Charles Martin vs Anthony Joshua
Anthony Joshua made short work of Charles Martin to become the new world champion with a second round knockout.
When Joshua walked to the ring the atmosphere was electric the O2 was rocking it felt like not only was the whole arena behind him but that the whole country was too. When Michael Buffer Said those immortal words it felt like the roof was going to come off!
The 1st round started slow with both men showing respect to the other but by mid way through the round Joshua was starting to land his right hand at will. The 2nd started much the same as the 1st but then Martin hit the canvas off a right hand he got up to beat the count, but Joshua smelled blood and moved in for the kill. At 1 minute 54 seconds of the 2nd round Martin got put down again off a Joshua right hand and this time Martin couldn’t beat the count.
Lee Selby vs Eric Hunter
Lee Selby won a unanimous decision to retain his world title after coming of the floor in he’s second defends.
The first round started slowly with both men trying to find their range. In the second round Selby looked in control but disaster struck when he was sent to the canvas by a heavy head shot that seem to come out of nowhere. In the 3rd Selby’s legs still looked a little rubbery but he still managed to rock Hunter. In the 4th Selby came out swinging again rocking Hunter but you could see Selby was visibly wherry of Hunters right hand. Going into the second half of the fight despite the knock down I had Selby up by 1. In the 7th round both men landed some good shots but Selby seem to be getting the better of it. In the 8th round the referee took a point off of Hunter for a low blow after warning him twice. In the 9th Hunter was again warn for low punches, I think he was doing it because he was getting frustrated because he knew that Selby was beginning to take control of the fight. In the 11th Selby seem to be able to land at will but he didn’t have the power to get the stoppage. Going into the 12th I had Selby up by 2, by the end of the fight I had Selby up by 3.
George Groves vs David Brophy
George Groves looks good with a 4th round stoppage
From the first bell Brophy looked overmatched, Groves was working well behind his jab and rocking Brophy on more than one occasion, I’m not even sure if Brophy landed a scoring shot in the first. In the second Groves seem to pick up where he left off. In the 3rd Brophy had a better round, but then in the 4th the inevitable happen Groves caught him with a big body shot.
That win puts Groves back in the world title mix but you still have to ask can he mix it a world level.
Jamie McDonnell vs Fernando Vargas
Jamie McDonnell looked impressive with a 9th round stoppage of Fernando Vargas to retain his world title for the 4th time.
The early rounds were a very cagey affair from both men just feeling each other out, trying to gain the upper hand. In the 3rd round the punches started to flow more freely from both men but McDonnell seemed to be getting the better of the exchanges. The 5th was much the same with punches flowing freely but it looked to me that Vargas punches were a bit wild and it was struggling to land anything clean. Going into the second half of the fight I had McDonnell up by 2 and it was shaping up to be an enthralling fight. In the 8th McDonnell seem to be able to land at will and Vargas couldn’t get away from him I couldn’t help thinking at if McDonnell had a bit more power he would have got him out of there, but in the 9th that exactly what happened with 2 minutes and 38 seconds gone McDonnell caught Vargas with a body shot that ended the fight.
What next for Jamie McDonnell does he stay at bantamweight and unified the devision or does he move up for some bigger fights. Personally I don’t think he’s got the power to move up so I think staying at bantamweight is his best option.
Matthew Macklin vs Brian Rose
Matthew Macklin won a split decision but it wasn’t an exciting fight
Both fighters walked to the ring very confident. From the first bell Macklin was trying to control the centre of the ring landing regularly on Rose, and Rose looked like he was struggling to find his range. In the 3rd it was more of the same but with both fighters struggling to land anything of note. The 4th was not the most exciting round in the world but Macklin did land a couple of good body shots. Going into the second half of the fight I had Macklin up by 3 but that was purely on work rate, because there was no quality punches in the fight. In the 7th and 8th Macklin looked to push home his advantage but the was still no real quality punches coming from either man and you could feel the crowd getting restless. At the end of the 10th the referee took a point off of Macklin for a blatant low blow. Mid way through the 11th Macklin was warned again by the referee for low punching despite that going into the 12th I still had Macklin up by 2. In the 12th round Rose did try to battle back but it was too little to late.
That win puts Matthew Macklin back in the world title picture, but you have to ask were dose Brian Rose go from here.
Elsewhere on a packed bill Conor Benn made a successful debut with a 1st round stoppage.
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