Harvey Horn vs Fadhili Majiha round-by-round action
Photo credit: Leigh Dawney/ Wasserman Boxing
BBN are reporting LIVE from ringside at the first Wasserman Boxing:The Development Series event on Thursday, November 25, at York Hall in London, broadcast live on Boxing Social in the UK and Ireland and FITE TV in all other territories worldwide.
WBO European Champion Harvey Horn takes on Tanzanian dangerman Fadhili Majiha as part of a stacked card in East London that also features professional debuts for hotly tipped Heavyweight prospects Matty Harris and Hosea Stewart, and former Team GB Flyweight star Chloe Watson.
Fight #1 – 6:30pm
Louis Horn vs Jakub Laskowski
Debutant Louis Horn, younger brother of the headliner, kicks off the midweek show against Poland's Jakub Laskowski (4-9-1, 2KOs), who was recently seen going up against Campbell Hatton in July this year.
The lightweight prospect from Essex won gold at the Haringey Box Cup in 2019 for Limehouse Boxing Academy and now aims to replicate his success in the pro ranks.
Good start for Team Wasserman as Louis Horn grabs a 40-36 points on his pro debut, who can now relax and watch his brother in the main event.
Fight #2
Ryan Martin vs Angel Emilov
Swindon's Ryan Martin (13-2-1, 6KOs) is aiming to get back to title contention after heartbreak in two seperate welterweight championship clashes with Mikey McKinson for the WBC Youth in 2017, and Craig Morris for the IBO Continental the same year.
Unbeaten in his last six fights, he faces Bulgarian super-welterweight contender Angel Emilov (10-35, 6KOs) over six rounds at 154lbs.
Martin was sharp and strong but his opponent was game and tough. Martin was able to stand toe to toe with the European, who didn't get on his bike like many away fighters do. Angel stood firm in the centre of the ring and even came on strong at end of round five to force Martin back to the ropes momentarily, but was in no trouble whatsoever.
Emilov came out even more aggressively at the start of round six and soon found himself on the floor for his efforts. He came out swinging, forcing Martin back, who boxed clever to evade the attacks and counter with one of his own. He bravely beat the count and, try as he might, Martin could not get him out of there.
Scored 60-53 to Martin.
Fight #3
Martin Foru vs Pavol Garaj
London-based Dutchman Martin Foru (5-0, 2KOs) fights for a third time this year against 35-year-old Slovakian Pavol Garaj (7-24-3, 3KOs).
Statuesque and sculptured, Foru was busy and patient, starting with the jab, progressing to one-twos with the occasional body shot and ended the first round with his hands down, landing at will.
The 24-year-old closed the gap more in the second round, sensing there was no threat coming back at him. He let his hands go, loading up on some big rights.
Known as 'The Example' from Ede, he tried to overwhelm his 35-year-old opponent who hasn't been stopped in over three years. Despite his volume punching and failing to miss most of his shots, Foru could not secure the stoppage he so desired and won 40-36 on points to move up to 6-0.
Fight #4
Chloe Watson vs Judit Hachbold
Former GB boxer Chloe Watson is a a two-time national amateur champion and Youth Commonwealth Games gold medallist. The 21-year-old flyweight from Birkenhead meets Hungarian Judit Hachbold (5-12, 1KO) on her pro bow tonight.
The Ricky Hatton trained flyweight was roared on by her large support. It was patient display from Watson in the opener against a very mobile, movable opponent.
In round two, Chloe was beginning to pick her shots better and increasing the quality of her work.
In round three, Watson's overhand rights were very effective, landing cleanly.
Watson was tidy and intelligent throughout, showing a maturity beyond her years. It was an impressive display from a fighter with experience and pedigree.
She was calm, collected, confident and economical as she kicked off her pro career with a 40-36 points win.
Fight #5
Saqib Khan vs Jack Ewbank
Amateur standout, welterweight Saqib Khan enters into his pro bow against winning fighter Jack Ewbank, 31 from Ashford.
Khan was another fighter with a lot of support in the venue. He was significantly taller than his opponent from Kent.
In round three, Ewbank bundled Khan over who returned to his feet unperturbed only to be thrown over again after landing a left hook to the cheek. The second trip angered Khan – and his fans – so he punished him accordingly and came close to forcing the stoppage as he backed his opponent to the ropes for a long duration at the end of the round. Ewbank cleverly kept moving from side to side but couldn't throw anything back or hold on and looked very red in the face.
The ring rivals were trading insults in the fourth and final round, both goading each other in what looked like quite a long conversation. Ewbank tried to land a few surprise shots, but SK was wise to it every time, winning all four rounds of his pro debut.
Fight #6
Hosea Stewart vs Mait Metsis
Explosive heavyweight Hosea Stewart was handpicked by Anthony Joshua for sparring ahead his world title fight with Kubrat Pulev. The 24-year-old is a two-time Midlands champion, ABA finalist and GB Amateur Championship winner. In 2017, he was beaten in the English National Championships by Solomon Dacres.
Two big guys clashing with lots of holds, Stewart was standing in too close and not able to release his right hand. He was smothering his own work opting to land short shots in close.
Metsis was brave and bold, throwing more punches than Stewart, but he looked tired out from the very first round. The shots he was absorbing were taking a lot out of him and they would seeing as there was 345lbs of weight behind them! Yes, you heard right, Hosea Stewart weighs over 24stone!
The colossal Stewart started the third round a bit better by using his jab and soon caught Metsis with a heavy right hand as the Estonian came wading in. Then, a sweet little swivel of the feet, while Metsis was on the ropes, allowed Hosea to land a clean left hook which almost finished the fight there and then. Stewart went in for the kill trying to finish on a flashy shot but stood in too close once again.
In the fourth round, Stewart landed a right uppercut from range and Metsis looked all set to go again but held on for dear life and somehow made it to the final bell.
Stewart won 40-36 on points even though Metsis has a strong argument for outlanding him in a few of the rounds. He probably had a strong claim to winning the first round at least.
Unfortunately, the contest was more like an exhibition match than a professional fight, and it's hard to see what someone like Hosea Stewart could ever achieve in professional boxing with his limited capability.
Fight #7
Matty Harris vs Mladen Manev
Highly sought-after 6ft 8in Heavyweight prospect Matty Harris, 21-years-old from Leamington, has already built a reputation as a fearsome puncher.
Harris was tall, lean, talented… and a refreshing change from the previous bout. He varied his punches from head to body, teeing up his attacks intelligently. Manev absorbed some hard hits in that exciting opener. Just a few seconds into the contest and the crowd were visibly impressed, instantly recognising and appreciating the talent in front of them.
Matty pawed out his jab, inviting his opponent to open up. Sometimes guilty of waiting too long, Harris then landed two well timed right hands towards the end of the second stanza, firstly to the body, secondly to the head. He repeated the same sequence in the start of round three. Harris landed a lovely uppercut during the second half of this round, which he followed up on.
In the final round, Manev lost his cool and swung angrily at Harris in the corner who remained calm under pressure to win the one-sided contest comfortably at 40-36.
Matty Harris looks like an exciting prospect, definitely one to watch!
Main Event – 10pm
Harvey Horn vs Fadhili Majiha
Trained by Mark Tibbs, 'HHH' won 2014 ABA Championships, silver medal at the 2015 European Championships and gold at the European U22 Championships before turning pro in 2017 and winning all nine professional contests so far, with a WBO European flyweight title in the trophy cabinet too.
Home fighter Horn lands a lovely backhand early into the opener, starting off on the back foot. Majiha scored a lovely right hand of his own shortly after, so Harvey patiently responded with a lovely one-two, rocking his opponent's head back.
In round two, Horn was well into his rythym, displaying classy footwork when backed up, pivoting out of any trouble with skill and ease. The former Tanzanian super-flyweight champion was very aggressive, trying desperately to close in and pin his man down, but Horn was exceptional when spinning out of range and any trouble and was making the African miss a lot.
Horn is visibly growing in confidence making Majiha miss so much. there was even a Mayweather-Canelo moment where a right hand swiped thin air and wobbled the rope instead, but Horn continued on his course. Horn looked in complete control but his lively, advancing foe was always threatening.
In round four, Majiha steamed in and didn't let up, backing Horn to the ropes and throwing everything he had at him until a body shot gets through and hurts his man. Horn stepped away finally but another body shot dropped the home fighter who was in big trouble. He rose at the count of eight but was dazed then downed again, this time with a right to the head while ducked down low trying to avoid another destructive body blow, and although he rose at the count of nine, the contest was waved off by referee Lee Every.
Behind on the cards, being completely outclassed, Majiha just decided to throw caution to the win and rushed his man with no relenting, and it worked. A damaging shot from the very many thrown managed to get through and hurt Horn, and then it was just a case of capatilising on that, which he did clinically. It was a huge shock to every onlooker.
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