It was another lively evening at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England, where boxing fans gathered to witness a packed lineup of bouts featuring seasoned contenders, rising prospects, and intense rivalries.
In the main event for the vacant WBO Interim super lightweight belt, Jack ‘El Gato’ Catterall and Arnold Barboza, Jr. went twelve closely contested rounds. Early on, Catterall seemed to edge the action by controlling distance and slipping Barboza’s shots. Barboza came back strong in the middle rounds, applying constant pressure and forcing Catterall to adjust. The later stages featured back-and-forth exchanges, with both fighters believing they had done enough. In the end, Barboza took the split decision by razor-thin scores, becoming the new interim champion.
Watch Catterall vs. Barboza Jr. highlights: Watch
Welterweight Pat McCormack continued his ascent against former British and Commonwealth champion Robbie Davies, Jr. McCormack used precise boxing and sharp punching to score multiple knockdowns, beginning with a well-timed right in the third round. Despite Davies’s experience, McCormack’s speed and accuracy proved too much. A barrage of clean shots in the fifth forced Davies’s corner to wave off the fight, granting McCormack another impressive stoppage win.
Super featherweight contenders Zelfa ‘Brown Flash’ Barrett and James ‘Jazza’ Dickens clashed in a ten-round showdown that showcased differing styles. Barrett employed lateral movement and spurts of offense, while Dickens relentlessly pursued and countered effectively. Although Barrett landed notable shots to the body early on, Dickens rallied in the later rounds by timing his hooks and backing Barrett into more exchanges. After ten rounds of action, Dickens’s late surge proved decisive, earning him a unanimous decision.
In a British and Commonwealth super featherweight title bout, Reece ‘Bomber’ Bellotti and Michael Gomez, Jr. delivered an entertaining and physical contest. Bellotti dominated the opening rounds, targeting Gomez’s body and scoring a pair of knockdowns with punishing shots. A clash of heads caused a cut over Bellotti’s right eye, but he maintained his high-pressure strategy. Gomez went down again late, and by the tenth round, his corner signaled they’d seen enough, giving Bellotti the stoppage victory.
Watch the official fight highlights: Watch
Light heavyweight debutant Connor Tudsbery made his presence felt with a dramatic knockout victory over Sadaam Moamed Da Silva Caetano. After a measured first round, Tudsbery found his rhythm in the second, landing heavy blows that sent Caetano to the canvas. The referee deemed Caetano unable to continue, marking a memorable introduction for Tudsbery on the professional stage.
Lightweight Aqib Fiaz produced a dominant performance against Lydon Chircop. After dictating the pace in the opening rounds, Fiaz landed a flush right to the body in the second that dropped Chircop for an eight-count. Another sustained attack in the third led to a knockout finish at the two-minute mark, demonstrating Fiaz’s improving power and precision.
Super welterweight William Crolla wasted no time in his scheduled six-rounder against Ayoub Zakari. Crolla charged out aggressively and overwhelmed Zakari with a flurry of shots in the first round. A sustained assault to both head and body culminated in a stoppage at the 2:43 mark, extending Crolla’s run of fast-paced victories.
Closing out the night, featherweights Alfie Middlemiss and Caine Singh went toe-to-toe in a competitive bout. Middlemiss pressed the action, showing cleaner work on the inside and effective defense against Singh’s return fire. After four rounds, the referee’s score tallied in favor of Middlemiss, allowing him to continue his upward trajectory in the division.
Watch the official full card highlights: Watch
Image Credit: Matchroom Boxing