Ohara Davies vs Tyrone McKenna – all the results reported LIVE
Bitter rivals Tyrone McKenna and Ohara Davies finally get to settle the score in the highly-anticipated Golden Contract tournament super-lightweight final on Wednesday, September 30.
The five-fight card takes place at Production Park Studios in Wakefield and will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports in association with Matchroom Boxing, and live in the US on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank.
Elsewhere on the bill, Serge Michel and Liam Conroy meet in the Golden Contract light-heavyweight semi-final, while Steven Ward steps up to cruiserweight to face Jone Volau, and Ben Fail makes his professional debut against Southern Area title contender Robbie Chapman.
BBN are reporting all the action LIVE from 7.15pm tonight:
7:15pm (GMT)
iFL TV and Sky Sports Boxing Facebook/YouTube Page
Bout 1:
WILLIAM HAMILTON vs GENADIJ KRAJEVSKIJ
4×3 Cruiserweight
William Hamilton (1-0, 1KO), 24 from Rainham, Essex, tackles the Liverpool-based, Lithuanian-born 'Baltic Bomber' Genadij Krajevskij (0-10).
An ABA Under-20's national champion, Hamilton knocked out 23 of his 28 opponents in the amateurs.
Hamilton was a little overeager in the first round, trying to chop his opponent down with his right hand, but he came out more controlled in the second. Krajevskij learnt through the contest the best way to upset Hamilton and throw him off pace so he didn't get the same unrelenting pressure he encountered in the first round. Hamilton switched to southpaw occasionally to confuse his foe.
In the third round, Hamilton had taken his foot of the gas a little and Krajevskij managed to land a few clean shots.
Krajevskij tried to tie Hamilton up in the fourth and final round, making things look a little messy at times. Krajevskij was pushed down in the last minute but it wasn't rulled as a knockdown. The 'Baltic Bomber' was looking exhausted with his fine effort, but he continued to throw shots and try to deter the other man. It worked well for him as Hamilton couldn't get his work off the way he wanted.
Referee Howard Foster scored the contest 39-37 to Hamilton, so the visiting fighter did manage to nick a round with his brave performance.
The victor admitted to feeling a bit rusty and sluggish in his ring return. He then revealed he is aiming to fight again in December in a six-rounder, "It felt good. Having that amount of time off meant I was a bit rusty and I felt a bit sluggish in there. I don't know if it's the weight, as I was a bit lighter this time, but it's good to be back and get the win.
"He's a tricky fighter and a tough man. In the third round he had a few tricks but it's all about learning. I'm hoping to be out in December in a six rounder and pushing on."
8pm (GMT)
Sky Sports Arena and ESPN+
Bout 2:
BEN FAIL vs ROBBIE CHAPMAN
6×3 Middleweight
Debutant Ben Fail turned pro with his twin brother Carl in July this year. A national amateur champion, Haringey Box Cup winner, and Team GB boxer, Ben makes his pro bow against a Southern Area title contender in Robbie Chapman (6-4) in a bid to make a statement in his inaugaration.
Ben swept 'The Camden Caretaker' aside with a shutout 60-54 points victory. It was a competitive but ultimately successful fight for Fail. He wanted to make a statement, and he did – beating a Southern Area title contender over six rounds in his pro debut.
Ben spoke after his debut: "I enjoyed it. Robbie was a tough man and threw some good shots. I believe in my team and they know what they're doing. They knew it would be a perfect opponent for me and a good learning fight.
"You get a bit more stuck in as a pro and I enjoyed it. My brother Carl will be next to make his debut, and he'll smash it. He's just as good as me, if not better. We train together every day and we both love it."
Bout 3:
STEVEN WARD vs JONE VOLAU
6×3 Cruiserweight
'The Quiet Man' Steven Ward (12-1, 4KOs) makes his crusierweight debut against Gateshead-based, Fiji-born 'Brown Bomber' Jone Volau (5-5, 2KOs). Having confessed to 'boiling down' to 175lbs to make the light-heavyweight quarter-finals against now-finalist Ricards Bolotniks (17-5-1, 7KOs), Ward will be keen to prove he is a brand-new fighter at his new weight.
It was a successful first fight up at cruiserweight for Ward, trained by Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis, as he registered a 59-55 points victory to secure his 13th win.
Ward spoke in the post-fight interview: "He was a tough lad but I felt really good in there. I wasn't going in there to stop him. I've put 25 pounds on since my last fight so it's a big jump. I just went in there and did what Nigel and Jamie told me to do.
"I don't know how I made light-heavyweight. It was just sheer dedication and good people around me. I'd love to fight for a British title before the end of the year. I have the ability."
Bout 4:
SERGE MICHEL vs LIAM CONROY
10×3 Golden Contract Light-Heavyweight Semi-Final
The second of the Golden Contract light-heavyweight semi-fimals features Cumbria's Liam Conroy (18-5-1, 9KOs) against German Serge Michel (10-1, 7KOs). The winner of this bout will meet Ricards Bolotniks (17-5-1, 7KOs) in the tournament final, where a lucrative contract awaits the winner.
The 'Bavarian Sniper' stopped Liam Conroy after two knockdowns in round four to progress to the light-heavyweight final where Ricards Bolotniks lies in wait. The first knockdown was a well-timed counter right hand to the temple of Conroy. then the fight-ending punch was a superb right uppercut that visibly hurt Conroy forcing referee to wave off the contest despite the Brit making it back to his feet.
Afterwards, Michel said: "I am very happy. Round by round I was feeling better. I landed with the right uppercut and cross, those are my best punches. I am here to win the tournament, and it will be a great final with Bolotniks."
Bout 5:
TYRONE MCKENNA vs OHARA DAVIES
10×3 Golden Contract Super-Lightweight Final
A year on from their first clash around the back of the York Hall in October 2019, bitter rivals Ohara Davies (21-2, 16KOs) and Tyrone McKenna (21-1-1, 6KOs) finally get to settle their year-long feud in the ring.
Davies looked like he took the opening round by landing a couple of big shots but full credit to McKenna who didn’t even blink. It was a close round but the aggression and success was with Davies.
Unbeaten super-lightweight Darren Reay tweeted this after the second round: "McKenna isn’t going to win like this….a don’t know what there on about here in commentary he’s just running and missing."
Each of the early rounds were very difficult to score with McKenna boxing on the backfoot, moving constantly, as Ohara persistently pushes forward trying land heavily.
By round four, McKenna had found his rhythm and was boxing well in his own unique style. Davies was guilty of overloading his shots.
It was a better fifth round for OD as he landed several eye-catching combos. The sixth stanza was also a good round for Davies.
Boxing Ireland Promotions tweeted this at the midway mark: "Got this a draw at half time. Bit of an awkward clash of styles so far. Hope it heats up in the second half."
Styls make fights and these styles made for a dull fight, unfortunately. McKenna was on his toes constantly and Davies was plodding forward but missing.
By round nine it was almost impossible to split and increasingly likely that the contest could be scored a draw. With McKenna circling backwards and Davies aggressively coming forwards, you would think that the aggressor would be given the nod on what will inevitably be very close scorecards.
It could all come down to the last round but Davies wasn't showing much urgency, perhaps believing he'd done enough already. McKenna took the last round which could prove decisive for him.
Seconds Out's Danny Flexen scored the fight 96-94 to Tyrone, he declared on Twitter before the verdict was read out officially.
Referee John Latham ruled it a draw at 95-95 but the two ringside judges went with Davies at 96-94.
Ohara Davies becomes the first ever Golden Contract winner! He also took McKenna's WBC International super-lightweight title and, presumably, his WBC #15 world ranking.
Davies said in the post-fight interview:"I'm on top of the world. After this we're going to go out and eat everything because I've been disciplined for weeks. You name it, we'll get it, and we're going to go party.
"I'm the first ever Golden Contract champion and this is only the start. I'm going to kick on from here and continue to have success."
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