In a fight that had revenge written all over it, Chris Eubank Jr avenged his earlier knockout loss to Liam “Beefy” Smith with a decisive 10th round TKO at the AO Arena in Manchester. Eubank, now under the guidance of trainer Brian “Bomac” McIntyre, took control from the 4th round with a punishing uppercut that floored Smith.
The initial rounds were a clinch-fest, both fighters warily sizing each other up. However, Eubank found his rhythm by the 3rd, systematically breaking down Smith with accurate shots. Although Eubank had Smith on the ropes in the 4th and 5th, the seasoned former World Champion showed his mettle, staving off a premature stoppage.
The bout continued with Eubank commanding the pace, making Smith’s primary focus survival. While Smith hung on till the 10th, Eubank eventually sealed the deal, forcing the ref to call off the fight after another damaging round.
The bout cements both fighters as top contenders in the 160lb division and adds another chapter to an already iconic rivalry that fans may hope to see evolve into a trilogy.
In a post-fight interview, Eubank said, “Liam is a warrior, and I respect him and his team. What happened tonight was supposed to happen in January. Now we’re onto bigger and better fights.”
Smith acknowledged his defeat, stating, “I was flat, and Chris was sharp. He was the better man tonight.”
Adam Azim Def. Aram Fanyan – UD (98-92, 100-90, 99-91)
With a performance that cements him as the young gun to watch in the boxing ring, Adam Azim, at the tender age of 21, clocked his 9th professional victory outpointing the seasoned Aram Fanyan via overwhelming unanimous decision.
From the opening bell, both fighters dove into a fiercely contested brawl. While the initial five rounds could have gone either way, Azim squeaked ahead. Fanyan came out swinging, unafraid to unleash powerful combinations against the heavy-handed Azim. Relying on agile footwork and bobbing and weaving, Fanyan adeptly dodged the explosive rights that had previously led Azim to devastating knockouts.
Even under Fanyan’s unyielding assault, the latter half of the fight displayed Azim’s mastery of the ring. His sturdy opponent from Ukraine battled valiantly but ultimately couldn’t cope with Azim’s overpowering force— that’s previously knocked six foes flat on their backs.
Still wet behind the ears at 21, Adam Azim’s ceiling appears boundless, and his prospects for grabbing championship belts in the years to come look immensely promising.
Following the bout, Azim shared his perspective with Sky Sports: “I went toe-to-toe with a fella who has a quarter-century of bouts on his resume. At my age, that’s something special. Tonight, I demonstrated that I have the stamina to go full tilt, land punishing blows, and adapt to challenges. It’s a full-circle victory for me.”
Frazer Clarke Def. Dave Allen – RTD Rd 6 – (3:00)
Tokyo 2020 medal winner and fast-rising Heavyweight contender Frazer Clarke clinched his 6th KO in his undefeated eight-bout professional run, going toe-to-toe with a seasoned Dave Allen. The bout was a rugged heavyweight clash where both fighters packed a serious punch, exchanging haymakers for a grueling 18 minutes.
Utilizing his piston-like jab and enjoying a natural advantage in size and reach, Clarke largely controlled the exchanges. Yet Allen wasn’t easily tamed, doggedly staying in the fight with plans to drag it into the later rounds where Clarke could potentially gas out.
While Clarke found success in targeting the body, he did land some low blows that led the referee to dock two points from him in the round that turned out to be the finale.
Allen ultimately threw in the towel, unable to continue due to the significant damage he sustained, especially to his jaw. This win allows Big Fraze to further ascend in the heavyweight ranks, maintaining his unstoppable momentum.
Post-fight, Frazer Clarke told Sky Sports, “It wasn’t a classic, but if you’re looking to learn, Dave Allen is the man to learn from. My footwork was a bit sluggish, but I had some bright spots too. He’s a durable guy, just like I expected.
“I mixed it up, and it didn’t backfire. Look, this is a rough sport and I aim to fight clean. If I hit low or on the belt, I apologize to Dave right now. It was never my intention.”
Jack Cullen Def. Mark Heffron – TKO Rd 3 (2:43)
Jack Cullen delivered the performance of his career, securing both the British and Commonwealth Super Middleweight Titles in a bout where he was widely considered the underdog against seasoned fighter Mark Heffron.
The initial rounds were marked by caution; Heffron was eager to advance, but Cullen effectively leveraged his height to keep him at bay. While Heffron did manage to find gaps to score body shots in the second and third rounds, Cullen wasn’t without his own moments, notably a heavy right hand that wobbled Heffron towards the end of the second.
As the third round was drawing to a close, Cullen unleashed a blistering left hook that floored Heffron. Although Heffron was quick to regain his footing, the referee had no option but to call off the fight, crowning Cullen as the new champion.
Speaking to Sky Sports post-fight, Jack Cullen exclaimed, “It’s a dream come true. I grew up watching boxing with my dad, and he’s the reason I step into that ring. Now, we didn’t just watch it; we’ve conquered it. Mark and I have history; we trained at the same gym, and he held the title I’ve always wanted. My previous losses brought me here, they made this fight possible. Boxing is my life, and I poured my all into this bout.”