Martin Bakole and Savannah Marshall score stoppages: Bad Blood boxing early results

Former good GB amateur Lawrence Osueke took his first real step up as a pro after nine wins, meeting Ricky Summers in a British title eliminator at light-heavyweight. Summers has only beaten two opponents with winning records himself but has mixed in good company, pushing both Andre Sterling and Frank Buglioni, in a British title challenge, hard before losing on points. Tall, rangy Osueke dictated from the back foot, pot-shotting the advancing Summers in the first four rounds. Ricky improved from there, closing the range better and landing well to the body, but the clean work was limited in a scrappy 10-round contest. Osueke seemed to be a clear winner, a theory supported by Summers’ corner imploring him to go for the finish in the final session, but the judges turned in a hard-to-fathom split draw.

Unbeaten former World amateur champion Savannah Marshall thoroughly outclassed late-notice journeywoman and blown-up welter Ashleigh Curry of Missouri, at super-middle. The Hartlepool lady, trained by Peter Fury, switched stance often and had things all her own way, landing sharp blows to head and body. It ended in the third round of a 10-twos, when Curry’s corner wisely threw in the towel.

Improving Congolese heavyweight Martin Bakole took a predictably facile victory over ageing and negative American trialhorse Kevin Johnson, in a scheduled eight-rounder. Bakole was patient and landed at will, with little coming back. A punishing and diverse barrage, with Johnson against the ropes, ended matters early in the fifth, Bakole becoming only the third man to get “Kingpin” out of there.