Billy Joe Saunders claimed the vacant WBO super-middleweight title with a dominant win over Shefat Isufi in Stevenage.
Saunders looked sharp from the outset picking his shots nicely. Isufi was barely able to land a punch as Billy Joe stepped up the pace in the second.
Blood began to smear Isufi’s facial features in the third. The pattern continued in round four. Isufi could barely lay a glove on Saunders. The body shots began to thud that little bit harder.
Out of nowhere – a huge punch from Isufi saw Saunders stagger back to the ropes and retreat a little in the sixth. He was back controlling the fight in the seventh.
Saunders cruised without getting out of second gear until the final round when he began to show flashes of his slick boxing again.
He eased his way to becoming a two-weight world champion with scores of 120-108, 117-111 and 118-110.
NOTABLE RESULTS:
Fight # 7
6 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Welterweight Contest
HARLEY BENN (6-0) V LEE HALLETT (0-16)
A huge left at the very end of the third round badly buzzed Harley Benn. Journeyman, Hallett forced Benn to work every minute of every round. Hallett deservedly won 39-37 to claim his first-ever professional win. The defeat is disastrous for Benn’s future.
Fight # 8
THE VACANT WBO YOUTH LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
10 X 3 Minute Rounds @ 135 lbs
BOY JONES JNR (18-2-1) V SHAUN COOPER (8-0)
The crowd for this one were distracted when Tyson Fury entered ringside to take his seat! Shaun Cooper started well and looked good early on. He kept the Jones fans, of which there were a lot, very quiet.
As the bout proceeded, Jones gradually began to control the action in spurts. Cooper was bloodied in the ninth, but it was he who landed with the more hurtful shots. Cooper rightfully claimed the youth title by scores of 95-95, 96-94, 97-93.
Fight # 9
4 X 3 Minute Rounds International Bantamweight Contest
DENNIS McCANN (0-0) V KAMIL JAWOREK (5-12)
Dennis McCann opened the televised broadcast with a bang. On his professional debut, he crippled Jaworek with a body shot.
His opponent survived the count, but was dropped again shortly after with the referee waving it off in the first round. Big things are expected of the skilled southpaw.
Fight # 10
THE BRITISH AND COMMONWEALTH SUPER-BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
12 X 3 Minute Rounds @ 122 lbs
BRAD FOSTER (10-0-1) vs. ASHLEY LANE (13-8-2)
British champion, Brad Foster utterly dominated the first round dropping Lane with an overhand right.
The relentless punishment continued for a few rounds until the pace slowed slightly and Lane had fleeting moments of joy. A right in the seventh shook Lane to his boots. Foster was still in control. Lane landed a few solid shots in the eleventh and was frustrating the undefeated, Foster.
A massive right hand flattened Lane in the final round. A follow-up barrage forced the referee stoppage. Foster added the Commonwealth to his British title.
Fight # 11
6 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Middleweight Contest
WILLY HUTCHINSON (7-0) V ONDREJ BUDERA (9-10-1)
Former amateur world champion, Willy Hutchinson looked every part an accomplished pro, switching stances and landing multiple flush shots.
His opponent was down twice before the referee stepped in to stop proceedings.
CO-FEATURE
Fight # 12
10 X 3 Minute Rounds International Heavyweight Contest
JOE JOYCE MBE (8-0) V ALEXANDER USTINOV (34-3)
In a heavyweight attraction, Joe Joyce took his time measuring faded Russian, Ustinov.
A left hook in the third, up against the ropes, finished this one. Ustinov crumbled to the canvas and never really looked in the fight.
‘The Juggernaut’ is gathering pace as a pro.
Ian Aldous is a staff writer for World Boxing News. Follow on Twitter @ian7685
