The undercard for Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury’s fiercely anticipated rematch has seen several surprising changes ahead of this Saturday.
Prolific knockout artist Serhii Bohachuk, for instance, was supposed to face former world champion Israil Madrimov in a mouth-watering co-main event.
But then, the former Terence Crawford opponent withdrew from their showdown due to an illness, allowing unproven contender Ishmael Davis to step in at short notice.
In a more shocking development, too, promising super bantamweight talent Dennis McCann was removed from his clash with Peter McGrail after failing a Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) test.
But instead of losing his place on the card, McGrail will now face unbeaten featherweight Rhys Edwards.
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Peter McGrail will face Rhys Edwards following Dennis McCann fallout
Since turning professional, McGrail has amassed ten victories against just one defeat, losing his unbeaten record to Ja’Rico O’Quinn in a stunning fifth-round stoppage last year.
But still, the Olympian swiftly restored the intrigue surrounding his promising career with back-to-back wins over fellow countrymen Marc Leach and Brad Foster.
Edwards, meanwhile, outpointed Foster last year, albeit in less emphatic fashion than McGrail’s thrilling second-round finish.
But regardless of his less devastating power, the 24-year-old has proven to be a slick operator against his domestic rivals, coming off a comprehensive unanimous decision victory over seasoned campaigner Thomas Patrick Ward.
And so, despite flying over to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on short notice, Edwards represents a potential banana peel for McGrail, who is expected to have taken this fight at 126 lbs.
Best matchups on the Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury 2 undercard
While McGrail vs Edwards is set to deliver an intriguing spectacle, there are several more dustups on Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury’s undercard that could also steal the show.
Of course, fans should expect explosive finishes from Moses Itauma and Johnny Fisher, the two rising heavyweight stars who are perhaps faced with their toughest tests yet.
But elsewhere on the card, Isaac Lowe and Lee McGregor could provide the most keenly contested matchup, with both Brits looking to join the world scene at featherweight.
In truth, though, it would be difficult for any undercard fighter to remove the spotlight from Usyk and Fury, two elite heavyweights battling it out for supremacy.