UK fight fans were treated to a number of marquee name fights on the February 28th weekend – at least on the A-side, anyway. First off in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Carl Frampton took on California’s Chris Avalos. Frampton, the hometown favorite, was all business as per usual, putting in a powerful, technically superb performance, stopping his overwhelmed foe at the 1:33 mark of the 5th.
Frampton retains his IBF Featherweight strap – which he won and defended against Kiko Martinez – and remains formidable as ever among 126-pounders, bulking his record to 20 wins, 14 knockouts, no losses. Avalos returns home with 25 wins, 19 knockouts and 3 losses to his name.
Over in Greenwich, London, Tyson Fury made another statement by stopping Christian Hammer – we only wish he’d make a similar statement against a fellow top-10-ranked contender. Still, Hammer at least provided more drama than the recent Fury vs Chisora II.
Fury, the 6′ 9″ Heavyweight, extended his unblemished record to 24 wins, 18 knockouts, by retiring the previously unbeaten Romanian in the 8th round. He returns home to Manchester with his WBO International Heavyweight crown in tow, while Hammer reduces to 17 wins, 10 knockouts and 4 losses.
On the undercard, Chris Eubank Jr. returned to the ring following his first professional defeat to Middleweight rival Billy Joe Saunders in November last year. Eubank Jr. stopped Russia’s tough and durable Dmitry Chudinov at 2:11 of the 12th round, capturing the Interim WBA World Middleweight title in the process. Chudinov was no Saunders, but was no Omar Siala, either – he fought hard and made Eubank Jr. work.
Eubank Jr. showed improvements in the fight, but may still look a little wild with his power shots in the eyes of his detractors. If there’s one shot that is beginning to define the young son of former Middleweight champ Chris Eubank Sr., it’s the uppercut.
The punch is seldom thrown in such abundance by most fighters – but then again, Eubank Jr. is anything but conventional. And that’s part of his appeal. Eubank Jr. climbs to 19 wins, 14 knockouts, 1 loss, while Chudinov drops to 14 wins, 9 knockouts, 1 loss, 2 draws.
Also in action was Liam Walsh who scored a 5th round stoppage of Joe Murray in their Junior Lightweight clash. Following the win, Walsh jumps to 18 wins, 12 knockouts, no losses, and retains the British and Commonwealth straps. Murray now falls to 15 wins, 6 knockouts, 2 losses.
What did you think of the weekend’s action? And what’s next for the victors?
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