What a cracking nights action from London’s o2 with a packed 18,000 crowd and some superb action to please even the most casual of boxing fans.
Brook v Gavin
Kell Brook took his pro tally to 35-0 at a packed o2 last night when he stopped Frankie Gavin inside 6 rounds to retain his IBF world welterweight title and make him the only other fighter but Floyd Mayweather to currently hold a version of the title.
Brook took control from the off and showed off his boxing skill in style and by round 5 Gavin had a swelling under his right eye and in round 6 with Brook well on top and Gavin taking punishment on the ropes the ref had seen enough and waved it off.
Promoter Eddie Hearn said after the fight that they were looking at a 3rd defence for Brook in late August.
Linares v Mitchell
Kevin Mitchell fought well and looked on top for most of his challenge for Jorge Linares’ WBC lightweight title but with a terrible cut and swollen left eye from an earlier head clash ended up getting stopped.
This was a gutsy performance by Mitchell who I had well ahead and in my opinion Ref Victor Loughlin should have called the doctor in about Mitchell’s and then the fight would have gone to the scorecards of which Mitchell was ahead on 2 and level on the other.
In round 5 Mitchell dropped the champ and in the 9th round was on top again prior to the 10th round stoppage.
Gradovich v Selby
Welsh featherweight Lee Selby proved upon any doubt last night just how good he is by being the first man to beat awkward Russian Evgeny Gradovich to capture the IBF world title. Selby landed well from the off and really got into a good rhythm and was well ahead when the fight got stopped 1 minute into the 8th round with Gradovich cut from an ealier lclash of heads. The bout went to the judges score cards and Selby was the victor on all 3 cards 79-73, 80-72 and 79-73.
“I can’t explain how I feel,” said Selby. “I have been working for this for so long. I started boxing 20 years ago and had my first amateur fight 18 years ago. It means so much and I would like to dedicate this to my brother Michael who is always looking over me.
“When I go into a fight I go it to adapt. In for the first round I go behind the jab, see what they come with and I have that style where I can adapt. If I have to go forward I go forward or I can box on the back foot. I see what they come with, I listen to my corner and I box to my instructions
“I caught him and I wobbled him. I didn’t bother following up, I was going to break him down. He is a similar fighter to my last opponent Joel Brunker so I was planning on breaking him down but we had two accidental clashes of heads and that stopped the fight.”
Joshua v Johnson
Gold medal winning Olymic heavyweight Anthony Joshua took his pro tally to 13-0 with 13 KO’s after destroying Kevin Johnson in just 2 rounds. The Yank got dropped in 5the 1st and was getting battered and in my opinion should have been stopped in th that round but was allowed to continue and hardly threw a punch in the 2nd before getting KO and stopped at 1.22 of the round.
Ryder v Blackwell
Popular london middleweight John Ryder got stopped in 7 rounds in his bid to become British champion after a good fight which in the early round Ryder had the better of, Blackwell who sustained a can in the opener took control and toppled Ryder to claim the belt at 2.36 of the round.
Cardle v Evans
Lancashire lad Scotty Cardle won a points victory of 116-112 on all 3 judges cards to take the vacant British lightweight title. Craig Evans put on a good performance and without the showboating earlier in the fight might well have changed the outcome, if he’d stuck to his boxing and managed to keep the talented cardle at bay. Cardle now unbeaten in 18 is set for bigger things.
Ryan v Hibbert
Dave Ryan successfully defended his Commonwelath light-welterweight stap stopping John Wayne Hibbert in 9 rounds to also calim the WBC international title. Ryan who got dropped in the 3rd and the 5th came back strong and dropped Hibbert twice in the 7th before the ref called a halt at 2.00 of the 9th.
Cleverly v Man
Popular Welshman Nathan Cleverly got back to winning for after dropping back down to light-heavyweight stopping and outclqassed Tomas Man in just 24 seconds of the 1st.
Reid v Rafael
Talented amateur Lucien Reid won his pro debut with a 4th round TKO victory over Elemir Rafael.
