Josh Warrington returns to action in his home city of Leeds to make the first defence of his IBF world featherweight title against Alberto Lopez at the Leeds First Direct Arena with the show promoted by Matchroom Boxing. The show will also feature Ebanie Bridges who defends her IBF world batamweight title against Shannon O’Connell.
Leeds native, Koby McNamara, kicked off the action at the Leeds First Direct Arena with a 40-37 points win to continue his unbeaten start as a pro against Nabil Ahmed in a super-bantamweight contest. Ahmed made the bout competitive and scrappy at points but ultimately it was McNamara with the more productive output which leaned in the Leeds man’s favour.
Super-welterweight Junaid Bostan moved to 4-0 and recorded his fourth stoppage as he knocked out Athanasios Glynos, of Greece, in the third of a scheduled six-rounder. The contest was fought at a fast pace with Glynos able to square up Bostan and land some heavy left-handed shots in the opening rounds. Bostan was able to become more accurate in the third round countering Glynos as the Greek became wreckless and over-eager to land first in the action. The fourth frame saw Bostan almost get Glynos out of the action with a right hand but threw him to the floor afterwards however Glynos was hurt and ultimately saved by the bell.
Glynos was hurt early in the fifth round by a left uppercut and then Bostan landed a huge overhand that dropped Glynos heavily, referee Howard Foster waving it off at 0:37 of the round without taking up the count.
Rhiannon Dixon moved to 7-0 and recorded the best win of her career to date as she produced more or less a punch-perfect performance to beat Kristine Shergold over eight rounds at lightweight.
Moving to 9-0 was Cory O’Regan, the lightweight from Leeds, as he stopped Antonio Rodriguez, of Spain, in the fourth round.
O’Regan had won all his first eight fights on points, not losing a single round, but he started like he was out for a first stoppage against late sub-Rodriguez, who was under pressure at the end of the first round.
O’Regan stalked Rodriguez in the second round happy to bide his time and landed a heavy left stunning the Spaniard into the ropes but ultimately ran out of time in the round.to claim an early night. The domination continued in the third, but there were signs that Rodriguez was wilting in the fourth and after O’Regan backed him into the ropes. O’Regan opened up with both hands until referee Howard Foster stepped in at 2:03 of the round.
Featherweight Hopey Price impressed as he improved his record to 9-0 with a comfortable points win over Jonathan Santana with referee John Latham scoring the contest 80-72 in Price’s favour over an scheduled eight rounds.
Former WBA bantamweight champion Shannon Courteney returned from 14 months out of the ring and flattered to deceive as she toiled to a 77-75 points win over Gemma Ruegg but somehow seemingly sets herself up for a world title opportunity against current WBA champ Nina Hughes. If I was Courteney position i would seriously be reconsidering that option in favour of improving her ability to even consider going back down the world title route despite her aggressive nature. Ruegg of whom despite her five wins and now the sixth loss of her career impressed to make life uncomfortable for Courteney and showed that she is much better than her record suggests.
JJ Metcalf continued his fine recent run as he beat Courtney Pennington in six rounds of their super-welterweight ten-rounder with referee Howard Foster waving off the action at the end of round six with Pennington battered and bruised throughout.