Ben Whittaker was explosive in stopping Benjamin Gavazi in the first round of their 10-round light heavyweight bout.

In that opening round, Whittaker landed a blistering combination that featured a right to the body that was followed by a right to the head that put Gavazi down. Gavazi got up, but for not for long as Whittaker landed a devastating right hand to the open head of Gavazi that plummeted Gavazi on his back and the fight was over at 2:15.

Whittaker, 174.5 lbs of Darlston, ENG is 11-0-1 with seven knockouts. Gavazi, 174,3 lbs of Landau, GER is 19-2

Cowling Defeats Bowen by Split Decision

In a bout full of contact, Tom Cowling got off to the deck to win a split decision over previously undefeated Aaron Bowen in a middleweight fight.

Cowling landed 190 of 492 punches. Bowen was 167 of 820.

In round five, Bowen dropped Cowling with a hard straight right to the head. In the same round, Cowling began to bleed from his nose.

Cowling won two cards 95-94 and Bowen won a card 96-93.

Cowling 159.5 lbs of Newark, ENG is 15-1. Bowen, 159 lbs of Coventry, ENG is 7-1.

Vuong and Gwynne Battle to Draw in Rematch

Cameron Vuong and Gavin Gwynne fought to a 10-round majority draw in a rematch of lightweights.

Vuong won a scorecard 97-93 and two others were 95-95.

Vuong, 134.5 lbs of Blythe, ENG is 9-0-1. Gwynne, 134.3 lbs of Wales is 18-4-2.

McCann Decisions Cotton

Molly McCann won a six-round decision over Ebonie Cotton in a super bantamweight bout.

McCann, 1211 lbs of Liverpool won by a score of 58-56 and is now 2-0. Cotton, 120.6 lbs libs of West Midlands, ENG is 1-1-.

In round four, Cotton had a massive cut from her forehead.

Ibraheim Sulimaan stopped Nico Ogbeide in round six of their 10-round junior lightweight bout.

In round four, Ogbeide began to bleed from his nose.

In round six, Suilmaan opened up and landed seven unanswered punches on the ropes for the bloodied Ogeide had no response for and the bout was stopped at 1:52.

Sulaimaan, 129,3 lbs of Birmingham, ENG is 10-0 with five knockouts. Ogbeide, 129 lbs of Birmingham is 6-2-1.

Former world title challenger Zelfa Barrett won an eight-round decision over Liam Dillon in a junior welterweight bout.

Barrett, 136.4 lbs of Manchester, ENG won by a 78-74 tally and is now 34-3. Dillon, 137.6 lbs of London is 13-5-1.

Alfie Middlemiss won a six-round decision over Engel Gomes in a lightweight bout.

Middlemiss, 129.6 lbs of Manchester, ENG won by a 60-54 score and is now 5-0. Gomes, 132.6 lbs of Slovenia is 9-54-3.

Lewis Crocker was able to get a victory over Paddy Donovan via disqualification after Donovan dropped Crocker with a left hand after the bell to end right eight of their 12-round welterweight bout at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland

In round eight, Donovan was deducted a point for a headbutt. Crocker was bleeding under the right eye. Donovan then dropped Criocker with a left to the body. Very late in the round, Donovan landed a right hook after the bell that put Crocker on the canvas. Referee Marcus McDonnell disqualified Donovan.

Crocker, 146.4 lbs of Belfast is 21-0. Donovan, 146.1 lbs of Limerick, IRE is 14-1.

Richards Stops McCrory in 8

Craig Richards stopped Padraig McCrory in round eight of their 10-round light heavyweight bout.

In round eight, Richards uncorked a left to the solar plexus that put McCrory for the count at 1:58.

Richards. 174.1 lbs of London is 19-4-1 with 12 knockouts. McCrory, 174.5 lbs of Ireland is 19-2.

Walker Wins Majority Decision Over Woodstock

Kurt Walker remained undefeated with a 10-round majority decision over Leon Woodstock in a featherweight bout.

Walker, 126.5 lbs of Lisburn, IRL won by scores of 97-93, 96-94 and 95-95 and is now 12-0. Woodstock, 126 lbs of of Leicester, ENG is 16-4.,

Ward Stops McCarthy in 6

Steven Ward stopped Tommy McCarthy in round six of their 10-round cruiserweight fight.

At the end of round two, Ward dropped McCarrthy with a left hook at the bell.

In round six, Ward dropped McCarthy with a right over the top. McCarthy was hurt badly and Ward went to work with a vicious flurry of punches. The corner of McCarthy was on the apron, but the referee did not see it. After a few more unanswered punches, the referee stopped the bout at 1:17.

Ward, 199.5 lbs of West Normandy, IRL is 15-3 with five knockouts. McCarthy, 199.3 lbs of Belfast is 21-7.

Ruadhan Farrell won a eight-round decision over Gerard Hughes in a super bantamweight bout.

Farrell, 123.4 lbs of Belfast won by a 79-73 score and is now 7-1-1. Hughes, 124.2 lbs of Valley Castle, IRL is 5-1-1.

Elif Nur Turhan shocked Shauna Brown by scoring a massive first round stoppage in a 10-round lightweight bout.

In round one, Turhan landed a massive left hook that out Brown down. She got to her feet, but was unsteady and the fight was stopped at 47 seconds.

Turhan, 134.6 lbs of Istanbul, TUR is 10-0 with six knockouts. Brown, 134.3 lbs of Ireeland is 5-1.

Jack O’Neill won a four-round unanimous decision over Mohammed Wako in a featherweight bout.

In round two, O’Neill was cut on the forehead from a headbutt.

In round three, O’Neill landed a right to the shoulder that put Wako on the canvas.

O’Neill, 124.1 lbs of Belfast, NI won by a 39-36 score and is now 4-0. Wako, 122.6 lbs of York, ENG via Ethiopia is 1-3.

Aaron Bowen won a six-round decision over Juan Cachiero in a light heavyweight bout.

Bowen, 165.1 lbs of Coventry, ENG won by a 60-54 score and is now 5-0. Cacheiro, 171,2 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG is 7-4.

Troy Jones won a 10-round unanimous decision over Michael Stephenson in a light heavyweight bout.

Jones, 173.4 lbs of Birmingham, ENG won by scores of 98-91 twice and 97-93 and is now 12-0. Stephenson, 173.25 lbs of Northampton, ENG is 9-3.

Aaron Bowen stopped James Todd in round five of their six-round middleweight bout.

In round five, Bowen unleashed a wicked flurry of about 15 punches that was culminated by a left to the body that put Todd down for the 10-count at 1:46.

Bowen, 162.1 lbs of Coventry, ENG is 4-0 with three knockouts. Todd, 163 lbs of Swansea, WAL is 4-4-2.

Ibraheem Sulaimaan stopped veteran Marvin Solano in round two of their six-round lightweight bout.

In round two, Sulaimaan landed a left the body that put Solano down on his knees for the 10-count at 2:54

Sulaimaan, 131.5 lbs of Birmingham, ENG is now 6-0 with four knockouts. Solano, 133.5 lbs of Managua, NIC is 24-21.

Taylor Bevan made a successful pro debut with a second round stoppage of Greg O’Neil in a six-round super middleweight fight.

In round two, Bevan dropped O’Neil with a perfect right uppercut. Bevan then dropped O’Neil with a perfect 1-2 in the corner. O’Neil got to his feet, but the fight was stopped at 2:40.

Bevan, 177 lbs of Cardiff, WAL is 1-0 with one knockout. O’Neil,167.6 lbs of Horden, ENG is 7-9-1.

Former world champion Callum Smith opened up the show with a fifth round stoppage over Carlos Galvan in an eight-round light heavyweight bout.

In round four, Smith dropped Galvan with a left hook to the head.

In round five, Smith dropped Galvan with a left to the body. Smith finished Galvan off when he landed a combination ob the ropes that put Galvan down again and the fight was stopped as the towel came in from Galvan’s corner at 1:19.

Smith, 179.5 lbs of Liverpool, ENG is now 30-2 with 22 knockouts. Galvan, 175.4 lbs of Colombia is 20-15-2.

2020 Olympic Gold Medal winner Galal Yafai continued his dominant run as a professional as he stopped Tommy Frank in the opening round of their 10-round flyweight bout in Birmingham. England.

In round one, Yafai dropped Frank with a right hook. Yafai was all over Frank until the corner of Frank threw in the towel at 1:40.

Yafai, 111.8 lbs of Birmingham, ENG is 5-0 with four knockouts. Frank, 111.9 lbs of Sheffield, ENG is 15-4-1.

Conan Walker stopped Cyrus Pattinson at the end of round seven of their 10-round welterweight bout.

Walker dropped Pattinson rounds three and five. Pattinson sent Walker to the deck in round six. The fight was stopped after round seven after Walker continued to land hard shots on Pattinson.

Solomon Dacres won a 10-round unanimous decision over Chris Thompson in a heavyweight bout.

Dacres of Birmingham, England won by scores of 99-91 twice and 98-92.

Khaleel Majid won an eight-round decision over Alessandro Fersula in a super lightweight bout.

At the end of round one, Majid dropped Fersula with a hard left hook.

Majid of Bolton, ENG won by a 78-73 score.

In a rematch, Jordan Flynn and Kane Bake fought to a 10-round draw in a super featherweight contest.

In round two, Flynn dropped Baker with an overhand right.

The fight was scored 94-94.

Ibraheem Sulaiman made a successful pro debut with a first round stoppage over Michel Gonxhe in a four-round lightweight bout.

Sulaiman landed a hard left that was followed up by a flurry which was featured by a hard right hook and left to the face thar forced a stoppage at 1:27. Gonxhe protested the stoppage.

Sulaiman, 136.4 lbs of Birmingham, ENG is 1-0 with one knockout. Gonxhe, 136.5 lbs of Karlsruhe, GER is 5-5-1.

Aaron Bowen stopped Wilmer Baron htwo of their six-round middleweight bout

In round two, Bowen dropped Baron with a left to the body. Bowen then hit Baron with a right hand while he was down, but it was not called and the fight was over after a 10-count at 52 seconds.

Bowen, 162.9 lbs of Coventry, ENG is 3-0 with two knockouts. Baron, 165.3 lbs of Arboletes, COL is 6-2.

Sahil Khan made a successful pro debit with a four-round decision over Sean Jackson in a bantamweight fight.

Khan, 122.2 lbs of Birmingham, ENG won by a 40-36 score and is now 1-0. Jackson, 120.9 lbs of Manchester, NG is 0-15-1.

Muhammad Ali remained undefeated with a third round stoppage over Francisco Rodriguez in a four-round super bantamweight fight.

In round three, Ali dropped Rodriguez with a body shot. Ali jumped all over Rodriguez until the towel was thrown in at 1:20

Ali, 123.5 lbs of Leicastershire, ENG is 3-0 with one knockout.

Leigh Wood reclaimed the WBA Featherweight World Title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Mauricio Lara at the AO Arena in Manchester, England.

Lara, who was the champion, lot the belt on the scales in Friday as 3.8 lbs of over the featherweight limit. This was a rematch of a fight that took place on February 18th when Lara knocked out Wood in the seventh round.

In round two, Wood put Lara on the canvas with a right uppercut. Wood suffered a cut over his left eye in round four.

Wood landed 150 of 429 punches; Lara was 76 of 314.

Wood, 125.9 lbs of Nottingham, ENG won by scores of 118-109 twice and 116-111 and is now 27-3. Lara, 129.8 lbs of Mexico City is 26-3-1.

Former world title challenger Jack Catterall won a 10-round unanimous decision over Darragh Foley in a junior welterweight contest.

In round seven, Catterall dropped Foley with a hard right hook. Early in round nine, it was another right that put Foley on the deck.

Catterall landed 170 of 374 punches; Foley was 81 of 414.

Catterall, 139.9 lbs of Chorley, IRE won by scores of 99-88, 98-89 and 97-90 and is now 27-1. Foley, 22-4-1 of Bondi, AUT is 22-5-1.

Terri Harper defended her WBA Super Welterweight World Title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Ivana Habazin.

Harper landed 75 of 209 punches; Habazin was 70 of 363.

Harper, 150.3 lbs of Denaby Main, ENG won by scores of 98-92 and 97-93 twice and is now 14-1-1. Habazin, 152.4 lbs of Zlatar, CRO is 21-5.

Aqib Fiaz barely remained undefeated with a eight-round decision over Costin Ion in a super featherweight bout.

In round six, Ion dropped Fiaz with a hard left hand.

Fiaz landed 92 of 260 punches; Ion was was 86 of 313.

Fiaz, 132.1 lbs of Oldham, ENG won by a 76-75 score and is now 12-0. Ion, Marvella, SPA is 10-4-2.

Dany Ball stopped Jami Robinson at the end of round eight of their scheduled 10-round welterweight bout.

In round two, Ball dropped Robinson with a short right on the inside. Ball jumped on Robinson and hit him with a barrage of punches that caused a bloody nose.

The bout was stopped in Robinson’s corner following the eighth round.

Ball, 146.1 lbs of Kingswinford, ENG is now 13-1-1 with six knockouts. Robinson, 146.8 lbs of Bolsaver, ENG is 15-6-2.

William Crolla made a successful pro debut with a four-round decision over Joe Hardy in a super welterweight bout.

In round three, Hardy landed a right hand that put Crolla on the canvas. In round four, Hardy’s nose was bloodied.

Crolla, 156.6 lbs of Manchester, ENG is the brother of former lightweight champion Anthony Crolla and is now 1-0. Hardy, 158.3 lbs of Leeds, ENG is 2-10.

Campbell Hatton remained undefeated with a fifth round stoppage over Michal Bulik in a scheduled eight-round super lightweight bout.

In round five, Hatton landed a hard right that was followed by a left that wobbled Bulik across the ring, and the bout was stopped at 38 seconds.

Hatton, 141.3 lbs of Hyde, ENG is 12-0 with five knockouts. Bulik, 138.6 lbs of Oplae, POL is 6-3.

Aaron Bowen took a six-round decision from Aljaz Venko in a middleweight bout.

Bowen, 163.6 lbs of Coventry, ENG won by a 60-55 score and is now 2-0. Venko, 161.1 lbs of Slovenska Bistrica, SLO is 5-4-1.

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Aaron Bowen has penned a multi-fight promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and will begin life in the professional ranks campaigning at Super-Middleweight in 2023. 

The popular 23-year-old from Coventry enjoyed a hugely successful amateur career, becoming a five-time national champion, picking up gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2017 and winning a bronze medal in the Light-Heavyweight division at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. 

“I feel like I’ve done all I can in my amateur career,” said Bowen. “I’ve boxed all around the country and all around the world against good opposition and picked up some great experience. I just feel like now is the right time to turn professional.

“Matchroom are the biggest promotional outfit in the world at the moment. They put on the biggest shows, promote the best fighters and I feel like they can really push my career and push me to where I want to be in the future. 

“I’ve boxed some good opposition, Olympians, National Champions, and I’ve sparred the likes of World Champions throughout my career. It will be a different transition but one that I’m ready for. I feel like I’ve picked up good experience to take into the pros.”

Training out of the Box Smart Elite Boxing Club in Walsall under the watchful eye of trainer Gurpreet Singh, Bowen has already amassed an impressive loyal following and the former Team GB standout believe his fan-friendly style will be well suited to the paid ranks. 

“I feel I’ve got a box-fighter style; I can fight and I can box,” said Bowen. “I do like to fight, and as a pro the fans want to see fights. I can take one to give two back. That can set me up well for the pros. I’ve got 75 fights under my belt and I’ve learnt in every single one.

“I’ve got massive support. I’ve got a big following from Coventry and the Midlands area. I come to win every time and I fight to the last bell. I think the people from Coventry love that. It’s a small city and they get behind their people so it’s good signing with Eddie.

“It’s a win-win for both of us, Eddie likes big followings and my fans want to come and watch me on the big shows. I think this will be a good recipe for success. I want to have massive nights, whether it be London or Coventry. I want to sell an arena out. I want a 12-round war as well. I like fighting, so I want to give the fans what they want to see.”

“I’m incredibly excited about the signing of Aaron Bowen,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “I was so impressed with his performances when I watched him at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. You can see the entertainment and the drama that Aaron is going to bring to the pro ranks. 

“I remember the huge support he had behind him and I believe that he has the potential to become a big star and a massive ticket seller in the Midlands area. His style is very easy on the eye and fans are going to love watching him fight.”

You can follow Bowen’s journey on Instagram: aaronbowenn and Twitter: @aaronbowenn