Round by round reports from Joseph Parker vs Derek Chisora
All the action from the AO Arena in Manchester, headlined by Joseph Parker's huge Heavyweight rematch with Derek Chisora, reported live by BBN.
You can watch worldwide on DAZN (with the exception of New Zealand and Samoa) or follow the round by round reports below:
16:30 GMT LIVE ON BEFORE THE BELL
Fight #1
6×2 mins International Lightweight contest
RHIANNON DIXON vs VAIDA MASIOKAITE
Wigan's Rhiannon Dixon moved up to 4-0 with a shutout points win – 60-54 – over Lithuanian Masiokaite.
Masiokaite has only ever been stopped in 20 contests, by Chantelle Cameron in 2019, so she is one tough cookie.
Dixon, in all red, was lively and sharp from her southpaw stance. Her head movement was very good as she tried to get in on the inside.
Bizarrely, this pair have actually fought before, in Dixon's debut in September 2019, which was televised on Channel 5. Dixon had Vaida down in the opening round of her pro debut, but it again went the distance with a 40-35 points win for the Lancashire lady.
This fight was much the same, but there was no knockdown this time.
Fight #2
6×3 mins International Cruiserweight contest
JORDAN THOMPSON vs PIOTR BUDZISZEWSKI
Jordan 'Troublesome' Thompson blasted Poland's Budziszewski away in the opening round and moved up to 12-0 with the 10th knockout of his si-year-long pro career.
Fight #3
8×2 mins International Super-Lightweight contest
SANDY RYAN vs MARIA SOLEDAD CAPRIOLO
Sandy Ryan closed the undercard section with a third-round TKO.
18:00 GMT LIVE ON DAZN
Fight #4
4×3 mins International Cruiserweight contest
DAVID NYIKA vs ANTHONY CARPIN
Crusierweight David Nyika doubled his win tally with a first-round beatdown.
The New Zealander mixed his attacks from head to body and was able to land freely on the Frenchman, who had such a torrid time in the opener that he retired on his stool. He complained his left elbow was hindering him and he couldn't continue safely, but he took so much punishment in just three minutes that his left eye was reddened and badly marked already. There's no wat Carpin could've survived a full four rounds.
The 6'6" 26-year-old is double Commonwealth Games gold medalist and also won bronze in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Fight fans will remember Nyika from the last Olympic Games due to the disgraceful biting incident in the round of 16 fight with Moroccan Youness Baalla, who attempted to bite David in the third round, which drew comparisons with Mike Tyson vs Evander Holyfield 2.
Fight #5
8×3 mins International Heavyweight contest
ALEN BABIC vs DAVID SPILMONT
'The Savage' steamed in, as his custom, and soon caught and hurt the southpaw within just 25 seconds with a left hook. The French title contender fought back bravely and made the Croatian miss many times. However, he got caught in the corner for too long and despite landing a good body shot in the final moments of the round he ended under duress and was almost bundled over as the bell sounded.
In the second round, Spilmont managed to catch Babic with his southpaw jab a lot, even a few nice one-twos, then he caught the Croatian with a chopping left hand to the chin that spun the favourite around into the ropes. Babic was hurt for the first time and Spilmont roared into life throwing the kitchen sink at the unsteady heavyweight who just made it to the bell and smiled as he staggered to the corner.
In the third segment, Spilmont was gaining confidence with each punch landed, Babic was just raw and crude throwing hooks and neglecting the jab or any boxing skills, but his work in close paid off and those hooks almost stopped Spilmont but the bell saved him this time. Two good rounds with two very different outcomes!
Spilmont still in this fight after a minute's respite. He'd benefit from a fight at mid to long-range, but he kept allowing Babic to close the gap, which suits him perfectly. The Frenchman stepped off Babic and allowed him to unload which soon dropped him, as a big hook crashed through his guard. He now has a minute to get through. He managed to do just that though, and sneakily landed a cheeky shot after the bell, which was shrugged off.
No one expected this fight to reach the fifth round and it's by far the hardest fight of Babic's career so far. Spilmont's backhand was connecting cleanly but still looked like he could go at any time. He ended the round on his toes, looking fresh. Good round for Spilmont.
Babic looked a bit more patient and poised in round six, and he soon had Spilmont down in the opening minute from a barrage of hard punches crashing through his guard, who decided not to get up again. It was the biggest learning fight of Babic's career, Spilmont was skilful and surprising, but he's still just a full-time drywaller who claims he only boxes for fun, so what does that say about Babic's prospects? Not much, really.
Fight #6
12×3 mins IBO Super-Middleweight World Title
CARLOS CONGORA vs LERRONE RICHARDS
The opening round suited Richards down to the ground, who loves boxing on the outside at long range. The defending champion has 15 KOs from 20 victories, so will inevitably attempt to close that gap in time.
Smart boxing from southpaw Richards in the opening two rounds, which is was what we have all come to expect from him. However, Gongora was edging ever closer and managed to jump in with a couple of good shots, which was a right jab followed by a chopping left hook which looked very hurtful the way it snapped 'Sniper's' head sideways, but Richards also landed a big shot of his own in the last minute. Gongora was beginning to look dangerous and perhaps a bit much of an ask to keep off for 12-rounds, which is the knid of fight Lerrone has to prepare for with just three KOs from 15 fights.
Richards let his hands go early in round three. Gongora wasn't throwing much, but you could sense he was being economical and only wanting to throw meaningful shots. In the dying seconds, the champion flew forward with and attack that the challenger skipped away from. Gongora clearly has the far greater power and Lerrone either has to get through 12-rounds with a puncher to win on points or Gongora has to close the gap and pressure Richards to force a knockout. In round four, he looked liked he was trying to do just that. Lerrone was beginning to get into his flow though. He was landing shots then skipping away, but a sneaky shot got through every so often. In the last 10 seconds, Gongora wades forwards but Richards cleverly sidesteps away.
Going into round five, Tony Bellew scores it 39-37 to Richards. Richards feints to the body then lands a jab up top – very cute. This pace and type of fight suits Richards and it's perhaps a bit perplexing why the champion isn't being a bit more dominating here. A clear, clear round for Richards.
In roud six, he came forward with a bit more intent putting more power behing his shots, but Lerrone stayed on his nice jab and looked more confident than ever, laid back, lead hand down, evading attacks with ease. Another clear round for Richards.
The fight is yet to catch fire and the more the rounds wear on, the more you suspect the champion is saving himself for a big finish. The best punch of the round was a sneaky right uppercut, followed by a beautiful pivot away from the Londoner. So far the fight was being completely dictated by Richards' southpaw jab. At the end of round seven, Gongora missed so badly with a right hook that Richards made a bit of a show of it.
Richards has outlanded Gongora 27 punches to 18 by round eight, which was a little scrappier than the earlier rounds. There was a time out as Richards' mouthguard slipped out in the last minute of the segment, due to a backhand landing. Was that round a bit scrappier because Richards decided to sit in the pocket and put more power behind his shots?
By round nine both boxers look fresh as anything, with not a great amount of exertion here yet. The champion seemed to be holding back but is that just what happens when you're in with such a defensive fighter that nulifies your skills? 'Sniper the Boss' looked to be so in control that he was happy to box in closer rane than before despite surely being well ahead on the scorecards. He was now putting punches together in threes, happy to trade in close.
As the championship rounds begun, you could see the champion incentivised, but didn't manage to have it his way. Richards, surprisingly, was on the front foot, confidently trying to mak a statement. Richards' jab is just a delight to watch. Brilliant three-punch combination in the last 30 seconds. Two rounds left and Richards must be leading by eight/nine rounds here.
It's the penultimate round and Richards is less than six minutes away from becoming a world champion, who has outlanded 98 to 77 so far. Bellew has only given two rounds to the defending champion, which is a bit generous. In this round, Gongora is hunting Richards down, but too little too late, as Richards holds to wind the seconds down. 'Sniper' stands in close to prevent the shots coming in but Gongora scores a couple of body shots.
With Richards so far in the lead, it's set up for an exciting final round where the champion will have to go for it to retain his IBO belt. Gongora starts well with a good jab on the target. He tries to unload in threes but Richards stays sharp. Heart in your mouth monent, as Richards slips on water in the corner. The fight ends with Richards the clear winner but was Gongora's game plan here? He raised his hand at the end but he was beaten so clearly.
One judge scored the contest 116-112 to Gongora, but luckily two judges had their glasses on and scored it correctly at 115-113 to the new IBO champion Lerrone Richards.
Fight #7
12×3 mins IBF Super-Featherweight World Title Eliminator
ZELFA BARRETT vs BRUNO TARIMO
Managed by Australian Tony Tolj, Bruno Tarimo was aggressive and lively, but he was being picked off by the skilful Zelfa Barrett, who was accurate, scoring a lovely backhand in round five that could have put a lot of other featherweights down. A very good round for the Mancunian.
The Tanzanian-born Tarimo is a serious contender and was positively on the front foot, but he was being picked off by the clever Barrett, who's punches were cleaner and more accurate.
The 'Rambo from Rombo' won the IBF International and IBO Intercontinental super-featherweight title in his last fight in April. The target for these men is Japan's Kenichi Ogawa, who only won the vacant IBF title last month in November against Azinga Fuzile, who was down twice in rounds five and 12. On BoxRec's ratings, Zelfa is just one place behind the Japanese World champion at seven.
Uncle Pat Barrett was telling his nephew to start engaging in the corner before round eight, who feels like he missed an opportunity to capitalise in round seven, who slowed a little during that round.
Zelfa was boxing nicely on the backfoot, but also a bit safely too. He let loose a four-punch combiation midway through the round. Tarimo tries lunging in with a right hand. He's moving his upper trunk to try to land at angles, but Zelfa's defence is impenetrable.
Round nine's action is closely fought, which allows Zelfa to land some nice body shots on the inside. Barrett tries to land backhand uppercuts but with no success yet. Tarimo is not as aggressive at the moment. Barrett ends the round loading up on left and right hooks.
Barrett lands a lovely right uppercut in the first segment of round 10. Tarimo forces pressure on Barrett in the last minute but Zelfa is full of spite and throwing everything back. Tarimo is runnig out of ideas here. Uncle Pat tells his nephew he is boxing well in the corner.
Bruno comes flying forward in round 10, knowing he's on borrowed time, but Zela skips away from right ot left then lands a brilliant right uppercut to stun Tarimo momentarily. No one can knock the effort Tarimo has put in, relentlessly marching forward, just outclassed by a better fighter here.
Final instruction from Pat was to make it count. Tarimo fired forward but Zelfa's defence is just so good. A clever, clever fighter. Another beuatiful right uppercut gets through, but a slip sees Zelfa fall on the floor. Barrett ties Tarimo up and moves away to play it safe to see out the points win.mZelfa skips away showingly in the final seconds of a comfortable win and the rivals embrace fondly at the bell.
Bruno's aggression earned him a couple of rounds as the scorecards read 117-122 twice and 116-111 for Barrett.
Chief Support
12×3 mins vacant European Super-Middleweight Title
JACK CULLEN 167.8lbs KEVIN LELESADJO
Cullen's superior size allowed him to pick off Lele Sadjo from the outside but the unbeaten Frenchman, with 14 KOs from 16 victories was aggressive and dangerous and had outlanded Cullen by 43 to 36 punches by round four.
Cullen is a former English middleweight champion, who won the IBF International super-middleweight title in his last fight against a world title contender who shared the ring with Canelo Alvarez.
His jab was the most effective weapon for him, but he is consistently getting dragged into a war.
Cullen was boxing well but then a single shot ended affairs in round six. It was a thunderous left hook to the body as Cullen was pushing Sadjo off with both hands. It landed sweetly and Cullen counldn't recover at 1:11 of the sixth round.
Main Event – 10pm (Approx)
12×3 mins WBO Intercontinental Heavyweight Title
JOSEPH PARKER 251lbs vs DEREK CHISORA 248.8lbs
Parker looking to hold the centre of the ring in the opener, pawing out the jab. Great right hand from parker early on, looking razor sharp.
Chisora explodes in the second round, but Parker responds. Big uppercut from Parker, The New Zealander lets loose at the end of the end of the round.
Parker working the body in round four, but smothering his work a bit, but then he sends Chisora backwards for a count, held up by the ropes. Chisora stays in the corner to counter and the pair end round trading excitingly.
Good response from Chisora in round five as he tries to claw his way back into the fight.
Good pressure from 'Del-Boy' in round six, but then there's some precision punching from Parker midway through the round. Nice jab from Chisora in the last minute.
Parker has only outlanded Chisora 66 punches to 59 so it's a close contest. But then a beautiful uppercut downs Chisora. Tremendous response from Chisora who lands heavily to end the round.
Both feeling the pace but hey trade heavily during the eighth round. Chisora once again has hold onto the ropes but it looked like more of a push than a punch although there was an offending right uppercut that started the move off.
Parker traps Chisora on the ropes in round nine but he survives, for now. He comes on strong in the closing minute of the round.
Chisora turns it on in the 10th round.
Round 10 and Chisora comes on strong, nice uppercut from Chisora in close. Lovely jab and left hook from Parker to keep Chisora at bay. Another good uppercut from Parker and the heavyweights trade to the end of the round.
Traimer Coldwell tells Chisora he's been absolute warrior in the final round. Working in close quarters, it;s a scrappy last round, Parker lands cleanly but Chisora brushes it off. The heavyweights fire away in the last minute to end an exceptional fight.
Parker won unanimously with scores of 114-112 115-111 and 115-110.
Parker said post-fight "He was one tough guy! He's a credit to the sport of boxing!"
Things you didn't know about Joseph Parker
HÖRFA are proud sponsors of British Boxing News