Results
Peter McGrail vs. Mark Leach fight
After Matchroom NXTGEN at the Exhibition Center in Liverpool, Peter McGrail returned to winning ways, winning the vacant WBA International super bantamweight title with an emphatic points victory over Mark Leach.
The 2020 McGrail Olympian got to test his rapid progress as a pro in his last outing when he was knocked out in five rounds by Ja’Rico O’Quinn when in December last year it was much ahead. There was supposed to be a rematch here, but O’Quinn withdrew for personal reasons and former British champion Leach stepped in.
McGrail (9-1, 5 KO) started robust and unloaded with a variety of challenging punches in the first few rounds, with Leach’s best shots coming early.
The pressure from the home favorite was unrelenting and in the fifth quarter his blows began to weaken Leach (18-4-1, 4 KO), although the guest did not give up.
McGrail kept the pressure on, steadily improving the rounds with his quick hands and footwork, and the pattern continued until the end of the fight.
Fighting also served as British title eliminatorand the Liverpool player won on the cards 100-90 and 99-91 x2.
Ferreira wins the IBF world title
On the card below, Beatriz Ferreira won the vacant IBF lightweight title with a five-round technical decision win against Yanina del Carmen Lescano.
Brazilian Ferreira (5-0, 2 KO) defeated Lescano (14-4, 4 KO) in the fifth round, and the Argentine was seriously injured after clashing heads in the same session.
At the beginning of the sixth round, the fight was stopped and scorecards were needed, with Ferreira ahead of the winner by two scores of 59-55 and a third of 58-55.
Bostan defeats Martin
Junaid Bostan won the final eliminator for the English super welterweight title, stopping Jack Martin in the eighth round of their meeting.
Bostan (9-0, 7 KO) broke Martin (9-2, 4 KO), and a acute left hook pushed the 29-year-old to the deck, after which he was stopped because he was on unsteady legs.
The Rotherham fighter is now in line to fight English super welterweight champion Lee Cutler.
Now the mandatory challenger for the English super welterweight title @jdbostan breaks down and stops Jack Martin from winning the 154lb Commonwealth silver title 👊
More titles to collect 🤝 #BostanMartin #McGrailLeach pic.twitter.com/dUp3DkJ56p
— Boxing at Matchroom (@MatchroomBoxing) April 27, 2024
Undercard remaining
Joe McGrail (10-0, 5 KO) scored a useful eight rounds for the first time in a 77-75 super bantamweight victory over Ryan Walker (12-7, 3 KO).
Stephen Clarke (3-0, 1 KO) rose to the challenge, and the middleweight fighter had to overcome a reduction before winning over Artjom Spatar (4-8-1, 1 KO) in four rounds.
Frankie Stringer (7-0) continued his undefeated start, winning every sixth round in his lightweight defeat of Jonatas Rodrigo Gomes de Oliveira (6-8, 5 KO).
SPECIAL DEBUT 🔥 @realhamzauddin#McGrailLeach pic.twitter.com/i5OzWO2uvt
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) April 27, 2024
Flyweight prospect Maisey Rose Courtney (6-0) also remained undefeated, winning 78-75 in eight matches against Giuseppina Di Stefano (7-3-1, 1 KO).
Super flyweight debutant Hamza Uddin (1-0, 1 KO) won early, defeating Santiago San Eusebio (3-8-2, 2 KO) in the third round of a scheduled six-round fight.
This Saturday, Latino Night will take place in Riyad, and the main event will be the fight for the WBA cruiserweight title from Mexico, Gilberto Ramirez, against the head of the WBO, Chris Billam-Smith.
DAZN is broadcasting the Ramirez vs Billam-Smith fight live.
Despite great potential and a reign as the WBO super middleweight champion, Ramirez (46-1, 30 KO) has largely won against an unnamed opponent.
He ultimately lost the team’s undefeated record in November 2022. clearly defeated by Dmitry Bivol in the fight for the WBA (Super) featherlight heavyweight title.
The move to the cruiserweight division saw some of his best performances, and a wide-scoring victory over Joe Smith Jr paved the way for a world title fight in which he won the WBA belt by defeating Arsen Goulamirian ten rounds to two in March.
After a career-opening loss to Richard Riakporhe, Billam-Smith (20-1, 13 KO) rose through the ranks, eventually winning the WBO belt with a majority decision victory over Lawrence Okolie, with Okolie losing a total of three times.
The Bournemouth man then forced Mateusz Masternak to retire after eight rounds, with Billam-Smith trailing on two scorecards, and last defended in June, taking revenge on Riakporhe by scoring points at Selhurst Park.
Prediction: Ramirez is always huge no matter what weight he fights at, and will be the biggest test of Billam-Smith’s career. I think this may be a bridge too far for the Englishman and Ramirez may score in the later rounds.
Chris Billam-Smith is confident he will get the job done on Saturday 😤#RiyadSeason | #LatinNight | Live November 16 | FREE on DAZN | @Turki_alalshikh pic.twitter.com/ZOY1wHshgj
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) November 12, 2024
Ramirez and Barboza go to war
A massive clash with world title implications awaits us at the last minute as former unified super lightweight world champion Jose Carlos Ramirez (29-1, 18 KO) meets Arnold Barboza Jr (30-0, 11 KO) within twelve rounds.
Since his only loss to Josh Taylor to clear the division in 2021, Ramirez has fought once a year, defeating Jose Pedraza (UD12), Richard Commey (KO11) and Rances Barthelemy (UD12) to be the number one contender for the WBC title.
Barboza is long undefeated and has boxed twice in 2024, which included an eighth-round retirement victory over Xolisani Ndongeni, followed by a split decision victory over Sean McComb last time out. This is his first scheduled appearance in twelve innings, after eight innings played in ten innings.
Prediction: I’m leaning towards the more experienced Ramirez who will get the job done on points.
There is no better place than the season in Riyad #LatinNight for the fight he’s been waiting for‼️ Jose Ramirez 🆚 Arnold Barboza Jr. it will be totally 𝐖 𝐀 𝐑 ⚔️#LatinNight | #RiyadSeason | LIVE November 16 | FREE on DAZN pic.twitter.com/6njPFoF05D
— Golden Boy (@GoldenBoyBoxing) November 13, 2024
The farmer has everything to do with Zepeda
The WBC interim lightweight title is up for grabs and the talented William Zepeda (31-0, 27 KO) will face Tevin Farmer (33-6-1, 8 KO).
Zepeda is worth watching, as he has been at a championship level in his last five fights. All of his last four fights ended early, and after forcing Maxie Hughes to retire after four rounds in March, he knocked out Giovanni Cabrera in three in July.
Former IBF featherweight champion Farmer is coming off a hard-fought points loss to Raymond Muratalla. Zepeda should be too heated for Farmer here and could win early.
Minimum weight world champion titles up for grabs
The next fight for the world title will take place in the minimum weight class, where Oscar Collazo (10-0, 7 KO) should defend the WBO belt for the fourth time by defeating Thammanoon Niyomtrong (25-0, 9 KO).
The return of Duarte and Ziyad
Oscar Duarte (27-2-1, 22 KO) can ensure his twelve-round super lightweight fighter scores points against Botirzhon Akhmedov (10-3, 9 KO), and welterweight contender Ziyad Almaayouf (6-0, 1 KO) should win at this gala. cards over six against Juan Carlos Ramirez Garcia (5-6, 0 KO).
Oscar De La Hoya admits he is excited about the possibility of pitting WBA cruiserweight world champion Zurdo Ramirez against unified heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk in the future.
Usyk, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion, has previously spoken about his desire back to the division after fighting Tyson Fury in a rematch on December 21 in Saudi Arabia and De La Hoya believes Ramirez would be the perfect opponent for him.
“I think maybe after the rematch I will go down to cruiserweight,” said the 37-year-old Rule of 3 knockdowns podcast.
“I want tomorrow [fights at] cruiser weight.
“Maybe I’ll be undisputed in the cruiserweight division for a second time, that’s my plan.
“When I start preparing for training camp [as a heavyweight]I have to eat constantly. It’s demanding for me, I don’t like it.”
“Zurdo” secured the WBA belt with a unanimous decision victory over Arsene Goulamirian in March, making him a two-weight world champion.
The Mexican, who is preparing for a unification clash with WBO champion Chris Billam-Smith on November 16 in Riyad, recently spoke about his desire to move up to heavyweight to face the Ukrainian.
“Usyk is a diminutive heavyweight, but he’s right,” the 33-year-old said No seconds.
“I think it would be a good match.
“I watched him and followed him a lot and that’s one of my goals, to be undisputed at cruiserweight and then at heavyweight and I would probably fight him at heavyweight.”
Golden Boy founder and CEO De La Hoya admits he is intrigued by the prospect of his protégé fighting a two-weight world champion.
“I’m excited not because of his reunion,” the 51-year-old said DAZN.
“Yes, it’s quite exhilarating because it doesn’t happen often.
“But the fact that Zurdo is talking about Usyk.
“And Usyk returns to cruiserweight.
– It’s quite exhilarating.
Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez defended his unified super middleweight title with a major unanimous decision over Edgar Berlanga in Las Vegas.
PBC promoted the Canelo vs Berlanga fight, with DAZN and Amazon Prime sharing broadcast rights.
The 27-year-old Puerto Rican entered the contest as a clear underdog and it seemed like he had a chance early on. He was immediately pushed onto his back leg by Alvarez, refused to let go of his hands and bit challenging at the champion’s feints.
In the third round, Canelo absolutely floored him with a left hook and passed Berlanga’s defender at a speed so quick it bordered on cartoonish. To his credit, “The Chosen One” didn’t look seriously hurt and survived the rest of the round well.
Getting him on the canvas seemed to somehow solidify Berlanga’s position in the contest, and he gradually gained confidence from there. While he didn’t win many rounds, the Brooklyn boxer had moments of success later in his career and showed impressive defense on the ropes—not to mention a forceful chin.
The left hook that dropped Berlanga was felt in San Juan 🇵🇷. #CaneloBerlanga pic.twitter.com/QP94bYobdc
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) September 15, 2024
There were some violent moments, most notably when Canelo landed a pristine right hand after the referee called a stoppage, though it was somewhat of a justified response to the blatant utilize of the head by his youthful opponent.
However, at the end of the incredibly emotional final round, the pair immediately hugged, with Berlanga thanking the Guadalajara star for the opportunity before admitting that he is his idol.
Nothing beats boxing in Vegas during Mexican Independence weekend. 🇲🇽 RESPECT 🇵🇷#CaneloBerlanga pic.twitter.com/TxOiFmOp8i
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) September 15, 2024
To the surprise of no one at T-Mobile Arena, Alvarez won by unanimous decision and marches on with his three-word titles. Berlanga, though well beaten, answered several long-standing questions that cast a shadow over him and proved he has plenty of substance to back up his fervor.
Lara defends herself against Garcia
In the veterans’ fight, Cuban Erislandy Lara (31-3-3, 19 KO) defended his WBA middleweight world title by defeating Danny Garcia (37-4, 21 KO).
Garcia looked a shadow of his former self and retired after nine rounds. Lara, 41, is still enjoying the Indian summer and has won six matches in a row.
Shipping plants or McCumby
Former super middleweight world champion Caleb Plant (23-2, 14 KOs) made his first fight since losing to David Benavidez last year with a ninth-round stoppage of unannounced Trevor McCumby (28-1, 21 KOs).
Plant, who survived an early knockdown, currently holds the interim belt at 168 pounds and could be in line for another world title fight in 2025.
IT’S OVER!! REVENGE TOURISM CONTINUES WITH ANOTHER KO BY @SweetHandsPlant! #PlantMcCumby
Order #CaneloBerlanga Now: https://t.co/TTL3b5uHde pic.twitter.com/thEITuxwpq
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) September 15, 2024
Romero is back in form
Polarizing super lightweight Rolando Romero (16-2, 13 KOs) returned to action at T-Mobile following a loss to Isaac Cruz in March.
Manuel Jaimes (16-2, 11 KO), who had previously only fought in compact gyms, was forceful and powerful but found himself on the wrong side of a unanimous decision win over “Rolly,” who had been earmarked as a potential opponent for Ryan Garcia’s comeback.
Fulton squeaks fit for Castro
In his first fight at 126 pounds, former super bantamweight world champion Stephen Fulton (22-1, 8 KOs) found himself in a tougher fight than advertised against the rugged Carlos Castro (30-3, 14 KOs).
“Scooter” was clamorous on several stages and even fell challenging, but managed to clinch the victory by a split decision on the scorecards.
Lots of action in #FultonCastro with 💣s landed by both players and Castro gets the KD. How did you score that?
Order #CaneloBerlanga Now: https://t.co/TTL3b5uHde pic.twitter.com/lM78e5gis0
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) September 15, 2024
Villa surprised by Salas
It was a night to remember for Jaron Ennis’ former opponent, Romain Villa (26-3, 24 KOs), who suffered a shock third-round defeat to Ricardo Salas Rodriguez (20-2-2, 15 KOs).
Villa came out on the attack as usual but unleashed a devastating right hand that ended the contest.
Ricardo Salas makes his US debut with a KO finish over Romain Villa in RD3. #WillaSalas
Order #CaneloBerlanga Now: https://t.co/TTL3b5uHde pic.twitter.com/3FKD4ldCmw
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) September 14, 2024
Further Undercard Recap
In eight rounds, both Yoenli Hernandez (5-0, 5 KOs) and Laurence King (17-1, 14 KOs) scored second-round KO victories over Jose Sanchez Charles (21-6-1, 12 KOs) and Vaughn Williams (12-2, 8 KOs), while Jonathan Lopez (17-0, 12 KOs) had to settle for a decision victory over Richard Medina (15-3, 8 KOs).
Undefeated Kazakhstan’s Bek Nurmaganbet (12-0, 10 KOs) needed just two of six to dispatch Joshua Conley (17-7-1, 11 KOs) in the first set.
“I’m one of only five fighters to beat Mike Tyson – he wasn’t even my toughest opponent.”
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