By Elliot Foster

Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Sport’s first show of the new year will take place at a rather unfamiliar venue.

The Brentwood-based promotional company, who staged ‘Who’s Fooling Who’ –– Callum Smith’s one-round demolition of Rocky Fielding –– at the Echo Arena on Saturday, has already confirmed that it is starting 2016 in London.

The O2 Arena in the Docklands would be the most likely venue, you’d have thought, given that Hearn’s past five ‘big’ shows in the city have been at that setting.

But BoxingScene has been advised that the January 30 card, which has yet to be formally announced, will take place at the Copper Box Arena, with the show live on Sky Sports.

It will be headed by the WBC International and Commonwealth super lightweight title fight between champion John Wayne Hibbert and challenger, WBA Continental champion, Tommy Martin.

Also expected to feature on the card is John Ryder, the former two-time British middleweight title challenger, while Ohara Davies, Ted Cheeseman, Jake Ball and more are set for action.

Promotional rival Frank Warren had an exclusive deal with the former Olympic venue, to host six nights of championship boxing, but it appears that the agreement has ceased after just under two-and-a-half years.

Elliot Foster is part of Boxing Scene's UK team. Follow him on Twitter @FreelanceFoz