Amir Khan vs Samuel Vargas: Complete round-up of all the undercard fights
Hassan Mwankinyo KO 2 Sam Eggington
Hassan Mwankinyo provided the shock of the night by destroying Sam Eggington.
The opening round was even but in the closing moments, Mwankinyo landed with a shot that staggered the home favourite and continued his attack whilst the ‘Savage’ lay against the ropes. Eggington bizarrely dropped his hands in an act of machismo and invited further punishment.
Eggington’s legs were still shaky in the second and his Tanzanian opponent capitalised by landing at will. He failed to defend himself and opted to throw ineffective, flailing punches in reply, which were easily countered by Mwankinyo. The referee mercifully halted proceedings and this unexpected defeat will leave Eggington to consider the direction he wants to take in his boxing career.
Jason Welborn SD 12 Tommy Langford
In a spectacular show of boxing and bravery, the two West Brom FC engaged in a ferocious battle for the British middleweight title.
In the opening round, a moment of lost concentration allowed Welborn to land a crunching uppercut that sent Langford sprawling to the canvas. He regained his composure in the second round, but once again was sent crashing in the third round following a superb straight right from the defending champion. The end was seemingly inevitable as Welborn hunted his unsteady opponent around the ring and piled on the punishment, but just couldn’t break the body or spirit of his stubborn challenger, as Langford somehow managed to survive a torrid round.
The determination to regain his title spurred Langford on as he went on the attack using his stiff, hurtful jab as both a weapon and base to unleash his combinations that stunned his fellow Birmingham native. As the gruelling contest wore on, Langford was beginning to win rounds and eat up Welborn’s early lead, as the champion breathed heavily and relied on single power shots.
The final stanza was perfectly set up for a grandstand finish as both men went all out to win the decisive round. They traded power punches and emptied every ounce of energy, as the stunned Birmingham crowd looked on in disbelief at the admirable desire and unpuncturable hearts of the two warriors.
In the end, Welborn’s knockdowns proved decisive as he retained his title. However, both men can be incredibly proud of the sensational effort demonstrated in a an epic and unforgettable war.
Lewis Ritson KO 3 Oscar Amador
Lewis Ritson extended his path of destruction by stopping Oscar Amador in a keep busy fight before he challenges for the European title next month.
Amador showed guts by going toe to toe with the Geordie puncher in the first round but quickly regretted it as the ‘Sandman’ showed fine variety in attacking his over-matched opponent.
Having taken a sustained beating, Amador looked in pain whilst sat in his corner at the end of the second round and this signalled the end. Following more punishment in the third round, Amador voluntarily took a knee as the referee counted him out of the contest.
Scott Fitzgerald KO 10 Craig Morris
Scott Fitzgerald was given a gut check by the tough and rugged Craig Morris in a terrific 10 round scrap in which he avoided a potential catastrophe and pulled out a stoppage win when it mattered the most.
Fitzgerald started confidently in the first two round as he attempted to demonstrate the difference in technical class with his opponent. However, Morris gradually began to work his way into the fight and won rounds by roughing up Fitzgerald.
However, in the tenth and final round in a fight that looked even, Fitzgerald exploded with a tremendous left hand to the head and painfully dropped Morris.
The referee immediately waived off the fight allowing for Fitzgerald to look ahead towards an intriguing showdown with fellow amateur standout Anthony Fowler.
Kieron Conway UD Gino Kanters
Kieron Conway improved his record to 9-0 by beating Gino Kanters over four rounds, in what was a tricky assignment for the 22 year old.
Ryan Kelly KO 1 Kelcie Ball
Ryan ‘Ruthless’ Kelly lived up to his nickname as he retained his Midland Area Super-Welterweight title by stopping Kelcie Ball in the first round.
Many thought this could be the fight of the night as the two boxers were familiar with one another having sparred countless rounds together.
Instead they met in the middle of the ring and exchanged heavy punches in which ‘Ruthless’ got the better of. Once he hurt Ball, he followed up his attack mercilessly until the referee interjected and stopped the fight.
Gamal Yafai KO 7 Brayan Mairena
Yafai continued on his comeback trail following his loss to Gavin McDonnell back in March. He looked sharp early on but an injury to his right hand prevented him from ending matters sooner.
Little did it matter as his strong jab and hurtful left hook were effective enough to win every round until the seventh. In that round he scored with a perfectly timed hightlight reel hook to knockout Mairena.
His progress may now be stunted as he looks to recover from his injury.
Shakan Pitters KO 2 Imantas Davidaitis
Birmingham prospect, Pitters powered past Davidaitis. Although he looked awkward when throwing his right hand, his left showed much more refinement as he connected frequently with the jab and concluded the fight with an excellent left hook to stop his opponent.
Qais Ashfaq KO 1 Gary Austin
Ashfaq wasted little time in beating Austin, attacking from the bell and knocking down his foe twice en-route to a easy first round victory.
Osman Aslam KO 3 Jack Summers
Both men had their moments in the first two rounds, but ‘Iron Man’ Aslam turned up the heat on Summers knocking him down and following up with a barrage that gave the referee no option but to step in and stop the fight.