‘Baby faced Assassin’ Paul Butler stopped Mexico’s Sebastian Sanchez inside nine rounds to claim the vacant WBO Intercontinental Super-Flyweight Championship. A crunching left hook to the body of Sanchez was enough to earn Butler the 21st win of his career.
The Ellesmere Port ace used his lightening quick speed to take control of the bout early on. Butler put on an impressive performance in front of his home crowd, which included rival super-flyweight Jamie Conlan.
27 year-old Butler dominated the bout throughout, landing a series of punishing hooks and jabs on the nippy Mexican. Sanchez proved his toughness by taking everything Butler threw at him despite being caught with some powerful left-hand jabs.
The impressive Butler sent out a powerful message to the watching Conlan by systematically dismantling the gutsy Mexican with a near punch perfect performance in front of the rowdy Echo Arena crowd.
LANGFORD CLAIMS COMMONWEALTH CROWN IN LIVERPOOL
Birmingham middleweight star Tommy Langford overcame a tough challenge Dronfield’s determined Lewis Taylor to defend his WBO Intercontinental title and also claim the Vacant Middleweight Championship at the Liverpool Echo Arena.
It was a gallant effort from both fighters who put on a real barn burner of a domestic scrap. All-action Langford came away with a unanimous decision in what was his 16th professional career win.
Both fighters defences looked questionable in an even and lively opener. Langford slightly edged the first round by using his left jab well and making the middle of the ring his own.
26 year-old Langford stepped up the pace in the third round and began to find his way past Taylor’s defence. The ‘Baggies’ mad bruiser began to show his class by landing some powerful shots on the gutsy challenger.
Taylor refused to take a step back despite taking several big shots to the body. The Birmingham man sensed a stoppage in the ninth round and went after Taylor with a series of punishing combinations. By now, the contest had developed into a real scrap with both men landing shots at will.
Taylor made an impressive reply by steaming into Langford at the beginning of round 11 but Langford took his shots well and came back with some lethal hooks of his own. Devon-born Langford retained his Intercontinental title and took home the Commonwealth belt with a well-earned unanimous decision from the judges.
BRILLIANT TETE CAPTURES IBF INTERNATIONAL TITLE WITH SEVENTH ROUND STOPPAGE OF GONZALEZ
South African super-puncher Zolani Tete made an explosive return to the Liverpool Echo Arena by claiming a seventh round stoppage against Mexico’s Jose Santos Gonzalez.
‘Last Born’ looked eager to impress the Scouse crowd, dictating the pace of the fight from the first round. The polite and softly spoken bantamweight looked a completely different person in the ring, toying with the Mexican at will.
The former IBF World Super-Flyweight Champion looked in spiteful form as he landed several big hooks on his opponent. Tete, from Mdanste in the Easter Cape, lived up to his explosive reputation by dropping Sanchez in the second round. Gonzales looked hurt but was able to beat the referees count and return to the action.
Touted as one of the best boxers to come out of Africa in recent years, Tete justified the hype by delivering a near punch perfect performance for his Liverpool fans. The clinical southpaw landed several precise shots on Gonzalez, who struggled to deal with the African’s speed and movement. The fight was finally won in the seventh after Gonzales was dropped for a second time. The tough Mexcican beat the referees count but was caught by another big shot which ultimately ended the bout. Gutsy Mexican Gonzalez was in no state to continue and the referee ended the contest.
Results from Liverpool:
Fight # 1
6 X 3 Minute Rounds Lightweight Contest
ZELFA BARRETT WPTS6 (60-54) DAMIAN LAWNICZAK
Fight # 2
6 X 3 Minute Rounds International Middleweight Contest
VIJENDER SINGH WKO3 (1:02) ALEXANDER HORVATH
Fight # 3
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Featherweight Contest
LYON WOODSTOCK WPTS4 (40-36) IBRAR RIYA
Fight # 4
8 X 3 Minute Rounds Bantamweight Contest
RYAN FARRAG WKO2 (2:12) STEFAN SLAVCHEV
HOT SHOT SINGH REMAINS UNDEFEATED IN LIVERPOOL
Indian boxing sensation Vijinder Singh blew away Hungary’s Alexander Horvath at the Liverpool Echo Arena to claim his fourth successive professional victory. Singh continued his red-hot winning streak by stopping Horvath in the third round with a big body shot.
Undefeated Singh, delivered an explosive performance for the BoxNation viewers. The man from Kaluwas was well on top from the very first bell, landing some big right hand shots on the retreating Horvath. The Indian puncher started the second round with a flurry of big hooks that connected well on Horvath who struggled to handle Singh’s power and movement.
The contest was won in the third round with a powerful body shot that connected on Horvath’s shoulder. The Bulgarian went down and failed to beat the referee’s count. It looks to be a massive year knockout merchant Singh who was delighted to get yet another stoppage win.
“I’m thrilled to get my fourth professional victory and excited for what the future holds for me. I’m happy to get another knockout win and really want to push on from here with some big performances is 2016,” said Singh.
He added: “The support I have received from everyone here in Liverpool and back home in India has been absolutely phenomenal. My phone hasn’t stopped buzzing with messages of support from all around the world and I’m so grateful to all of my new fans. You can expect some big performances from me this year as I look to move up the ranks.”
Earlier results from Liverpool
6 x 3 Minute Rounds Lightweight Contest
Zelfa Barrett WPTS4 (60-54) Damian Lawniczak
