Showing posts with label Matchroom Sport. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matchroom Sport. Show all posts

Friday, December 3, 2021

Lejarraga KO’s Flatley In 9 In Bilbao, Spain

 European Jr. Middleweight champion Kerman Lejarraga scored a brutal one punch ninth round knockout of Jack Flatley to retain his crown on Friday night at the Bilbao Arena in Bilbao, Spain. The champion established that he was the stronger of the two fighters from the outset by dropping the challenger with a stiff jab through the guard in the first round. Flatley got up on very unsteady legs, but the pattern of the fight was set in motion from this point of the bout onward. A pattern that consisted of  Lejarraga coming forward throwing and often landing hard thudding punches to the body and head of Flatley that kept the challenger on the defensive. As the fight progressed, Flatley attempted to engage toe to toe with the champion in an effort to turn the ebb and flow of the combat in his favor. Kerman Lejarraga advances to 34-2, with 26 Knockouts. Jack Flatley falls to 17-2-1, with 4 Knockouts.

 

 Flatley would have periodic success in landing combinations to the head of Lejarraga, but at no point did Flatley’s punches prevent the champion from coming forward. In round eight, Flatley was dropped for the second time in the fight with a body shot, but in round nine Lejarraga landed a brutal right hand to the jaw that knocked Flatley down and out on the canvas. Flatley went down hard from the straight right hand and hit the back of his head on the canvas. Flatley remained on the canvas for a few minutes, but was able to regain his faculties and did leave the ring under his own power after what was a scary knockout. Official time of the stoppage was :30 of round nine.

 

Also on this card:

 

Undefeated Spanish Super-Middleweight champion Damian Biacho systematically broke down previously undefeated challenger Guillermo Rivero to make the first defense of his title via seventh round stoppage. Biacho allowed Rivero to come forward consistently throughout the bout, but Biacho would gradually accumulate short shots on the inside that eventually created openings. In round four, a short left uppercut to the head dropped Rivero. This would be followed by two knockdowns in round six. First, a combination to the body and head sent Rivero down for the second time. Then, Biacho would get a third knockdown in the bout by landing a straight right hand to the body right as the bell rang to end the sixth round. In round seven, Rivero would be dropped for the fourth time via a hook to the head, which was preceded by a combination of uppercuts that sent Rivero down. Although Rivero was very “Game” and was able to finish the seventh round, at the end of round seven, Rivero’s corner mercifully stopped the fight to prevent their fighter from further punishment. Damian Biacho advances to 12-0, with 3 Knockouts. Guillermo Rivero falls to 8-1-1, with 1 Knockout.

 

Jr. Welterweight Jonathan Alonso scored a dominant eight round unanimous decision over Mohamed El Marcouchi. For eight rounds, Alonso had success in landing his right hand on Marcouchi and as the fight progress, it appeared at points where he may have been able to get a stoppage of Marcouchi, but Marcouchi hang in there for all eight rounds. All three judges scored the bout 80-72 in favor of Alonso. Jonathan Alonso advances to 21-1, with 7 Knockouts. Mohamed El Marcouchi falls to 28-3, with 11 Knockouts.

 

Lightweight Campbell Hatton, the son of former world champion Ricky Hatton, scored the first stoppage of his young unbeaten career by scoring an impressive second round knockout of Attila Csereklye. Hatton hurt Csereklye with a left hook to the body in the first round and dropped him with a right hand that landed on the top of the head. In round two, Csereklye was sent down for a second time with a left hook to the ribcage, Csereklye was able to get up, but Hatton would not let his opponent off the hook and a now relentless attack to the body resulted in Csereklye going down for a third time and this time taking the full ten count while on one knee. Official time of the stoppage was 2:45 of round one. Campbell Hatton advances to 5-0, with 1 Knockout. Attila Csereklye falls to 10-26, with 8 Knockouts.

 

Undefeated Flyweight Samuel Carmona scored a first round stoppage of Luis Padilla. Carmona landed a left hook to the body that set off a barrage of unanswered blows that forced a referee’s stoppage of the bout, despite Padilla not going down to the canvas. Official time of the stoppage was 1:30 of round one. Samuel Carmona advances to 6-0, with 4 Knockouts.  Luis Padilla falls to 13-3-2, with 2 Knockouts.

 

The evening began with unbeaten Middleweight Jhon Obregon moved to 9-0 in his career by scoring a six round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Gerome Warburton. Official scores were: 59-55, 59-56, and 59-54 all in favor of Obregon. Jhon Obregon advances to 9-0, with 4 Knockouts. Gerome Warburton falls to 8-1-1, with 1 Knockout.

 

As 2021 winds down, even in the midst of an ongoing global epidemic, Promoter Eddie Hearn continues to prove that Boxing is a true global sport as his company Matchroom Sport, continues to expand it’s Boxing promotional entity into new regions around the world. One of those regions that has benefited has been Spain, which along with several cards that has been staged over the last several years has begun to establish new stars in the sport. Following Sandor Martin’s recent decision victory over Mikey Garcia in the Jr. Welterweight division, Kerman Lejarraga a two-division European champion just may be the next star to emerge out of Matchroom’s multiple promotional branches fighting out of Spain that could see him potentially challenge for a world championship in 2022. While some may be skeptical of this observer’s statement, the fact is Boxing in addition to being a sport also has an entertainment component to it and there is no better way for a fighter to put himself in the discussion of potential world championship than scoring a head turning, devastating knockout. Lejarraga accomplished this in his first defense of the European Jr. Middleweight championship against Jack Flatley. After previously holding the European champion one weight class below his current division as a Welterweight, the only level left for Lejarraga is the world championship level. 2022, just might be the year where he gets an opportunity to showcase his skills on the highest level in the sport.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

Saturday, July 31, 2021

Wood Stops Can In 12 At Matchroom Fight Camp

 

In an upset,British Featherweight champion Leigh Wood scored a twelfth round stoppage of top Featherweight contender Xu Can in the main event of week 1 of Season 2 of Matchroom Fight Camp on Saturday night at Matchroom Headquarters in Brentwood, England. From the opening bell, Wood used angles and his reach to keep the normal volume puncher Can on the defensive and only getting his punches off sporadically. This along with consistent combination punching firmly established the momentum in Wood’s favor. As the fight progressed, Can, who entered the fight holding interim/regular champion status in the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) Featherweight ratings, started to pick up his pace, but was unable to turn the ebb and flow of the combat in his favor, perhaps affected by ring rust after being inactive for nearly twenty-two months due largely to the ongoing COVID-19 global epidemic. 

 

The story of the fight became Wood’s ability to remain disciplined. With momentum seemingly on his side, Wood made a statement in the late stages of the twelfth and final round by dropping Can with a perfectly timed counter right hook to the head. Can was able to get to his feet, but Wood sensing his opponent was in trouble was not content to box the remaining seconds to what appeared to be a clear decision victory. He proceeded to press forward and with a follow-up barrage was able to get a stoppage with fifteen seconds remaining in the fight. Leigh Wood advances to 25-2, with 14 Knockouts. Xu Can falls to 18-3, with 3 Knockouts.

 

Also on this card:

 

Commonwealth Cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith scored a hard fought twelve round split decision over European Cruiserweight champion Tommy McCarthy to win the European Cruiserweight championship and vacant British Cruiserweight championship. An extremely difficult fight to score and at times ugly to watch due to the fighters grappling on the inside, Smith was stunned by an overhand right to the head in the first round. He was able to recoup and managed to hold his own against the awkwardness of McCarthy. As the two fighters traded the ebb and flow in seemingly every round, McCarthy suffered a bad cut over the right eye in the sixth round as a result of an accidental clash of heads. McCarthy continued however, to hold his own and staggered Smith with another overhand right in the eleventh round. An extremely close fight with neither fighter standing out definitively was illustrated as two of three official judges scored the fight 115-114, but were split between the two fighters. The third and deciding judge however, turned in a score of 116-112 in favor of Smith giving him the victory and the trifecta of British, Commonwealth, and European Cruiserweight championships. Chris Billam-Smith advances to 13-1, with 10 Knockouts. Tommy McCarthy falls to 18-3, with 9 Knockouts.

 

Unbeaten Jr. Welterweight  Campbell Hatton, the son of former two-division world champion Ricky Hatton, improved to 3-0 in his young career by scoring a four round decision over Jakub Laskowski. Hatton forced the action from the outset and, despite a consistent attack to Laskowski’s body Laskowski did manage to make it to the final bell. As all non-title bouts held in the United Kingdom and Ireland that do not have an impact on regional or world rankings are scored solely by the referee officiating a fight, Referee Mark Bates scored the fight 40-36 in favor of Hatton. Campbell Hatton advances to 3-0, with 0 Knockouts. Jakub Laskowski falls to 4-5-1, with 2 Knockouts.

 

Jr. Middleweight contender Anthony Fowler scored an impressive eighth round stoppage of late substitute Rico MuellerFowler was able to keep Mueller, who took the fight on short notice when original opponent Roberto Garcia withdrew with an injury suffered in training, on the end of his punches with his longer reach from the opening bell. This resulted in Mueller having to fight behind a high defensive guard where he simply was not able to get his punches off consistently. As Fowler gradually kept his offense coming and started breaking through Mueller’s guard, the punishment gradually accumulated. In round eight, Fowler connected with a solid one, two to the head that staggered Mueller. Fowler responded with a near non-stop barrage of punches that was broken briefly when Mueller landed a single hook to the head, but that punch was not enough to keep Fowler off of him and with the assault continuing, the fight was mercifully stopped. Official time of the stoppage was 2:12 of round eight. Anthony Fowler advances to 16-1, with 12 Knockouts. Rico Mueller falls to 28-4-1, with 19 Knockouts.

 

 

Super-Middleweight Jack Cullen scored the biggest win of his career by scoring a dominant ten round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Avni Yildirim. Cullen used his longer reach to keep Yildirim at distance. Working behind a consistent jab and using lateral movement, Cullen was able to out box and withstand Yildirim’s pressure as the fight progressed to earn a convincing unanimous decision victory. Official scores were: 100-90, 98-92, and 97-93 all in favor of Cullen. Jack Cullen advances to 20-2-1, with 9 Knockouts. Avni Yildirim falls to 21-4, with 12 Knockouts.

 

In the opening bout of the evening Women’s Jr. Welterweight Sandy Ryan began her professional career by scoring a six round decision over Kirstie Bavington.  Bavington began this fight by trying to impose her will on the debuting Ryan by trying to be aggressive and push her back against the ropes. Despite her aggression, Ryan landed the cleaner punches of the two fighters and by the middle rounds was using her lateral movement and timing to more or less pick her shots as Bavington came forward. It appeared in the latter stages of the fight that Ryan’s combination punching and ability to time Bavington almost at will may have been enough to get a late stoppage, but Bavington remained very “Game” and made it to the final bell. Referee Mark Bates scored the bout 60-54 in favor of Ryan.  Sandy Ryan advances to 1-0, with 0 Knockouts. Kirstie Bavington falls to 3-2-2, with 2 Knockouts.

 

Originally, this card was to be headlined by undefeated Welterweight contender Conor Benn facing Adrian Granados in a scheduled ten round bout. The fight however, was postponed two days before the card due to Benn contracting the COVID-19 virus. As of this writing, no rescheduled date has been announced. We will keep readers updated on any developments as they become available.

 

The theme of Matchroom Fight Camp is a simple sales pitch “No Easy Fights.” While that is a simple sales hook, the first season in 2020 occurred under circumstances of the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic and the concept was born basically out of necessity as promoters attempted to resume activity under very trying circumstances. As we saw last year, the bouts being promoted by Matchroom Boxing and the chairman of Matchroom Sport Eddie Hearn are not throwaways. The type of fights where there is a consensus amongst both fans and experts as to the outcomes. Instead, the fights during the first season were very competitive and produced more than a few unexpected results.

 

This time around with the addition of nearly three-hundred spectators as well as Matchroom deepening its relationship with global digital sports streaming network DAZN to cover the United Kingdom and Ireland market as well as its existing deal to broadcast Matchroom events around the world, the first week of season two saw a somewhat unexpected result in Leigh Wood catapulting himself from British Featherweight champion to being one step away from a world championship bout with a knockout of Xu Can, a fighter known for the ability to produce extremely high punch outputs and one that had never been stopped before.

 

As I said in previewing this card, while the Matchroom Fight Camp concept was one born out of necessity due to an ongoing global crisis, a crisis that reared itself a mere forty-eight hours before this card took place necessitating the postponement of the originally advertised main event, Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Sport have stumbled upon something that is likely to now become an annual part of the Matchroom promotional calendar every year. If the bouts can remain well-matched, fans can remain attending these cards, and if it also serves to strengthen the relationship between Matchroom and DAZN as both continue to expand globally and continue to show the Boxing world the benefits of a subscription-based model as compared to the pay-per-view model, and in doing so convince both promoters and networks that have resisted adapting to a more sensible and consumer-friendly model, it should be a win for the sport on a true global scale.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

We will have a preview of Matchroom Fight Camp Season 2 week 2 here on The Boxing Truth®️ on Thursday, August 5th. Stay tuned.

 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter:www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison