The Magnificent Seven card’s dedicated title fight sees Welsh featherweight Liam Davies challenge for the vacant EBU European Featherweight Championship, with Italy’s Francesco “Kekko” Grandelli standing between him and a remarkable two-weight European title haul. Originally booked against Zak Miller before an injury forced a last-minute change, Davies now faces a battle-tested Italian who has pushed world-ranked opposition the full distance — including taking WBC #1 Nathaniel Collins to 12 rounds.
This is a 12-round European championship final on a major platform. Every round counts.
| Date | Saturday, March 28, 2026 |
| Venue | Co-op Live Arena, Manchester |
| Promotion | Queensberry Promotions |
| Division | Featherweight (126 lb) |
| Rounds | 12 |
| Title | Vacant EBU European Featherweight Championship |
| Broadcaster | DAZN (UK & Global) |
| Estimated Ringwalk | ~8:00 PM GMT / 3:00 PM EST |
Liam Davies (17-1, 8 KOs) from Wrexham is already a two-time EBU European Champion — he won the belt twice at super bantamweight (122lb) and now campaigns at featherweight (126lb), aiming to become a two-weight European champion. His only professional loss came in November 2024 when Shabaz Masoud edged him on a split decision over 12 rounds — a result Davies bounced back from emphatically with a unanimous 12-round points win in May 2025.
At 29 and entering his prime, Davies’s 47% KO rate across 18 fights shows a sharp puncher when the opportunity presents — the round-1 TKO of Jason Cunningham and the round-2 destruction of Erik Robles tell that story clearly. Ranked WBO #8, WBA #14, WBC #15, and IBF #9 at featherweight, world title conversations are not far away if Davies can land European gold tonight.
Francesco Grandelli (21-4-2, 6 KOs) — nicknamed “Kekko” — is the 31-year-old Italian veteran who arrives in Manchester as a proven European-level operator. His credentials are real: he took WBC #1 Nathaniel Collins the full 12 rounds in May 2024, and went the distance again against Cristobal Lorente in a European title challenge later that year. Grandelli does not fold easily.
Don’t be misled by the four losses — every defeat has come against world-ranked or European championship-level opposition. He walks into this fight in form too: a 5th-round TKO of Jose Antonio Sanchez in December 2025 followed a close split decision win over Simone Rao in June 2025. This is his third crack at the European title, and he has earned it.
| Liam Davies | Francesco Grandelli | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 17-1 | 21-4-2 |
| KOs | 8 (47%) | 6 (29%) |
| Age | 29 | 31 |
| Height | 5’10” / 177 cm | — |
| Reach | 71.7” / 182 cm | — |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
Davies holds the clear KO rate advantage — 47% to 29% — reflecting a significant power differential that could be decisive over 12 rounds.
Liam Davies — Last 5 Fights
| Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Rd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2025 | Walker | W | UD | 12 |
| Nov 2024 | Shabaz Masoud | L | SD | 12 |
| Mar 2024 | Erik Robles | W | TKO | 2 |
| Nov 2023 | Vincenzo La Femina | W | TKO | 5 |
| Jul 2023 | Jason Cunningham | W | TKO | 1 |
Francesco Grandelli — Last 5 Fights
| Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Rd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 | Jose Antonio Sanchez | W | TKO | 5 |
| Jun 2025 | Simone Rao | W | SD | 10 |
| Late 2024 | Cristobal Lorente | L | UD | 12 |
| May 2024 | Nathaniel Collins | L | UD | 12 |
| Apr 2022 | Kane Baker | W | UD | 10 |
Davies’s bounce-back win in May 2025 after the Masoud setback shows the mental resilience of a proper professional. Grandelli’s Collins and Lorente losses came against world-class opposition — his floor is European championship level.
Both men are orthodox fighters, which sets up a technically-driven chess match over 12 rounds. Davies’s body punching and punch volume have been the hallmarks of his best performances — his 47% KO rate relative to Grandelli’s 29% suggests Davies should be the harder-hitting man.
Grandelli’s value is persistence and tactical intelligence. Going 12 rounds with Nathaniel Collins — one of the world’s top featherweights — proves he can absorb sustained punishment from elite hands. His plan will be to box from range, pick angles, and drag Davies into the championship rounds where accumulated fatigue might shift the balance.
The key data point for Davies: he has scored stoppages in rounds 1, 1, 2, and 5 in recent outings. If he lands his overhand right cleanly and consistently, this may not go the distance.
Liam Davies
Francesco Grandelli
| UK Odds | US Moneyline | |
|---|---|---|
| Davies | 2/17 | -830 |
| Grandelli | 9/2 | +450 |
The odds decisively favour Davies, and rightly so. This is his moment to become a two-weight European champion and push into world title contention. Grandelli is a genuine threat in the later rounds if Davies allows the fight to become tactical — but Davies’s combination of power, ring IQ, and domestic crowd advantage should see him through. Prediction: Davies W UD 12.
| Country | Broadcaster | Start Time |
|---|---|---|
| UK | DAZN | 5:00 PM GMT (Main Card) |
| USA | DAZN | 12:00 PM EST |
Estimated ringwalk: ~8:00 PM GMT / 3:00 PM EST.
Read previews for the full Magnificent Seven card:
When is Davies vs Grandelli? Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Co-op Live Arena, Manchester. Estimated ringwalk ~8:00 PM GMT / 3:00 PM EST.
What title is on the line in Davies vs Grandelli? The vacant EBU European Featherweight Championship (126lb).
How to watch Davies vs Grandelli? Live on DAZN in the UK and globally. Main card starts at 5:00 PM GMT.
What are the odds for Davies vs Grandelli? Davies is a heavy favourite at 2/17 (-830). Grandelli is 9/2 (+450).
Why is this fight significant for Liam Davies? A win makes Davies a two-weight EBU European Champion and likely pushes him into mandatory or voluntary world title contention — he is already ranked in the top 15 with all four major organisations at featherweight.
Who is Francesco Grandelli? A 31-year-old Italian veteran (21-4-2) who has gone 12 rounds with WBC #1 Nathaniel Collins and challenged for the European title twice before. His durability and ring craft make him a legitimate test for any featherweight.
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