LIVE UNDERCARD RESULTS FROM OAKWELL
BARNSLEY, England
- Later this evening, Oakwell Stadium will be filled with around 15,000 fans as local hero, Callum Simpson, meets Italy’s Ivan Zucco for the vacant European super middleweight.
Read below for all of the latest undercard results...
Rhys Edwards beats Thomas Essomba
At featherweight, Rhys Edwards (17-1, 4 KOs) ground out an eight round victory over Thomas Essomba (14-10-1, 4 KOs) but the 25 year-old Welshman will still be disappointed with his performance.
Last December, Edwards stepped in on just a few days notice to box the highly rated Peter McGrail in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Edwards may have lost a tight decision and his unbeaten record but his performance gained him plenty of respect.
This time, Edwards (125lbs) was the one having to deal with a late change of opponent. Former European bantamweight champion, Essomba, stepped in when Edwards’ original opponent, Lyon Woodstock, withdrew.
Essomba (124lbs) is wily and experienced but he is also 37 years old and was the much smaller man. He wisely presented a small target, waited for Edwards to lead and countered nicely with his southpaw left hand.
As Edwards struggled mightily to get his feet in to range and continuously fell short with his punches, Essomba’s team - which includes his manager, former IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards - began to grow in ambition.
Edwards continued to apply pressure but - apart from a spell of success at the end of round seven - almost constantly found himself in no-mans land and although Essomba’s output gradually slowed, he still picked some eye catching shots.
Although the fight felt close, scoring referee, Darren Sarginson, clearly preferred Edwards’ pressure and scored the fight 79-74 in favour of Edwards.
Sam Hickey outpoints Harley Hodgetts
Scottish middleweight Sam Hickey (3-0, 1 KO) remained unbeaten by easily outpointing Harley Hodgetts (4-2) over six rounds.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist likes to go about his business in a calm controlled manner. He patiently stalked Hodgetts (159lbs) from the opening bell, making sure to land every time the Portsmouth man’s back touched the ropes.
Unable to match Hickey for talent, Hodgetts presented a constantly moving target and tried to negate Hickey (160lbs) when they came close. The approach took away any chance he had of springing a major upset but it at least kept him safe.
Hickey dominated the action but struggled to find any hurtful shots as Hodgetts refused to buy any feints or take any unnecessary risks.
The result was a formality, Hickey winning every round and taking a 60-54 decision.
Ellis Price stops Jake Price
Promising Leeds lightweight, Ellis Price (3-0, 2 KO), rounded out the untelevised undercard and impressed a growing crowd by stopping Jake Price (1-4-1) in the fifth of six rounds.
The Yorkshireman’s shorter punches immediately made an impression on his tall, gangly opponent who was punished for pawing with his jab and cut over the right eye.
Price is a talented fighter who fights well in the pocket but allowed the action to get messy a times. He finally broke through in the fifth and a sustained burst of punches forced referee, Michael Alexander, to stop the fight at 1.26 of the round.
Frankie Stringer overcomes Kane Baker
Liverpool’s Frankie Stringer (10-0, 1 KO) notched up a career best win but the 24 year-old lightweight was made to work hard for his eight round win over Birmingham’s Kane Baker (19-13-2, 1 KO).
Baker (136lbs) usually tries to make the running but found Stringer (136lbs) too quick and accurate and the Liverpudlian found the mark straight away, scoring regularly with his right hand.
Stringer started the second just as strongly and pushed Baker to the ropes but had his legs dipped badly by a hard counter right hand. The success fired up Baker and he begun to fight with his usual aggression but Stringer ended the round with a hard left hook that forced Baker to retreat.
Stringer’s right hand got him back on top in the third and although Baker refused to go into his shell, he began to come off second best in exchanges.
Stringer deserved the 79-74 decision he was awarded but had to earn his success and finished marked up around his right eye.
Mauro Silva batters Omir Rodriguez
Mauro Silva (9-0, 4 KOs) coasted to a one sided stoppage victory over Panama’s Omir Rodriguez (15-28-1, 6 KOs).
The confident 22 year-old middleweight from Manchester believes he is made for the big occasion and jumped on Rodriguez (158lbs) from the start, torturing him with an accurate jab and punishing him to the body.
Rodriguez offered precious little in terms of offence and although Silva (161lbs) never made a significant breakthrough, he continued to pound away until the Panamanian’s corner tossed in the towel and retired their man after 1.06 of the fourth round.
Red Johnson cruises past Harley Collison
Red Johnson (9-0, 1 KO) made the short trip from Sheffield and opened the show with a six round decision over Harley Collison (3-3-2) at super middleweight.
32 year-old Collison (168lbs) gave highly ranked Caoimhin Agyarko a solid workout earlier this year but although he enjoyed flashes of success against the colourful Johnson (167lbs), he found himself countered regularly by the 28 year old’s left hand.
Johnson rubber stamped the win by dropping a bloodied Collison in the sixth and final round with one of those looping lefts. The score was 59-54.
