The IBF bantamweight title, vacant as it is after being stripped from Jamie McDonnell, will be contested by Stuart Hall (a former points loser to McDonnell) and Vusi Malinga on December 21st, promoter Dennis Hobson has confirmed to Boxing News.
The fight will take place at The First Direct Arena in Leeds, Yorkshire and reigning British and Commonwealth welterweight champ Frankie Gavin will face a TBA on the card that will be co-promoted by Frank Warren and will go out live on BoxNation TV channel.
33-year-old Hall, 15-2-1(7) lost to McDonnell back in September of 2011 and he has also been out-pointed by Lee Haskins (in July of 2012). Since then, Hall has won three straight, including a points win over Sergio Perales which was scored on the under-card of McDonnell’s big May 2013 win over Julio Ceja. Now Hall benefits from the IBF’s decision to strip McDonnell.
34-year-old southpaw Malinga, 21-4-1(12) is a former WBC and IBF bantamweight title challenger, the South African losing via 1st-round TKO to Hozumi Hasegawa in 2009, and dropping a wide 12-round UD to Leo Santa Cruz last June. Malinga has won one fight since and the December fight will be his first in the UK.
For his part, Hall told Boxing News he feels bad for former foe McDonnell and what has happened to him in losing his belt, yet he is clearly up for his own big chance