British middleweight champion Denzel Bentley lost a majority decision to WBA Continental middleweight champion Nathan ‘Hitman’ Heaney in the main event on Saturday night at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, UK.
In the co-main event, WBC Silver featherweight champion Nick Ball defeated former WBO World Super Bantamweight champion Isaac ‘Royal Storm’ Dogboe by decision.
In the main event, British Middleweight champ Denzel ‘2 Sharp’ Bentley, 18-3-1 (15), lost by majority decision to WBA Continental champ Nathan ‘Hitman’ Heaney, 18-0 (6) over 12 rounds.
In the first two rounds, it was even. In the third round’s final seconds, Bentley shoved Heaney almost through the ropes. In the fourth round, Referee Kevin Parker warned Bentley for hitting behind the head. He chased Heaney for most of the round.
In the fifth round’s final minute, Heaney stood his ground and got the better of Bentley. In the sixth round, Heaney finished the round with a flurry and evaded the return from Bentley at the bell.
In the eighth round’s final minute, Heaney went on the offense, getting the better of the mix. In the ninth round, though with a bit of blood coming from his nose and lip, Heaney turned the round around, having Bentley backing up.
In the eleventh round’s final seconds, Heaney landed a solid right to the chin, getting Heaney’s attention. In the twelfth and final round, Heaney’s fans were cheering as he got in a 3-punch combination to the chin of Bentley.
The scores were 114-114, 116-113, 117-111 and 115- 113 KH.
In the co-main event, WBC Silver featherweight champ Nick Ball, 19-0 (11), defeated former WBO World Super Bantam champ Isaac ‘Royal Storm’ Dogboe, 24-4 (15) 12 rounds in an eliminator for the WBC World title.
At the end of the second round, Dogboe rocked Ball with a combination. In the final minute, Ball got hit on the chin after missing a left and was halfway through the ropes, but Referee Victor Loughlin should have given a count as the timekeeper started counting but didn’t.
In the fourth round, Ball was finally warned for rough tactics by referee Loughlin. In the fifth ball, Ball continues pushing Dogboe without warning after Dogboe outworked him.
In the sixth round, Dogboe drew blood from the nose of Ball. At the end of the ninth round, Dogboe hurt Ball with a left hook on the chin.
In the eleventh round, Ball did well until the final seconds when Dogboe landed a left to the chin of Ball. In the twelfth and final round, with the fight on the line, both had their moments still throwing punches at the bell.
The scores were 118-109, 116-111, and 119-108 with 114-113 KH.
EBU European Super Bantam champ Liam ‘Dangerous’ Davies, 15-0 (7), stopped EBU European Union champ Vincenzo ‘Winchester’ La Femina, 13-1 (7) at 2:15 of the fifth round of a scheduled 12 rounds.
In the third round, La Femina, with hands to the side, had little defense and got dropped with a right from Davies on the chin for an 8-count from Referee Fabian Guggenheim. In the final minute, it was La Femina dropping Davies with a left on the chin for an 8-count.
In the fourth round, Davies countered with a left hook on the chin, dropping La Femina just before the bell. In the fifth round, Davies overwhelmed La Femina with a flurry of punches, starting with a right on the chin. He was on the ropes defenseless when referee Guggenheim wisely stepped in, calling a halt.
British, Commonwealth, and IBF European Welter champ Ekow ’The Engine’ Essuman, 19-1 (7) upset losing to ‘Horrible’ Harry Scarff, 13-2 (3) over 12 rounds.
In the first three rounds, it was close, with Scarff switching back and forth from southpaw and Essuman having an edge. In the fifth and sixth rounds, referee Howard Foster warned both fighters of rough tactics.
In the eighth through the tenth rounds, Scarff was outworking Essuman for the most part. In the eleventh round, Scarff looks ahead. In the twelfth and final round Scarff outworks Essuman.
The scores were 117-112, 116-113, 115-113 and 116-112 KH
British and Commonwealth Boxing Council Featherweight champ Nathaniel ‘The Nightmare’ Collins, 14-0, won a majority decision over Zack Miller, 13-1 (3), over 12 rounds.
The referee was Kieran McCann. The scores were 115-113 twice and 114-114.
Former WBA and IBO World champ Hannah ‘The Classical Warrior’ Rankin, 13-7 (3) lost a split decision to southpaw Ema ‘The Princess’ Kozin, 24-1-1 (12) 10×2 rounds for the vacant WBC and WBO World Super Middle World title.
In the first three rounds, there was little to pick between them. Southpaw Kozin has been the aggressor. In the fifth and sixth, Rankin took over in a close fight.
In the eighth round, both continued mostly going to the body, with Rankin having an edge. In the ninth round, Rankin outworked Kozin, who used an effective jab. In the tenth and final round, Rankin, in a good round outlanded Kozin to the bell.
Scores were 96-94 Rankin, 98-92 and 96-94 Kozin, 96-94 Rankin KH. The referee was Mark Lyson.
English Heavy champ Solomon ‘The Real Deal’ Dacres, 8-0 (2) won a majority decision over late sub Michael ‘Webba’ Webster, 9-1 (6) over 10 rounds.
In the first three rounds, Webster outworked Dacres for the most part. In the fourth, Webster landed a left to the chin, spinning Dacres around. From the fourth through the seventh, Webster kept coming forward outworking Dacres.
In the ninth round, Webster, having never gone beyond six rounds, did well getting the better of it. In the tenth round, Dacres lost a point from referee Kieran McCann.
The scores 95-95, 96-93, 96-94 Dacres, 96-94 Webster KH.
