By Ken Hissner: At the Diriyah Arena, Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, Sunday over ESPN+ PPV Khalid Bin Abdulaziz (Skill Challenge Entertainment) presented in the Main Event Jake “The Problem Child” Paul who lost by split decision to Tommy ‘TNT’ Fury.
In the co-main event, WBC World Cruiserweight champion Ilunga Junior Makabu of Johannesburg, South Africa, lost his title being stopped in the twelfth round by former 2-division world champion Badou Jack “The Ripper” of Dubai, UAE.
In the Main Event, cruiserweight Jake “The Problem Child” Paul, 6-1 (4), #183.6, of Durado, PR, lost a split decision to Tommy ‘TNT’ Fury, 9-0 (4), #184.5, of Manchester, Lancashire, UK, over 8 rounds.
In the first four rounds, Paul was throwing power shots. Fury, on the other hand, used an effective jab. In the fifth round, Paul was deducted a point for hitting behind the head. In the sixth round, Fury was deducted a point for holding.
Twenty seconds into the eighth round, Paul dropped Fury with a jab getting an 8-count from referee Hector Afu that was questionable. The clinching continued to the bell.
Scores were 75-74 for Paul and 79-73 twice for Fury.
In the co-main event, WBC Cruiserweight champ Ilunga Junior Makabu, 29-3 (25), #198.5, of Johannesburg, SA, lost his title by being stopped by former 2-division champ Badou Jack “The Ripper,” 28-3-3 (17), #199.8, of Stockholm, SW and Dubai, UAE, at 0:54 of the twelfth round.
In the first three rounds, it was close, with Jack having an edge. In the fourth round, Jack dropped Makabu for an 8-count from Referee Mark Lyson. From the fifth to the tenth round, Jack used his boxing ability to wear down Makabu.
In the eleventh round, Jack landed a right to the head and dropped Makabu for an 8-count from referee Lyson. In the twelfth and final round, Jack rocked Makabu with an overhand right driving him to the ropes, and followed with a flurry of punches forcing referee Lyson to call a halt.
Lightweight Bader Samreen, 8-0 (7), #138, of Amman, Jordan, Viorel “Bombardierul” Simion, 23-9 (9), #138.6, of Lehliu Gara, ROM, at 1:26 of the first round of scheduled eight rounds.
In the first round, Samreen battered Simion with a flurry of punches forcing Referee Daniel Van de Wiele to call a halt.
Cruiserweight Muhsin Cason, 11-0 (8), #199.1, of Las Vegas, NV, stopped Taryel “Belligerent” Jafarov, 18-6 (17), #200.5, of Qazakh, AZER, after two rounds due to an injured finger in a scheduled eight rounds.
In the first round, Cason knocked Jafarov down for an 8-count from Referee Daniel Van de Wiele.
Welterweight Ziyad “Zizo” Almaayout, 2-0 (1), #145½, of Saudi Arabia and L.A., CA, Ronnald Martinez, 3-2-1 (0), #142½, of Quito, ECU, four rounds.
In the first round, Martinez dropped Almaayout for an 8-count from Referee Daniel Van de Wiele. Almaayout would rally in the next three rounds to take a 38-37 decision on all cards.
Super Lightweight Adam Saleh, 1-0-1 (1), #139 ½, of East Meadows, NY, stopped Stuart “Evil Hero” Kellogg, 0-1 (0), #141, of L.A., CA, end of the first round of scheduled four rounds due to the right injured arm. Referee Daniel Van de Wiele.