The Undisputed

Story of Non-European amateur boxing

Amateur boxing in South Africa began on the diamond fields in the 1880’s when the founder of the De Beers diamond monopoly, Barney Barnato established an amateur boxing club in 1878. The African mine workers were interested in these bare-knuckle fights on the mines. They watched the fights but did not take up the sport.

The coloured author Peter Abraham’s in his autobiography Tell Freedom mentions witnessing a bare-fist amateur fight taking place in Sixteenth Street, Vrededorp in the 1920’s.

In his book My Baby and Me Benny Singh writes that non-European boxing in Durban began in 1903 with one Jimmy O’Brien being the first South African non-European professional boxer. However, it is unclear when the first black boxing matches took place in South Africa.

Boxing was one of the main sports organised by the Bantu Men’s Sports Club. Apart from the BMSC, American Board Missionaries also introduced boxing in the Townships. Boys Clubs which were formed to encourage boys to keep ‘good company’ and ‘not run wild on the streets’. Gilbert “KKK” Moloi also ran a boxing club at a local YMCA

 One of the earliest clubs was the St Mary’s Boys Club in Orlando, Soweto. It was at this club that Jake Tuli learned to box and won two South African professional titles and the Empire flyweight title in 1952.  

In June 1951 it was reported in The African Drum that the Ferreiratown’s Frisco Kids Boxing Club was created by Phineaus K. Sebiloane, a successful local boxer from the 1920’s.

During the 1940’s and 1950’s Boys Club’s like Dougall Hall Boys Club in Marabastad, the New Mai Mai Boxing Club at the Bantu Mens Sports Club, and the G-Man Boxing Club in Sophiatown were opened. There were also active amateur clubs like Denver Brown Bombers Boxing Club, Yanks Boxing Club, Orphiton Boxing Club, Bull and Bush Boxing Club, Allons Boxing Club and Pals Boys Club in Alexander.

Other clubs that attracted attention were Goodwill B.C, Frisco Kids Boxing Club, Jabavu B.C., Phefeni B.C, Home D. Boxing Club, Blue Mountain Boxing Club, Jubilee Centre Boxing Club and Renegade Boxing Club drew reasonable crowds but not to the extent of the BMSC.

It was reported that the first amateur tournament at the BMSC for “Non-Europeans” took place in 1929 and on 17 March 1951, a tournament that featured twenty bouts and drew a crowd of 500 made up of both white and black men and women.

In 1931 the BMSC appointed a boxing trainer for the first time and during the Second World War, William “Baby Batter” Mbatha who subsequently won the South African non-European lightweight and welterweight titles became an instructor there.

With boxing attracting a lot of interest at the BMSC and in the mid 1950’s tournaments were held on two Fridays every month.                                                                      

The BMSC boxing club really took off with “Jolting Joe’ Maseko as a paid boxing instructor.

In the 1950’s Maseko campaigned with success in the United Kingdom and also won the South African non-European middleweight and light heavyweight titles.

The first Bull and Bush Club in the Transvaal was started by William Dixon in a yard in Alexandra Street, between Main and Fox Streets, in the Malay Camp. Charlie Timm took over the club in 1939 and produced some outstanding young fighters.

The Allons Amateur Boxing Club originated in 1949 when Isaac Davis decided to start an amateur boxing club in his own backyard. From this humble beginning and with the help of men like Billy Le Roux and Claude Bindeman the club produced fighters like Leslie Tangee and Richard Borias who became South African champions in the professional ring.

The influence of American boxing culture was very strong during the 1940’s and 1950’s. Local boxers had nicknames which were clearly American. For example there were boxers with names such as ‘Kid Dynamite’ Lekwete, ‘Homicide Hank’ Mohlo, Ace ‘Chocolate’ Matloka and Rueben ‘Panama Flash’ Zondi.

The first recognised non-white professional champion on record was Sonny Thomas who knocked out Battling Shabane in Cape Town on 2 October 1946 to win the vacant South African non- European lightweight title.

However, there was also a report in a Cape Town newspaper that on 23 September 1904, a J. Morris fought Long Sarel for the coloured middleweight championship of South Africa, which possibly could lay claim to the first non-White SA championship fight. 

Also on 3 January 1913 Mannie Hommel beat Walle Muller on points over 20 rounds in Port Elizabeth in a fight billed as the S.A Coloured heavyweight title and in 1922 Harry Appal knocked out Young Sadow in a bout billed for the SA non-white lightweight title.

Non-white professional boxing in the Transvaal got off to a slow start with only three tournaments in 1948 and one in 1949. In what was claimed to be the first non-European professional fight to be staged in the Transvaal was at the Bantu Mens Social Centre on 13 March 1948 between flyweights Joel ‘Fly’ Mohahleli from Evaton and One Round Hank. Unfortunately Mohlahleli after being ahead on points, collapsed in the fifth round. He was taken to hospital having sustained a subdural haematoma. His parents refused to allow the doctors to operate and he was treated according to local tribal customs at home. Unfortunately he never fully recovered and remained an invalid.

Some of the areas where black boxing thrived in the early years were Beatrice Street in Durban, Sharpeville, Sebokeng, Mdantsane, Mangaung, Motse-Thabong, Galeshewe and Gugulethu in Cape Town and Soweto near Johannesburg. 

Amongst the most popular venues at the time were Soweto’s Jabulani Amphitheatre, Moroka Jabavu Stadium, Mofolo Hall which was burnt down during the 1976 riots, Kagiso Hall in Krugersdorp, Ramosa Hall in Mohlakeng, Mdantsane’s Sisa Dukashe Stadium and the Orient Theatre in East London.

Some of the promoters who operated at these venues were Obedia Khazamula, Richard Motsunyane, Ike Nkumane, Abe Mohamane, Jackson Morley, Gladstone Nhlapo, Hunter Motsumi, Marcus “Bob Arum” Nkosi, Phil Makhetha, John “Don King” Khambule, Sy Mbonani, Sy “Big Ben” Mashinini, Joe Gumede, Joe Padisho and many others. 

Strange happenings in the heavyweight championship

In the 1850s and ‘60s the title of “middleweight” began to be used for all men below 156 lbs (70.75kg). Those above this limit were all considered heavyweights.

It was not until the 1880s, after the widespread adoption of the Queensberry rules, that a real effort was made to standardise weight divisions both in England and America.

During 1910 leading authorities got together and agreement was reached on the different divisions from Paperweight 105lbs (47.63kg) to Heavyweight exceeding 175 lbs (79.38kg).

Some of the heaviest men to take part in professional boxing or prize fights were Ewart Potgieter, a South African fighter of the 1950s who weighed 335lbs (152kg) and Charles Freeman an American who fought William Perry in 1842, who weighed in at 320lbs (145.15kg).

Talking of knockdowns, Floyd Patterson was knocked down 16 times during his career as a world champion. Seven times in the first fight with Ingemar Johansson; twice in their third bout, one in the first fight with Sonny Liston, three times in the second bout with Liston; once each in the fights with Pete Rademacher, Tom McNeely and Roy Harris.

When Rademacher, who won the heavyweight Olympic gold medal at the 1956 games, fought Patterson for the heavyweight championship he was making his professional debut.

Nikolay Valuev from Russia who fought from 1993 to 2009 was 2.13m and weighed 146kg, won the WBA version of the heavyweight title when he beat John Ruiz on 1 October 2005.

During 1927 Jack Dempsey knocked Gene Tunney down in the famous long count battle and then failed to go to the neutral corner in terms of the amended rules, the length of the knockdown was timed at 14 seconds by some experts and 16 by others.

There was no official distance for heavyweight title fights during Jack Dempsey’s time. His fight with Jess Willard for the title was scheduled for 12 rounds as was the Georges Carpentier fight.

The Firpo match was scheduled for 15 rounds and both fights with Tunney were over 10 rounds.

Jack Dempsey came within an ace of losing his crown against the Wild Bull of the Pampas Luis Angel Firpo who was a big, rough savage performer. Firpo was floored seven times and Dempsey went down twice in two rounds, before losing to Dempsey.

But in three minutes and fifty seven seconds, Dempsey was knocked clear through the ropes and out of the ring and among much controversy; and it has been reported that had he not been helped by the hands of newspapermen he would not have made it back into the ring in time. However, this has been disputed.

Leon Spinks only held the heavyweight title from 15 February 1978 to 15 September 1978, seven months, the shortest reign in the division, whereas Joe Louis won the title on 22 June 1937 and retired as undefeated world champion after 25 successful defences on 1 March 1949.

He had been at the helm for 11 years eight months, the longest reign in the heavyweight division.

No light heavyweight champion has been successful at winning the undisputed heavyweight title.

The following fighters all failed in their bid; Philadelphia Jack O’Brien, Georges Carpentier, Tommy Loughran, John Henry Lewis, Billy Conn, Joey Maxim, Archie Moore and Bob Foster.

Michael Spinks won the International Boxing Federation version when he defeated Larry Holmes on points over 15 rounds on 21 September 1985.

WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball moved a step closer to a potential superfight with Japan’s Naoya Inoue with a strong showing against Irishman TJ Doheny in Liverpool, England on Saturday night (15th).

Despite losing his rag by butt-kicking his opponent on trying to escape from a headlock by his challenger towards the end of the opening round, which our first impression was should have resulted in a disqualification or at least point deduction, Ball managed to avoid punishment and preserved his undefeated record.

Ball (now 22-0-1, 13 KOs) boxed well and deservedly forced referee Michael Alexander to call a halt to proceedings on compassion of Doheny’s corner at the end on the tenth round, after the Irishman was dominated and visibly bashed up. By the late rounds he was only looking to potentially ship further punishment, albeit brave throughout.

Early on, Doheny boxed well and with an awkward southpaw style managed to avoid most of ‘The Wrecking Ball’ s heavy onslaughts. It was an interesting fight with Doheny adopting the ‘spoiler’ role, but nevertheless using all his experience and guile to avoid an early defeat.

Ball’s frustration spilled over with the kicking incident as he just couldn’t dent his opponent, despite those early onslaughts. However, eventually he matched Inoue’s stoppage of Doheny last September, although it wasn’t as emphatic coming at end of the tenth. Inoue’s stoppage coming in the seventh.

Doheny provides a benchmark to rank a potential Inoue match should the latter inevitably step up from junior-featherweight to the full 9st/126lbs division. the Japanese has already won ‘world’ titles in five different weight categories, three as an undisputed champion, and will be looking to win his sixth.

‘The Monster’ Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) defends in Las Vegas on May 4 against American Ramon Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs). He’s epected to be tested but come though successfully. A potential fight against Ball is mouthwatering and sure to be explosive.

Doheny (now 26-6, 20 KOs) fell to his sixth loss, the last two in bravely contesting ‘world’ titles. At 38 he’s given as much as he can in the ring at the elite level and can hold his head up high.

For Ball, at only 28, lots of options open up for him. Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions will be looking to maximise his profile and earning potential, whether Japan, Stateside or in Ball’s beloved home of Liverpool.

Kirby, Liverpool’s Nick Ball defends his WBA featherweight (9st/126 lbs) title against Ireland’s T J Doheny in his home city tonight.

Billed appropriately ‘A Hard Days Night’ in tribute to The Beatles, it’s not expected at face value to be that, but, a further opportunity to showcase ‘The Wrecking Ball’s’ skills and legitimacy to fight current Pound-for-Pound elect and elite multi-weight champion Naoya Inoue.

Shown live in the UK on TNT Sports it pits a 28 year old champion against a 38 year old challenger.

Ball (21-0-1, 12 KOs) has been excellent to date and despite dropping a disputable draw to Rey Vargas he bounced back to win his ‘world’ title. This is the one Barry McGuigan famously held in the mid-1980’s defeating Eusebio Pedroza.

Doheny (26-5, 20 KOs), based in Australia, and a former IBF 122lbs champion, was stopped last September in seven rounds by Inoue in Japan, and this fight will provide a good yardstick as to Ball’s potential to secure a lucrative fight with the Japanese.

There was controversy at yesterday’s weigh-in with Doheny tipping the scales at 4 ounces over, which he promptly shed to save the fight and event. There was a tasty exchange with Ball not taking too kindly to this indiscretion.

It promises to be an excellent clash with both fighters come-forward and skillful having fought at world level, but expect Ball to come though with ‘flying colours’ with age and ambition likely being the defining factors.

The main event is ably supported by local favourite Andrew Cain against former WBC champion Charlie Edwards in a very competitive fight at bantamweight world level.

Expect fireworks in both main fights.

Southampton, England’s Ryan ‘Piranha’ Garner showed the predatory fish’ clinical ruthlessness on Saturday (1 Mar) in front of a packed-out nearby Bournemouth International Centre.

In an excellent stand-out display he captured the vacant European belt by dominating Spain’s Salvador Jimenez over twelve entertaining rounds on a unanimous decision, winning all.

A Queensberry promotion, shown live on TNT Sports, a raucous atmosphere was created by Garner’s supporters, also in allegiance to a shared passion for their soccer club Southampton FC. Sitting ringside was the current incumbent of the SFC manager role, Croatian Ivan Juric, who must have been impressed with finally seeing some new sporting success for the city.

The 27 year old Garner (now 17-0, 8 KOs) has had a stop-start career with many lengthy periods of self-inflicted inactivity, but, to his credit, has retained his undefeated record. Over the twelve rounds the ‘Piranha’ took all of the fight out of the previously undefeated Jimenez with an aggressive, almost punch-perfect display. There were no legitimate knockdowns in a thoroughly entertaining fight.

On Saturday’s victory the opportunities are lining up for Garner in a stacked domestic 130lbs (9st, 4lbs) division. His dream is a fight at St. Mary’s stadium, the home of his beloved football club, ideally in defence of his European or, at another title level. As he also holds the WBC International title that now looks more a reality.

Jimenez dropped to 14-1-1 (6 KOs) on his first venture outside of Spain and was brave throughout.

It was a double celebration for the City of Southampton as Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion Lewis ‘The Saint’ Edmondson successfully defended his title over twelve rounds against Bristol-based Nigerian Oluwatosin Kejawa. Again, there were no knockdowns in another clear unanimous decision.

Edmondson (now 11-0, 3 KOs) started strongly and although lowered the pace in the later rounds was dominant. It was his first defence of his title and in a stacked domestic 175 lbs (12st, 7lbs) division big fights await.

The 23 year old Kejawa (11-1, 5 KOs), at times, impressed in his first test and will undoubtedly come again.

‘The Last Crescendo’ – A fan’s perspective.

Give or take a few pence I handed over my extra £20 to a satellite network for another afternoon and evening of world boxing action. This time for once, not reluctantly, but with the promise and anticipation of “the best card ever” and, most certainly this century.

My first dilemma was where, and with whom, should I watch it.

I chose loyalty and my preferred anchor team and commentators (not all members it must be said) over the younger, new era of presenter. I chose the one with an element of female appeal, but also an excellent boxing knowledge at that.

As a big all-round sports fan, on an afternoon of unprecedented finish and start of notable sporting events I chose to abandon the further humiliation of my lifelong football team, the England cricket team again throwing away a good score to the Australians and the start of England v Scotland in the Six Nations rugby at Twickenham.

Every multi-sports fan will have had these ‘difficult’ choices to make. Me being a big fight fan above all else, and knowing the magnitude of the Riyadh Season event, I knew where I was focusing from 5pm GMT, or as near as I could !

Succumbing to the hype and shelling out my ‘hard earned’ has sometimes resulted in my immense disappointment. This time I trusted my knowledge and instinct, and tried to pass on the word to as many as I could in advance of ‘The Last Crescendo’. This was in my view not to be missed.

So, more importantly, how did the event unfold ?

It would be impossible to capture it succinctly in this piece, but I will try…

In so doing I’ve decided to hand out in an Academy Award fashion, the ‘Oscar’ winners of the night.

Fight of the night – Amazingly, the first up on the main telecast of the seven fight card (forgetting the earlier prelim largely for a Saudi audience). The winner being the all-British light-heavyweight contest between world ranked Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith.

A fight so intense and gruelling, that one was almost exhausted on its conclusion just watching it ! Such stubbornness and craft was exhibited by both boxers that it beggared belief and just shaded the man event delivered at the end of the night. Smith winning by unanimous decision (119-110, 115-113 & 116-112).

Knockout of the night – The shot that Joseph Parker landed on the top of the head of Martin Bakole in round two, not only completely discombobulated the 22 stone Congolese behemoth, forcing him to reel backwards and thump to the canvas, but brought back memories of Mike Tyson chasing Trevor Berbick around the ring to wrestle the WBC heavyweight championship in November 1986 and announce his era on the world title scene.

Rocky Balboa ‘bravery award of the night’ – goes to English lightweight contender Josh Padley who accepted a fight on three days notice, downing his tools from his day-job installing solar panels on someone’s roof, to answer His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s call to save this part of the promotion. I’m sure he was handsomely rewarded but the grit he showed to compete with and last eight completed rounds with an established world champion with an elite amateur pedigree was mindboggling. Hats off to him.

Disappointment of the night – Hamzah Sheeraz. For the best part of twelve rounds I sat shouting at my TV to get the impressive to date Londoner to engage and cash in on his opportunity to win the WBC middleweight title and defeat Carlos Adames. This, one of the ‘blue riband’ belts in boxing, previously held by ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard and ‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler no less.

The fight was declared a split draw 115-114 to Sheeraz, 118-110 Adames & 114-114 even on the official cards. On mine, I had the champion Adames a clear winner as he made the fight with his largely accurate high tempo aggressive approach throughout. Being ‘old school’ I still feel the challenger has to take the title, not back off to secure or steal a points win.

My disappointment was closely followed by the performance of WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson labouring to a ninth round TKO over the aforementioned Josh Padley. I’ve given the greater credit rightly to Padley but no doubt, despite boxing slickly the highly decorated and talented American should’ve closed the show a lot earlier.

Breakout win of the night – German heavyweight Agit Kabayel. I hesitate to use the word prospect for an already top ten world ranked heavyweight. But the manner in which he broke down the favoured Chinese man-mountain Zhilei ‘Big Bang’ Zhang was highly impressive. His sixth round KO of his opponent elevates him higher into genuine world heavyweight contention. Zhang must consider at 41 years old whether it’s wise to continue.

Event of the night – Artur Beterbiev v Dmitry Bivol. This was always going to be the main course of this sumptuous feast, and didn’t disappoint.

It ended up being twelve rounds of the most intense and elite boxing action, to surpass, if that was possible, their first meeting in October 2024.

By a strange twist of fate the judges returned scores of 114-114, 116-112 & 115-113 were identical to those returned four months ago, but on this night with the other fighter being the victor on majority decision.

Winner of the night – Undoubtedly Dmitry Bivol – the new undisputed light-heavyweight champion of the world.

Also now, The Ring magazine #4 pound-for-pound fighter, leapfrogging Artur Beterbiev who is relegated to #5. Such was the magnitude of this fight that these are the baubles for the victor.

So exhausted was I on conclusion of the event that I haven’t seen fit to watch a replay of the main fight. I trust my round-by-round scoring on the night by giving Beterbiev a one point victory on winning the last round (115-114). I had the fight dead-even going into the final three minutes and believe the bearded Russian shaded it. I will reserve my final judgement until watching and analysing again, at length, and listening to the multi-fallout from such a magnificent fight.

If, on re-watching and evidence being shown, I will happily concede that “I was wrong” and take my lumps and have great pleasure in accepting the verdict and champion.

I look forward to finding the time and inclination to watch it again. It will happen today I’m sure. But lastly congratulations to all involved in the show which indeed reached all expectations and more !

Whichever promoter, media outlet or punter is telling you, the hype is along the same lines – “This is the greatest fight card ever put together” and one “not to be missed”.

The Don King or Bob Arum extravaganzas of the 1980’s and 90’s may hold this honour, and certainly for the last century, but this is definitely the best we’ve witnessed in the new millennium.

Top to toe it’s a seven fight card to savour, with world sanctioning body title fights and eliminators abound and almost all ‘pick ’em’ fights. Just run through the above.

So, tomorrow (22 Feb) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia the ‘Last Crescendo’ happens and it should be sumptuous.

Two fights have fallen by the wayside in fight week.

First, world title contender Floyd Schofield mysteriously withdrew citing illness and WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson will defend his title against Briton Josh Padley. Then yesterday, IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois succumbed to a virus and his original opponent Joseph Parker will now face Martin Bakole in an international contest. This weakens the card somewhat, but it’s still a cracker !

Top billing is the much anticipated rematch of elite Russian boxers Artur Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) and Dimitry Bivol (23-1, 11 KOs) for The Ring magazine and undisputed light-heavyweight championship of the world.

Last October’s first encounter was one of the top fights of 2024. Again, all 12st, 7lbs (175lbs) world belts will be up for grabs in a battle for ultimate supremacy.

The, now 40 year old Beterbiev, won the first match by majority decision (114-114, 115-113 and 116-112) after twelve intense rounds of top quality boxing action.

The debate still rages among some observers who really won. To us Bivol seemed to lose it down the stretch after making a promising start. We considered Beterbiev edged the championship rounds (10-12).

It was such a spectacle and good fight, along with differing views on the victor, that the rematch was apparently agreed within 24 hours of the final bell and decision.

The man from the former Soviet province of Dagestan, although losing his 100% KO record, became the first undisputed champion since Michael Spinks back in 1983 when the division was arguably at its most hot. We’re almost at those same levels again for this blue riband and original boxing weight category.

The bearded Beterbiev holds stand out victories over Britons Callum Johnson, Smith and Anthony Yarde, stopping them all inside the distance. He has been dropped, but he’s done the stopping in the end !

He’s an intimidating character inside the ring with a confident calmness outside of it. In boxing exile, fighting out of Montreal, Canada, he is excellently trained by Canadian Marc Ramsay, one of the best in the sport.

Going into the first fight Beterbiev sustained a number of injuries and had his knee reconstructed in the process. This did not have any detrimental effect in that contest but could still be a telling factor in the rematch.

Bivol, 34, is of mixed Russian/Korean heritage from the province of Kyrgyzstan. He, like his opponent, had an excellent Soviet amateur schooling, but is not as decorated as Beterbiev – a world champion and London 2012 Olympic medalist.

The tall, orthodox Bivol does though hold a points victory over Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, one of the modern greats.

He lost his undefeated record and WBA title to Beterbiev last time out after 12 successful defences. His win over ‘Canelo’ in May 2022 finally elevated him into the ‘Superfight’ category and won him The Ring 2022 Fighter of the Year.

Bivol is an excellent boxer and the more stylish of the two. He tends to box at range and probe to victory before unleashing his heavy artillery. Beterbiev, by contrast is equally talented, but likes to get amongst it by smothering his opponent with his work rate and power punches. Fighting him is likened to fighting someone in a phone booth and this was illustrated in their first match.

The big questions as we approach the opening bell are; 1) Will this be repeat, or revenge ? 2) Will the injury record and ‘Father Time’ finally catch up with Beterbiev ? 3) Can Bivol take Beterbiev’s power again, and 4) Has Bivol learnt from the first fight enough to box his way to victory.

We could go through each contest in turn with an argument for each fighter being victorious, such is that they are so evenly matched, however we will relent and just cautiously predict the winner and outcome. Here goes;

Bivol win on points, Parker on points, Stevenson by KO, Sheeraz on points, Ortiz Jr. by TKO, Zhang by KO and Buatsi on points. Each one of these could easily go the other way and that’s the rarity and beauty of the card.

The whole bill will be shown live in the UK on various platforms as a pay-per-view/box office event, and available worldwide via the DAZN streaming service.

Again, it forms part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season and is multi-promoted, including Top Rank Inc. and British-based outfits Queensberry, BOXXER and Matchroom Boxing.

Make a date and watch with interest. It should be a helluva afternoon into the late evening.

First bell of the seven fights is at 16:00 GMT. Enjoy !

Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis delivered an emphatic destruction of 2012 Olympian (and fellow silver medalist) Denys Berinchyk in the ‘small room’ at Madison Square Garden, New York City, Valentine’s night (14 Feb).

Although the Norfolk, Virginia fighter had been arriving over the last two years, this was his coming out performance, finally delivering on that early promise.

At only age 25 and arguably in the most star-studded and deepest division in boxing – lightweight (9st, 9lbs/135lbs)- with the frame to move through the divisions; the world is really the brash, talented and charismatic fighter’s oyster.

As earlier reported on these pages, shades or Sugar Ray Leonard or Pernell ‘Sweet Pea’ Whitaker are recasting over boxing.

Davis, now 13-0 (9 KOs), could be the second coming of either, although clearly having his own personality and style. An orthodox fighter with an outstanding amateur pedigree and Friday winning a first professional ‘world’ title with relative ease.

With an alleged racist grudge going into the fight the brave and tough Ukrainian lost his WBO title in his first defence, and with it his undefeated record.

Berinchyk, now 19-1, 9 KOs, was dropped by a Davis left hook in the third round and, taking further punishment, was finally stopped by a stunning right-left body combo on 1:45 of the fourth. The body shots were Davis’ route to victory hurting him throughout and, Davis also appeared to break the Ukrainian’s nose as blood heavily streamed out some time before the referee’s final stoppage.

Post-fight, ecstatic with his dominant showing and new ‘world’ title, Davis bragged “I want anybody who has the balls to step in the ring and fight me. There are two 135lb champions (likely referring to either Gervonta Davis or Shakur Stevenson as other champ Vasiliy Lomachenko is also a Top Rank Inc. fighter), that I would love to fight. If they have the guts to step in the ring with ‘The Businessman’, tell them to send me a contract, or I can send them one”. Promoted by Top Rank he’s in the right camp to make either of those two fights a reality, and then possibly move through the divisions.

In Manchester, UK Saturday night (15 Feb), a tough contest resulted in Britain’s Jack Catterall, now 30-2 (13 KOs), failing in his attempt to become the WBO mandatory contender at junior-welterweight (10st/140 lbs) losing by split decision (all cards each way 115-113) to Mexican-American Arnold Barboza Jr. (32-0, 11 KOs). It was a fight that was competitive throughout but never really caught fire.

The impressive Barboza, fighting in a hostile away environment, now moves onto world title contention. Catterall must regroup.

Rising Briton Adam ‘Assassin’ Azim scored a major victory on Saturday (1 Feb) stopping former IBF champion Sergey Lipinets in the ninth round in a ‘crossroads’ fight, and importantly, secured a ‘crossover’ to world level.

With fellow Pakistani-heritage and former world champion’s Amir Khan sitting ringside, along with Shawn Porter from the US, it was a statement victory in good company.

The 22 year old Azim dominated the tough and always advancing Lipinets through the completed rounds with strong hooks, uppercuts and impressive body attacks.

Azim looked to win every round on skill, power and output, but was on a tightrope coming into the ninth as he was earlier penalised for repetitive low blows, being deducted a point in both the fourth and seventh by referee Steve Gray, and forcing Azim to share them.

Another low blow could have been catastrophic as the small, compact physique of Kazakh Lipinets caused Azim to stray low on numerous occasions.

What was impressive was the manner in which Azim controlled the tempo of the fight remaining composed (albeit with the help of cornerman Shane McGuigan) between rounds. This bodes well for his future steps up the world ladder.

Azim, fighting out of Slough, England clearly possesses the power to take out opponents with his record lifted to 13-0 (10 KOs). Lipinets durability and ring-savvy brought him to the ninth round, but he was dropped twice en-route. The finish in the end was inevitable when Steve Gray called a halt after a relentless spell of Azim pressure.

Lipinets’ record dips to 18-4-1 (13 KOs) but, although on the slide, on this performance he was brave throughout and although battered and bruised will be a test for anyone who aspires to world level should he wish to continue in the higher echelons.

Azim captured the IBO super-lightweight championship. The first, of many more significant ‘world’ titles, on Saturday’s evidence.

The show was promoted by BOXXER and this could be a step to the eventual crowning of its second male world champion after Chris Billam-Smith was crowned WBO cruiserweight champion in 2023.

Azim is arguably in one of the toughest divisions in boxing (10st/140lbs) but should he continue in this vein there are big matches out there for him. Brits Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall are in the world top ten.
Although he called out Dalton Smith in a big domestic match post-fight, world level beckons on this performance.

Promising junior-welterweight (10st/140lbs) contender Adam ‘Assassin’ Azim takes his first major step up to world level as he meets former IBF champion Sergey ‘The Samurai’ Lipinets at the OVO Wembley Arena, London, England tonight.

So far Azim’s progress to this level has been impressive with his most recent victory against fellow British contender Ohara Davies being a standout performance. Davies, who’d fought in good company before, was dispatched emphatically inside eight rounds and subsequently retired from the sport.

Slough, west London’s Azim (12-0, 9 KOs), was British fighter of the year in 2024 and has delivered all asked of him to date. At only 22 he’s an excellent prospect for challenging world honours. Trained by respected Shane McGuigan he combines good boxing skills with a concussive array of shots. He’s looking as though he can only get better, but first has to come through the 35 year old Lipinets.

Lipinets (18-3-1, 13 KOs), from Kazakhstan, an ex-professional champion has had a number of world title fights which built on his good amateur background, representing one of the top boxing nations in the world.

He rose to win a version of the world title and has fought in good company at that level. He holds a win over former ‘world’ champion Lamont Peterson who once beat Britain’s Olympic medallist and double world belt-holder Amir Khan.

The Kazakh also defeated quality American Mikey Garcia.

Tonight’s meeting, in boxing parlance, is a ‘crossroads’ fight, with one fighter moving on and up, and the other disappearing from contention. Whether Lipinets is ready to surrender that higher status at the moment will be determined. We expect him to put up a sterling effort for the first five or so rounds, and then be overwhelmed by Azim’s youth and superior power down the stretch.

The BOXXER promotion is to be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK and Peacock channel in the USA.

There was some pre-fight drama yesterday when both fighters scaled in above the 10 stone limit. A couple of hours later both met the required limit for the vacant IBO title to still be at stake.

The card also includes the British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champion Callum Simpson (11-0, 11 KOs) who should come through against a big punching Ghananian who is talking a good fight so far. Bar any shocks this could be a fight determined by levels.