trash talking, but as we've become accustomed to, Joshua hardly rises to it - and brushes it off like water off a ducks back.
Joshua is evidently as calm as always prior to a bout, talking of the challenge of Johnson to The Guardian, “He’s a credible opponent for my 13th fight. If I don’t stop him I will have gone 10 rounds for the first time. If I knock him out? Well it’s just another guy who, once I hit him, stays hit. How can I lose?”
A very confident, almost too confident, Johnson said to Daily Mail; "Half the fight I'm going to fight with my hands down. I don't need my hands up. A person who has power would make me fight with my hands up. This is going to be so easy."
In another battle between two British boxers, Dave Ryan (16-8) will defend his Commonwealth Super-Lightweight title against John Wayne Hibbert (15-2). Not only will it be a case of two Brits fighting for a title, but, the two will be squaring off for the second time. Their first bout ended with Ryan winning on points.
Eddie Hearn believes it will bring the occasion will bring the best out of both of them, talking to SkySports, "Both fighters have come a long way since the first fight and get the opportunity to do it again in front of a packed crowd at The O2."
Scott Cardle (17-0) vs. Craig Evans (14-0) brings about another clash of Brits, and this time, it's two young unbeaten boxers vying for the BBBofC British Lightweight title. The two, recently had to be pulled apart from each other at the press conference after some boisterous behaviour which even involved a few slaps.
Cardle talking to blackpoolgazette.co.uk, saying quite simply, "All the hard work has been done – now comes the easy part!"
Evans talking to Daily Mail, said, "This title shot means absolutely everything to me. I was meant to have a British title shot twice with Liam Walsh but he pulled out twice so I am moving up a weight to take on Cardle...I would love to win this title; the British title is one of the big belts before you go on to World level and I would love to bring this belt home."
The final bout on the card sees another two Brits face off against each other. John Ryder vs. Nick Blackwell - for the Vacant BBBofC British Middleweight title. It will also be Ryder's second attempt at winning the title, having lost his first crack at it to Billie Joe Saunders in 2013. So he will be hoping it will be second time lucky for him there.
Ryder, talking to sportinglife.com has talked of that loss not holding him back, and of the sense of it being a weight of his shoulders, "When you have that '0' it is the be all and end all of your career. But when that '0' goes you realise that was overrated and I did not need that...Every boxer that starts out would love to retire with a '0' by their name. But, if you don’t, it does not define your career and I'm certainly not going to let it define mine."