JAMES Tennyson will face Josh O’Reilly in an eliminator for the WBA Lightweight World Title on the undercard of Billy Joe Saunders' WBO Super-Middleweight World Title defence against Martin Murray at The SSE Arena, Wembley on Friday, December 4.
Heavy-handed Twinbrook fighter Tennyson (27-3 with 23 KOs) continued his destructive form last time out at Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Fight Camp in August when he claimed the vacant British Lightweight title with a ruthless sixth round stoppage win over brave but battered Welshman Gavin Gwynne.
O’Reilly (16-0 with six wins inside the distance) is undefeated since turning professional in July 2014, and the 29-year-old Canadian holds the North American Boxing Association Lightweight title and a top 10 ranking with the WBA.
"I've been grafting away with Eddie Hearn for over three years now and it has been an incredible journey, and while I’ve collected British, Commonwealth and European Titles, I feel I'm only getting warmed up," said Tony Dunlop-trained Tennyson.
"I want the full set, so I am continuously prepared to go deep until I get the World Title.
“Josh O’Reilly is undefeated and a great test for me, he is ranked eight with the WBA and is their North American Champion, I am number 10 and the WBA International champion, so we both have a lot to gain and it is a great achievement for us both to get this far.
“It’s great to be out twice this year in big fights given the current climate we are living in but I’m getting fed up with hearing these American's names being thrown about as the next big thing. I would take (Yuriorkis) Gamboa out in a few rounds and after the O’Reilly eliminator, I want to be headlining bills."
Tennyson versus O'Reilly is on the undercard of Billy Joe Saunders' (29-0) WBO Super-Middleweight title defence against Martin Murray (39-5-1).
