Francesca Hennessy ground out a majority decision over Ellie Bouttell to lift a vacant WBC Silver bantamweight belt while Gradus Kraus flattened Boris Crighton early.
Hennessy, 21, boxed behind an active jab and cleaner combinations, while Bouttell, 29, marched forward from the opening bell, digging the body and forcing exchanges that never quite settled. An accidental clash in the second opened a cut on Hennessy’s forehead. Bouttell was bleeding under her right eye by the third. From there, it stayed physical and messy without tipping into chaos.
How the cards landed
Bouttell’s pressure never stopped, but Hennessy’s shots were easier to see and easier to count. That distinction carried the scoring. The judges read it 95-95, 97-93, and 96-94 for Hennessy. Close enough to argue.
WBC Silver titles exist to create movement, not to crown anything final. They help with positioning and keep a network narrative tidy. They do not override the reality that Hennessy is still early in her development. She moves to 8-0 with one knockout.
Bouttell, now 7-1, lost her unbeaten record. Pressure fighters who can work ten rounds remain valuable, especially in domestic title fights where pace still sways cards.
The co-feature
Earlier, Gradus Kraus did exactly what he needed to do. He broke Boris Crighton down with body work, dropped him in the first, and ended it at 1:59 of the second after another knockdown and a final digging shot downstairs. Kraus goes to 10-0 with nine knockouts. Crighton, stopped in three of his last four, is running out of room.
From a business view, Boxxer got what it wanted. A young headliner with a belt, rounds, and a talking point. A clean stoppage underneath. DAZN gets continuity. The sanctioning body gets another name slotted into its lists.
Hennessy will be steered toward one more step before any real world title discussion. Cherneka Johnson holds the undisputed championship. Hennessy needs sharper control in exchanges and more authority late. Without that, pressure fighters will keep pulling her into fights she cannot fully dictate. The risk is not immediate, but it is visible.

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Last Updated on 02/02/2026