By Ken Hissner: At Manchester Arena, Manchester Lancashire, UK, Saturday over DAZN Benjamin Shalom (Boxxer) presented in the Main Event former WBA Interim Middleweight Champion Chris Eubank, Jr. being stopped by former WBO Light Middleweight Champion Liam “Beefy” Smith in the fourth round.
In the Main Event former WBA Interim Middle Champ, Chris Eubank, Jr., 32-3 (23), #159, of Brighton, Sussex, UK, was stopped by former WBO Light Middle Champ Liam “Beefy” Smith, 33-3-1 (20), #159, of Liverpool, UK, at 1:09 of the fourth round of a scheduled 12 rounds.
In the first round Eubank used an effective jab while Smith hands held high landed the first solid punch halfway through the round on the chin of Eubank who controlled up to that point with his jab. In the third rounds final minute Eubank landed half a dozen right uppercuts to the chin of Smith.
In the fourth round two left hooks from Smith on the chin of Eubank and down he went for an 8-count from Referee Viktor Loughlin. He got up completely out of it with his legs gone. Smith jumped all over him landing a flurry and dropping him again as the referee had no choice but to stop it. Eubank had a lump the size of a golf ball under his right eye. The fight looked like Rocky 1.
In the corner of Eubank was former champion Roy Jones, Jr. BBBofC British, Commonwealth Boxing Council and IBF European Welter champ Ekow “The Engine” Essuman, 19-0 (7), #146, of Botswana and Nottingham, UK, won by a majorty decision over WBC Silver International Welter champ Chris ‘2Slick’ Kongo, 14-2 (7), #146.25, of Bermondsey, London, UK, over 12 rounds.
In the first two rounds Essuman forced the action against the taller Kongo who countered with long jabs to the body. In the fourth and fifth rounds Kongo took over overpowering Essuman with his reach and following with chopping rights to the chin.
From the sixth through the eighth there was more wrestling than fighting. In the ninth Essuman had Kongo pinned to the ropes for the most part hurting him with a left and right to the head making him hold to get through the round. In the tenth Kongo did enough to win the round.
In the eleventh round Essuman had Kongo against the ropes for the most part. In the twelfth and final round at the end of the first minute an overhand right from Essuman on the chin drove Kongo into the ropes and hurt. Essuman couldn’t follow up as Kong did much holding. Referee was Howard Foster.
Scores 114-114, 116-113 and 115-114 and 115-113 this writer.
Heavyweight 2021 Olympic Bronze Medalist Frazer ‘Big Fraze’ Clarke, 5-0 (4), #272, of Burton upon Trent, West Midlands, UK, stopped Kevin Nicolas Espindola, 7-7 (2), #285, of San Pedro, Bueno Aires, ARG, after 4 rounds due to hand injury of Espindola, in scheduled 6 rounds.
In the first four rounds Clarke dealt out a good body work having Espindola against the ropes the entire time. After the fourth round Espindola quit due to an injured right hand.
Former WBO Heavy champ Joseph Parker, 31-3 (21), #245.25, of So. Auckland, NZ and Morecambe, Lancashire, UK, easily defeated former IBO Cruiser champ Jack ‘One Smack’ Massey, 20-2 (11), #213.25, of Maple, Cheshire, UK, after 10 dull rounds.
In the first four rounds Parker was the aggressor using his jab taking all the rounds against defensive minded Massey. In the fifth round Parker backed Massey to the ropes with several rights to the chin. Massey continues to do too much holding.
In the seventh round Massey suffered a small cut outside the left eyebrow. In the eighth round Massey after a minute landed his first combination of the fight starting with a left hook to the chin of Parker.
Within fifteen seconds to go Referee Darren Sarginson took away a point from Massey for excessive holding. In the tenth and final round Massey’s left eyebrow cut started bleeding down the side of his face a minute into the round. There was more action in the final ten seconds than in the entire fight.
Scores 96-93, 97-92 and 97-93 with 100-90 this writer.
In the semi-windup former Cruiser British champ Richard Riakporhe, 16-0 (12), #199.25, of Walworth, London, UK, stopped former 2-time WBO Cruiser champ southpaw Krzysztof “Glowka” Glowacki, 32-4 (20), #197.25, of Walcz, POL, at 2:44 of the fourth round of a scheduled 12 rounds.
In the second rounds final minute Riakporhe finally landed a punch and it was a right on the side of the head of Glowacki almost dropping him. Riakporhe let him off the hook. In the third round once again Glowacki was forcing the action until the final seconds when a right from Riakporhe on the chin got his attention. In the fourth rounds final minute Riakporhe countered a body shot with a right on the chin driving Glowacki into a corner with a flurry of punches before Referee Howard Foster waved it off.
Cruiser Scott Forrest, 3-0 (3), #204, of Johannesburg, Gauteng, RSA, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, defeated Amine “The Beast” Boucetta, 7-6 (0), #210, of Morocco, Ghent, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium, over 6 rounds.
All scores were 60-54.
Heavyweight Matty Harris, 4-0 (3), #268, of Coventry, West Midlands, UK, stopped Jiri Surmaj, 3-3 (2), #248.25, of Karvina, CZ Rep, 1:14 of first round of a scheduled 4 rounds.
Super Lightweight Frankie Stringer, of SP and Liverpool, UK, defeated Christian Narvaez, 16-52-6 (1), of NIC and Venice, Veneto, IT, over 4 rounds.
Ref: Jamie Fitzpatrick 40-36.
