Fight Details

Joe heads to Australia for WMO world title shot

Joe Craven travels to the Gold Coast for one of the biggest fights of his career - a WMO middleweight world title bout against Australian James Honey on April 11, 2026.

The War on the Shore event takes place at The Star resort in front of a home crowd for Honey, a Strikeforce Gym fighter who will be backed loudly on the night.

For Joe, it's a chance to bring a world title back to Bad Company Leeds. 

It is a massive opportunity, and one Joe has earned. Thirty-year old Queenslander Honey won the WMO world title by beating Josh Hill in Australia in August 2025, so the route back to the top now runs straight through the champion.

Currently ranked fifth in the world, Joe heads to Australia in the form of his life. The camp has been sharp, the preparation thorough, and he knows exactly what's at stake.

Preparation began in Thailand in March, before flying to Sydney and on to Brisbane for the bout.

Joe heads into the fight on the back of two wins, with his full focus now fixed on one task only: bringing a world title back home. 

A journey worth following

Joe's road back to a world title shot hasn't been straightforward. A broken knee and a period of careful recovery stood between him and this moment. He's come through all of it.

"I'm fully focused. One fight, one goal. Everything in training has been building to this."

War on the Shore is a major Australian show, with two WMO world title fights on the card. Joe will be joined ringside by his coach Richard Smith, with supporters travelling from the UK and other British expats making the journey up to Queensland to back him. 

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