Andrew Cain marches on unbeaten to set up English title fight
Liverpool sensation Andrew Cain (8-0, 7KOs) stopped tough opponent Uriel Lopez (13-16-1, 6KOs) in the sixth and final round on November 6 at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, live on BT Sport.
The 25-year-old bantamweight's bout was set at featherweight due to only being organised a week ago and was broadcast live on BT Sport on the undercard of WBO #1 Zach Parker's fourth-round demolition of challenger Marcus Morrison.
His experienced Mexican opponent is a WBO Oriental super-bantamweight title contender and has previously shared the ring for six rounds with long-reigning WBO World featherweight champion Emmanuel Navarette in June last year. His 150-plus rounds of experience considerably dwarfed Cain's lowly 17, but it made no difference to the aggressive Liverpudlian.
The one-sided beat down was ended in the sixth stanza when the ringside doctor was called upon to inspect a badly swollen right eye of Lopez, which was the result of an accidental elbow earlier on in the contest.
Trainer Paul Stevenson was quick to praise his 122-pound charge, "It was a great performance and easily one of the best fights of the night. Andrew boxed brilliantly behind a booming left jab and caught his opponent with wicked shots to the head and body."
The head coach at Everton Red Triangle gym, which also includes unbeaten prospects Nick Ball and Bradley Strand, continued to say, "The Mexican was very tough but was taking heavy damage in every round, in the end the doctor saved him from too much punishment."
Post-fight, Cain commented, "I got eight days notice so my fitness levels weren't where they could have been but I thought I boxed nice. I wanted to relax this time and show that I can box because my last seven fights or whatever I've just been going for the kill. You're gonna see the real me now."
Cain's natural weight is at bantam, so he was tackling the 30-bouter from Mexico City two classes above his natural weight.
"That was an unfit version of me, so what am I going to be like with a proper training camp behind me? That's how I fight in the gym, I don't go for the kill in the gym because I'm sparring with the lads, so that's me, that's what you're gonna see from now on."
When quizzed on his unusually high aggression and energy, he explained exactly why he puts everything into every shot he throws, "Come and have a look where I'm from and you'll see why."
Zach Parker retains his position as WBO No.1
Zach Parker may move in different worlds to Canelo Alvarez, but if Parker keeps winning, he could well bump into the Mexican in the ring one day, courtesy of his No 1 WBO ranking at super-middleweight.
Parker scored a third quick win in a row as he demolished Marcus Morrison in the fourth round, having dropped the Mancunian three times, all with body shots.
“Too big too strong,” Parker said. “He’s come up to try and take my WBO No 1 spot but no one is taking it off me.
“If Canelo wins tonight, I want Canelo. If he doesn’t want it, Chris Eubank [Jr] I want him, stop being a shithouse, let’s have it.
“Different styles make different fights. I know I can bang hard with both hands, he (Eubank) can’t. He (Morrison) gave him a hard fight, a hard ten rounds. Look at what I did, I did it with ease, demolished him. He’s a good fighter, but I am a better level.
“I want Canelo to win. If Caleb Plant wins there will be a rematch. I want Canelo next, I have been mandatory for two years.”
Parker switched from southpaw to orthodox early on and leapt in with his punches. He was caught by a decent right in return, but Parker got through with a good body shot and a powerful right that had Morrison covering up.
Early in the second round a left to the body hurt Morrison, who was then bowled over by a right. Morrison was up at seven, but soon under pressure again and was then down when a head shot was followed up by a right to the body that dropped Morrison again.
Morrison saw out the round and still carried enough menace that Parker was tentative at the start of the third. Indeed, while he was still well outgunned, Morrison did land a decent right hand.
Parker got the finish in the fourth, though, almost breaking Morrison in half with a right to the body and while Morrison leapt back to his feet when he saw his trainer, Joe Gallagher, threaten to throw in the towel, Parker did not let him escape this time, trapping Morrison on the ropes where he fired away with both hands until referee Bob Williams stopped the fight at 2:51 of the fourth round.
The win extended Parker’s record to 22-0, with 15 KOs.
Heaney vs Janjanin
Nathan Heaney went to 14 fights undefeated with a seventh round stoppage of Sladan Janjanin in front of his loyal Stoke supporters.
A right hand to the body ended matters, with the visitor unable to beat the referee’s count.
Bentley vs Evans
Former British middleweight champion Denzel Bentley returned to winning ways with a third-round stoppage of Sam Evans.
Bentley was on top in the first two rounds, but finished the job quickly after rocking Evans with a right uppercut in the third round.
While Evans tottered around, Bentley caught his clean several times, spinning him round and referee Kevin Parker stepped in to stop the fight just before Evans fell to the floor at 2:41.
Garner vs Gomes
Ryan Garner recorded his best win to date with an eight-round decision over Portugal’s Pedro Manuel Gomes at lightweight. Garner kept the pressure on Gomes throughout and was well worth his 79-74 decision from referee Parker.
James vs Greener
Tall super-lightweight prospect Eithan James moved up to 7-0 at the expense of Stu Greener, James taking every round from referee Christopher Dean in an 80-72 scorecard. Greener had some success in the seventh round, but overall James used his height well to dominate.
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