Ben Whittaker stopped Braian Suarez in the opening round of their 10-round light heavyweight bout at the M&S Arena in Liverpool, England.

In round one, Whittaker landed a big right cross to the side of the head and Suarez was down for the count at 2:24.

Whiitaker, 182,14 lbs is now 11-0-1 with eight knockouts. Suarez, 182.1 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG is 21-5.

McCann Decisions Johnson

Molly McCann won an eight-round decision over Ashleigh Johnson in a super bantamweight fight,

McCann, 121.7 lbs of Liverpool won by a 78-74 score is now 4-0. Johnson, 120.15 lbs of Swansea, WAL is 3-4.

McGrail Stops Hayden in 5

Joe McGrail stopped Aaron Hayden in round five of a 10-round super bantamweight bout.

In round five, McGrail landed a left hook that caused a cut over the left eye of Hayden. Later in the round, McGaril landed a left to the Solar Plexus that sent Hayden down for the count and the fight was stopped at 2:22

McGrail, 121.14 lbs of Liverpool is 13-0 with six knockouts. Hayden, 1201.15 lbs of Rovtanstall, ENG is 10-1.

Atang Decisions Chvarkou

Leo Atang won a six-round decision over Viktar Chvarkou in a heavyweight fight.

In round four, Atang was deducted a point for hitting behind the head.

Atang, 238.1 lbs of York, ENG is 6-0. Chvarkou, 217.1 lbs of Kazakhstan is 6-33.

Ste Clarke had to get off the canvas but cruised to an eight-round decision over Luis Enrique Montelongo in a middleweight fight.

In round four, Montelongo dropped Power with an overhand right.

Clarke, 161.8 lbs of Liverpool won by a 78-73 score and is now 10-0. Montelongo, 160.10 lbs of Mexico City is 18-17.

Jack Power stopped veteran Novak Radulovic in round three of their six-round middleweight contest.

I round three, Power landed a right uppercut that stunned Radulovic. Power followed up with a flurry and the fight was stopped at 1:37.

Power, 161.7 lbs of Runcorn, ENG is 8-0 with two knockouts. Radulovic, 161.6 lbs of Serbia is 21-16-1.

Sam Norris won a four-round decision over Jahfieus Faure in a super featherweight bout.

Norris 132.8 lbs of Liverpool won by a 40-36 score and is now 3-0. Faure, 132.5 lbs of Oldbury, ENF is 4-24-3.

Tom Rafferty remained undefeated with a stoppage of over Pablo Sosa in a six-round super middleweight fight.

In round three, Rafferty dropped Sosa with a left hook to the body. After the round, Sosa had enough and the fight was halted.

Rafferty, 163.3 lbs of Shaw, ENG is 17-0 with seven knockouts. Sosa, 162 lbs of Spain is 12-11-3.

A revved up Molly McCann is preparing for a special start to 2026 after being announced on next month’s “electric” Wood-Warrington II undercard – live on DAZN.

Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena is set to be completely sold out on Saturday, February 21, when two former World Champions – and bitter enemies – Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington collide in an eagerly awaited rematch.

And Super Bantamweight McCann, who last year switched to Boxing following an incredibly successful MMA career, wants to make a big impression earlier in the evening when she steps inside the ropes for the third time – looking to extend her perfect start in the professional ranks following her recent win last November against Ebonie Cotton in Birmingham. 

“I cannot wait to fight on the Wood-Warrington II undercard,” said Merseyside’s McCann, speaking to Matchroom Boxing. 

“I know how amazing both sets of fans are. Trust me, the atmosphere at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham is going to be absolutely electric. 

“I’m looking forward to sharing the rest of the card with some incredible fighters. But, mainly, I’m very excited to show how much I have levelled up since my last fight and get this massive year off to a good start. It’s huge for me.”

Ishamel Davis (15-3, 6 KOs) makes the first defence of his British Super Welterweight crown when he faces Matchroom Boxing’s recent recruit, Bilal Fawaz (10-1-1, 3 KOs).

The Londoner overcame Junaid Bostan (10-1-1, 8 KOs) – who also returns to action on February 21 – in a thrilling, tough-fought contest last October in Sheffield and will be determined to upset the odds again.

But Davis, who conquered Sam Gilley in an enthralling bout back in November 2025 on the Benn-Eubank II card at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, will be in no mood to surrender his newly acquired title at the first time of asking.

Popular Heavyweight hero Dave Allen (24-8-2, 19 KOs) is back in action too as he looks to set up some huge fight nights ahead and bounce back to winning ways following his October spirited defeat by Arslanbek Makhmudov. 

One of Britain’s very best and Derby’s own Sandy Ryan (8-3-1, 3 KOs) bids to become a two-weight World Champion when she takes on Mexico’s fearsome Karla Ramos Zamora (12-10-2, 4 KOs) for the vacant WBC World Super Lightweight Title. 

And former WBO Welterweight queen Ryan is joined on the card by future mega star of female Boxing, Tiah-Mai Ayton (4-0, 4 KOs) as the teenage Bantamweight – dubbed by the great, Katie Taylor as a future Undisputed ruler of the world – goes up against Brazil’s Catherine Tacone Ramos (9-3-1, 2 KOs), looking to stretch her flawless record.

For all the latest news and updates, follow @matchroomboxing on social media.

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.

Former UFC star Molly McCann has signed a long-term promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and will make her professional debut later this year following a memorable career in MMA. McCann, a former ABA Champion, takes up boxing after 10 years in MMA, and the hugely popular Liverpudlian kicks off life in the squared circle campaigning at Bantamweight under the guidance of Danny ‘Whitho’ Whithington at No Limits ABC in her home city of Liverpool. The 35-year-old, nicknamed ‘Meatball’ after working in a sandwich shop, is one of the most successful and high-profile women’s fighters in British MMA history, and now hopes to win a World Title in professional boxing within eight fights.

“This was always the dream!”

• Molly McCann

“This was always the dream,” said McCann. “As everyone knows, I’ve boxed before. My weight didn’t get added to the Olympic Games, so the only other option was MMA. MMA has given me a phenomenal life – one that boxing could never give me, but my love was always in the squared circle.

“I cannot wait to fight. I can’t wait to show everyone the pedigree of boxing that I’ve got. People will probably think that I’m just going to run in and just try and take chins off, which is correct, that is what I’m going to do! But I’ll do it in an educated manner. I worked so hard on building the brand in MMA and changing stereotypes.

“There was only one place I was coming. There was offers from everywhere, but I did send Eddie a little message. I said it’s better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know. There’s no other place I’d rather be. This is the premier show for me. I’ve known everyone at Matchroom for quite a long time, and I’ve got a good relationship with Eddie.

“I’ve always been at the shows for the past few years causing trouble and now I get to bring all the scousers with me and have a go. The ultimate goal is to be a World Champion. I’ve got to earn my stripes like everyone else. I want a World Title within eight fights.”

“I’m incredibly excited to announce Molly McCann as Matchroom Boxing’s latest signing,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “Molly will compete now as a professional boxer – about time! Former ABA champion. Everyone knows the ability as a boxer. She has been a massive star within the UFC and built her profile globally. We’re delighted to start the journey with her, and we’re delighted she’s chosen to sign with Matchroom.

“We’re going to be fighting her all around the world. There’s going to be some massive nights. I had the pleasure of watching her cage side in the UFC. The energy and the fanbase of this woman is incredible. She’s a great person and a great fighter, and now she’s putting the gloves on for real. The boxing journey is about to begin.

“We’re talking about Molly starting somewhere around the Bantamweight division. There’s some really good fighters there. She is a professional fight novice at the moment. She’s not a boxing novice; she’s got great pedigree. The movement of her career is going to be really interesting. The most important thing is to be active. We need to keep building her boxing brand now.

“She has the ability to be a huge star in boxing. We’re looking at around six or seven fights in year one, and then after that we’re pretty much ready to go. You’re going to see her fighting for a World Championship within 12 months I think.”