Giorgio Visioli-Joe Howarth Lightweight Eliminator Tops Matchroom's Dec. 17 Show
Mosope Ominiyi
Oct 27, 2025
1 min read
Giorgio Visioli will round out the year by headlining Matchroom's Dec. 17 show from indigo at the O2 in a final eliminator for English lightweight honours with Dave Allen-managed hopeful Joe Howarth, while John Hedges defends his cruiserweight crown ag...
As reported last week, Giorgio Visioli finishes 2025 headlining a Matchroom show the week before Christmas, facing Joe Howarth in a final eliminator for English lightweight honours.
Two weeks after stateside success on the Jaron Ennis-Uisma Lima undercard against a durable foe in James Wilkins, Visioli (9-0, 6 KOs) feels ready to show even more skill back on domestic soil at 135-pounds.
In a press release, the 22-year-old said: "Respect to Joe for taking the fight, but he's just a man in my way - I'm going to beat him, look good doing it and then move on to winning titles. He's a good fighter, but not ready for someone like me."
Howarth (14-1, 4 KOs) meanwhile, relishes the opportunity to show his skills against someone many are deeming a future world champion.
"Finally, this is my chance to show how good I am. I believe I'm every bit as good as him and want to prove I'm a world-class prospect," he said on the matchup.
In the evening's co-main event, John Hedges (11-0, 3 KOs) will defend his English cruiserweight title with a deceptively tricky task in savvy veteran Ellis Zorro (18-3, 7 KOs).
Hedges will make his second appearance of the year, but his first title defence and looks to produce a winning display in honour of his late head coach Ricky Hatton.
Many felt Zorro was hard done by in Bournemouth on July 26, losing a competitive 10-round clash with Ben Davison-trained prospect Aloys Junior, and he'll be keen to play spoiler at London's indigo at the O2.
Elsewhere, junior featherweight talent Conor Mitchell will make his debut two months after agreeing to turn pro with Matchroom, where his cult hero father Kevin spent the last three years of a memorable career at lightweight.
Prodigious teenage bantamweight Tiah-Mai Ayton leads a series of prospects who'll be back out again after their York Hall success earlier this month, with Taylor Bevan, Emmanuel Buttigieg and Adam Maca all returning following respective victories on October 17.
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Mosope Ominiyi
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