Caroline Dubois was brutally dismantling Jessica Camara, but came away with a technical draw when an accidental clash of heads eliminated the Canadian challenger.
Dubois retains the WBC world lightweight championship and will likely consider it a victory in all but name.
After rising from Interim to the full world title, it was Dubois’ first defense of the belt. But she looked like a consummate champion from the opening bell.
The southpaw from London attacked her challenger with ruthless efficiency. Dubois landed a hard, hard jab and then a wild one-two dropped Camara early in the fight.
She landed wild left hooks and exploded for further punches as she fired an early finish.
Camara had to keep her guard high and tight. But Dubois still stabbed her left back.
Throughout the second round, Dubois kept Camara under pressure. The challenger was badly marked, her nose was damaged and a nasty cut opened.
Before the third round began, referee Kieran McCann called a break so the doctor could inspect Camara. The Canadian was unable to continue, but with the referee ruling that the injury was caused by an accidental head collision, the race was ruled a technical draw.
Dubois had dominated the contest for as long as it lasted and although she won’t win, she retains the WBC World Championship.
“I don’t think she wanted it. I hit her with a right and knocked her down in the first round,” Dubois said afterward.
“I saw her right eye was swollen shut and that was from a punch. With the cut, the blood wasn’t coming to her face, it was coming to the side of her face. I’m punching her and maybe splashing her face.
“She didn’t want it, man. The doctor was stopping her or I was stopping her.”
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Deevorn Miller had a fascinating Squid Game entrance before being knocked out in the second round of his fight with Scott Forrest!
Londoner Deevorn Miller started his scheduled eight-round bout with Scott Forrest with a bang. He continued to punch diligently, moving forward.
But Scotland’s Forrest believed in his power and with a counter right knocked Miller down for the first time in the first round.
He rocked Miller again with a wide right hook, but the Londoner still fought.
Forrest then applied a devastating finish in the second round. Just as it looked like Forrest was leaning against the ropes, he stopped Miller in his tracks with a left hook and then hit him with a right.
Miller hit the canvas hard. He tried to make amends but fell again and had to be stopped at 1-49 of the second round.
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Sky Sports’ Johnny Nelson was full of praise for Sam Hickey after his first round victory over Lewis Howells comparing him to boxing great Joe Calzaghe.
Sam Hickey was in a race that should have been complicated for just a second pro fight. But the Scot made it look easy.
Joking aside, he took a few moments to study Lewis Howells, an ambitious professional from Wales. He then attacked with electric speed.
The Dundee middleweight dropped Howells with an uppercut right that landed brutally hard on the chin.
The valiant Howells tried to fight back, but Hickey sent him back to the canvas on two more occasions as jabs to the body knocked the wind out of him. Howells fought straight to beat those charges, but had to retire with a second left in the first round.
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Sam Hickey dropped Lewis Howells twice to the body before stopping his opponent in the opening round of their bout
Billy Deniz went eight rounds with Mickey Ellison, winning a 77-76 points decision.
In the fourth round, Deniz dropped his hands but landed some hard punches, a heavy left between the shots that collided with Ellison. He put the crowd roaring at him and jumped on Ellison. But Ellison was brave throughout, firing back to make the bout exciting and going the distance.
Mario Silva pounced on Emmanuel Sion and began to hammer home long shots. With the crowd warming to his efforts as he worked Zion into the ropes, Silva was dominating proceedings.
But the Londoner put up some resistance in the later rounds as he began to sink his hooks into Silva, giving the Mancunian a moment’s pause for thought.
Silva was still the clear winner, taking a 59-56 point decision after six rounds.
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Ellis Price was knocked down twice by Liam Fitzmaurice before recording the stoppage win
Ellis Price of Leeds dominated Liam Fitzmaurice, a local who was making his professional boxing debut. A meaty left to the head started the first blow. Price dropped him a second time before further heavy shots prompted the referee to retire Fitzmaurice in the first round.
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