Olympic Silver medalist and IBF International light heavyweight champion Ben ‘Surgeon’ Whittaker (10-0-1 (7) knocked out Benjamin Gavazi (19-2 (13) at 2:15 of the first round of a scheduled 10 rounds, for the vacant WBC Silver 175-lb title on Saturday night at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England.
In the first round, Whittaker had Gavazi with a right near the back of the head as Referee Mark Bates gave him an 8-count. Seconds later, a combination dropped Gavazi on his back, forcing referee Bates to call a halt as Gavazi lay there with a cut on his left eyebrow running down the side of his face. It was a mismatch with Gavazi, a poor opponent for someone with Whittaker’s talent.
In the co-feature in a rematch, WBO European lightweight champion Cameron ‘The One’ Vuong (9-0-1 (4) ended in a 10-round majority draw with Gavin Gwynne (18-4-2 (5).
In the first three rounds, Vuong had an edge. In the fourth, he started complaining about holding, which he was responsible for as much as Gwynne, the rest of the way in a fight, a third one isn’t worth it. Gwynne had the edge in the second half of the battle with Vuong tiring, and a draw seemed fair.
The scores were 95-95, 95-95, and 97-93 for Vuong. Marcus McDonnell was the referee.
Aaron Bowen, 7-1 (5), lost a 10-round split decision to Tom Cowling (15-1 (4) for the vacant BBBofC Midlands Area middleweight title.
In the first four rounds, Bowen had an edge, outworking Cowling. In the fifth round, Bowen dropped Cowling with a right for an 8-count. Cowling managed to get through the round.
From the sixth to the end, Cowling came back well in a close fight, making it close at the end.
Southpaw Ibraheem ‘Spider’ Sulaimaan (10-0 (5) stopped Nico ‘The Alchemist’ Ogbeide (6-2-1) at 1:52 of the sixth round of a scheduled 10 rounds, winning the vacant BBBofC Midlands Area super featherweight title.
In the first round, Sulaimaan switched from southpaw to orthodox and back, taking the round. In the final seconds of the second round, referee Chris Dean warned Sulaimaan for a low blow. In the fourth round, a left on the nose from Sulaimaan drew blood from Ogbeide.
In the fifth round, with a minute remaining, Sulaimaan landed a flurry of punches. In the sixth round, referee Dean took a point from Sulaimaan for another low blow. With a little over a minute remaining, Sulaimaan landed a flurry of punches, having Ogbeide against the ropes, defenseless, with hands high, when referee Dean stepped in and called a halt.
Lightweight Zelfa ‘Brown Flash’ Barrett (34-3 (18) defeated Liam Dillon (15-5-1 (3) by an eight-round points decision.
In the first three rounds, Barrett was the aggressor, taking the rounds. In the fourth and fifth, Dillon came back well.
In the sixth, Barrett countered Dillon well. In the seventh and final round, Barrett countered Dillon, who kept his hands high with little offense.
Referee Ryan Churchill scored it 78-74.
Light welterweight Molly ‘Meatball’ McCann (2-0 (1) defeated Ebonie Cotton (1-1) by a six-round points decision.
In the first two rounds, McCann outworked Cotton. In the third round’s final minute, Cotton was cut on the top of the forehead.
In the fourth, McCann outworked Cotton, whose blood was running down her face from the cut. In the fifth round, McCann switched to southpaw and back, tiring with Cotton finally winning a round. In the sixth and final round, Cotton took another round, but not enough for the win.
Referee Ryan Churchill scored it 58-56.
Super featherweight Alfie Middlemiss (5-0) defeated Engel El Cohete’ Gomez (9-54-3 (4) by a six-round points decision.
In the first three rounds, Middlemiss used his jab to keep Gomez from returning much. In the fifth round, Gomez turned southpaw but still didn’t outwork Middlemiss. In the sixth and final round, Middlemiss followed Gomez around the ring with little action.
Referee Chris Dean scored it 60-54.
The Ring Announcer was David Diamante.