Unbeaten Galal Yafai returns to the ring after 16 month hiatus

Galal Yafai returns after 16 months out of the ring

Olympic Gold Medallist Galal Yafai makes his eagerly anticipated return to the ring in a star-studded undercard on Saturday, December 5 at University of Wolverhampton at The Halls – live worldwide on the Global Home of Boxing, DAZN.

Local hero Conah Walker headlines in his hometown in a WBA World Welterweight Title Eliminator when he takes on dangerous American southpaw Alexis Rocha. 

And Walker is joined by some of Britain's brightest talents with his old nemesis Pat McCormack back in action, along with Tiah Mai Ayton and a host of other exciting prospects also featuring in the final UK Fight Night of 2026.

WBC Interim Flyweight World Champion Galal Yafai (9-0, 7 KOs), who struck gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games before establishing himself as one of the world's premier Flyweights, will compete in a 10-round contest against an opponent to be confirmed. 

The 33-year-old memorably claimed the green and gold belt with a sensational stoppage win over Sunny Edwards in November 2024 but hasn't fought since his controversial no-contest clash in June 2025 with Francisco Rodriguez Jr.

'The Star Girl' Ayton (7-0, 6 KOs), meanwhile, bids to add more titles to her name when she takes on Tori-Ellis Willetts (7-2, 1 KO) for the British and Commonwealth Featherweight belts. 

Ayton, 20, has been endorsed by the legendary Katie Taylor as the future of women's boxing and has quickly made her mark in the professional ranks, celebrating the Commonwealth crown in August – but her rival Willetts will be determined to upset the highly-rated youngster and deny her from taking home the vacant Lonsdale strap.

Elsewhere, William Crolla (10-1, 8 KOs) battles Devon's Billy Stanbury (13-0, 3 KOs) for the English Super Welterweight Title. Stanbury, the undefeated former Southern Area ruler, will look to maintain his perfect professional record, as Manchester's Crolla aims to add another major domestic accolade to his collection.

Olympic Silver Medallist Pat McCormack (8-1, 6 KOs) makes his comeback to the ring for the first time since his shock defeat by headliner Walker in Monte-Carlo almost a year ago. The Sunderland fighter, who won Silver at Tokyo 2020 and Gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, will be looking to return to winning ways in his hopes to lay down a marker for his future World Title ambitions.

The action-packed Walker-Rocha card also features rising Featherweight prospects Connor Mitchell (4-0, 2 KOs) and Adam Maca (7-0, 6 KOs). Albanian-born Maca, 19, has made an explosive start to his career, whilst 'The Hammer' Mitchell, the son of British boxing cult hero Kevin Mitchell, keen to underline his burgeoning credentials.

Another impressive youngster in action is Essex's Louie Ward (3-0, 1 KO) who continues his development in a Super Featherweight contest, whilst young Middleweight Harley 'The Beast' Burrows (3-0, 2 KOs) – who also turned pro earlier this year – looks to extend his unbeaten record. Both return to Wolverhampton, where they fought previously in May on the undercard of Walker's Fight of the Year contender against Sam Eggington.

Last remaining tickets are on sale now at matchroomboxing.com. Further details on opponents will be announced in due course.

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