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Jordan Gill and Zelfa Barrett meet in a super featherweight main event in Manchester.
Gill is on a career resurgence and his impressive seventh-round stoppage win over Michael Conlan in December has made the 29-year-old a dangerous contender at super featherweight.
Barrett has already experienced what it's like to challenge for a world title after losing to IBF super featherweight champion Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov two years ago, and with two successive wins under his belt following the defeat to Rakhimov, Barrett will want to push towards a second world title shot with a win over Gill.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of Gill vs. Barrett.
When is Jordan Gill vs Zelfa Barrett?
- Date: Saturday, April 13
- Start time: 7 p.m. UK / 2 p.m. ET
- Main event ringwalks (approx): 9:57 p.m. UK / 4:57 p.m. ET
The event is set to begin at 7 p.m. UK / 2 p.m. ET with the main event ringwalks scheduled for 9:57 p.m. UK / 4:57 p.m. ET. These timings could change due to the length of the undercard fights.
What has been said?
"Being from Manchester and topping the AO Arena, or the MEN Arena as a lot of people will always call it, is a massive achievement," said Barrett. "I always knew at one point in my life I’d top it. Watching Hatton there, Crolla, Quigg – that motivates me. That makes me want to eat good and train hard. It makes me work harder in the gym because it’s my moment, it’s my time. People are spending their hard-earned money coming to see me. I'm not going to disappoint them.
"I’ve always wanted to headline the arena, watching and being in the changing rooms with Anthony Crolla and Scott Quigg, I’d always thought one day I’ll be there winning a World Title. This fight is like a World Title because I know how good Jordan Gill is. He’s well-schooled, got a good team around him, so it’s given me the grit in my teeth to perform.
"We’re similar in styles and that’s why I wanted to spar him back in the day because we’re similar, it’s funny how the tables turn and we’re now fighting each other. It’s an exciting fight and all of my people will be there. We've prepared for the best version of Jordan, so that’s going to bring the best version of me out. We know we’ve got a fighter who’s got a good trainer, got a good team around him, so my mind is on the job."
From the working class estates to the bustling gyms dotted all over the city, Manchester has birthed a lineage of fighters who embody the city's spirit of resilience, determination, and triumph over adversity. Barrett says growing up in the notorious Harpurhey inner-city suburb helped shape him into the man and fighter that he is today.
“Not many people from my area reach the heights that I’m reaching," said Barrett. "A lot of people my age are in jail or have died. We’ve all done the same stuff as estate kids, been through the same things as estate kids. That’s why people respect me, because I’m from the same place they’re from. I’ve done the same things they’ve done. I had a great family to support me. Look at me now, topping the AO Arena. It’s a big thing for me, for my family and for Manchester.