Richard Riakporhe vs Jack Massey LIVE report from Jordan Bright
BBN's Jordan Bright is reporting LIVE from ringside at the York Hall tonight for a festive fight night on December 19.
17:15 FIRST BELL
4 x 3 mins Heavyweight
FRANKLIN IGNATIUS v HRVOJE BOZINOVIC
Debutant Franklin Ignatius (1-0) kicked off the show and his pro career with a four round points win over Croatian Hrvoje Bozinovic (2-22).
4 x 3 mins Super-Featherweight contest
DONTE DIXON v VLADISLAVS DAVIDAITIS
It was a good display from 19-year-old Donte Dixon (2-0), landing with a mixture of punches with devastating effect.
The Yorkshireman's aggression and spite proved too much for Latvian Davidaitis (4-13) as he crashed to the canvas twice early on in the second round.
It was all over in just a minute into the second stanza as Dixon's dominance and heavy hands paved the way for his first stoppage win in the pro ranks.
The Sheffield boxer, managed by Adam Etches, will enter 2020 at 2-0.
4 x 3 mins Super-Bantamweight
IBRAHIM NADIM v MISAEL ZELEDON
Debutant Ibrahim Nadim (1-0) scored a shutout points win over Spanish-based Nicaraguan Misael Zeledon (8-18-3).
18:00 LIVE ON SKY SPORTS FACEBOOK
6 x 2 mins Bantamweight contest
SHANNON COURTENAY v BUCHRA EL QUAISSI
'The Baby Face Assassin' Shannon Courtenay (5-0) KO'd her foe in the fifth round, with a swinging left hook that took her Spanish opponent El Quaissi (2-1-2) clean off her feet.
19:00 LIVE ON SKY SPORTS
10 x 3 mins WBO Global Welterweight Title
LUTHER CLAY v FREDDY KIWITT
The contest began fairly evenly with Kiwitt showing why he is deemed the heavy puncher between the two fighters.
The quality has all come from Clay however, but both have shown good skills, plenty of head movement with sharp exchanges of jabs. Defensively, both fighters have been very technical and the blows were getting heavier as they settled into the fight.
The turning point was in round six when Clay landed a heavy blow to Kiwitt's body.
Most onlookers would agree that Clay had the healthy lead on the scorecards going into round nine, the penultimate round, and he pulled away from his opponent when visibly landing more damage in the exchanges.
Big shots thrown in the last round and Clay's corner were really happy with how the fight turned out, their reaction tells the story that it was a good performance. It was a good match-up for the WBO Global welterweight title in what was an entertaining pre-Christmas bout with two talented technicians.
All three scorecards were announced as 97-93 to Clay.
10 x 3 mins Super-Welterweight contest
KIERON CONWAY v CRAIG O’BRIEN
Tough, spirited, and neither one willing to back down in this fight. It went the distance but only one fighter stood out – Conway. The height, length and reach of his punches proved decisive in the bout.
Craig O’Brien showed his worth throughout with speed, sharpness and determination as the contest went the distance.
But the more skilled, tough, technically better fighter in Conway showed. Landed the better punches from a fighter who offers a wider range of variety and quality.
It was a 97-94 Kieron Conway victory and number 14 from the fighter from Northampton. His record now stands 14-1-1.
Chief Support
8 x 3 mins Light-Heavyweight contest
CRAIG RICHARDS v CHAD SUGDEN
Richards began going through the gears as the fight progressed and punished Sugden from head to body.
Richards was subjected to some heavy punches late on in the sixth, which really heightened the atmosphere in the crowd; we have a fight!
Richards was surely just a round away from victory against a stubborn but strong and spirited Sugden.
Both fighters look battered and bruised by the end. Sugden brought late drama and what an effort he was giving at the end. Good sequence of shots hitting the inside of Richards body. It hasn’t been comfortable for Richards, even though he had his opponent on the back foot for all of this fight.
Both eyes swelling up and blood pouring from his nose, Sugden battled on, showing incredible heart in the final round. He continued to expnd his efforts but was probably in need of a knockdown in order to secure a potential victory.
It was a cracking contest between the pair in what was a fight of two halves. Regardless of the result, '2 Slick' Sugden will have emerged with pride from the fight especially in the final round.
The judges saw the contest as a draw at the end of the eight rounds. It's not the result that the South Londoner would have wanted, especially with a British light-heavyweight title fight due next with unbeaten Brummie Shakan Pitters. 'Spider' will have to dust himself off, learn from the experience, make corrections and find a better performance against the English champion Pitters early next year.
Main Event
12 x 3 mins vacant British Cruiserweight Title
RICHARD RIAKPORHE v JACK MASSEY
Jack Massey and Richard Riakporhe met in the headliner for the vacant British crusierweight title.
Both unbeaten boxers with huge potential, this should be a Christmas cracker of a contest!
Massey found his rhythm early on with his jab. Riakphore began to wam into the fight gradually and found his range and power in the second round when he landed a big right after what had been a probing few minutes.
In the third, the 29-year-old Londoner tested his counterpart's chin by sending him staggering backwards just before the bell sounded for the fourth. Massey was saved this time, but could the writing be on the wall for the 26-year-old fom Derbyshire?
It wasn't. 'One Smak' Jack responded well in the next few rounds, placing a well-timed body shot in the fourth which was disappointingly followed by a scrappy affair in the fifth.
The tempo of the fight has dropped with a lot of clinching where the referee intervened.
It was back to boxing in the sixth stanza, wiith more shots being exchanged, but again Massey withstands Riakporhe's power. The fight is very close during the sixth and seventh segments, it could be either fighter in the lead at this stage.
Round eight – what a round! The fight explodes into life as Riakporhe unleashes his power and unloads terrific punches and Massey takes them like a true warrior. He looked a little shaky on his legs as he walked to the corner, exchanging words with his attacker. It's the second time Massey has been wobbled in the contest, which could give 'RR' the lead on the cards.
Good work in the ninth by Massey as he backed up Riakporhe behind his jab and managed to bloody his oppoite number's nose, which swung the fight back into his favour. Massey has a habit of coming back strnger from his knockbacks and the crowd were loving every minute of the see-sawing action.
The Midlander has shown great resilience and heart to get back into this fight after a scary third round where he looked like it could have been an early exit on the cards. The Londoner was warned by referee Phil Edwards for a final time for his persistant holding.
Massey seems to be edging this fight with this late surge and his superior work-rate in the championship section of the contest, but then a flash knockdown occured in round 10, spoiling his good work. Blood continues to pour from Riakporhe's nose.
In the final round, the score is up in the air as to who is edging this encounter. Riakphore on the hunt in the 12th, throwing big punches as he seeks a knockout to secure the win in this bout. As the final round draws to a close, Riakporhe is again guilty for clinching with his opponent. Massey hurts him right at the death, but who deserves it? We go to the scorecards to find out.
115-113, 115- 113, 117-111 and Riakphore claims the vacant British cruiserweight title.