In Monte Carlo, Shabaz Masoud won the vacant European super bantamweight title with a points victory over Peter McGrail.
Masoud (15-0, KO4) won the IBO title in his last competition, as well as Liam Davies’ unbeaten record after an impressive split decision victory last November, while Liverpool’s McGrail (12-2, KO6) was last seen in June and won a majority decision over granite Ionut Baluta in Birmingham.
McGrail used his boxing skills in the opening round and his hand speed was evident early on as he started the fight well. Masoud began to settle into his task, finding his rhythm and closing the gap as the rounds wore on, while also landing some eye-catching shots to catch McGrail en route to round five.
McGrail also had success – his left hand briefly rocked Masoud in the seventh set, but the fight was fierce and Masoud finished the round strongly. Masoud worked well on the body in the ninth round, and at a significant point in the fight McGrail lost a point for a punch to the back of the head. The two continued to fight back and forth, with Masoud slowing down a bit in the final rounds, which McGrail finished strongly.
Once the fight was decided, all possibilities seemed open and the scores of 116-111, 115-112 and 114-113 ensured that Masoud went home with the gold.
There was no shortage of concerns about the undercard and the IBF lightweight champion Beatriz Ferreira (8-1, KO2) found herself on the wrong side of a huge upset in her fourth title defense when she was sensationally stopped Elif Nur Turhan (12-0, KO8) in five rounds. After falling in the first round, the Brazilian was trapped under a torrent of pristine shots in the fifth round and had to find shelter on the canvas. The referee took a long look at Ferreira and decided she could not continue, crowning Turhan the up-to-date champion.
The ringside shot of Elif Nur Turhan stopping over Beatriz Ferreira shows how ruthless the stoppage was
Former Olympian Pat McCormack (8-1, KO6) ace. he tasted defeat for the first time as a professional Conah Walker (17-3-1, KO8) won the vacant IBF Intercontinental welterweight title with a stunning last-round knockout victory.
The fight was fierce going into the final session and Walker got the better of McCormack, unloading until McCormack fell to the ring apron. McCormack was at sea and unable to continue the fight, so the fight was canceled.
Johnny Fisher (14-1, KO12) he fought his first fight since losing to Dave Allen in May and picked up a fourth-round victory against the undefeated Ivan Balaz (7-1, KO5) in a scheduled ten-round heavyweight bout.
In super airy, Hugo Micallef (11-1, KO3) he was defeated for the first time as IBF European champion (Sean McComb (21-2, KO6) he dropped the host three times en route to an eighth-inning stoppage victory.
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Jaron Ennis is the bookmakers’ main favorite to defeat Xander Zayas in their highly anticipated world title clash on Saturday in Brooklyn.
Ennis challenges Zayas for the WBO and WBA super welterweight belts at the Barclays Center live on DAZN pay-per-view.
The undefeated resident of Philadelphia enters the game as the favorite on February 11 Bet365 give the 23-year-old his first professional defeat and become world champion in two weight categories.
“Boots” has stopped 31 of his 35 opponents, including Uisma Lima in his 154-pound debut in October, and is expected to stop the Puerto Rican on 20/21.
The 28-year-old last covered this distance in 2024, and a decision victory is valued at 13/2.
Zayas and Ennis face to face before the clash. Photo: Matchroom Boxing
Even though Zayas has taken over as unified champion, he is an underdog Bet365 at 15/04.
Man from San Juan defeated Abass Baraou by split decision will add the WBA belt to his WBO crown in January and his best chance of victory is rated at 13/2 by decision, while success in the shock break is rated at 14/1.
Jaron Ennis knocked out Uisma Lima in the first round in Philadelphia. Photo: Emma Brawley/Matchroom Boxing
Full Bet365 odds
The result of the fight
Xander Zayas will win the fight: 15/4
Xander Zayas by KO/TKO/DQ: 14/1
Xander Zayas by decision or technical decision: 13/2
Jaron Ennis will win the fight: 11/02
Jaron Ennis by KO/TKO/DQ: 20/21
Jaron Ennis by decision or technical: 8/5
Draw or technical draw: 14/1
Round bets
Xander Zayas
Win in round 1: 100/1
Win in round 2: 100/1
Win in round 3: 100/1
Win in round 4: 100/1
Win in round 5: 100/1
To win in round 6: 100/1
To win in round 7: 80/1
To win in round 8: 80/1
To win round 9: 66/1
To win in round 10: 66/1
To win round 11: 66/1
To win in round 12: 80/1
To win by decision or technical decision: 6/1
Zayas won by points decision over Abass Baraou. Source: Mikey Williams / top position
Jaron Ennis
To win round 1: 80/1
Win in round 2: 50/1
Win in round 3: 40/1
To win in round 4: 28/1
To win in round 5: 20/1
To win in round 6: 16/1
Win in round 7: 12/12
To win in round 8: 1/11
To win in round 9: 10/1
To win in round 10: 10/1
To win in round 11: 10/1
To win in round 12: 1/11
Win by Decision or Technical Decision: 7/4
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On Wednesday, Lewis Crocker heads to Australia to defend his IBF welterweight world title against Liam Paro for the first time.
Crocker will face Paro at the Pat Rafter Arena in Queensland, live on DAZN in the UK and Kayo Sports in Australia.
Crocker (22-0, 11 KO) became world champion in September, defeating Paddy Donovan twice before winning the rematch by split decision.
Man from Belfast recorded his second victory over Donovan after the first victory in March last year, and his rival was disqualified for hitting him after the bell.
Paro (27-1, 16 KO) is trying to become a world champion in two weight categories, having previously reigned in the super-lightweight division.
In September, Donovan was beaten a second time by Crocker. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
The 30-year-old won the title with a unanimous decision victory over Subriel Matias in Puerto Rico before winning the belt in his first defense against Richardson Hitchins.
The Australian has since won twice, overtaking David Papot in his last appearance in September.
Paro looks like a two-time IBF champion. Photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom
McKean meets Taliva
Heavyweight Demsey McKean will look to continue his rebuild when he faces Liam Talivaa for the vacant IBF Pan Pacific title.
McKean (24-2, 16 KO) had his career cut miniature after a last-round loss to Filip Hrgovic, followed by a brutal first-round loss to Moses Itauma.
The 35-year-old southpaw returned to winning ways with back-to-back stoppage victories.
Talivaa (8-2, 4 KO) last won the IBF Oceania-Orient title, defeating Faiga Opelu by first-round stoppage.
Undercard remaining
At cruiserweight, Luke Modini (13-0, 11 KO) will likely need distance to beat Peng Qu (17-2-1, 12 KO), while Riley Candy (8-1, 5 KO) could stop Nathan Watson (11-3, 3 KO) at super middleweight.
Vegas Larfield (13-1, 9 KO) can hand Shamal Ram Anuj (11-8, 8 KO) his fourth defeat in a row in a featherweight clash.
Heavyweight Nelson Asofa-Solomon (2-0, 2 KO) can secure a third straight knockout over debutant George Burgess, and Stevan Ivic (8-0-1, 2 KO) can do the same against Caleb Tialu (3-7, 3 KO), also a heavyweight.
Prospective super welterweight fighter Jack Javed (1-0) should overtake Lance McDonald (1-5-1, 1 KO).
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