British boxing’s hottest talent Jack Catterall comprehensively outpointed Malmesbury’s Joe Hughes to retain his WBO Intercontinental Super-Lightweight title and earn himself a shot at the British title. Slick southpaw Catterall dominated for large spells of a gripping encounter against a rough and ready Hughes. Ultimately, undefeated Catterall’s class showed as he took a deserved unanimous decision with scores of 115-113, 117-112 and 117-113.
The classy Catterall proved what a skilled operator he is as he earned a shot at the British title. Backed by a vocal Bolton crowed Catterall made his reach advantage count in a gripping opening round. The Chorley man continued to land punishing left hands as the fight progressed but Malmesbury’s Hughes continued to soak up the punishment and come back for more.
On his return to action in Bolton Catterall began to outclass the determined Hughes in the latter rounds. 22 year-old Catterall summoned the energy to land several impressive combos in the closing rounds but Hughes took them well denied the champion a stoppage win. Chorley’s boxing star now moves on to a record of 13-0 8 KO’s.
LUKE BLACKLEDGE WTKO5 (0:57) VS. ISHMAEL TETTEH
Accrington action man Luke Blackledge successfully defended his Commonwealth Super-Middleweight title against Ghana’s Ishmael Tetteh at Bolton’s Macron Stadium. Blackledge, who fights out of Bolton trainer Karl Ince’s Elite Gym in Halliwell, dropped the African with a crippling body shot in the fifth. Tetteh failed to beat the referees count and Blackledge moved to 21-2-2 6 KO’s.
In a lively opener Blackledge attempted to pin his challenger down before catching him late with a big left hook. Tetteh came into the fight in the second round, letting his hands go with sharp uppercuts and body shots. In an even third round Blackledge and Tetteh both piled the pressure on one another. The determined Blackledge took hold of the fight in the fifth before sending Tetteh crashing to the canvas with a big body shot that retained his Commonwealth title.
KIRYL RELIKH WTKO4 (2:50) VS. JOAQUIM CARNIERO BATISTA
THE WBA INTERCONTINENTAL SUPER-LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
In the first title fight of the night Belarus knockout king Kiryl Relikh emphatically defended his WBA Intercontinental Super-Middleweight title against brave Brazilian Joaquim Carniero Batista. Relikh took his red-hot record to 21-0 19 KO’s after Batista’s corner correctly retired their fighter to save him from taking any further damage.
Ricky Hatton’s super-lightweight man dominated from the opening bell, using his sharp head movement to evade trouble and countering with some beautiful left hooks that left Batista reeling. Batista continued to soak up punishment in rounds three and four before the white towel was thrown in.
JIMMY KELLY WPTS8 (80-72) VS. MICHAEL MORA
8 X 3 Minute Rounds International Super-Welterweight Contest
Manchester’s former WBO world title challenger Jimmy Kelly returned to the ring after six months out to beat Spain’s Michael Mora on points over eight rounds. The Mancunian super-welterweight puncher was made to work on his return to the ring by a rough and ready Mora. Kelly, who still holds the WBO Intercontinental title, dropped Mora twice in the final round but the brave Spaniard beat the referees count twice and clung on to lose 80-72 on points.
CIARAN MCVARNOCK WTKO1 (1:22) VS. RUSLANS BERDIMURADOVS
4 X 3 Minute Rounds International Lightweight Contest
Promising Belfast lightweight Ciaran McVarnock wasted no time as he took out Latvia’s Ruslans Berdimur in the opening round to take his record to 6-0-1 at Bolton’s Macron Stadium. In a short-lived yet electrifying contest McVarnock had his opponent down twice in the first round before the referee had seen enough.
JORDAN THOMPSON WTKO1 (1:15) VS. MATEUSZ GATEK
4 X 3 Minute Rounds International Cruiserweight Contest
Unbeaten Manchester cruiserweight prospect Jordan Thompson made short work of Poland’s Mateusz Gatek to take his record to 3-0 3 KO’s. A huge left hook from Thompson sent Gatek crashing to the floor before the referee waved off the fight; much to the delight of the Mancunian mountain who let out a roar of approval.
GARY SWEENEY WTKO1 (1:17) VS. MARIO LAKATOS
4 X 3 Minute Rounds International Cruiserweight Contest
Ireland’s cruiserweight prospect Gary Sweeney made an explosive start to life in the paid ranks with a first round stoppage win over Slovakia’s Mario Lakatos. The big-hitting County Co-Mayo man had his opponent down three times in the opening round before the referee waved the contest off at 1 minute and 17 seconds.
VIJENDER SINGH WTKO3 (2:00) VS. ANDRZEJ SOLDRA
8 X 3 Minute Rounds International Middleweight Contest
Indian ring sensation Vijender Singh continued his march towards a huge homecoming fight in India with another explosive knockout win over Poland’s Anderzej Soldra. The big-hitting man from the Bhiwani district in Haryana completely outclassed Soldra before the referee waved-off the contest two minutes into the third round.
All-action Singh had his man down inside the first round with a massive right hand. Soldra did well to recover and survived the first round. It was more of the same in the second round as knockout merchant Singh went looking for yet another blockbuster finish.
Red-hot Singh dominated throughout the bout, landing damaging combos at will. Poland’s Soldra struggled to land any meaningful shots of his own and did well to make it to the third round. 30 year-old Singh was teeing off at will before referee Mark Lyson finally stopped the bout to save Soldra from taking anymore punishment.
Speaking after the fight Singh said: “This guy came here to fight me and gave as good as he got but my class was too much for him. I was landing with powerful shots and he couldn’t handle them. It’s another win and another step on my journey to the top of the world middleweight scene.”
He added: “Every fight is important for me. I’ve shown everyone in the UK and back home in India what I’m capable of once again and I’m excited for the future. With the backing of Francis Warren and everyone in my corner the sky is the limit.”
JACK FLATLEY WTKO1 (2:53) VS. VALENTIN STOYCHOV
4 X 3 Minute Rounds International Middleweight Contest
Bolton boy Jack Flately blew away Bulgaria’s Valentin Stoychov inside the opening round to claim his fourth professional victory. Backed by a vocal Bolton crowd Flatley tore into Stoychov from the very first bell. It was all over before it begun as Flatley finished off the Bulgarian with a punishing body shot 2 minutes and 53 seconds into round one.
DALE COYNE WPTS4 (39-38) VS. CRISTIAN HOSKIN GOMEZ
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Middleweight Contest
Steve Maylett-trained super-middleweight prospect Dayle Coyne outpointed Plymouth’s Cristian Hoskin Gomez 39-38 to pick up his fourth pro win in an evenly contested bout. The flame-haired Manchester Super-Middleweight grew into the fight and landed some punishing body shots on Gomez. Both men gave a good account of themselves but it was Coyne who edged the contest, landing more accurately on Gomez.
ZELFA BARRETT WTKO2 (1:52) VS. CHRIS ADAWAY
6 X 3 Minute Rounds Lightweight Contest
Red-hot Manchester lightweight prospect Zelfa Barrett earned an explosive stoppage win over Plymouth’s Chris Adaway to claim his tenth professional win at Bolton’s Macron Stadium.
Barrett put Adaway down in the first round with a huge right hand shot that landed on the bell. Adaway beat the count but it was more of the same in the second round as ‘Brown Flash’ continued to pick and time his shots.
It was all over in the third round after the brave Adaway was dropped for a third time. Adaway did his best to defend himself from Barrett’s punishing shots but the Mancunian’s precision and power proved too much for him to handle.
MACAULAY MCGOWAN WPTS8 (78-74) VS. CHRIS JENKINSON
8 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Welterweight Contest
21 year-old McCauley McGowan outpointed Bolton’s Chris Jenkinson 78-74 to pick up the tenth pro win of his promising career. McGowan was up against an experienced operator in Jenkinson who made him work hard for his win. Jenkinson repeatedly forced Wythenshawe’s McGowan to dig deep, tagging his opponent with a series of solid head shots in the fourth. Former England Youth rep McGowan took hold of the bout in the latter stages as Jenkinson finally began to tire and came away with a hard-fought victory.