Chantelle Cameron vs Mary McGee & undercard, as it happens
With scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 99-92, Chantelle Cameron becomes a unified champion and advances to the final of this mini-tournament at 140lbs. That’s good night from me.
Cameron showed her own bravery in the last, withstanding a last-gasp onslaught from McGee to likely win a wide unanimous decision and add the IBF super-lightweight title to her own WBC belt.
The Northampton lady scored with a pair of spiteful rights in the ninth and used deft upper-body and head movement to stay in control.
Another crazy exchange ended round eight, McGee coming off worse but proving her toughness beyond doubt. For the most part, Cameron boxed smartly, darting in and out on quick feet and landing in bunches.
McGee wisely targeted the body in round seven but Cameron soon had her under pressure against the ropes. When Mary once again went left-handed near the end of the session, she had more success.
By the sixth, Cameron is able to land twos and threes, then escape without being countered. McGee’s upper body movement is decent but she’s simply too slow.
Cameron is moving well laterally, slipping and using a textbook left hook to the body. McGee is struggling to cut the ring off and these rounds just whizz by.
Chantelle gets the better of a lengthy exchange against the ropes in the fourth. McGee switches southpaw and lands a couple of decent lefts.
McGee is robust and clearly has a good chin but she is ungainly and Cameron is fleeter of foot and faster of hand.
The standard isn’t great for a world title unification contest – too many slappy shots and knuckles not being turned over. The second ends with Cameron pushing McGee forcefully down towards her own corner.
Mary McGee boxes with her chin in the air. This does not bode well versus the powerful Chantelle Cameron.
10.08pm for two-minute rounds. I’ll take that, all day,
It’s looking pretty good but do flags in the ring indicate national anthems will be forthcoming?
Could it be that beautiful unicorn… a 10pm(ish) main event?
The rather pointless fight was curtailed in the next as three knockdowns, two innocuous ones sandwiching a clean counter left hook, saw Molina finished for the night and hopefully as a visitor to UK shores. The ’Savage’ marches on.
Yeah… looks likely. Molina landed a good, long right as Babic advanced in the opening seconds, only to get decked heavily by the Croatian’s shorter right. He grabbed for most of the remainder of the opener but then landed a few more hard rights near the round’s end.
Fights coming thick and fast now. Touch wood, could be a relatively early night for El Flexo, especially if this one goes short.
Hope we have a more experienced referee for Alen Babic vs Eric Molina, next up.
Round two and it quickly descends into farce. Fisher scores a heavy knockdown with a right hand and, after landing awkwardly, Terrero does not seem to want to go on. The hapless referee (Kieran McAvoy?) dangerously lets him suffer two further knockdowns before waving it off, with the towel now in and the celebrations having already begun.
Fisher looks wide open at times but I guess that’s part of the attraction. He is aggressive, a nice mix of good basics and raw power. Terrero looks solid enough.
Fisher’s fanbase is something else – passionate, loud and been here ages, so presumably well lubricated.
Spanish heavyweight Alvaro Terrero gets what must be the most intimidating reception of his career, as 1,500 Johnny Fisher fans boo the shit out of him. ’The Romford Bull’ then enters to Take Me Home, Country Road, and is clearly the most popular fighter on show tonight.
Richards uncorks a monster right uppercut to have his opponent all at sea. He proceeds to pound him all over the ring, landing at least five shots too many before referee John Lathan stepped in.
Richards goes back to circling in the next, popping out his jab. The stoppage appears there for him if the London man wants it.
Craig finally imposed himself in round four, throwing rapid combinations and hurting the Pole for the first time with a big left hook.
The lack of urgency continued, and Richards took several right hands in the third. As he backs up to avoid punches, ’Spider’ brings his head and chin up, making it an easier target.
The former British champion seems content to take his time, getting some rounds in during his first bout since that creditable challenge to WBA boss Dmitry Bivol.
Marek Matyja looked distinctly average and I’d like to see tall Richards on the front foot a bit more. He is a bit upright but has an excellent jab and can dig.
Craig Richards starts a round up for entering in a Squid Game mask and using the show’s theme music.
The scores are 95-95 even, 97-94 and 96-94 to the winner by majority decision, Jorge Castaneda.
I had the last even, and Khoumari edging by a point a highly absorbing contest, but would have no complaint either way.
The Texan took the next as he forced the fight while Khoumari, his right eye swollen was the one looking to hold.
Castaneda landed a big left hook over the top to wobble Khoumari who sensibly moved for the remainder of the eighth.
Castaneda grew in confidence from walking through so many big blows. He landed a great one-two, left uppercut in the seventh and came forward more against an opponent who appeared to be tiring.
Castaneda exploded into life in round six and so did the fight. He upped his output and Youssef responded, staying in the pocket and landing the more telling shots.
Khoumari with some hard, clean connects in the fifth including one right hand that stiffened Castaneda’s legs. The American, a bit one-dimensional, appears to have been flattered by the Jones win.
The Londoner boxing really nicely now, taking Castaneda’s flurries on the arms and gloves before countering with fast rights and left hooks.
Khoumari landed a peach of a right-hand counter over the jab in the third.
Khoumari evens the score on my card. Castaneda is the more aggressive and explosive but Youssef’s accurate jab has already reddened his nose and he appears the more accurate and versatile.
Castaneda probably edged the opener but both just taking a look, probing. His lead left hook is a danger.
We’re back! Most competitive fight of the night on paper as super-featherweights Yousse Khoumari and Jorge Castaneda, the latter fresh from a quality upset win over Otha Jones III, go at it.
Long wait now until the next fight, at 7pm.
Cantos came back well in the last, planting her feet to keep Scotney off and last the course. The Londoner won of course, 79-73, and helped produce an entertaining contest in her first eight-rounder.
Scotney got back to business in round seven and the Spaniard began to unravel, taking stick against the ropes.
Quite the opposite! Scotney’s workrate dropped, leading the ambition to grow in Cantos, who may have boxed and moved her way to the fifth and sixth rounds.
At the halfway mark, Cantos has been tagged cleanly several times but soaked it all up and has yet to find herself in serious trouble. Interested to see if Scotney pushes on from here.
Cantos is dangerous with single counters but already appears frustrated. Scotney is pushing the pace and her footwork is superior.
Scotney looks razor-sharp, combination punching and targeting the body. Impressive head movement. I have to admit though all her family are sitting behind me so I have to be positive in case they can read what I’m writing.
Scotney is having her first fight under Shane McGuigan and he wants an inside-schedule win from his new charge. I wouldn’t want to disappoint him but over eight-twos you’d fancy the Catford lady to get the job done.
I could never cheer against Ellie Scotney, but with her choice of Tatu for the ring walk music, Eva Cantos is really testing my loyalty.
This was Podlucki’s first trip outside Poland and he may not rush to return here. He had never been stopped before but that shot would have hurt anyone.
Stunning finish towards the end of the opening round. Thompson walked Podlucki onto a short, devastating right hand, that dropped the Pole heavily. The referee quite rightly ruled him out.
Podlucki appeared to surprise Jordan with an aggressive start. But Thompson, all 6ft 7ins of him, regains his composure and begins to dictate behind the long jab.
Thompson has Xav Miller, trainer of Dillian Whyte and Youssef Khoumari, in the corner. Could be a good link-up IF it lasts.
Thompson is undoubtedly talented but needs to settle with a trainer, manager and promoter for a significant period of time. Poland’s Piotr Podlucki may not tell us much we don’t already know.
He takes every round for a 60-54 win. Jordan Thompson up next. The undefeated cruiserweight has had a stop-start career after finding boxing following a promising career as a junior tennis player.
Hedges laboured a little bit towards the end against Ben Thomas, who was dogged and durable. But looks like a clear win for the unbeaten prospect.
Not long arrived at a loud O2, with John Hedges cheering ’The Gentleman’ on as he enters the final round here.
