Sheffield, England – (December 7, 2024) – The headline bout of GBM’s final card of 2024 may well be the headline bout of GBM’s first card of 2025 as the blood-soaked main event fight between Danny Quartermaine and Jack Bateson ended by doctor’s stoppage in the second round due to severe cuts sustained by both fighters.
An accidental clash of heads appeared to have done most of the damage, opening up a deep cut on Bateson’s scalp and a large gash above Quartermaine’s left eye. Referee Howard Foster’s shirt told the story in visual form, lavishly festooned with claret splashes and patches in mere moments.
There wasn’t much to take away from the two rounds of combat except to observe that the two fighters were closely matched and appeared set for a classic encounter. The resulting Technical Draw means Quartermaine retains his IBF and WBO European Super-Featherweight Championship belts and will lay them on the line in next year’s inevitable rematch.
“We’ve got to see it again. We will get this fight remade in the new year. I know how much both of them wanted it. I’m gutted for the boys but these things happen, that’s the nature of boxing. It was shaping up to be a great contest. We will see them in the ring again in 2025 and in the meantime I am glad to see both fighters go back safe to their families for Christmas,” said GBM promoter Izzy Asif.
Quartermaine said, “Obviously it’s not how we planned to see this fight end, but these things happen and we will get it done in the new year.”
His comment was echoed by Bateson. The Leeds man declared himself “devastated” and said, “We’re going to do this again. All respect to Danny but we have got unfinished business now and we will settle it in the new year.”
Bateson then invited Quartermaine to “shake” on the agreement by touching gloves, which the Leamington Spa man did, making the rematch at least semi-official until new paperwork can be put in place for a second showdown.
Improbably, the evening’s chief support bout between Levi Giles and Qais Ashfaq also ended in a draw. The ten-round back and forth went at a frenetic pace and drew admiring comments from fans and pundits alike.
“I feel like I’m watching a British title fight,” said venerable commentator Adam Smith of the Commonwealth Super-Featherweight Title Eliminator.
With a Commonwealth title shot on the line, both men gave it their all. Relentless forward pressure from Giles was met with some beautiful back-foot boxing and movement from Ashfaq, with both men scoring well in the first half of the fight.
By the sixth stanza, Ashfaq was starting to slow, the needle on his petrol tank dropping noticeably while Giles still looked fresh. Ashfaq boxed clever for the next few rounds, remaining elusive under Giles’ forward pressure while he regathered his energy. By the final round he was landing as good as he got, although he did suffer some big blows and flurries along the way.
Giles looked to have edged the win but the judges saw things even, rendering a draw decision at 95-95 each.
The main card also saw super-middleweight Taz Nadeem face Mexican warhorse Fernando Valencia in an all-action contest. Nadeem’s early power punches threatened a quick end, but Valencia fought back fiercely, trading blows toe-to-toe for four punishing rounds before the dominating Nadeem emerged with the win.
“He’s the most dangerous four-round fighter on the planet,” said his promoter Asif. “Mexican fighters are notoriously tough and Valencia took some heavy punishment there, but I’m glad this fight went the distance and gave Taz those added rounds of experience.”
Also on the main card, Kieran Molloy took a one-sided win over the experienced Robin Zamora, outworking and outpointing in a classy display over eight rounds to underline the skills which have made him one of the most talked-about prospects on the Irish circuit.
Amaar Akbar was unlucky not to stop Mikhal Sovtus in their six-round fight. The gritty Ukrainian ate some huge shots throughout the bout, including one huge right hand which forcefully turned his head, but he kept coming forward and refused to be put away, eventually losing on points.
Nyall Berry opened the main card in an entertaining tussle with Tanzania’s Tampela Maharusi, the back-and-forth battle eventually ending up in a 58-56 win in favour of Berry.
UNDERCARD
Popular Leicester prospect Muhammed Ali had to contend with a fired-up Yin Caciendo, who had traveled from Spain fully intent on upsetting the home favourite. Ali suffered a cut over his right eye in the second round, giving Caciendo a taste of blood, but that was the peak of the Spaniard’s success in an entertaining scrap which Ali won comfortably.
The undercard opened with promising young prospect Calvin Moyo making his professional debut in a four-rounder against veteran journeyman Paul Scaife, Moyo comfortably dominating all four rounds on the way to a unanimous decision victory to commence his professional journey.
The undercard concluded with a big TKO finish from rising welterweight Ed Hardy, who put on a showcase performance before ending Sean Jackson’s night in the third round.
GBM – A STORM IS COMING: QUARTERMAINE vs BATESON
Full Results:
Main Card (DAZN)
Danny Quartermaine draws with Jack Bateson (Technical Draw, R2)
(10 x 3 – IBF & WBO European Super-Featherweight)
Levi Giles draws with Qais Ashfaq (PTS 95-95)
(10×3 – Commonwealth Super-Featherweight Eliminator)
Kieran Molloy def. Robin Zamora (PTS, 80-72)
(8×3 – Welterweight)
Amaar Akbar def. Mikhal Sovtus (PTS, 60-54)
(6×3 – Welterweight)
Taz Nadeem def. Fernando Valencia (PTS, 40-36)
(4×3 – Super Middleweight)
Nyall Berry def. Tampela Maharusi (PTS 58-56)
(6×3 – Super-Featherweight)
Undercard (Dazn Youtube)
Ed Hardy def. Sean Jackson (TKO, R3)
(6×3 – Welterweight)
Muhammed Ali def. Yin Caciendo (PTS 59-55)
(6×3 – Super-Bantamweight)
Calvin Moyo def. Paul Scaife (PTS, 40-36)
(4×3 – Super Welterweight)