{"id":937,"date":"2021-08-01T12:29:03","date_gmt":"2021-08-01T12:29:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/?p=937"},"modified":"2021-08-01T12:29:03","modified_gmt":"2021-08-01T12:29:03","slug":"wood-stops-xu-can-in-12th-to-secure-wba-featherweight-world-crown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/?p=937","title":{"rendered":"WOOD STOPS XU CAN IN 12TH TO SECURE WBA FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CROWN"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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XU Can vs Leigh Wood, WBA Featherweight World Title Fight. 31 July 2021 Picture By Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing. Leigh Wood celebrates his win.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
12 x 3 mins WBA Featherweight World Title<\/strong>
XU CAN v LEIGH WOOD WTKO12 (2:43)<\/strong>
(Beijing, China) (Nottingham, England)<\/strong>

Leigh Wood stopped Xu Can in the 12th and final round to claim the WBA Featherweight World Title in a big upset at the top of the bill on the first week of Matchroom Fight Camp in Brentwood, Essex, live worldwide on DAZN.

‘Leigh-thal’ created history by becoming only the second ever boxer from Nottingham to become a World Champion \u2013 following in the footsteps of former IBF Super-Middleweight World Champion Carl Froch who was watching on from ringside. 

After only competing at British level throughout his career, Wood was thought to be up against it against Can, but it was clear from the opening bell that the powerful Ben Davison-trained puncher belonged on the big stage. As the fight entered the championship rounds, Can tried to put his foot down as he felt his crown slipping, but he would pay for that approach in a memorable last session. A superb right hand dropped the Chinese fighter and after rising to his feet, Wood wasted no time in forcing the stoppage. \u201cIt feels good you know, to get the stoppage over the line in a great and high-paced fight, the last round with six weeks\u2019 notice, I couldn\u2019t have done anymore,” Wood<\/strong> told Matchroom afterwards. 
 
\u201cI did say in an interview that I\u2019m going to be catching him clean and it\u2019s not down to me how long the fight lasts, it\u2019s down to him pretty much. I could have sustained that all night. He took some big shots, big heart, credit to him but the accumulation has its effect as well. The shot I finished him with wasn\u2019t as big as the ones I caught him with earlier on, but they took their toll, I caught him and got the stoppage.
 
\u201cI had belief in my power, not only do I have big power, but I know how to get it off, how to set it up and how to mix it up. That\u2019s the biggest factor in working with Ben, Lee Wylie and Barry Smith, they\u2019ve really changed the game for me.
 
\u201cHe definitely wasn\u2019t throwing 120 punches a round and that\u2019s down to the game plan. Everyone was saying how are you going to do it, what are going to do, are you going to hit him hard, are going to hold him, it was down to the game plan. Even people watching don\u2019t understand, but that\u2019s a conversation for another day.
 
\u201cHopefully the younger generations see this and think you know what, he\u2019s done it, World Champion, British, Commonwealth, European, hopefully people decide to go pick up a pair of boxing gloves and start their journey.
 
\u201cBen and Lee said to me they\u2019ve never been so confident in someone getting the tactics right as much as me going into this fight. I thought that was a big statement, I was doing everything they wanted me to do. I executed it pretty much to perfection and credit to those guys for getting it right \u2013 I just do as I\u2019m told, and it works.
 
\u201cI\u2019m easy, redemption with Dickens would be great for myself. Full confidence in Ben getting my tactics right for that fight, I had a bad night that fight, first southpaw I boxed as a pro, I\u2019d like to put that right naturally.
 
\u201cBut if there\u2019s bigger fights, I said I wanted the Navarrete fight he\u2019s explosive like me, that\u2019ll be absolute fireworks. People might slate me and say it\u2019s a regular title, let\u2019s fight for the super title, let\u2019s unify \u2013 I want big fights.
 
\u201cMy career was stalled earlier on. In three years I\u2019ve been British, Commonwealth, WBO European and now World Champion. My best years are definitely to come.”
 
12 x 3 mins European, British and Commonwealth Cruiserweight Titles<\/strong>
TOMMY MCCARTHY v CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH WSD12 (115-114 McCarthy, 115-114 CBS, 116-112 CBS)<\/strong>
(Belfast, Northern Ireland)  (Bournemouth, England)<\/strong>

Chris Billam-Smith withstood a late fightback from Tommy McCarthy to edge out a narrow split points decision to add the British and European Cruiserweight Titles to his Commonwealth Title in an epic battle at the Matchroom HQ. 

Belfast’s McCarthy started and ended the fight impressively but his low output in-between cost him the decision. Both fighters received a scorecard of 115-114, but a 116-112 verdict for Bournemouth’s Billam-Smith was enough to see him to progress to 13-1.

\u201cIt\u2019s crazy, as Shane said, it\u2019s been a bit of a tough camp towards the end \u2013 I had an injury and I haven\u2019t sparred in 3-4 weeks,\u201d Billam-Smith<\/strong> told Matchroom afterwards. \u201cAll that emotion came out, it was an interesting build up the fight, future fights, but I\u2019m over the moon.
 
\u201cIt was a good shot, the best shot he landed all fight, I was with it, but it was a good shot, it buzzed me in a way, but I was in control, I could see, I knew I\u2019d been hit but I just had to ride it a bit.
 
\u201cI was really confident, the corner had it closer. In my head I thought I\u2019d won probably eight rounds, but I wasn\u2019t scoring it as I went along \u2013 so maybe seven. There was no way he won seven rounds, absolutely no way, that first round he landed one shot. It was a good shot, but I also had him hurt and hit him a lot more \u2013 those rounds should really go in my favour.
 
\u201cHe was harder to hit clean to be fair to him, but that was my own fault, I was loading up looking for one shot. Shane said that so the jab to the body was key, it was everything. It won me the fight, we watched the Askin fight today and that was the key \u2013 props to Shane.
 
\u201cI sent the tweet out and it got him going, he built the fight really well. I played the villain at the beginning and just let him run away with it. All respect to Tommy, he was tougher and better than I thought he was.
 
\u201cI\u2019m so much better than that, I just walked back into the changing rooms and Shane has a massive go at me and said, ‘what was that?’ We know what I\u2019m capable of but then I get too excited in there when I hurt someone. That\u2019s because I\u2019ve only had 14 fights, I\u2019ve got a lot of learning to do but it\u2019s a long process, I\u2019m not the finished article and that\u2019s the sort of fight I need.
 
\u201cI was fit in there, comfortable in there, still ready to work in that last round and go up a gear which is good, but I\u2019ve got to learn to be more articulate with how I go about things.
 
\u201cThey all work hard in the gym; I like to do the little 1% that they probably can\u2019t be bothered to do. They work hard, Lawrence runs every morning, everyone\u2019s a grafter in the gym but that comes down to Shane and Josh, they set such a high standard. You\u2019ve got to be world class and act like a professional the whole time in that gym to survive.
 
\u201cThere was a group of twelve lads from Bournemouth that I kind of know and they all come up, to see them in crowd and to making the noise they did, it was really special. It\u2019s so good to have fans back and some normality.
 
\u201cI want a show in Bournemouth, I really do. We\u2019ve tried it almost 18 months ago, it would be unbelievable to have a show down there. We\u2019ve got the Bournemouth International Centre which Eddie had booked for last March which he couldn\u2019t get an opponent for. I need a show in Bournemouth, I love my fans, they\u2019ve been superb to me. I\u2019ve been on the road, Riakporhe in London, Glover in Liverpool, here in London, I want to go home.\u201d

4 x 3 mins International Lightweight contest<\/strong>
CAMPBELL HATTON WPTS4 (40-36) v JAKUB LASKOWSKI<\/strong>
(Manchester, England)                            (Siemianowice Slaskie, Poland)<\/strong>

Campbell Hatton extended his unbeaten record to 3-0 with a straight-forward four-round points win over Jakub Laskowski, from Poland. 

The 20-year-old Mancunian, son of former double World Champion Ricky, banked more valuable rounds as he continued his development in the professional ranks. 

\u201cI was happy again really; I thought my defence was a lot better,” Hatton<\/strong> told Matchroom afterwards. “I was a bit more composed again, I think there were a few times where I\u2019d hurt him and probably could have smothered my work fully and not caught him with anything. I managed to control myself a little when he was going. I didn\u2019t quite get the knockout because I was smothering, and he was tricky, but it was exactly what I need. I need the rounds more than I need a stoppage.
 
\u201cHe was tricky customer, slippery, doing a bit of switching and some different looks. That\u2019s the perfect fight and it has been matched perfectly for me to learn. There are people out there they could bring in and anyone could hit them and knock them over. That\u2019s not how they\u2019re matching me, we\u2019re getting me people who are going to get the rounds out of me and give me different things to overcome \u2013 that\u2019s what he did tonight.
 
\u201cI think I showed some more classy work than I have before, working off my jab. My jab is one of my best shots in the gym and now I\u2019m bringing it into play in the fights now.
 
\u201cThe first fight I was saying all week I was dead relaxed, but I had nothing to compare it to. The second fight I was more composed, and I was more composed this fight \u2013 next time it\u2019s going to be the same pattern and even better.
 
\u201cThis was a different experience, it\u2019s different to anything that I\u2019m probably going to face very often in my career. It was different making the ring walk this time, you feel breezy seeing people tucking into their tea and having a pint. It was weird making my ring walk to that but as soon as the bell went it was just like any other ring and I just got to work.
 
\u201cGibraltar, the amount of media commitments I had to and how much time was invested into me on the media side, I think that set me up, so I\u2019ve not had to do much really. We\u2019ve got it all out the way in the first one, I\u2019m never going to have to deal with anything like that again, the pressure will always be there but each time I\u2019ll be dealing with it better. I\u2019m dealing with the pressure like it\u2019s not there now.
 
\u201cYou see all these opponents, if it was any other kid he was fighting with any other surname, I don\u2019t think he would have been digging in half as much as he did there. They want to make a point, whether it\u2019s to stop me, or just survive \u2013 they raise their game a bit when they know it\u2019s me and I\u2019ve got to do the same.\u201d
 
 10 x 3 mins International Super-Welterweight contest <\/strong>
ANTHONY FOWLER WTKO8 (2:12) v RICO MUELLER<\/strong>
(Liverpool, England)                             (Eberswalde, Germany)<\/strong>

Anthony Fowler was made to work hard for victory as he registered an eighth-round stoppage over late stand-in opponent Rico Mueller \u2013 setting up a tasty October 9 domestic clash with Liverpool rival Liam Smith.

The German, who arrived in the UK earlier this week to replace Roberto Garcia following an injury, had plenty of ambition at the start of the fight, but Fowler was always landing the heavy shots and the pressure finally told.

The Liverpudlian, who became a father during the week, has now won six fights in a row since suffering his one and only loss in the pros at the hands of Scott Fitzgerald at The M&S Bank Arena Liverpool back in March 2019.

\u201cMy next opponent is a really good fighter, much better than him, but I needed the rounds,” Fowler<\/strong> told DAZN afterwards. “I thought in round two I wobbled him but thought, ‘not today’. My last fight was three rounds and I thought, ‘I need rounds today’, so I stepped back and worked on a few things.
 
\u201cThe one thing I haven\u2019t had in my career is rounds, I\u2019ve always blasted my opponents out and haven\u2019t really learnt much. I\u2019m learning plenty in the gym but that\u2019s where it counts, it means nothing in the gym.
 
\u201cI\u2019m from the south of Liverpool, Liam\u2019s (Smith) from the north. It doesn\u2019t bother me, I respect Liam a lot, he\u2019s a really good fighter, ten times better than that lad tonight so I need to be on top of my game. I don\u2019t turn fights down, since day one I\u2019ve boxed anyone, I\u2019ve asked for all these big fights, but it never happened for me.
 
\u201cEven tonight, I wanted to box Roberto Garcia, a good, experienced veteran. Rico Mueller gaveca good fight and I\u2019m happy he replaced Garcia because I said in the ring, ‘thanks for giving it your all’, after six rounds he was six rounds down and he was still trying.
 
\u201cLiam is a much higher level, but I needed the rounds and that\u2019s what I got.\u201d
 
10 x 3 mins IBF International Super-Middleweight Title<\/strong>
AVNI YILDIRIM v JACK CULLEN WU10 (100-90, 98-92, 97-93)<\/strong>
(Istanbul, Turkey)  (Little Lever, England)<\/strong>

Jack Cullen claimed the biggest win of his career by outpointing former World Title challenger Avni Yildirim over ten rounds to earn the IBF International Super-Middleweight Title.

‘Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver’ was in control from the opening bell as he used his long jab to set up further attacks on the Turk who shared the ring with pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez back in February. 

Yildirim was looking to get back to winning ways after being stopped in three rounds by the Mexican in Miami but instead suffered the fourth defeat of his career at the hands of the 27-year-old from Lancashire.

Cullen outboxed and outfought ‘Mr Robot’ in front of his vocal support at the Matchroom HQ in Essex \u2013 with the final scorecards reading 100-90, 98-92, and 97-93 in favour of the Michael Jennings-trained fighter. 

\u201cI\u2019m absolutely buzzing and listen; we came with a game plan, a couple of rounds in I wasn\u2019t doing what I should have been doing, but I stuck to my game plan and it paid off eventually,” Cullen<\/strong> told Matchroom afterwards. 
 
\u201cI knew he was going to come forward, he\u2019s a tough fighter and he comes to fight \u2013 that\u2019s what he did tonight. Like I said with my game plan, using the jab and trying to not get caught with the right hand. I got caught a few times stupidly, but I got back on my boxing and got through the ten rounds.
 
\u201cTo be honest with you every fight I\u2019ve seen him in he\u2019s been one paced. It\u2019s me not doing too much, using the jab, and letting him come forward, instead of me getting involved in a scrap \u2013 it worked. We stuck to the game plan, it worked, and I\u2019m delighted. 
 
\u201cI\u2019ve been working over and over, every day, it\u2019s starting to pay off. Like I said, you\u2019re going to see a different Jack Cullen and I think you did tonight.
 
\u201cAt the end of the day, I\u2019m in this game to fight the best and anything can happen, anything is around the corner. It\u2019s all about being switched on and ready, whoever you get offered you\u2019ve got to take the fight with both hands and go for it.
 
\u201cI have got a brilliant support, a lot of fans that love watching and supporting me. There were only 25 in there tonight, but it sounded like 100, it\u2019s brilliant and I\u2019m going to have a nice little rest \u2013 we\u2019ll see. Hopefully Eddie will sign me now!
 
\u201cIt\u2019s moving in the right direction, the direction I want it to go. Everyone said Yildirim is going to be a tough opponent and I knew that, but I knew I should be beating fighters like him because of where I want to take my career to.
 
\u201cI will go with flow, who knows, I reckon there will be all sorts of people jumping out the closet wanting to fight me, but we\u2019ll see.\u201d
 
6 x 2 mins Super-Lightweight contest<\/strong>
SANDY RYAN WPTS6 (60-54) v KIRSTIE BAVINGTON<\/strong>
(Derby, England)                         (Pensnett, England)<\/strong>

Former amateur star Sandy Ryan made a winning start to life in the paid ranks as she outclassed Kirstie Bavington over six rounds in the opening bout of Fight Camp. 

The Derby fighter, who is trained by Clifton Mitchell and managed by Paul Ready, was in control throughout and that was reflected on the scorecards as she emerged from the contest a 60-54 winner. 

\u201cIt was a very good fight,” Ryan <\/strong>told Matchroom afterwards. “I\u2019m over the moon and I\u2019m so happy. I enjoyed every minute of that, the walk, everything, I\u2019m just made for the pro game.
 
\u201cI took my time; I enjoyed the ring walk \u2013 I enjoyed it so much.
 
\u201cI wanted a tough fight, to prove the levels. I showed glimpses of it, there were times where she was a bit messy and holding. The pro game and each fight as it goes on, I\u2019m going to get much better.
 
\u201cLevels, I said that even if I had a bad day, she wasn\u2019t going to beat me. It\u2019s not disrespect to her, but I just know what I\u2019m capable of. Boxing\u2019s my life and I\u2019m going all the way.
 
\u201cI\u2019ve got the right team behind, Matchroom, DAZN, Eddie Hearn, Paul Ready my manager and Clifton my trainer, that\u2019s all I need \u2013 that\u2019s my team. I don\u2019t need a big entourage around me, this is all I need and we\u2019re going all the way.\u201d<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
12 x 3 mins WBA Featherweight World Title<\/strong>
XU CAN v LEIGH WOOD WTKO12 (2:43)<\/strong>
(Beijing, China) (Nottingham, England)<\/strong>

Leigh Wood stopped Xu Can in the 12th and final round to claim the WBA Featherweight World Title in a big upset at the top of the bill on the first week of Matchroom Fight Camp in Brentwood, Essex, live worldwide on DAZN.

‘Leigh-thal’ created history by becoming only the second ever boxer from Nottingham to become a World Champion \u2013 following in the footsteps of former IBF Super-Middleweight World Champion Carl Froch who was watching on from ringside. 

After only competing at British level throughout his career, Wood was thought to be up against it against Can, but it was clear from the opening bell that the powerful Ben Davison-trained puncher belonged on the big stage. As the fight entered the championship rounds, Can tried to put his foot down as he felt his crown slipping, but he would pay for that approach in a memorable last session. A superb right hand dropped the Chinese fighter and after rising to his feet, Wood wasted no time in forcing the stoppage. \u201cIt feels good you know, to get the stoppage over the line in a great and high-paced fight, the last round with six weeks\u2019 notice, I couldn\u2019t have done anymore,” Wood<\/strong> told Matchroom afterwards. 
 
\u201cI did say in an interview that I\u2019m going to be catching him clean and it\u2019s not down to me how long the fight lasts, it\u2019s down to him pretty much. I could have sustained that all night. He took some big shots, big heart, credit to him but the accumulation has its effect as well. The shot I finished him with wasn\u2019t as big as the ones I caught him with earlier on, but they took their toll, I caught him and got the stoppage.
 
\u201cI had belief in my power, not only do I have big power, but I know how to get it off, how to set it up and how to mix it up. That\u2019s the biggest factor in working with Ben, Lee Wylie and Barry Smith, they\u2019ve really changed the game for me.
 
\u201cHe definitely wasn\u2019t throwing 120 punches a round and that\u2019s down to the game plan. Everyone was saying how are you going to do it, what are going to do, are you going to hit him hard, are going to hold him, it was down to the game plan. Even people watching don\u2019t understand, but that\u2019s a conversation for another day.
 
\u201cHopefully the younger generations see this and think you know what, he\u2019s done it, World Champion, British, Commonwealth, European, hopefully people decide to go pick up a pair of boxing gloves and start their journey.
 
\u201cBen and Lee said to me they\u2019ve never been so confident in someone getting the tactics right as much as me going into this fight. I thought that was a big statement, I was doing everything they wanted me to do. I executed it pretty much to perfection and credit to those guys for getting it right \u2013 I just do as I\u2019m told, and it works.
 
\u201cI\u2019m easy, redemption with Dickens would be great for myself. Full confidence in Ben getting my tactics right for that fight, I had a bad night that fight, first southpaw I boxed as a pro, I\u2019d like to put that right naturally.
 
\u201cBut if there\u2019s bigger fights, I said I wanted the Navarrete fight he\u2019s explosive like me, that\u2019ll be absolute fireworks. People might slate me and say it\u2019s a regular title, let\u2019s fight for the super title, let\u2019s unify \u2013 I want big fights.
 
\u201cMy career was stalled earlier on. In three years I\u2019ve been British, Commonwealth, WBO European and now World Champion. My best years are definitely to come.”
 
12 x 3 mins European, British and Commonwealth Cruiserweight Titles<\/strong>
TOMMY MCCARTHY v CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH WSD12 (115-114 McCarthy, 115-114 CBS, 116-112 CBS)<\/strong>
(Belfast, Northern Ireland)  (Bournemouth, England)<\/strong>

Chris Billam-Smith withstood a late fightback from Tommy McCarthy to edge out a narrow split points decision to add the British and European Cruiserweight Titles to his Commonwealth Title in an epic battle at the Matchroom HQ. 

Belfast’s McCarthy started and ended the fight impressively but his low output in-between cost him the decision. Both fighters received a scorecard of 115-114, but a 116-112 verdict for Bournemouth’s Billam-Smith was enough to see him to progress to 13-1.

\u201cIt\u2019s crazy, as Shane said, it\u2019s been a bit of a tough camp towards the end \u2013 I had an injury and I haven\u2019t sparred in 3-4 weeks,\u201d Billam-Smith<\/strong> told Matchroom afterwards. \u201cAll that emotion came out, it was an interesting build up the fight, future fights, but I\u2019m over the moon.
 
\u201cIt was a good shot, the best shot he landed all fight, I was with it, but it was a good shot, it buzzed me in a way, but I was in control, I could see, I knew I\u2019d been hit but I just had to ride it a bit.
 
\u201cI was really confident, the corner had it closer. In my head I thought I\u2019d won probably eight rounds, but I wasn\u2019t scoring it as I went along \u2013 so maybe seven. There was no way he won seven rounds, absolutely no way, that first round he landed one shot. It was a good shot, but I also had him hurt and hit him a lot more \u2013 those rounds should really go in my favour.
 
\u201cHe was harder to hit clean to be fair to him, but that was my own fault, I was loading up looking for one shot. Shane said that so the jab to the body was key, it was everything. It won me the fight, we watched the Askin fight today and that was the key \u2013 props to Shane.
 
\u201cI sent the tweet out and it got him going, he built the fight really well. I played the villain at the beginning and just let him run away with it. All respect to Tommy, he was tougher and better than I thought he was.
 
\u201cI\u2019m so much better than that, I just walked back into the changing rooms and Shane has a massive go at me and said, ‘what was that?’ We know what I\u2019m capable of but then I get too excited in there when I hurt someone. That\u2019s because I\u2019ve only had 14 fights, I\u2019ve got a lot of learning to do but it\u2019s a long process, I\u2019m not the finished article and that\u2019s the sort of fight I need.
 
\u201cI was fit in there, comfortable in there, still ready to work in that last round and go up a gear which is good, but I\u2019ve got to learn to be more articulate with how I go about things.
 
\u201cThey all work hard in the gym; I like to do the little 1% that they probably can\u2019t be bothered to do. They work hard, Lawrence runs every morning, everyone\u2019s a grafter in the gym but that comes down to Shane and Josh, they set such a high standard. You\u2019ve got to be world class and act like a professional the whole time in that gym to survive.
 
\u201cThere was a group of twelve lads from Bournemouth that I kind of know and they all come up, to see them in crowd and to making the noise they did, it was really special. It\u2019s so good to have fans back and some normality.
 
\u201cI want a show in Bournemouth, I really do. We\u2019ve tried it almost 18 months ago, it would be unbelievable to have a show down there. We\u2019ve got the Bournemouth International Centre which Eddie had booked for last March which he couldn\u2019t get an opponent for. I need a show in Bournemouth, I love my fans, they\u2019ve been superb to me. I\u2019ve been on the road, Riakporhe in London, Glover in Liverpool, here in London, I want to go home.\u201d

4 x 3 mins International Lightweight contest<\/strong>
CAMPBELL HATTON WPTS4 (40-36) v JAKUB LASKOWSKI<\/strong>
(Manchester, England)                            (Siemianowice Slaskie, Poland)<\/strong>

Campbell Hatton extended his unbeaten record to 3-0 with a straight-forward four-round points win over Jakub Laskowski, from Poland. 

The 20-year-old Mancunian, son of former double World Champion Ricky, banked more valuable rounds as he continued his development in the professional ranks. 

\u201cI was happy again really; I thought my defence was a lot better,” Hatton<\/strong> told Matchroom afterwards. “I was a bit more composed again, I think there were a few times where I\u2019d hurt him and probably could have smothered my work fully and not caught him with anything. I managed to control myself a little when he was going. I didn\u2019t quite get the knockout because I was smothering, and he was tricky, but it was exactly what I need. I need the rounds more than I need a stoppage.
 
\u201cHe was tricky customer, slippery, doing a bit of switching and some different looks. That\u2019s the perfect fight and it has been matched perfectly for me to learn. There are people out there they could bring in and anyone could hit them and knock them over. That\u2019s not how they\u2019re matching me, we\u2019re getting me people who are going to get the rounds out of me and give me different things to overcome \u2013 that\u2019s what he did tonight.
 
\u201cI think I showed some more classy work than I have before, working off my jab. My jab is one of my best shots in the gym and now I\u2019m bringing it into play in the fights now.
 
\u201cThe first fight I was saying all week I was dead relaxed, but I had nothing to compare it to. The second fight I was more composed, and I was more composed this fight \u2013 next time it\u2019s going to be the same pattern and even better.
 
\u201cThis was a different experience, it\u2019s different to anything that I\u2019m probably going to face very often in my career. It was different making the ring walk this time, you feel breezy seeing people tucking into their tea and having a pint. It was weird making my ring walk to that but as soon as the bell went it was just like any other ring and I just got to work.
 
\u201cGibraltar, the amount of media commitments I had to and how much time was invested into me on the media side, I think that set me up, so I\u2019ve not had to do much really. We\u2019ve got it all out the way in the first one, I\u2019m never going to have to deal with anything like that again, the pressure will always be there but each time I\u2019ll be dealing with it better. I\u2019m dealing with the pressure like it\u2019s not there now.
 
\u201cYou see all these opponents, if it was any other kid he was fighting with any other surname, I don\u2019t think he would have been digging in half as much as he did there. They want to make a point, whether it\u2019s to stop me, or just survive \u2013 they raise their game a bit when they know it\u2019s me and I\u2019ve got to do the same.\u201d
 
 10 x 3 mins International Super-Welterweight contest <\/strong>
ANTHONY FOWLER WTKO8 (2:12) v RICO MUELLER<\/strong>
(Liverpool, England)                             (Eberswalde, Germany)<\/strong>

Anthony Fowler was made to work hard for victory as he registered an eighth-round stoppage over late stand-in opponent Rico Mueller \u2013 setting up a tasty October 9 domestic clash with Liverpool rival Liam Smith.

The German, who arrived in the UK earlier this week to replace Roberto Garcia following an injury, had plenty of ambition at the start of the fight, but Fowler was always landing the heavy shots and the pressure finally told.

The Liverpudlian, who became a father during the week, has now won six fights in a row since suffering his one and only loss in the pros at the hands of Scott Fitzgerald at The M&S Bank Arena Liverpool back in March 2019.

\u201cMy next opponent is a really good fighter, much better than him, but I needed the rounds,” Fowler<\/strong> told DAZN afterwards. “I thought in round two I wobbled him but thought, ‘not today’. My last fight was three rounds and I thought, ‘I need rounds today’, so I stepped back and worked on a few things.
 
\u201cThe one thing I haven\u2019t had in my career is rounds, I\u2019ve always blasted my opponents out and haven\u2019t really learnt much. I\u2019m learning plenty in the gym but that\u2019s where it counts, it means nothing in the gym.
 
\u201cI\u2019m from the south of Liverpool, Liam\u2019s (Smith) from the north. It doesn\u2019t bother me, I respect Liam a lot, he\u2019s a really good fighter, ten times better than that lad tonight so I need to be on top of my game. I don\u2019t turn fights down, since day one I\u2019ve boxed anyone, I\u2019ve asked for all these big fights, but it never happened for me.
 
\u201cEven tonight, I wanted to box Roberto Garcia, a good, experienced veteran. Rico Mueller gaveca good fight and I\u2019m happy he replaced Garcia because I said in the ring, ‘thanks for giving it your all’, after six rounds he was six rounds down and he was still trying.
 
\u201cLiam is a much higher level, but I needed the rounds and that\u2019s what I got.\u201d
 
10 x 3 mins IBF International Super-Middleweight Title<\/strong>
AVNI YILDIRIM v JACK CULLEN WU10 (100-90, 98-92, 97-93)<\/strong>
(Istanbul, Turkey)  (Little Lever, England)<\/strong>

Jack Cullen claimed the biggest win of his career by outpointing former World Title challenger Avni Yildirim over ten rounds to earn the IBF International Super-Middleweight Title.

‘Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver’ was in control from the opening bell as he used his long jab to set up further attacks on the Turk who shared the ring with pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez back in February. 

Yildirim was looking to get back to winning ways after being stopped in three rounds by the Mexican in Miami but instead suffered the fourth defeat of his career at the hands of the 27-year-old from Lancashire.

Cullen outboxed and outfought ‘Mr Robot’ in front of his vocal support at the Matchroom HQ in Essex \u2013 with the final scorecards reading 100-90, 98-92, and 97-93 in favour of the Michael Jennings-trained fighter. 

\u201cI\u2019m absolutely buzzing and listen; we came with a game plan, a couple of rounds in I wasn\u2019t doing what I should have been doing, but I stuck to my game plan and it paid off eventually,” Cullen<\/strong> told Matchroom afterwards. 
 
\u201cI knew he was going to come forward, he\u2019s a tough fighter and he comes to fight \u2013 that\u2019s what he did tonight. Like I said with my game plan, using the jab and trying to not get caught with the right hand. I got caught a few times stupidly, but I got back on my boxing and got through the ten rounds.
 
\u201cTo be honest with you every fight I\u2019ve seen him in he\u2019s been one paced. It\u2019s me not doing too much, using the jab, and letting him come forward, instead of me getting involved in a scrap \u2013 it worked. We stuck to the game plan, it worked, and I\u2019m delighted. 
 
\u201cI\u2019ve been working over and over, every day, it\u2019s starting to pay off. Like I said, you\u2019re going to see a different Jack Cullen and I think you did tonight.
 
\u201cAt the end of the day, I\u2019m in this game to fight the best and anything can happen, anything is around the corner. It\u2019s all about being switched on and ready, whoever you get offered you\u2019ve got to take the fight with both hands and go for it.
 
\u201cI have got a brilliant support, a lot of fans that love watching and supporting me. There were only 25 in there tonight, but it sounded like 100, it\u2019s brilliant and I\u2019m going to have a nice little rest \u2013 we\u2019ll see. Hopefully Eddie will sign me now!
 
\u201cIt\u2019s moving in the right direction, the direction I want it to go. Everyone said Yildirim is going to be a tough opponent and I knew that, but I knew I should be beating fighters like him because of where I want to take my career to.
 
\u201cI will go with flow, who knows, I reckon there will be all sorts of people jumping out the closet wanting to fight me, but we\u2019ll see.\u201d
 
6 x 2 mins Super-Lightweight contest<\/strong>
SANDY RYAN WPTS6 (60-54) v KIRSTIE BAVINGTON<\/strong>
(Derby, England)                         (Pensnett, England)<\/strong>

Former amateur star Sandy Ryan made a winning start to life in the paid ranks as she outclassed Kirstie Bavington over six rounds in the opening bout of Fight Camp. 

The Derby fighter, who is trained by Clifton Mitchell and managed by Paul Ready, was in control throughout and that was reflected on the scorecards as she emerged from the contest a 60-54 winner. 

\u201cIt was a very good fight,” Ryan <\/strong>told Matchroom afterwards. “I\u2019m over the moon and I\u2019m so happy. I enjoyed every minute of that, the walk, everything, I\u2019m just made for the pro game.
 
\u201cI took my time; I enjoyed the ring walk \u2013 I enjoyed it so much.
 
\u201cI wanted a tough fight, to prove the levels. I showed glimpses of it, there were times where she was a bit messy and holding. The pro game and each fight as it goes on, I\u2019m going to get much better.
 
\u201cLevels, I said that even if I had a bad day, she wasn\u2019t going to beat me. It\u2019s not disrespect to her, but I just know what I\u2019m capable of. Boxing\u2019s my life and I\u2019m going all the way.
 
\u201cI\u2019ve got the right team behind, Matchroom, DAZN, Eddie Hearn, Paul Ready my manager and Clifton my trainer, that\u2019s all I need \u2013 that\u2019s my team. I don\u2019t need a big entourage around me, this is all I need and we\u2019re going all the way.\u201d<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

12 x 3 mins WBA Featherweight World TitleXU CAN v LEIGH WOOD WTKO12 (2:43)(Beijing, China) (Nottingham, England) Leigh Wood stopped Xu Can in<\/p>\n

Continue readingWOOD STOPS XU CAN IN 12TH TO SECURE WBA FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CROWN<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":938,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,2],"tags":[229],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/937"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=937"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/937\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":939,"href":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/937\/revisions\/939"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/938"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=937"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=937"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}