Lyndon Arthur vs Boris Crighton round by round reports
An unexpected issue at the very last-minute meant that Lyndon Arthur (22-1, 16KO) was now facing stand-in opponent Boris ‘Blade’ Crighton (10-2, 7KO) at the University of Bolton Stadium on Friday, March 24, on the Wasserman Boxing show, live on Channel 5.
Initial opponent Braian Suarez failed a pre-fight medical meaning Arthur's fight he had trained many months for changed overnight from the 12×3 IBO World light-heavyweight championship contest to a 10-round bout with the strong Scotsman instead.
Full results below:
Lyndon Arthur vs Boris Crighton
Light-heavyweight contest
Round 1: Tense, cagey opener with both boxers following each other around, only willing to gamble on single shots this early on. Crighton tried a little combination but he was too far out, and Arthur launched a one-two in the klaxons but failed to connect. Arthur looked more in control so he very likely claimed that first round on the judges' scorecards.
Round 2: Arthur busier with his jab, doubling up at times, circling Crighton from the outside and picking him off. You can see the Manchester man is beginning to find openings to counter upon. Boris has allowed Lyndon to get into a rhythm which will mean it could be a long, hard night in store for him now.
Round 3: Interesting round as Crighton jabs his way in and lands a wide, looping overhand right to the face of Arthur in the corner to make his legs go slightly. He looked a little buzzed by that and has instantly had to start respecting his opponent a little more.
Round 4: Crighton trying to land that big right hand again, throws a little flurry and one looks to get through Lyndon's guard, who has quickly adapted to moving away and not to hold his feet for too long. Arthur lands a one-two at the end. There's a mark over Crighton's left eye, a sign that the constant jab is taking its toll. Quite even at this point, which is a surprise to many.
Round 5: Not much to report in a tepid round, both boxers with big plans but little results. Instructions from trainer Pat Barrett to Arthur is to keep on the jab and told his man he is boxing well. Crighton is ambitious and having success in this fight, it all begun from the third round and he is now super confident.
Round 6: Arthur has his left hand dangling low where he is able to flick the jab upstairs at a tricky angle and with a lot of success. The ringside pundits have it even at this stage.
Round 7: Crighton gets through with another right hand, throwing in flurries now. Arthur scores a one-two but then takes one back immediately. Another round that may have been nicked by the stand-in opponent.
Round 8: Much better from Arthur in this round, as the final bell is nearing. He popped out the jab and committed to more one-twos. A right hand counter came back at one point which caught Arthur's attention but it was a clear round to the Mancunian.
Round 9: Disastrious round for Crighton as he absorbs a huge right hand from a beautifully timed one-two that stiffened his legs and forced him to retreat where he copped many more big rights, but miraculously remained on his feet, even firing back on the bell with Arthur on the ropes. Boris is brave and plucky and will have earned himself some new fans whatever the result tonight.
Round 10: Dramatic finish as Arthur drops Crighton in the final 10 seconds from another successful one-two, with the set up jab and the chopping right hand to do the damage. This round saw Boris lunging in it a bit, a little too eager to land something meaningful in the final minutes. But then he caught Arthur on the ropes with yet another flurry of threes and fours, and it was a left hook that got through and looked like it stunned Arthur momentarily, but his reply was the stunning knockdown just seconds later. It was a close fight, with Arthur maybe a round or two ahead depending on how you saw it, but the 10-8 round to finish easily swings the decision his way with no question. Rounds 8-10 were claimed by Arthur, but prior to that it was completely even.
Results: Unanimous Decision to Lyndon Arthur (98-92, 96-93, 99-91)
Post-fight, Lyndon responded to the quality of his opponent, "I've sparred him a few times, he was a completely different opponent, it's just something you have to adapt to. I wasn't buzzed, it was a good fight, a good 10 rounds and we keep moving."
Trainer Pat Barrett confirmed the world title shot will happen in May.
James Moorcroft vs Nathan Bennett
10×3 English welterweight eliminator
It was a quick second-round finish for James Moorcroft in his English title eliminator fight.
Moorcroft, trained by Manchester legend Anthony Crolla, sent Bennett to the floor after a barrage of heavy shots and though his Liverpool rival beat the count, the referee decided he was in no fit state to continue.
Victory in this final eliminator now secures Wigan's Moorcroft a shot at English glory.
Wigan warrior Moorcroft was always confident in himself, he revealed post-fight, "To be honest, I thought it could go early because Nathan is moving up weights and I didn't know what his power was like. So yeah, I thought it was going to happen."
Conah Walker vs Kane Gardner
8×3 Super-lightweight
Round 1: Walker applying the pressure early as Gardner jabs on the backfoot, as many expected this contest to start off with.
Round 2: Once-beaten Walker's pressure really paid off in the second when he landed a strong right hook that looked to stun Gardner, or perhaps he was just off-balance, but the Wolverhampton warrior stepped in closer to really do some damage and then he stepped off the gas when he realised Gardner had recovered and regained shape and composure, who then came forward to back Walker up, who stopped throwing to conserve energy.
Round 3: Walker is still applying pressure but Gardner is boxing better on the backfoot, targeting the body to try to slow this livewire down a bit. Walker responds to Manchester man's good work with a nice right hook in the closing moments.
Round 4: Gardner is popping out his jab effectively, which looks to have marked Walker's right eye by this stage. Gardner looks like he has found his rhythm but there's an even exchange right on the bell as the pair land on each other.
Round 5: Gardner is looking increasingly confident here. Walker is making him work, but Kane's lateral movement and ability to box on the outside is winning the round for him. He is still targeting the body at times too. But then Walker catched Gardner on the ropes and gets through. All round long, Gardner looked great and in control, but the minute he's pressed up on the ropes, it all goes south. Gardner's constant jab has opened up a cut on the right side of Walker's face. Gardner's instructions from the corner is to continue his superior movement.
Round 6: Gardner is in full flow, moving left to right at range, Walker just following him around the ring. Walker does manage to lunge in with a flurry to get a couple throught but he has been picked off with the jab for the entirety. If the first four rounds were even, Gardner has certainly pulled away in the last two rounds.
Round 7: A closer round this one, with Walker landing several flush shots, which seem a lot more thudding than Gardner's do.
Round 8: Walker landed a lovely right hook in the final minute but it was another round to Gardner. George Groves at ringside said he scored the last round to Walker, perhaps seeing his bigger effort, aggression and that clean punch at the end, but Walker definitely outlanded him in the final round. The first half of the fight swung back and forth with Walker starting so brightly, but the second part was mostly Gardner's fight.
Result: 78-76 points win to 'Sugar Kane' Gardner
Sultan Zaurbek vs Reuquen Cona Facundo Arce
8×3 Super-featherweight
Zaurbek took his KO count into double figures with a fifth-round TKO win.
Katharina Thanderz vs Ioana Fecioru
8×2 Super-featherweight
Fecioru down once in the first round but bravely bounced back and gave it a good go all the way to the final bell, scored 77-75 to Thanderz.
Chloe Watson vs Romina Gisel Sosa
4×2 Super-flyweight
Round 1: Chloe found a home for her right hand early on and Ricky Hatton instructed her on how to use that right hand more effectively.
Round 2: Sosa was a real mover, she was hard to close down. Watson found success with her counter left hook in this round. Hatton advised her to keep the fight at mid-range, but it's a difficult ask against someone so sprightly.
Round 3: Watson goaded Sosa to fight her in the third and the taunting worked as the Argentinian stopped running and came in closer to engage, where Watson got the better of her.
Round 4: Sosa came forward with a combination but Watson landed a strong right hook in close. It was a bit of a messy round, the pair were going to war so hard that they came together in clinches a lot. Watson is aggressive and can fight, she has defintely won all four rounds here, but a round to Watson would be a nice reward for here big efforts. Fantastic opponent, clever matchmaking and great learning fight for the 23-year-old flyweight.
Result: 39-37 points win to Watson.
Niall Brown vs Bahadur Karami
6×3 Middleweight contest
Niall Brown won 59-55 on points but Karami was down in the third round.
Ashley Marron vs Daryl Pearce
4×3 Welterweight contest
First-round stoppage for Ashley Marron in his pro debut.
Alex Murphy vs Liam Fox
4×3 Lightweight contest
40-36 points win to Murphy.
Oliver Zaren vs Frane Radnic
4×3 Super-middleweight contest
40-36 points win to Dane Oliver Zaren.
Denis Radovan vs Fouad El Massoudi
4×3 Middleweight contest
Fifth-round stoppage win to German Denis Radovan over Frenchman Fouad El Massoudi.
Bobby Faulkner vs Georgi Velichkov
4×3 Super-lightweight contest
40-36 points win to Faulkner.
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