Boxing
Will Fawaz buck Lonsdale Belt trend with multiple defence streak?
Benavidez vs. Zurdo: Watch on DAZN PPV - Saturday
Bilal Fawaz steps back into the ring this weekend all too aware that he carries a major target for rivals across his shoulders.
Since February's victory over Ishmael Davis earned him the British super-welterweight title, the star has been in hot demand.
His majority decision win over 'The Black Panther' in his first Lonsdale Belt defence came freighted with finale-style emotion.
But for Fawaz, that climactic chapter in Nottingham has paved the way for a new bestseller in his career on Saturday night.
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Against Ryan Kelly, he will bid to write more pages in his career - and with it, buck a curious trend in the domestic division.
Whether he can do it is another question. One thing is for certain though; the 'Machine' will not leave them guessing on it.
Can Fawaz break super-welterweight streak?
Victory against Davis just over two months ago was the kind of statement performance many wondered if Fawaz still had.
His entertainment factor has seldom been in question, but that January 2025 draw with Junaid Bostan raised questions.
A majority decision win in the rematch last October teed up his shot with Davis after the latter outgunned Sam Gilley too.
Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing
Yet in dethroning the Leeds-born fighter, Fawaz finds himself now with the chance to end something of a Lonsdale curse.
In the past decade-plus, no man has made two defences of the British super-welterweight title - a quite remarkable stat.
Why does nobody defend the Lonsdale Belt?
Defending a belt is easier said than done. On plenty of occasions, the strap has been simply wrestled away in the ring.
Fawaz did this against Davis. Josh Kelly did it to Troy Williamson in 2022, after the latter claimed it from Ted Cheeseman.
Yet the general hunger for stars minted on domestic circuits to make in-roads to world level means the deck gets shuffled.
Kelly dropped the belt for bigger things. So too did Liam Williams and Liam Smith, the latter making two defences in total.
(Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing)
Others just surrender it for other matters. Samuel Antwi never defended it. Nor did Scott Fitzgerald. It is a strange thing.
Could Fawaz defend super-welterweight belt again?
Fawaz spoke in the wake of his victory over Davis about a desire to push on for bigger opponents. But what is his path?
Right now, the star is ranked with no major governing body. At least a dozen-plus contenders sit above him everywhere.
The way to advance will be through high-profile domestic bouts - and with the Lonsdale Belt, he could do just that.
First, he must beat Kelly, a durable operator who has his sights on similar glory. As always, it will be no small ask to do.
But come out the other side victorious, and perhaps Fawaz could finally end the Lonsdale Belt merry-go-round for now.
Benavidez vs. Zurdo on DAZN PPV
Watch David Benavidez versus Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez on DAZN PPV this Saturday, May 2. Buy as a one-off PPV or get it included with the DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription, which also includes the Wardley vs. Dubois (May 9), Usyk vs. Verhoeven (May 23), Fury vs. Hall (June 13) and Zayas vs. Ennis (June 27) PPVs without any extra one-off costs.
For pricing, more information, and to sign up to watch, click here
