The bout between Giorgio Visioli and Joe Howarth headlines Matchroom Boxing’s event at Indigo at The O2 in London on Wednesday, December 17. The all-English contest is scheduled for 10 rounds at lightweight.
Visioli (9-0, 6 KOs) makes his fifth ring appearance of the year and looks to remain undefeated. The 22-year-old southpaw from Guildford, Surrey, is fresh off a unanimous decision win against James Wilkins on the Boots vs Lima undercard in Philadelphia in October.
“I want to say a massive thanks to Eddie Hearn and Frank Smith at Matchroom Boxing for giving me the opportunity to headline at such a young age – it shows the belief they have in me,” Giorgio Visioli said. “I’m buzzing to be doing it so close to home, and I can’t wait to put on a show.”
“Respect to Joe Howarth 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. I don’t believe Joe is on my level – and on fight night, the levels will be shown. He’s a good fighter, but he’s not ready for someone like me.”
“I can’t wait to keep showing my class to the boxing world and make my mark on the 135-pound division.”
Howarth (14-1, 4 KOs) of Wigan, Lancashire, steps through the ropes for the fourth time in 2025. The once-beaten 23-year-old defeated Karl Sampson by points in October, securing his seventh consecutive win.
“Finally, this is my chance to show how good I am,” Joe Howarth said. “It’s good for me to box someone as talented as Visioli. In everyone’s eyes he’s a future world champion, but I believe I’m every bit as good as him. I want to prove I’m a world-class prospect.”
John Hedges defends English title against Ellis Zorro in co-feature
In the co-feature, John Hedges (11-0, 3 KOs) meets Ellis Zorro (18-3, 7 KOs) at cruiserweight. Hedges puts his English title on the line.
23-year-old Hedges of Harlow, Essex, won his previous fight in May by unanimous decision against Nathan Quarless, claiming the vacant belt. 33-year-old Zorro of Lewisham, London, looks to rebound from a unanimous decision defeat to Aloys Youmbi in July.
Also scheduled to step through the ropes on the Visioli vs Howarth undercard are super middleweight Taylor Bevan (6-0, 6 KOs), bantamweight Tiah Mai Ayton (3-0, 3 KOs), middleweight Emmanuel Buttigieg (10-0, 3 KOs), and super bantamweights Adam Maca (3-0, 3 KOs) and Connor Mitchell. Their respective opponents, along with the full lineup, are expected to be confirmed shortly.