Do or Die! Eubank vs. Papot DAZN Copper Box Arena Queen Elizabeth Park Preview
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
*Robert Brizel Prediction Record: (123-27-8) (7-4 in Featured Bouts)
London, UK (June 16th, 2026)– DAZN, IMF Pro and Neilson Boxing will present a exciting eleven bout card of professional boxing at Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Park, Hackney Wick, Middlesex, London, United Kingdom, on Saturday evening, July 18, 2026, featuring the vacant International Boxing Federation Welterweight title bout, scheduled for 12 rounds, between top contenders Harlem Eubank and David Papot.
This reporter predicts the slight underdog, Harlem Eubank, age 32, 22-1 with nine knockouts, Brighton, Sussex, United Kingdom. will win the bout by 12 rounds unanimous decision over David Papot, age 35, 30-1-1 with five knockouts, Loire-Atlantique, France, in a hard- fought bout. Odds have Papot at -138, and Eubank at +120. Odds of a 12-round draw are at +1600.
Papot has more bouts and 224 rounds of experience than Eubank’s 151. An accidental clash of heads caused Eubank to lose by technical decision to Jack Catterall at Manchester Arena in July 2025 when Catterall could not continue. That being said, Eubank owns the hometown advantage in this crucial crossroads bout. Eubank has a 39 percent knockout ratio, while the highly technical Papot has only a 15 percent knockout ratio. The chance of this bout going the distance is solid. Papot has a size advantage, having fought at super welterweight and middleweight previously. However, he is older now and may slow down in the championship rounds.
Eubank wants a shot at IBF World Welterweight champion Liam Paro, who has beaten Papot. Eubank’s key advantage is that he is fighting at his natural weight as a natural welterweight, and is known for landing consistent inside exchanges and combinations. Eubank is a patient, disciplined fighter who wins rounds. He will have to outwork and outthink Papot and outpoint him in a long, grueling, highly technical contest.
Eubank told The Ring, “This feels like a world championship-level fight already. In my eyes, he (Papot deserved) should have got the decision (win) over Paro, who is now IBF welterweight world champion. I think it was the first time the mainstream really got a glimpse of him, but I know what he’s about. He has taken a lot of scalps already. He’s beaten Bilel Jkitou, who is the current European middleweight champion. I’m looking at this like a real-world-level fight, and I will be prepared for that. Given what he (Papot) has achieved, the fights he’s been in so far, and how he’s performed, I think it will be a real statement on the world scene. I know I can make a lot of noise by winning this well, because he has already had that fight (won) with Paro. There is a direct comparison. If I can do a better job on him (Papot) than Paro did, it will throw me right in there to potentially fight him (Liam Paro) next. But I’ve got a big challenge here in front of me-which I’m not going to look past.”
This reporter feels Eubank, in the fight of his life, has the skills to come out ahead in front of hometown British fans.
Copper Box Arena Undercard Predictions
Kieran Molloy is predicted to win by 10 rounds decision over Sean Noakes in an IBF European Welterweight title bout.
Joel Bartell is predicted to win by 10 rounds decision over Kyran Jones in a middleweight bout.
Aaron Prospere is predicted to win by 10 rounds decision over Mikey Sakyi in a 10-round vacant BBBofC Super Lightweight bout.
Jake Henty is predicted to win by 10 rounds decision over Finely James in a vacant BBBofC Southern Area Welterweight title.
Codie Smith is predicted to win by decision over Ryan Griffiths in an eight-round super featherweight contest.
Christian Bozzia is predicted to win by decision over Kurtis Wiggins in an eight-round featherweight contest.
Matty Harris is predicted to win by knockout over Ben Vickers in a scheduled six-round heavyweight contest. Featherweight Jay Pitman, featherweight J.P. O’Meara, and Jamie Barrett are predicted to win their scheduled six-round preliminary bouts by decision against opponents to be named.
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