In the Joshua vs Cornish undercard, fight fans at the O2 Arena, London, witnessed a decent scrap which unfortunately finished in unsatisfying fashion. Not ‘controversial’ fashion per se – just unsatisfactory. Dave Ryan and John Wayne Hibbert touched gloves for the third time before engaging in a surprisingly cagey affair.
Well, up until the 6th round, that is. Ten seconds before the end of the round, Ryan knocked down Hibbert with a crunching body shot. Hibbert beat the count, found himself smothered by Ryan, but managed to reach the bell.
If some of the early rounds were harder to score, the later ones weren’t. Ryan began piling on the pressure following the 6th, and Hibbert did not look comfortable. His eyes became puffy and reddened, and it looked like Ryan was going to either score a late stoppage or take away a Unanimous Decision.
But no, this is boxing. And weird things happen.
In the 10th round, Ryan suffered an injury in his lower back. And unfortunately for him, after telegraphing the affliction, was blasted away by a raging Hibbert. After being pummelled on the ropes, the referee finally stepped in to save a defenceless, and supposedly significantly injured, Ryan from further punishment.
Hibbert now picks up the vacant Junior Welterweight Commonwealth title, extending his record to 16-3, 9 knockouts. Ryan now drops to 17-9, 4 knockouts.
Dillian Whyte took care of business – that being a blown up Cruiserweight – against Brian Minto on the undercard. Whyte knocked down Minto at the tail-end of the 1st round, and for the last time shortly after 3rd round commenced.
A left-hook upstairs left the experienced Minto no choice but to take a knee. The veteran decided to call it a night, and considering he was over two stone lighter and five inches shorter than Whyte, who can really blame him?
Minto actually made this a fight in just the 1st round by piling on some notable pressure and clipping Whyte all over the place. Whyte was never in serious trouble per se, but did look rather vulnerable in places. Against a fully-fledged Heavyweight like Anthony Joshua, he might not be so lucky.
Whyte may have been suffering a shoulder injury, but he really will need to be a lot more focused for Joshua when they lock horns later in December. One punch from the big guy could mean instant lights out.
Whyte now moves up to 16-0, 13 knockouts, while Minto drops to 49-10, 26 knockouts.
Finally, Charlie Edwards put in a boxing clinic against Louis Norman, landing a Unanimous Decision from scores of 100-90, 99-91, 99-91. Edwards, who showcased exceptional distance control, picked off Norman with sharp straights and counters for 10 rounds en route to taking Norman’s English Flyweight title.
Edwards bulks his record to 5-0, 2 knockouts, while Norman falls to 10-1-1, 2 knockouts.
Joshua vs Cornish Undercard: Round by Round
Ryan vs Hibbert Round by Round
Round 1: After a simmering start, Hibbert opens up with a combination, but later gets cracked by a registering right-hook on the ropes. Tough round to score. Hibbert, 10-9
Round 2: Ryan taking chunks out of Hibbert, but Hibbert responds with own attack off the ropes. They get tied up on ropes. Hibbert on the jab. Action is heating up, but both men are cagey – of course, given their first two violent meetings. Hibbert nicks round, 10-9 (20-18)
Round 3: Ryan seems to be landing the heavier shots so far, but Hibbert possessing the greater technique. Ryan lands low blow, but referee says ‘fight on’, Ryan goes after the body, Hibbert responds with his own assault. Hard to split them again here. Ryan, 10-9 (28-29)
Round 4: Both men still cagey, but Hibbert is finding openings, getting off some tasty combinations. Hibbert looks the more comfortable of the two. Jabbing well. Keeping well away from a war is serving him well. Hibbert, 10-9 (39-37)
Round 5: This isn’t the advertised war – but these fellas don’t want a repeat, of course. Short of a fight-changing punch, this one looks to go the distance. Ryan looks too cagey to ruffle too many feathers tonight. Another Hibbert round, 10-9 (49-46)
Round 6: The crowd are becoming a bit restless given the lack of advertised violence. But that’s a given. The boxers are opening up a bit now. And then bam! – Hibbert goes down off a body shot! Hibbert gets on his bike! Saved by the bell! Ryan, 10-8 (56-57)
Round 7: Now this thing is livening up. Ryan looking for the body. The tables could be about to turn. Ryan back to the body again. Hibbert looking a little distressed. Under pressure. But still plugging away with those combinations upstairs. Hibbert’s punches are more flash than bang, it has to be said. Ryan, 10-9 (66-66)
Round 8: Ryan stalking his man here. Hibbert’s eyes looking puffy, red. Hibbert catches Ryan with a hard right-hand. Ryan weathers a storm of straight punches. Hibbert holding his own, but has looked outgunned in this fight. Ryan, 10-9 (76-75)
Round 9: Ryan piling on serious pressure, taking lumps out of Hibbert. Hibbert fires right back. Good round for both men, hard to score. Ryan, 10-9 (86-84)
Round 10: Hibbert looks to be coming forward now, looking to bring the fight to Ryan. Urgency has set in. Ryan gets knocked down, but complains about his back – what happened? Some kind of injury? Hibbert pounces on Ryan after he beats the count. The referee soon steps in.
Result: Hibbert wins via 10th round TKO
Boxing Base Scorecard: 86-84 (going into 10th)
Whyte vs Minto Round by Round
Round 1: Whyte looking for the jab. Minto dwarfed by Whyte – yes, he is a natural Cruiserweight. We’re not going to go on about it… Minto lands a right-hook. Whyte getting his shots off now, but Minto is plugging away. Whyte felt a right upstairs. Whyte under some pressure here. Jeez. This is actually a fight. But down goes Minto on the bell off a right-hand. Whyte, 10-8
Round 2: Whyte on Minto’s case, trying to drill home a right-hand. Whyte is looking quite vulnerable in places, which Anthony Joshua will enjoy seeing. Minto is earning his money. Whyte nails his man with a left-hook. Minto is a tough SOB. Attrition already showing in him, however. Considering what he’s up against, he’s doing exceptionally well. Whyte, 10-9
Round 3: Minto takes a knee following a left-hook upstairs, can’t beat the count. This fight is over.
Result: Whyte wins via 3rd round TKO
Boxing Base Scorecard: 20-17 (going into 3rd)
Edwards vs Norman Round by Round
Round 1: Quite an even, certainly lively opener for both men. Sharp punching, good work. Edwards nicks it, 10-9
Round 2: Edwards is looking very comfortable as the counter-puncher, and is getting the better of the exchanges. Bit of a sharpshooter in there. Norman doing some good work to the body. Edwards, 10-9 (20-18)
Round 3: Norman being outworked slightly, being beaten to the punch. But he’s here to fight and make this thing competitive. Norman is rolling a lot of Edwards’ punches off, but definitely won’t be winning over the judges. Edwards, 10-9 (30-27)
Round 4: Norman is failing to catch Edwards with anything clean. Possibly becoming a little frustrated now. Edwards is the better man defensively and offensively. Oozing confidence and greater natural ability. Edwards, 10-9 (40-36)
Round 5: Norman looks to be pretty hot out the gate, coming on strong. Norman digs a left to the body. Edwards still clipping with accurate shots. High workrate from Edwards, just not enough from Norman. Edwards, 10-9 (50-45)
Round 6: Norman is giving a good showing of himself, but needs to really start bothering Edwards, bring some serious pressure, upset the pace. In all fairness, Edwards is doing a superb job of controlling the distance. Edwards, 10-9 (60-54)
Round 7: Norman is turning on the pressure, but can’t find the target. Edwards is bouncing around the ring, and spearing out his jab and cross. Edwards is playing the ring general at the moment, and all Norman can do is follow him. And land the occasional counter. Edwards is in control, 10-9 (70-63)
Round 8: Norman comes out charging again, but soon simmers back down as Edwards takes control of the action. Edwards is flashy, comfortable, and putting in a real boxing clinic. Edwards, 10-9 (80-72)
Round 9: Edwards is turning on more heat in this round, getting off decent, clean combinations. Norman of course needs to find something special to get rid of this guy. Again, Norman begins eating counters. Edwards, 10-9 (90-81)
Round 10: Another one-sided round, albeit with a bit of showboating from Edwards. It’s a shutout on our card. Edwards, 10-9 (100-90)
Result: Edwards via Unanimous Decision (100-90, 99-91, 99-91)
Boxing Base Scorecard: 100-90, Edwards
Give us your take on the Joshua vs Cornish undercard, folks. Is Whyte ready for the big time against Joshua?
Mark Phillips is the Head Staff Writer/Assistant Editor at BoxingBase.com, and provides worldwide news, coverage and analysis – he can be reached via our Contact Page.
