America’s Sean Hemphill shocked Mark Jeffers on house soil on Callum Simpson’s undercard at Oakwell Stadium.
Jeffers had been searching for an announcement efficiency as he pursued a shot at British rival Simpson.
However Hemphill derailed these ambitions with a majority choice victory. After 10 fiercely-fought rounds, they have been degree on one card 95-95 however New Orleans’ Hemphill took it 96-94 and 97-93 for the opposite two judges.
Jeffers opened the combat with slick head motion as he took an in depth have a look at Hemphill. He padded down the American’s punches and commenced to fit in stable jabs.
However the US contender, who has beforehand boxed former world champion William Scull, grew in confidence. He took coronary heart on the finish of the third spherical after answering Jeffers with a neat uppercut.
He started to swing punches house with abandon within the fourth spherical. They traded left hooks and opened up on one another with meaty proper arms. It left Jeffers trudging wearily after him.
Within the fifth spherical Hemphill lobbed a one-two over, and at this level Jeffers let it via. Jeffers dashed his proper down however Hemphill got here again at him, linking up photographs to the top in addition to placing collectively a brace of uppercuts.
Jeffers chipped away at his resolve with physique photographs. He discovered Hemphill’s chin with a left hook, however left himself open because the American fought again.
Hemphill’s regular output continued as Jeffers strained to interrupt him down. They leant on one another, exchanging photographs whilst they drained within the ninth spherical.
A two-shot mixture from Hemphill jolted Jeffers’ head again. Jeffers marched again into him, decided to avert a disaster. However the American saved on pumping out punches as they tore into one another for a grandstand end.
The native crowd have been even chanting: “USA, USA” by the top of the combat.
The 37-year-old former European champion Thomas Essomba was a difficult opponent for Rhys Edwards to pin down.
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Rhys Edwards places on a dominant show to withhold Thomas Essomba and preserve his undefeated title.
Their combat was a lot nearer than Edwards’ 79-74 factors victory may counsel.
The Cameroonian moved cleverly, sliding apart on his ft earlier than choosing his moments when to launch an assault.
He caught out the Welshman with lunging southpaw lefts and opened up with fast clusters of punches.
Edwards sensed he wanted a fightback within the latter half of the bout. He pressed in, hooking his proper into his opponent’s physique.
Edwards had his work reduce out with Essomba.
He started to place his combos collectively, grinding punches into Essomba, his proper hook breaking via to catch his opponent’s chin. Edwards heaved weight into his cross and commenced to drive Essomba to the ropes.
His left hook shook Essomba within the remaining spherical, pinning him in a nook however solely briefly. Edwards might solely discover patches of success, however it was sufficient to get him via.
After the bout Essomba laid his gloves down within the centre of the ring as his group, and Edwards and his nook, applauded. He’s retiring after a advantageous profession that has seen him win the European championship and turn out to be a two-time Olympian.
Hickey controls Hodgetts (Images: Lawrence Lustig/BOXXER)
Middleweight prospect Sam Hickey superior his file to 3-0 with a transparent six-round victory over Harley Hodgetts.
A high GB beginner and Commonwealth Video games gold medallist, Hickey got here out on the entrance foot feinting. Virtually instantly he had Hodgetts below management. With Hickey too fast for him, Hodgetts might solely retreat. He swallowed arduous hooks to the physique and a heavy proper scudded over his guard.
Hodgetts started usher in flashes of aggression, catching Hickey with the occasional strike. However it was by no means sufficient to wrest momentum away from the properly supported Scotsman.
Hickey lined up a harmful salvo photographs on the finish of the bout, cracking in his proper as a cross and an uppercut. Hodgetts endured it, shedding on factors, 60-54.
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Mauro Silva prolonged his unbeaten file with a fourth-round stoppage towards Omir Rodriguez and delivered an epic victory speech afterwards
Mauro Silva dominated Panama’s Omir Rodriguez. Silva swept a proper hook over early on and was quickly concentrating on the physique with hammering hooks.
The referee warned the Mancunian for photographs that strayed beneath the belt. However Silva was masterfully dictating the motion, marching ahead, tagging Rodriguez with jabs and flush hits till finally the customer’s nook threw within the towel after 66 seconds of the fourth spherical.
Birmingham’s Kane Baker offered a check for Frankie Stringer. The unbeaten Liverpool prospect began brightly, bombing down a countering proper and deciding on a left hook as Baker stepped in.
However within the second spherical Baker slammed a tough proper into Stringer. That buckled the Liverpudlian’s legs. He dipped down, his knees nearly grazing the canvas however did properly to maintain his footing and keep away from a knockdown.
Manchester’s Mauro Silva oozed high quality in his stoppage victory
That spurred Baker on to swarm ahead. However step by step Stringer composed himself and reasserted management within the bout, marking up Baker and profitable the choice 79-74.
Ellis Worth pressured a stoppage towards Jake Worth, hammering out a fifth-round end. Sheffield’s Purple Johnson handed Harley Collison a rely when he knocked the Southampton man into the ropes of their sixth and final spherical, profitable the night time’s opening contest 59-54.
Watch Callum Simpson combat Ivan Zucco for the European super-middleweight championship stay on Sky Sports activities.
