By Ken Hissner: At Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Hackney Wick, London, UK, Saturday over ESPN+ promoter Frank Warren (Queensberry Promotions) presented in the Main Event 2016 Olympic Silver Medalist and WBO Interim Heavyweight champion Joe ‘Juggernaut’ Joyce was stopped losing his title to 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang in 6 rounds.
In the Main Event, Olympian and WBO Interim champ Joe ‘The Juggernaut’ Joyce, 15-1 (14), #256, of Putney, London, UK, was stopped by Olympian Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang, 25-1-1 (209), #278, of China and Bloomfield, NJ, at 1:34 of the sixth round of a scheduled 12 rounds.
In the first round, Zhang boxed well, taking a close round. In the second round, Zhang drew blood from the nose of Joyce early. Joyce came back well in the final minute. In the third round, Joyce did enough to win the round. In the fourth round, Zhang finished the second half strong with power punches from his left to the chin of Joyce.
In the fifth round, Joyce’s right eye was closing fast though he was out landing with his jab. The ring physician came in between rounds to check the right eye of Joyce. In the sixth round, midway point Zhang landed a 5-punch combination to the head that had Referee Howard Foster brought in the ring physician, who stopped the fight due to eye injury.
Co-Main Event former Olympian, IBF, and WBO World Super Featherweight champion moving up to lightweight impressing was Mikaela Mayer, 18-1 (5), #134 ½, of Colorado Springs, CO, defeated late sub Lucy Wildheart, 10-2 (4), #134 ½ of Sweden, Brentwood, Essex, UK, over 10 rounds for the vacant WBC Interim Lightweight title.
In the first three rounds, Mayer controlled with a snapping jab. In the fifth round, Mayer was cut on her right ear while still winning each round. In the sixth and seventh rounds late sub Wildheart gets in her share of rights to the chin of Mayer but still out-landed.
In the ninth round, Mayer drew blood from the mouth of Wildheart. In the tenth and final round, Mayer drew blood from the nose of Wildheart. It was a very impressive performance by Mayer and a game one for late sub Wildheart. Referee John Latham warned Wildheart several times about butting with her head.
Scores were 98-92, 100-90, and 98-91, with 100-90 from this writer. Mayer is trained by Al Mitchell.
British Middle champ Denzel Bentley, 17-2-1 (14), #159, of Wandsworth, London, UK, Kiernan ‘Chopper” Smith, 18-1 (7), #159, of Greerig, Scotland, UK, 12 rounds.
In the first round, a left hook and right from Bentley to the head and down went Smith without a count from Referee Mark Lyson.
Commonwealth Boxing Council and WBC International Silver Light champion Sam Noakes, 11-0 (11), #134.5, of Maidstone, Kent, UK, stopped Karthik Sathish Kumar, 10-1 (4), #134, of Chennai, IND, at 1:17 of the second round of a scheduled 12 rounds.
In the first round, it was all Noakes, with Kumar hardly throwing a punch when Noakes dropped Kumar with a right on the chin, snapping his head back for an 8-count from Referee John Latham. Noakes got in an extra punch when Kumar was down but got away with it. In the second round, Noakes came right out after Kumar, who used some jabs but had nothing to hold off Noakes, who landed a right on the chin, dropping him as Referee Latham wisely waved it off.
Heavy southpaw prospect Moses Itauma, 3-0 (2), #247, of Chatam, Kent, UK, shut out Kostiantyn “Dangerous” Dovbyshchenko, 9-13-1 (6), #241, of Kharkiv, UKR, over six lopsided rounds.
In the first round, Southpaw, Itauma used a power punch in his jab. His right hook to the body hurt Dovyshchenko. In the second and third rounds, Itauma dealt out plenty of punishment against Dovbyshchenko, who hasn’t been stopped in his 22 fights. Itauma drew blood from his nose.
In the fourth round, Dovyshchenko landed his first solid punch, a right on the chin of Itauma. Again it was all Itauma. In the amateurs, Itauma was 22-0 with ten stoppages.
In the fifth round, Itauma used his boxing skills with hands to his side, picking durable Dovyshchenko apart. Itauma was warned several times for low blows by Referee Lee Every. In the sixth and final round, Itauma backed into the ropes and off showboating and continued his assault on hard chinned Dovyshchenko.
Score 60-54 by Referee Lee Every and this writer.
Ring Announcer Thomas Treiber
