Frazer Clarke vs Mariusz Wach round by round reports
Frazer ‘Big Fraze’ Clarke vs Mariusz ‘The Viking’ Wach headlines BOXXER's Friday fight night event at York Hall tonight!
Heavyweight hopeful Frazer Clarke (6-0, 5KO) takes a step up in levels against world title contender Mariusz Wach (37-9, 20KO) in the headlining fight of BOXXER's Bethnal Green card on Friday, June 16.
Hassan Azim vs Ruben Angulo
6×3 Welterweight contest
Adam's Azim's brother, Hassan, demolished Colombian Ruben Angulo in one round.
Angulo clumsily fell forward into a jab from Azim, stumbled away but was caught up and downed with a right hook to the side of the head.
Bit of a mismatch, the 22-year-old Hassan Azim moved up to 7-0 with four KOs but learnt nothing from that.
Sam Gilley vs Ellis Corrie
6×3 Super-welterweight contest
Sam Gilley topped off a stunning performance with a perfectly timed left hook to the body of Ellis Corrie that forced Corrie to collapse to the canvas and writhe in pain with the referee not even attempting to count to 10 due to the brutality of the knockdown.
Gilley is a former English Champion and showed he deserves to fight at an even higher level than that tonight with a confident, classy performance across all 6 rounds against an opponent that had only lost once before and never been stopped in Ellis Corrie.
Joshua Gustave vs Remi Scholer
6×3 Middleweight contest
Ilford's Joshua Gustave moved up to 7-0 with a 60-53 points win, scored by referee Sean McAvoy, against 35-year-old French journeyman, Remi Scholer.
The talented middleweight prospect from Essex came within seconds of a stoppage in the final round, flooring Scholer with a brutal left hook into the solarplexus that left the Frenchman collapsed on the canvas. Scholer showed admirable durability to rise back to his feet and survive the round by the skin of his teeth. Gustave still took a tremendous victory in his Sky Sports debut to move up to 5-0.
Roman Fury vs Erik Nazaryan
4×3 Cruiserweight contest
Fury managed the range of the fight perfectly and didn’t let a shot land on him at any point during the four rounds of domination. He’s got a long way to go in his career but undeniably showed his talent in tonight’s bout.
Sky Sports Action 7pm
Isaac Chamberlain vs Dylan Bregeon
6×3 Cruiserweight contest
European title contender Dylan Bregeon lands a nice one-two to start, grazing the top of his head. After a few more clean shots taken, IC roared into life in the second part of the opener, not happy with his slow start. The Frenchman lands a jab, then a lovely, swift straight right which Chamberlain managed to ride, but it was eyecatching. First round to the Frenchman.
The former French cruiserweight champion was first to the jab and busier, but the Brixton boxer stepped in closer to land some strong hooks in close. They tangle up a bit in this round. Chamberlain waited until the last 20 seconds of the second stanza to land the best punch of the fight so far, a crunching backhand uppercut bang on the chin. He slipped outside the jab and landed the bomb from below beautifully on the button.
IC looking to land big shots in the third, the Londoner has found his range and rhythm now, but there's still shots coming back from rhythm Bregeon. Another big shot on the bell, a left hook from IC lands.
The cruisers fight in close range in the fourth, Chamberlain visibally and audibly more powerful, but some nice work on the inside from Bregeon, but there's no real force or threat behind his short shots. The 29-year-old from Nantes only has three KOs on his 17-bout record and hasn't stopped anyone for close to five years.
Bregeon keeping it long behind his jab in the fifth, Chamberlain feinting, trying to draw him out for a big counter-punch. Not a lot happened in this round.
IC threw a jab, Bregeon replied with his own, then Chamberlain sent a flashing right hand but just narrowly missed – would have done some damage if it landed. Chamberlain gets a double left hook to body and head in. A left hook lands well on the face of Chamberlain from the Frenchman. They tangle up again in the last minute. Chamberlain looking to land counters so he's waiting too long to throw at times, giving Bregeon opportunities to land a few. Two left hooks land by Bregeon in the closing seconds, no weight behind then though.
The pair swap left hooks, then Chamberlain gets a neat uppercut in when in close. A big right hand lands and Chamberlain is spurred on, sensing Bregeon is hurt by it. Bregeon bleeding from his left ear, so referee Sean McAvoy gets the ringside doctor to take a look. The last minute gets messy again – a recurring theme – but Bregeon looked a bit worse for wear in that round, signs he is fading, perhaps.
The 29-year-old Brixton boxer upped the pace for the final round, stalking his opponent, making him work. Bregeon was on his bike for a lot of that last round. Chamberlain started the fight a little slow, timing and range slightly off, but Bregeon is a good operator so it was never going to be a walkover, he was never going to blast him away, so it's a good eight rounds in the bank, with a lot to work on, and it's vital he stays active and gets back out again soon. That was IC's first fight in almost a year.
Scores from ref Sean McAvoy were 78-74.
Only ever beaten by world champions, now 15-2 Chamberlain said post-fight that he had overpeaked in training due to cancelled fights, then called for the British title fight with reigning champion Mikael Lawal next.
Aaron McKenna vs Uisma Lima
10×3 WBC International middleweight title
Nice, busy start to the championship contest, both middleweights unbeaten in 26 bouts between them. Lima is lively, lands a nice jab, but McKenna fires straight back with an eyecatching uppercut. The Angolan is able to draw the fight into close quarters to suit his smaller stature.
McKenna waiting slightly too long to throw, Lima sneaking little shots in, but they both land sharp, accurate shots, very even contest by the end of the second.
The short southpaw stance has so far been able to take McKenna's long-reaching jab away. When he is able to shoot from range, he looks good, the Irishman lands a good short, chopping right hook in close in the last second of the third.
McKenna using his feet well in the fourth to try to keep the gap between them, but Lima is a good mver and and he is able to land often, but then he gets a small eye injury towards the end of the round. There's blood coming from a cut on Lima's upper left eyelid, the corner goes to work on it.
They tee off in the fifth, McKenna using his long levers to their advantage. Lima looks a little more hesitant at times, mindful of his eue injury. McKenna starting to take over the fight at this midway point.
The sixth round really catches fire! McKenna lands with three-punch combos, snapping back the visitor's head. The "Silencer" looks confident and in full flow now. McKenna's right eye looks marked up now.
Lima lands a nice right hook in close, but then he steps back and the Irishman scores a heavy one-two. McKenna's swift jab keeps landing, he's looking to land that successful uppercut some more, but Lima still lands his right hands. Lima leans into McKenna and tries to keep the action at close quarters. Lima looks a little ragged by now.
Lima comes racing out the traps in the eighth, forcing McKenna back. McKenna steps back and lands two three-punch combos, all straight shots down the pipe. They're head to head, but McKenna looks better when he steps off. Big shots go in from both guys on the minute mark. McKenna looks fresher and its his shots that catch the eye more. Good round, very eventful.
Good left hook in close from Lima as neither man gives an inch. Then a good left uppercut from Lima. McKenna still looks fresher, just quicker reflexes and sharper shots. McKenna gets the better of Lima on the inside in the last minute. Big chopping right hook from McKenna rocks Lima back on his heels to finish the penultimate round.
Lima still coming forward in the 10th, despite exhaustion and lacerations. McKenna lands four successive shots on Lima as they go into the last minute of the fight. The pair end the fight swinging, both boxers can be proud of that entertaining performance, but McKenna is the clear winner.
The cards didn't really tell the story as McKenna takes it via UD – 100-91, 98-92, 98-93. The 23-year-old from Ireland claims the vacant WBC International middleweight title with his 17th win.#
McKenna instantly praised Lima, calling him a "tough opponent" and admitted "I thought I had him gone a few times, but he just kept coming back." Then the Irishman called out a Welshman – McKenna wants Liam Williams next!
Viddal Riley vs Anees Taj
8×3 Cruiserweight contest
Clever boxing from Riley, constantly moving to his right, it's a dominant first round, looking so confident by the end, looking to land combinations. A big one-two really snapped Taj's head back. Clear round for the Londoner.
Riley walks onto a left hand in the second, then looks to land to the body. A three-punch combo lands from Riley with Taj on the ropes – right hook to body, head, then a left hook. Taj's right eye looking marked up already. Riley doubling up his jabs, tripling up his combos. In the last 10, a single straight right from Viddal lands heavily, his jab landed plenty of times in the second. Taj is taking a lot of punishment.
Less activity in the third as Riley controls the contest comfortably.
Watford's Taj lands a big overhand right in fourth and he's spurred on by the success, lands another nice left hook. Riley forced to back up, even nods his in respect. A low blow lands and Taj is given time out to recover. Unfortunate for him, its stopped his momentum and Riley comes forward aggressively to land a big right hook, followed by a left hook that did the damage to knock Taj down. Another barrage of hooks from Riley and the towel is thrown in from the corner. Big hooks went in to Taj's body and he visibly winced with each one, giving Riley the incentive to keep on the offensive. It took Riley to be backed up, under pressure for him to step on the gas and close the show, which he did remarkably well. Taj is heartbroken in his corner.
That fourth consecutive KO takes Viddal up to 9-0 with six KOs. After the fight, 25-year-old Riley, trained by his father, called for the English title shot by the end of the year. Luke "The Duke" Watkins is the reigning English cruiserweight champion, who hasn't defended the title in a year.
Chief Support
Caroline Dubois vs Yanina del Carmen Lescano
8×2 Lightweight contest
Trained by Shane McGuigan, rising star Caroline Dubois steps up against world title contender Yanina del Carmen Lescano. The Argentinian has won three South American lightweight title fights in a row, two by first-round knockout. The 22-year-old southpaw from Greenwich has five stoppages from six, so this could be explosive.
Dubois sharp, lands a nice jab, she leaned forward to squeeze it through the middle of the guard, then a counter right hook. Lescano a pace behind. The Londoner lands a big left hook on the bell.
Dubois looking good from range, then slips under to land to the body when in close. A right-handed southpaw, Dubois looking to load up on right hooks. Twice, on the bell, Lescano stretched forward with straight rights and Dubois made her pay, first with a jab, then with a one-two.
Dubois' quick feet getting her out of range every time Lescano tries to throw. The pair end the round throwing.
Great right hook from Dubois in the fourth, started with a right hook to the body in close quarters then landed upstairs. Lands a few more rights, then rolls out. Narrowly misses Lescano with a left hand on the bell.
Another big right hand lands, followed by a left hook and Lescano goes down in the fifth.
Both boxers opening up in the sixth stanza. New IBF World Female super-bantamweight champion interviewed from ringside said that her teammate, Caroline, was boxing unreal tonight but it's only snippets of what she can do.
Lescano throws a wild right hook, Dubois steps back. Then a jab misses from Lescano and Dubois steps in with an uppercut. A right hand lands from Dubois but not heavily, she rolls under and lands a heavy right hook seconds later.
In the eighth and final round, Dubois increases the volume of her punches to try to get Lescano out of there. Body shots suck in on the ropes and Lescano looks hurt, the Argentinian tucks in her elbows. "Sweet Caroline" is the clear winner, not giving a single round away. Lescano is as tough as they come, she took dozens of clean right hooks to the left side of the face but took them well.
Dubois wins 80-71. Post-fight she gave herself a 6 out of 10 for her performance and said she can do better. Promoter Ben Shalom talked about getting Dubois the Mikaela Mayer fight this year, then to move on to the likes of Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron.
Main Event
Frazer Clarke vs Mariusz Wach
8×3 Heavyweight contest
Clarke pawing with his jab hand, throws four jabs in a row. Clarke lands a nice straight right to the body. Wach patient behind his jab, gets through with a decent stright right to the head, Clarke forced to ride it.
In the second, Clarke forces Wach back with a one-two on the gloves. Clarke gets into mid range and lands to the body, jab to the head, then they clinch. Frazer varying from body to head cleverly. Big Fraze trying to let his right hand go more.
Good left hook to the body from Clarke in the first minute of the third. Then he lands a lovely right hand to the head of Wach midway through and rolls out skilfully. A big overhand right stiffened the legs of the towering Viking. Big Fraze tried again with the right hand but couldn't quite land it again. Wach did manage to catch Clarke with a right of his own that round.
The heavyweights fall forward into a clinch too many times in the fourth, making for a messy, uneventful round. Three-punch combo with two body shots ends in a right hook to head of Wach, which looked hurtful.
Clarke jabs from body to head, then lands a big one-two up top. Wach with a good short right on the inside. Wach opens up on a break and takes a short right hand down the pipe from Clarke as he's coming in. The fifth ends with Wach throwing and grazing Clarke's head with a right hand.
A solid right from Clarke draws a reaction from the audience in the sixth stanza. Another big left hook to Wach's body sinks in. Clarke slows up in the last moments of the round and takes about four successive shots from Wach, but ends the round with right to the body and left to the head.
Halfway through the seventh, Wach lands a few right hands to the head and thinks he's hurt Clarke, who shows no sign of any problems. Clarke traps Wach on the ropes but spends too much time lining up his shot and wastes the opportunity. Wach was quite successful with the right hand in this segment.
Clarke starts the eighth with a nice right to the body but Wach answers with a stright right through the guard. Nice lead right hand on the inside from Clarke in the closing seconds. Little tepid, it has to be said. Not a fight filled with action or entertainment. With just two rounds to go and looking energised still, perhaps Clarke can up the pace to finish strongly.
Wach lands a couple of short lefts to the body in the ninth. Decent three-punch combo to the head from Clarke in the final minute. Too much clinching in this penultimate round, however. Perhaps these two giants are feeling it a bit after 27 minutes in.
Quality right hand from Clarke in the opening 30 of the final round. A neat left to the body followed by left to the head from Clarke. More holding again in this round, both boxers needing rest. Clarke banks a vauable 10 rounds against an experienced, durable operator.
Referee Mark Bates scores the contest 100-90 to Big Fraze, who moves to 7-0, 5KOs.
The 31-year-old from Burton-on-Trent said he started well, but could have done a lot better in there. The story of the night was the temperature in the cauldron that is the York Hall. That heat affected all the boxers' performances tonight. Frazer also said he will go back to the gym and work on those longer rounds.
Promoter Ben Shalom said Clarke will be back out in September and that there has been an offer made to Fabio Wardley's team for a future fight.
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