Former unified Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua scored a brutal second round stoppage over former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in a scheduled 10-round bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

In round one, Joshua landed a perfect right to the jaw that put Ngannou on the deck. In round two, Joshua landed a perfect counter right that put Ngannou in the canvas aagain. Ngannou was clearly clearly hurt with a bloody lip and then ate a humongous right hand that bent him over his right leg and out cold at 2:31.

Joshua, 252.4 lbs of London is 28-3 with 25 knockouts. Ngannou, 272.6 lbs of Cameroon is 0-2.

Parker Decisions Zhang; Captures WBO Interim Heavyweight Title

Joseph Parker survived two knockdowns and won the WBO Interim Heavyweight totle with a 12-round majority decision ovr Zhilei Zhang.

In round three, Zhang landed a little left hand that put Parker on the seat of his pants.

In round eight, Zhang landed a little right hook on the inside that put Parker down for a second time.

Zhang did not capitalize on the knockdowns and Parker did a little more to win by scores of 115-111, 114-112 and 113-113.

Parker, 247.6 lbs of South Auckland, NZ is 35-3. Zhang, 291.6 lbs of China is 26-2-1.

Vargas and Ball Battle to Draw in Featherweight Title Bout

Rey Vargas built up a nice lead, and he needed it as Nick Ball scored two knockdowns in the second half of their fight and battle to a split draw. Vargas keeps his WBC Featherweight title.

Vargas dominated the first half of the fight as he landed hard body shots. The fight started turning in the second half of fight.

In round seven, Ball rocked and buckled Vargas on two occasions. In round eight, Ball was able to register a knockdown when he was off balance and Ball landed a left hook. Ball continued to sure forward in the ensuing rounds. In round 11, Vargas was dropped again as Ball landed a hard right on the chin.

Vargas landed 118 of 536 punches. Ball was 111 of 472.

Scores were 114-112 for Vargas, 116-112 for Ball and 113-113.

Vragas, 125 lbs of Mexico is 36-1-1. Ball, 125 lbs of Liverpool is 19-0-1.

Madrimov Stops Kurbanov in 5 to win Super Welterweight Title

Israil Madrimov won the WBA Super Welterweight title with a fifth round stoppage over Magomed Kurbanov.

Madrimov dominated the action by landing some hard right hands over the first four frames. Kurbanov showed some life but that was short lived as in round five, Madrimov landed a hard right that rocked Kurbanov to the ropes. Madrimov followed up and landed two more hard overhand rights that forced a stoppage at 2:20

Madrimov, 153.6 lbs of Uzbekistan is 10-0-1 with seven knockouts. Kurbanov, 153.6 lbs of Ekatinberg, RUS is 25-1.

Mark Chamberlain stops Gavin Gwynne in 4

Mark Chamberlain stopped Gavin Gwynne in round four of their 10-round lightweight bout.

In round one, Gwynne started to swell around his right eye. In round three, Gwynne’s eye was shutting rapidly. Chamberlain continued to pour on the offense and in round four, landed a hard right hook that drove Gwynne to the ropes. Chamberlain followed up with a flurry and the fight was stopped at 2:46.

Chamberlain, 134.6 lbs of Portsmouth, ENG is 15-0 with 11 knockouts. Gwynne, 134 lbs or Treharris, WAL is 17-3-1.

Huni Hangs on and Decisions Lerena

Justis Huni was hurt bad in the 10th and final round but was able to hang on and defeat Kevin Lerena via 10-round unanimous decision in a heavyweight bout.

The bout was close throughout. In round 10, Lerena landed a huge left that rocked Huni across the ring on bad legs. Lerena followed up but was not able to put him down.

Huni, 243.2 lbs of Brisbane, AUS won by scores of 98-92 and 96-94 twice and is now 9-0. Lerena, 232.4 lbs of Johannesburg, SA is 30-3.

Louis Greene scored an emphatic first-round stoppage over Jack McGann in a 10-round super welterweight bout.

Greene landed a booming right hand that put McGann hard on his back. McGann got to his feet, but the fight was waved off at 1:29.

Greene, 153.2 lbs of Kent, ENG is 17-4 with 11 knockouts. McGann, 153.4 lbs of Liverpool, ENG is 9-1-1.

In a battle of undefeated heavyweights, Roman Fury won a four-round decision over Martin Svarc.

Fury, 224 lbs of Manchester, ENG won by a 39-37 score and is 4-0. Svarc, 225 lbs of CZE is 2-1.

Fury is the brother of WBC Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, who was ringside.

Ziyad Almaayouf remained undefeated with a six-round decision over Christian Lopes Flores in a super lightweight contest.

Almaayouf, 144.4 lbs of Riyadh, SA won by a 60-54 score and is now 6-0. Flores, 142 lbs is 14-36-2.

Andrii Novytskiy scored a third-round stoppage over Juan Torres in a eight-round heavyweight bout.

Novytskiy, 239.4 lbs is now 10-0 with nine knockouts. Torres, 255.6 is 11-6-1.

The IBF European Lightweight Championship 10 x 3 Minute Rounds
Mark Chamberlain 133.5lbs
Artjoms Ramlavs 134lbs

The WBC International Silver Super-Lightweight Championship 10 x 3 Minute Rounds
Henry Turner 139.5lbs
Billy Allington 139lbs 

8 x 3 Minute Rounds International Middleweight Contest
Liam Williams 164lbs
Florin Cardos 164lbs

6 x 3 Minute Rounds International Super-Welterweight Contest
Ben Fail 158lbs
Nikola Stoyanov 154lbs 

6 x 3 Minute Rounds International Welterweight Contest
Khalid Ali 149lbs
Fernando Mosquera 148lbs 

6 x 2 Minute Rounds International Female Light-Flyweight Contest
Kristina O’Hara 105lbs
Cristina Navarro 105lbs

4 x 3 Minute Rounds Lightweight Contest
Billy Adams 133lbs
Jahfieus Faure 132lbs

4 x 3 Minute Rounds Super-Featherweight Contest
Charlie Hickford 126lbs 
Jake Pollard 126lbs 

DAVID ADELEYE, ALONG with Mark Chamberlain and Henry Turner will be making title defences when Queensberry return to York Hall on Friday June 9, live on BT Sport. Ladbroke Grove heavyweight star Adeleye, 11-0 (10 KOs), will be looking to build on his already burgeoning reputation when he defends the WBO European title he won so impressively via a second round stoppage of the previously unbeaten Dmytro Bezus, also in Bethnal Green back in February. On the same card, Chamberlain (12-0, 8) demolished the Italian Vairo Lenti with a fifth round KO to retain his IBF European lightweight title in what was a first defence for the Waterlooville 24-year-old. Super-skilled super lightweight Turner (10-0, 3) from Wycombe will make a second defence of his WBC International Silver title and the 22-year-old will be seeking a third straight stoppage victory on the night. Blue Chip super featherweight prospect Royston Barney-Smith, fresh from being main sparring partner for now world champion Joe Cordina, will have his sixth professional fight and his first six rounder. The 19-year-old from Petersfield will come into the fight off the back of three first round stoppages. Also on the card and fighting over eight rounds is Northampton super welterweight Carl Fail (8-0, 2), and Nottingham light heavyweight Ezra Taylor (5-0, 4). Reading super welterweight Josh Frankham (7-0, 2), Thetford cruiserweight Tommy Fletcher (4-0, 3), and Carl Fail’s twin brother Ben (2-0, 1), also feature in six round action. “This is another fantastic opportunity for our young stars to shine,” said promoter Frank Warren. The three title holders – David Adeleye, Mark Chamberlain and Henry Turner – have barely put a foot or a fist wrong and their development continues apace. All three are on the brink of being part of major fights and the experience gained on nights like this is invaluable to them. “Royston Barney-Smith is now showing what he is, which is probably the finest young talent in British boxing. There is nothing he cannot achieve in this sport if he carries on applying himself fully to improving fight on fight. “I have also been highly impressed with what I have seen from the twins, Carl and Ben Fail, so far and my only issue is telling them apart from each other! Ezra Taylor is also gaining rave reviews and is really starting to catch the eye at light heavyweight. Much the same can be said of our big-hitting cruiserweight Tommy Fletcher, who I am looking forward to seeing back in action, along with our promising welterweight Joshua Frankham.” Tickets for the show at York Hall, Bethnal Green on Friday, 9 June are available now via: Ticketmaster.co.uk.

DAVID ADELEYE IS the new WBO European heavyweight champion following a resounding stoppage victory over Dymtro Bezus at York Hall on Friday night, with both Mark Chamberlain and Henry Turner retaining their IBF and WBC belts respectively.

All the photos from last night’s action can be downloaded here.
Images are free to use, please credit Queensberry

The explosive Adeleye set about the Ukrainian from the first bell, with the previously unbeaten Bezus floored with a big, straight left in the opening round and rocked by an uppercut just before the bell.

Bezus did rally in the second, but his revival proved to be short-lived as a howitzer of a chopping left hook ended his night, with referee Bob Williams calling an end to proceedings after 1.48 of the round and a bouncing York Hall acknowledged a new champion.

Mark Chamberlain took his time to figure out the threat posed by a tough customer in Vairo Lenti, with the Italian challenger having not previously suffered defeat via stoppage.

Ultimately, the Waterlooville warrior was the more aggressive, but more importantly, accurate in his work and in the fifth round the jaw of Lenti was buckled by a hellacious left hook delivered by the 24-year-old, who moves to 12-0 and still the owner of the IBF European lightweight title.

The official time of the knockout was 53 seconds of round five. Marcus McDonnell officiated.

Henry Turner celebrated reaching double figures as a professional with a third stoppage victory in four fights over the Spaniard Zeus de Armas to retain his WBC International Silver super lightweight title.

The 22-year-old is a highly-skilled operator who doesn’t rely on power in any way, but he put his man down in the third round with a looping left and again in the fourth courtesy of a right hook to the body.

Turner’s attack to the body was to prove decisive and in round seven referee Mark Lyson had seen enough when de Armas again was put to the canvas and time was called with 1.20 of the round completed.

In the non-title fights, Chris Bourke got back in the groove after his unsuccessful tilt at the British super bantamweight title last year by dropping down to bantamweight and returning against the dangerous Darwin Martinez.

The record of Martinez is deceptive. While he has taken 10 losses, six of his seven wins have come via KO, so he clearly presents a threat. This was demonstrated in the first round when he rocked Bourke with a big right and the Streatham man appeared disorientated across the first three minutes after being out with injury for knocking on a year.

The Peacock Gym pupil regrouped impressively from the start of round two and put his man down with a vicious left to the body, repeating the trick a further two times in round three and referee Lee Every had seen enough after 2.53 of the round.

Blue Chip prospect Royston Barney-Smith again showed his class in his fifth professional fight against Lesther Lara. A right hand straight to the body accounted for the typically durable Nicaraguan and now the 19-year-old has three straight stoppages on his card, with the treble taking up less than three minutes of action.

At cruiserweight, Aloys Jr continued to shine and made short work of the Czech Jiri Krejci. An attack to the body folded Krejci after just 38 seconds and the 19-year-old moved to 3-1 as a pro, with all three coming via stoppage.

Two six-rounders opened the night, with 8-0 super welterweight Carl Fail enjoying a shutout victory over Serge Ambomo and 8-0 super bantamweight Adan Mohamed doing likewise against Francisco Rodriguez.

UNBEATEN LIGHTWEIGHT BANGER Mark Chamberlain hopes that a shot at the British title could be on the cards by the end of the year.

The 11-0 man from Waterlooville won the IBF European title last time out with a resounding points success over Marc Vidal at Wembley Arena last July and now, after recovering from a shoulder injury, he is set to go again when he co-headlines at York Hall on Friday February 17 with a defence against Vairo Lenti.

“It is a first defence and I am ready to get the show on the road again,” said the 24-year-old with seven stoppages to his name. “I’ve been in the gym working since the end of November now, training every day and I only had Christmas and Boxing Day off.

“So I’ve been training twice a day waiting for the phone call and now I’ve got the date, I will be ready to go.”

The big-hitting southpaw is fortunate to have an inside track on the 30-year-old Italian he is coming up against because his sometime training partner Alejandro Moya, the soon-to-be European title contender, has already fought Lenti and was able to share a few pointers.

“I have been told he is pretty similar to the last opponent in toughness. One of the other fellas who trains with us, Alex, fought him about four or five fights ago. He put him over but these are tough old boys and he got up and carried on.

“Alex said he is just tough, he is another opponent who has not been stopped. I won’t go in there to try and stop him, but if it comes, it comes,” added Chamberlain, who will have the distinction of being an out-of-towner from the South Coast topping a card in London, which will stand him in good stead for a potential British title challenge in the not too distant future.

“I know and it is why I can’t thank the office enough for believing in me and making it happen. Everything seems to be going well at the minute, obviously I have got the title now and it is the next step towards where I want to be.

“I believe I can get all the way to the top with the right guidance and the right fights at the right time.

“The British title is being fought for by Gwynn and Woodruff again and I would fight the winner of that, no problem. They are good fighters who are established and ain’t got the title for nothing.

“I truly believe that I am up there with those boys, if not better. You’ve got to believe in yourself.

“I know I can’t just say I want to fight for the British next because it is not as easy as that, but with the people I have got around me I am sure they can hopefully make it happen.”

Tickets for the show at York Hall, Bethnal Green on Friday, 17 February are on sale now available from ticketmaster.co.uk.

THE IBF EUROPEAN lightweight champion Mark Chamberlain 11-0 (7 KOs) and heavyweight contender David Adeleye 10-0 (9 KOs) are both in headline action when Queensberry makes a return to York Hall on Friday, 17 February, live on BT Sport

The Waterlooville puncher will go up against the Italian Vairo Lenti, 10-4-1 (1 KO), the former champion of Italy who has won his last three fights and last fought in July. Adeleye, the Ladbroke Grove heavy, faces a fellow unbeaten fighter in the Ukrainian Dmytro Bezus, 10-0 (5 KOs), who resides in Liga, Latvia.

Stylish super lightweight Henry Turner (9-0, 2 KOs), who won the WBC International Silver title in Dubai in November, will make a first defence of his belt at York Hall over 10 rounds. Streatham super bantam Chris Bourke (10-1, 6 KOs) returns to action in a 6 rounder for the first time since his loss to Marc Leach in a bid for the British title. 

Thrilling super featherweight prospect Royston Barney-Smith (4-0, 2 KOs) will be looking to make it a knockout treble in his fifth four-rounder after scoring quickfire stoppages in his last two fights, while Northampton super welterweight Carl Fail (7-0, 2 KOs) will have his second fight under the Queensberry banner, also over four.

Nottingham light heavyweight Ezra Taylor (4-0, 3 KOs) will have his second six-rounder, with Loughton super bantamweight Adan Mohamed (7-0, 2 KOs) also fighting over six. Penge cruiserweight Aloys Youmbi (2-1, 2 KOs) will both fight in four round contests.

Tickets for the show at York Hall, Bethnal Green on Friday, 17 February are on sale now available from ticketmaster.co.uk.

THE IBF EUROPEAN lightweight champion Mark Chamberlain and heavyweight contender David Adeleye are both in headline action when Queensberry makes a return to York Hall on Friday February 17, live on BT Sport.

The 24-year-old Chamberlain, 11-0 (7 KOs) won his title at Wembley with a shutout 10-round demolition of Marc Vidal in July of last year, before being forced to withdraw from a November defence due to a shoulder injury.

The Waterlooville puncher will go up against the Italian Vairo Lenti, 10-4-1 (1 KO), the former champion of Italy who has won his last three fights and last fought in July.

Adeleye, 10-0 (9 KOs), fought only twice last year due to injury, but managed to add two stoppages to his KO-count by extinguishing the threat of Chris Healey and Elvis Garcia.

The Ladbroke Grove heavy faces a fellow unbeaten fighter in the Ukrainian Dmytro Bezus, 10-0 (5 KOs), who resides in Liga, Latvia.

The 6ft 6″ 33-year-old last fought in October of last year, recording a fourth round stoppage over Lukas Wacker at the Arena Riga.

Stylish super lightweight Henry Turner (9-0, 2), who won the WBC International Silver title over in Dubai in November, will make a first defence of his belt at York Hall over 10 rounds.

Thrilling super featherweight prospect Royston Barney-Smith (4-0, 2 KOs) will be looking to make it a knockout treble in his fifth four-rounder after scoring quickfire stoppages in his last two fights, while Northampton super welterweight Carl Fail (7-0, 2) will have his second fight under the Queensberry banner, also over four.

Nottingham light heavyweight Ezra Taylor (4-0, 3) will have his second six-rounder after impressively stopping Mohamed Cherif Benchadi last time out in Telford, with Loughton super bantamweight Adan Mohamed (7-0, 2) also fighting over six. Batley super lightweight Amaar Akbar (4-0) and Penge cruiserweight Aloys Junior (2-1, 2) will both fight in four round contests.

“This is a great opportunity for Mark Chamberlain and David Adeleye to enjoy top billing at York Hall,” said promoter Frank Warren. “I expect both of them to really push on this year and reinforce their status as two of the leading prospects in the country and this will be an important night for them after missing out on fights last year due to injury.

“I believe it is a realistic aim for both Mark and David to be hunting down British titles in the near future and I am confident they would be successful in this.

“Henry Turner won his WBC belt on Middle East soil so I am looking forward to him stepping it up in what will be his 10th fight as a pro and it won’t be long before Carl Fail finds himself in the title mix.

“Royston Barney-Smith is now showing us his genuinely elite quality in the ring and this young man is going to be a big force in years to come. I cannot wait to see him back in action.

“I am also looking forward to checking out the progress of Ezra Taylor, Amaar Akbar, Adan Mohamed and Aloys Jr, who are all showing promising signs and are quickly becoming ones to watch. “

Tickets for the show at York Hall on Friday, 17 February are on sale now available from ticketmaster.co.uk.

WBO number-one heavyweight contender Joe Joyce stopped Christian Hammer in round four of the 12-round heavyweight bout at the OVO Arena Wembley in London, England.

In round one, Hammer was able to get through with several power shots. In round two, Hammer was cut around the right eye. At the end of round three, Joyce dropped Hammer with a left to the head. In round four, it was a left to the body that sent Hammer down. Joyce sent Hammer to a knee with a flurry of punches. Joyce ended the fight by dropping Hammer with a right to the body and the fight was called at 1:20.

Joyce, 265 lbs of London, ENG is 14-0 with 13 knockouts. Hammer, 263 lbs of Hamburg, GER is 27-10.

Tete Stops Cunningham in 4

Former world champion Zolani Tete took out Jason Cunningham in round four of their 12-round super bantamweight fight.

In round round four, Tete landed a hard left hand that sent Cunningham to the canvas. With Cunningham hurt, Tete jumped on Cunningham and dumped him on the canvas from a flurry of punches that was highlighted by a right and left to the chin, and the fight was stopped at 34 seconds.

Tete, 121.1 lbs of Eastern Cape, SA is 30-4 with 23 knockouts. Cunningham, 121.2 lbs of Doncaster, ENG is 31-7.

Chamberlain Decisions Vidal

Mark Chamberlain remained undefeated by winning a 10-round unanimous decision over Marc Vidal in a lightweight bout.

Chamberlain, 134.1 lbs of Portsmouth, ENG won by scores of 100-90 on all cards and is now 11-0. Vidal, 134.6 lbs of Spain is 13-4-5.

Fletcher Takes out Vmoga in 1

Tommy Fletcher made a successful pro debut with a first round stoppage over Aron Vmoga in a cruiserweight bout.

In round one, Fletcher dropped Vmoga with a left hand. It was long until Fletcher ended things as he landed a combination that sent Vmoga to the canvas and the fight was stopped at 58 seconds.

Fltecher, 197 lbs of Norfolk, ENG is 1-0 with one knockout. Vmoga, 193 lbs of Croatia is 1-1.

Burke Decisions Ambomo

Mickey Burke Jr. remained undefeated with a six-round decision over Serge Ambomo in a super welterweight fight.

Burke, 154.1 lbs of Becksley, ENG won by a 60-55 score and is now 7-0. Ambomo, 152.4 lbs of Sheffield, ENG is 7-32-3.

Turner Decisions Laskowski

Henry Turner remained undefeated with a six-round decision over Jakub Laskowski in a super lightweight fight.

Turner, 141.1 lbs of Glambagreen, ENG won by a 60-54 tally and is now 8-0. Laskowski, 142.2 lbs of Poland is 4-17-1.

THE LIGHTWEIGHT BANGER Mark Chamberlain believes he has now earned his stripes as a bonafide BT Sport attraction following his first round destruction of Jordan Ellison on Saturday.

Chamberlain, now 8-0, detonated a left hook to just below the ribs of the Sunderland-born 25-year-old and it quickly became clear that it was game over and the Pompey puncher had executed another speedy finish to his night’s work.

Ellison has been around and done the rounds in his 45-fight career to date, but never before has he been chopped down with less than 90 seconds on the clock and Chamberlain admits he did not see it coming.

“Nah, never in a million years!” confirmed the 22-year-old, who is trained by Wayne Batten. “I was thinking in my head that I would get a few rounds – at least five or six – but I timed it nice and caught him with a lovely body shot. It couldn’t have gone any better.

“I think I am the only one who has conquered him in the first! I had a look on Boxrec because I didn’t really know who he had boxed other than Sam (Noakes) had stopped him in five or six. I didn’t know he had been in with Zelfa Barrett and Lewis Ritson and they are heading to world level.

“It proves that I am on the same path as them,” he added, before pointing out that emulating fellow hot lightweight prospect Noakes was not part of his thinking beforehand.

“You know what, I got asked that about 10 times, with people saying I had to go out there and stop him before round five. To me it is not about that, I want to get in there and look good doing it, not go looking for the knockout. It just doesn’t work in your favour.

“Saturday night couldn’t have gone any better for me, it was perfect. For John Fury to sit there and praise me like he did, even a BT bloke asked him if he was feeling alright because he doesn’t normally do it.

“They were strong words from him saying he believed he had seen a future world champion. If he is a man of his word – and I think he is – I’d love to be a world champion and I will go for it.”

Chamberlain is prepared to bide his time, bearing in mind his age and relative lack of experience. He does, however, fancy a fight that plants a little fear in his belly during preparations. For now though, he prepared to abide by the maxim ‘Frank knows best’.

“I watched an interview with Frank Warren the other day and he is the boss. He obviously knows his stuff and he said I am only 22 and there is no rush, but hopefully next time out we get someone in the top 20 or close to for another eight rounder.

“Then we can maybe look for something for me because I don’t think I am far off. Whatever route they want to take me down I will grab with both hands. I know I’ve had eight fights and I’m only 22, but look at Louie Lynn on Saturday night, who boxed out of this world in fighting 10 rounds and winning a title.

“I want to be there as well. Everyone is commenting on my photos saying it is time for a strap, time for a title, so why not? There are some good fights to be made and lightweight is probably one of the hardest divisions out there if you look at the names in it from this level to world level. It is unbelievable.”

Promoter Warren made sure to issue some words of encouragement to the plasterer-by-day and boosted his spirits by stating an intention to return him to the ring in the near future.

“I got out of the ring and had a word with Frank. He said he wants to keep me active and will get me out in four or five weeks time. Here I am back running and back in the gym, waiting for that phone call and ready to go.

“Especially in this lockdown, I am so grateful to have been out the three times I have and on telly. For Frank to say personally he wants to keep me active is good to hear because normally you have a fight and have nothing to work towards until your next call.

“Without a doubt, I feel I have earned my spot now. They know what I am now and I am starting to get noticed a bit. Hopefully we can get the big fights and get going.”