By Ken Hissner: At Vertu Motors Arena, Newcastle, Tyne & Wear, UK, Saturday over DAZN promoter Nisse Sauerland (Wasserman Boxing) presented in the Main Event WBO International Super Welterweight champion ranked No. 2 Josh “Pretty Boy” Kelly easily defeated No. 9 previously unbeaten Gabriel Corzo over 12 lackluster rounds.
In the Main Event, WBO Int’l Super Welter champ Josh “Pretty Boy” Kelly, 14-1-1 (7) #154, of Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, UK, easily defeated WBO No. 9 ranked Gabriel “El Terrible” Corzo, 18-1 (3), #152 ¾, of Catamarca, ARG, over 12 lackluster rounds.
In the first four rounds, Kelly, with hands to his side, kept landing at will against Corzo, covering up with glove held high. In the fifth round, a frustrated Corzo tackled Kelly to the canvas. Kelly continued dominating him. In the sixth round, Corzo landed his best punch, a chopping right on the head of Kelly, who countered with a right hook to the chin. In the eighth round, Kelly landed his best flurry of punches midway in the round.
In the ninth round, Kelly again had his hands to his side against Corzo, who is looking to survive when he took both to the canvas. Kelly continued with a good body attack. In the eleventh and final twelfth round, Kelly started moving around the ring without throwing many punches, for the most part urging Corzo to throw punches to the displeasure of the crowd.
Scores were 117-110 and 120-107 twice and 120-108 KH.
Southpaw 2016 Olympian Qais Ashfaq, 12-2 (5), #129 ¾, of Leeds, Yorkshire, UK, lost a split decision to Liam Dillon, 13-0-1 (3), #129 ¾, of Chingford, London, UK, for vacant British Super Feather title, 12 rounds, Dillon scoring two knockdowns.
In the first round, Ashfaq countered Dillon, who kept coming after him, and in the final seconds, Dillon landed half a dozen unanswered uppercuts to the body and chin. Ashfaq countered well. In the fourth round, Ashfaq came in low, with Dillon pounding his sides to the canvas for an 8-count from Referee Howard Foster.
In the fifth round’s final minute, Ashfaq rocked Dillon with a left, opening a cut under his right eyebrow. In the fifth round, a clash of heads opened a cut on the left eyebrow of Ashfaq.
In the seventh and eighth rounds, Dillon had Ashfaq on the defense and holding at times from a barrage of punches. In the ninth round, a short right uppercut dropped Ashfaq for an 8-count from referee Foster.
In the tenth round, Ashfaq came back well, but Dillon re-opened the cut. In the twelfth and final round, Dillon seemed to outwork Ashfaq.
Scores were 116-112 Ashfaq, 115-112 and 117-110 Dillon and 116-110 Dillon KH.
Fly Chloe Watson, 6-0 (0), #113.9, of Birkenhead, Merseyside, UK, defeated Laura “La Terrible” Belen Valdebenito, 5-5-1 (2), #113, of Mainque, ARG, over 8×2 rounds.
In the first round, Watson stalked Valdebenito with ten seconds remaining and landed a right to the chin driving Valdebenito into the ropes as the bell sounded. From the second through the seventh rounds, Watson continued out-landing Valdebenito with jabs and rights on the chin finishing each round strong and winning every round.
In the eighth and final round, Valdebenito was cut on the left cheek from a punch halfway through the round. They exchanged rights in the final seconds.
Referee Dean Wilson scored 80-72, as did KH.
Heavy “Drago” Steven Robinson, 6-2 (4), #244, of Newcastle, Tyne & Wear, UK, lost to Franklin Ignatius, 6-0-1 (1), #241, of Austria and Dagenham, Essex, UK, after eight dull rounds.
In the second round’s final seconds, Ignatius rocked Robinson with a right on the side of the head, having him holding to the bell. In the fourth round, Ignatius rocked Robinson with a right early, with Robinson doing more holding than hitting.
From the fifth through the seventh rounds, Ignatius outworked Robinson, who was exhausted, holding most of the time. In the eighth and final round, Robinson started landing several punches before Ignatius took over.
Referee Ron Kearney scored 79-74, as did KH.
Super Light Ben Marksby, 7-0 (0), #143.8, of Darlington, UK, defeated Ricardo Fernandez, 12-10 (0), #143, of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, over six solid rounds.
In the first round, Fernandez was the aggressor. In the second round, Marksby landed a left hook to the body in the final seconds, hurting Fernandez. From the third through the fifth rounds, Marksby hands to his side, landing well with the left hook against Fernandez. In the sixth and final round, Marksby had his best round, out-landing Fernandez, who looked exhausted.
Referee Ron Kearney scored 59-55, as did KH.
Feather 19-year-old Codie Smith, 2-0 (0), #126 ½, of Hull, Yorkshire, UK, defeated Francisco Rodriguez, 1-16 (1), 126), of Alfacar, SP, over four rounds.
In the four rounds, Smith outworked Rodriguez for the most part in a competitive fight.
Referee Neil Close scored it 40-36, as did KH.