Heartbreak for Kell Brook as his corner stopped him in the 5th.
The atmosphere was buzzing as both men walked to the ring, Brook looked confident and up for it but if anything Golovkin looked tight. Brook started fast in the 1st landing at will. In the middle of the round Brook wobble Golovkin more than once. In the 2nd Golovkin came out on the front foot,but Brook did a good job of backing him up to get his own shots off. Midd way through the round it was an all out toe to toe war, and the arena exploded when ever Brook landed. The 3rd was much the same,but you could feel Golovkin getting back into it. The 4th was still all out war there was no way they could keep this tempo up for the whole fight. The longer the fight went I could see Golovkin getting back in to it. The 5th was a Golovkin round and then midd way through the round Brooks corner through the towel in, for what turned out to be an eye injury. Unfortunately for Brook he was up on all 3 cards up to the stoppage.
Lee Haskins v Stuart Hall
Lee Haskins digs deep to retain his title.
Walking to the ring both men seemed the be enjoying having the crowd behind them, Haskins seemed the more relaxed of the two shaking hands with fans on his way to the ring. The 1st started full on with both men trying to land you could see both were up for it, and at times they were smothering their work. The 2nd round was better with better movement from both men but Haskins looked to be edging it. The 3th was the same with Haskins growing in confidence, and Hall trying to land and Haskins catching him on the counter. In the 4th Hall was trying to get on the front foot and land his shots but Haskins was not going to let him settle. In the 5th Hall started the same and he seem to be having more success. Then midway through the round it turned into a wrestling match.
Going into the second half of the fight it was close but Haskins was just edging it. The 6th was a very scrappy round with not much happening. The 7th well it was boring it looked like nether man wanted to get hit or throw a shot. In the 8th Hall wobbled Haskins but he couldn’t take advantage. The 9th did have more action in it but not many clean shots. At the start of the 10th Hall came out swinging but couldn’t land clean, and the round continued in that fashioned. Towards the end of the round both men did have some success. At the start of the 11th Hall rocked Haskins big time and he looked ready to go but Hall couldn’t sustain the attack.
Going into the 12th I had Hall up by 2 but it was tight. In the 12th both men went for it I think they knew it was close, but neither of them could land anything of note. So it goes to the judges and I wouldn’t want to be a judge on this one! Haskins wins by unanimous decision. The decision was greeted by boos from the crowd but I think that’s because of how wide the judges had it not because Haskins won. There’s no way he won that fight by 5 rounds.
Smith eases to victory with a 7th round stoppage.
Walking to the ring both men looked confident and Smith seem to be enjoying having the crowd behind him. In the 1st round Nemsapati came out swinging landing some good shots, but then Smith turned him and started to land some good shots to the head and body. Again in the 2nd Nemsapati came out looking like he meant business,but he couldn’t hurt Smith. However Smith was still landing the more powerful shots and it looked like it was just a matter of time.the 3rd was the same I’m not sure what was keeping Nemsapati up. In the 4th it was all Smith I don’t think Nemsapati landed a shot. The 5th was much the same although Nemsapati did try and have success.
Going into the second half of the fight I had Smith winning everything the 6th was much the same, with Nemsapati trying to land and Smith turning him round, at the end of the 7th Nemsapati hit the canvas and he didn’t come out for the 8th.
John Riel Casimero v Charlie Edwards
Casimero beats a game Edwards in the 10th but Edwards will come again.
Edwards walked to the ring like he was out for a Sunday stroll, Casimero walked to the ring looking very focused. The 1st was very cagey both men just feeling each other out and finding their range. The 2nd round was much the same, Edwards did seem to end the round slightly on top. The 3rd started much the same as the others, but Edwards was working the harder trying to land shots. The 4th was the same I couldn’t help thinking if Edwards could time the counter over the top he would have this guy on the canvas, because Casimero has been open to the counter all night. The 5th was much the same.
Going into the second half of the fight I had Edwards up but only on his work rate because neither man were landing. In the 6th Casimero manage to put Edwards on the back foot but he still wasn’t landing. At the start of the 7th Casimero did land some good shots but then it was business as usual, by the end of the round the fight was starting to get scrappy at times in the 8th it was more like a wrestling match than a boxing match with Casimero still open to a good counter. The 9th was the same as all the other rounds. In the 10th Casimero caught Edwards with a good shot to the head that he never saw coming and the referee wave it off.
Ward dominates to win the British title with an 8th round stoppage.
Walking to the ring Townend looked very nervous. Ward looked confident and ready to go. In the 1st Ward started on the front foot and he seem to be able to land at will. However by midway through the round Townend seem to be finding his range but ward was still having the better of it. The 2nd started the same but it seemed to be a closer round. In the 3rd Ward shuck Townend more than once and he seemed to be able to do what he wanted. Every time Townend tried to attack Ward just tide him up. The 4th was a better round for Townend because he was landing and making Ward miss but he didn’t seem to have the power to hurt Ward. In the 5th Ward just looked too slick for Townsend.
Gavin McDonnell won a wide points decision.
Conor Benn continued his good start to his professional career with a 2nd round knockout,taking his record to 4-0.
Paul Smith continued to rebuild with a 5th round knockout of an overmatched opponent, but I still don’t understand why Smith is continuing to fight.