Filip Hrgovic made heavy weather of a less-than-elite Demsey McKean before getting the stoppage in the final round.
The tough Croatian continues to get significant build-up due to his amateur background and credentials as the number one contender with the IBF. However, it’s the second big event in succession where Hrgovic has looked unimpressive.
Filip Hrgovic labors to win
If he manages to land the Oleksadnr Usyk fight in 2024, he’d need vast improvements on this showing.
CompuBox: Hrgovic established his technical superiority early. He’d landed 28 power punches through two rounds to McKean’s 9. After six rounds, the power punch disparity was 76-39.
After the ninth round, it was 137-91. The commentators and Hrgovic’s corner felt he should have tried harder to stop McKean.
In the final round, Hrgovic hurt McKean and scored the knockdown. The referee started counting before halting the bout.
Fisher vs Armstrong
In the first of four heavyweight bouts, Englishman Johnny Fisher, known as “The Romford Bull,” powered his way to the Southern Area title.
In the opening seconds, after an early onslaught, Fisher almost got Harry Armstrong out of there. However, Fisher bided his time and settled for ending the argument in seven.
An overhand right did the damage, almost taking Armstrong out, cutting his eye, and forcing him to take a standing eight. Fisher followed up his excellent shot with more devastation leading to the end.
CompuBox broke down the stats.
After a wild opening minute that saw Fisher knock down Armstrong, the fight seemed to settle into a pattern where Fisher was landing hard punches while Armstrong was absorbing punches as he attempted to maneuver Fishing into the ropes.
Though Armstrong landed thudding shots occasionally, he could not match Fisher’s accuracy. Fisher landed 48% of his total punches and 54% of his power punches.
Another power punch flurry by Fisher put Armstrong down again, and though he beat the referee’s count, Fisher would not let up, forcing Armstrong’s corner to throw in the towel.
Hatton
Before the main action, Ricky Hatton prodigy Campbell Hatton fought more like his uncle Matthew as the Hyde super-lightweight remained undefeated.
Hatton won 78-74 after showing cleaner work against Tom Ansell.
Training under the tutelage of Matthew, the former European welterweight champion, Hatton can now boast a record of 13-0.
British and Commonwealth titles should be in the immediate future, with no further time wasted for the son of a legend.
