Chamberlain goes from challenger to champion in punch perfect performance
Photo Credit to Boxxer / Lawrence Lustig
Isaac Chamberlain became the new British and Commonwealth Cruiserweight Champion, winning a dominant unanimous decision victory (119-111, 118-111, 118-111) against an undefeated champion in Mikael Lawal at the historic York Hall, Bethnal Green and live on Sky Sports Arena and Sky Showcase tonight.
The Brixton native commanded the fight for the whole 12 rounds, rendering a dangerous opponent in Lawal totally ineffectual in his attempts to turn the fight into an ugly brawl where Lawal’s savage power would make the difference. However, at both long range and close, Chamberlain showed his quality and intelligence to make the fight exactly what he wanted it to be.
Chamberlain established his jab successfully and managed the range of the fight from the very first bell, leaving Lawal unable to find the opportunity to effectively apply his knockout-power. Chamberlain also dominated the physical battle of the fight, pushing Lawal in the clinch and tiring Lawal out to sap him of his devastating power.
Lawal kept pushing until the final bell, growing into the fight in the final few rounds while many others would have given up after Chamberlain's total early dominance. However, Chamberlain perfectly managed the closing stages to take victory, not taking a single unnecessary risk at any moment of the 36 minutes of the fight.
Isaac Chamberlain has only lost in close fights to future World Champions, and tonight showed himself to still be one of the very best in the stacked British Cruiserweight division, and stamped himself firmly into any conversation about the best at 200lbs on these shores. Wherever he goes next, his boxing ability cannot be overlooked by any potential opponent.
Isaac Chamberlain said to Sky Sports after the fight: “I didn't have the best amateur career, I had nine fights, they chucked me in the deep end and I kept going. When I was younger I had low self-esteem, but I said I believe in the ability I have. Even though I had niggles coming to this fight, I said 'it's now or never'. All the fights that are there now – let's make them happen.”
Full Card Results:
Isaac Chamberlain Def. Mikael Lawal – UD (119-111, 118-111, 118-111)
Sam Gilley Def. Louis Greene – UD (117-110, 118-110, 166-111)
Joe Laws Def. Michael Hennessy Jr – PTS (77-75)
Karriss Artingstall Def. Vanessa Bradford – RTD Rd 2 (2:00)
Undercard Reports
Sam Gilley Def. Louis Greene – UD (117-110, 118-110, 166-111)
Louis Greene and Sam Gilley produced 12 rounds of some of the best boxing action in the UK in 2023 in their epic battle for the Commonwealth Super Welterweight Championship where Gilley took victory, but both men left the ring changed men, and much bigger stars than they entered it tonight.
The fight went back and forth in momentum multiple times in each round, but Gilley did have notable success with his left hooks, especially to the body of Greene, converting that into a knockdown in the 5th round, while Greene just kept his head between his gloves and his chin down as he marched down Gilley and pounced on the smallest of openings when they came.
As the fight continued, Gilley continued to use his jab very effectively, dominating the fight at longer ranges while Greene seemed keen to trade shots at closer range.
This fight could hold up to any that the historic York Hall has ever seen. Both men were respectful to each other in the build up to this fight, but they certainly earned each other's respect tonight, and the respect of absolutely everyone who watched these two warriors show everything that's great about professional boxing tonight.
Sam Gilley said to Sky Sports after the fight: "This is our moment, me and Louis. What a fantastic fight. We promised it would be good. What a champion this man is, came in and put his belt on the line, I called him out and he gave me a shot, what a legend of the sport he is. He deserves another shot to come back and fight again.”
Joe Laws Def. Michael Hennessy Jr – PTS (77-75)
After his brash confidence during fight week, Joe Laws backed up his claims by taking a close victory in a back-and-forth war with Michael Hennessy Jr where both men had periods of success and seriously hurt their opponent.
Hennessy did the cleaner, smarter boxing of the first few rounds, and generally had a higher output than Laws across the fight, but Laws had the grit and determination to walk forward through the fire and throw off big shots of his own, to the head and body, that seriously damaged Hennessy Jr and won him the rounds on the referee's scorecards.
Both men left absolutely everything in the ring, and both showed unquestionable spirit to walk through the fire for eight long rounds, and earned the respect of everyone in attendance while being part of a true York Hall classic.
Joe Laws said to Sky Sports after the fight: “Am I world level? Maybe not. But I wear my heart on my sleeve. Love us or hate us, I'm coming to fight. Give me a shot with a good camp and watch what I can do!”
Karriss Artingstall Def. Vanessa Bradford – RTD Rd 2 (2:00)
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Medalist and exciting professional prospect Karriss Artingstall made a huge statement with a brutal stoppage victory over an experienced, talented opponent in Vanessa Bradford.
Artingstall commanded the centre of the ring like someone with many more professional fights than the five the Macclesfield native has been part of, manoeuvring Bradford into the corner of the ring and choosing the perfect moment to fire off canon-like straight right hands that scored knockdowns in both rounds before the fight was ended.
Bradford had gone the distance with World Champions like Mikaela Mayer and Alycia Baumgardner in the past, and had never been stopped before, so Artingstall has put herself on the map with tonight’s stunning victory. A fight for the British title, fast becoming a fixture of women’s boxing, looks a likely next step for one of the fastest rising talent’s in women’s boxing today.
Karriss Artingstall said to Sky Sports after the fight: "I think I put a few things correctly compared to my last fight, I was more composed and more switched on from the start, more relaxed so I could actually show my boxing."
Ben Shalom, BOXXER CEO and founder, said to Sky Sports after the fight: “That was outstanding, that was the best I’ve ever seen Karriss perform, that was spiteful. That’s what we said about Karriss Artingstall when we first signed her: she is spiteful. Karriss made a real statement there. We’ve said for a while now we’d like them to order the British title. That’s the next fight, Raven Chapman, that’s the one we want.”
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