Steve Spark got a victory via sixth round disqualification over Montana Love in 12-round super lightweight bout at The Rocket Mortgage Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

In round two, Spark landed a hard right that put Love on the canvas. In round six, the two fighters clashed heads which opened up a cut around the left eye of Love. That seemed to have perturbed Love as he pushed Spark over the top rope that caused a disqualification.

Spark, 140 lbs of Toowoomba, AUS is 16-2. Love, 140 lbs of Cleveland, OH is 18-1-1.

Richardson Hitchins remained undefeated by stopping Yomar Alamo after round eight of their 10-round super lightweight bout.

Hitchins beat down Alamo until the fight was stopped in the corner following the eighth frame.

Hitchins, 140 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is 15-0 with seven knockouts. Alamo, 138.5 lbs of Caguas, PR is 20-2-1.

Raymond Ford scored an eighth round stoppage over Sakaria Lukas in a scheduled 10-round featherweight bout.

Ford was credited with a knockdown in the opening minute of the fight when he landed a left and Lukas stumbled to the canvas.

In round seven, Lukas was deducted a point for hitting behind the head. In round eight, Ford landed a booming right hook to the chin that put Lukas down and out on his back and the fight was stopped at 2:20.

Ford, 126 lbs of Camden NJ is 13-0-1 with seven knockouts. Lukas, 128 lbs of Windhoek, NAM is 25-2-1,

Thomas Mattice won a 10-round unanimous decision over Christian Tapia in a super featherweight fight.

In round two, Mattice dropped Tapia with a straight right.

Mattice, 129.5 lbs of Cleveland, OH won by scores of 97-92 and 96-93 twice and is now 19-3-1. Tapia, 129.5 lbs of Coamo, PR is 15-1.

Beatriz Ferreira made a successful pro debut with a four-round unanimous decision over Taynna Cardoso in a super featherweight bout.

In round one, Ferreira scored a knockdown when she put Cardoso on the canvas with a right hand. In round three, it was another hard right hand that forced Cardoso to take a knee.

Ferreira, 130.5 lbs of Salvador, BRA won by scores of 40-34 on all cards and is now 1-0. Cardoso, 131 lbs of Sao Paulo, BRA is 5-1.

Nikoloz Sekhniashvili stopped previously undefeated David Rodriguez after round three of their scheduled six-round super welterweight bout.

Early in round one, Sekhniashvili dropped Rodriguez with a straight left. The left eye of Rodriguez swelled badly throughout the fight and the bout was stopped after round three.

Sekhniashvili, 153.5 lbs of Gori, GEO is 8-1 with six knockouts. Rodriguez, 155 lbs of Akron, OH is 6-1.

Raynell Williams won a six-round unanimous decision over Ryizeemmion Ford in a super featherweight bout.

In round one, Williams sent Ford down with a left hand.

Williams, 130 lbs of Cleveland, OH won by scores of 60-53 on all cards and is now 14-1. Ford, 131 lbs of Alliance, OH is 8-3.

Khalil Coe won a six-round unanimous decision over Bradey Olmeida in a light heavyweight bout featuring undefeated fighters.

In round five, Coe dropped Olmedia with a right hand

Coe, 174 lbs of Jersey City, NJ won by scores of 60-53 on all cards and is now 4-0-1. Olmeida, 175 lbs of Mayaguez, PR is 5-1.

Montana Love

On Steve Spark: “He’s getting too comfortable. I’ve been playing it cool because you are from out of town and you’ve been humble, but I will step on you, in or out of the ring. You are tripping, being disrespectful – just keep it on boxing, keep it cool.

“I am not worried about Richardson. On Stevie, I take my hat off to him, he’s a great fighter, pressure fighter, but it’s nothing I’ve never seen before. In this same arena, we had the Russian [Ivan Baranchyk] who said the same words as Stevie – and he got laid out and hasn’t fought since. He has a great style, but you haven’t fought anyone brother. It’s going to be a tremendous fight; we’re going to run Stevie into some traps and we’re going to put his ass to sleep. I know he is coming to fight but he’s getting taken out. 

“He has never faced anyone like me, he’s had a good camp, he’s had some great sparring, but it’s not going to be enough.”

On Richardson Hitchins: “I’ve never seen a fighter getting dropped [by a promoter] while being undefeated. He had an opportunity to fight me in 2019 when I was independent and he was with the Money Team. They turned me down. Now I’m sitting next to the big dog [Eddie Hearn] this is the real money team, and now he’s chasing the bag, as he should.”

Steve Sparks

“I haven’t come halfway across the world to not beat Montana Love. And not just beat him, I’m going to knock this man out. He’s chinny and he’s got a glass jaw.

“I’ve asked for this kind of opportunity because I believe I’m ready for a World title next year. So, I must go out there and beat people like Montana and not just beat him but do it in good fashion, so I must have my wits about me, I know the level of fight this is. I’m excited to be on DAZN and I’m going to shine, he knows this is a hard fight for him, and he’s a hard fight for me. This is the fight of the night; it’s going to be great. I don’t see this fight going the distance.

“It’s do or die in this fight. All or nothing. I’m not going home without that belt. I’m taking it back to Australia.”

Richardson Hitchins

“When you are facing somebody like me you got to come ready. A great fighter like me you should never ever slack not one bit, and I’m looking to take care of business Saturday night. And after that if Montana Love even gets his job done me and him is next. And if he tries to hide from me and him fighting next, we got to see each other in 2023, that’s my goal.

“I came to Ohio cause I’m the truth. I feel like I’m the best fighter on this card and I’m the best fighter in the 140lb division, so it starts like I said on Saturday night. I’m going to show up and show out in his city and hopefully Montana can match that energy.”

Yomar Alamo

“I’ve been prepared like I prepare for all my fights, and we’ve made all the necessary changes to look better and stronger in this fight.”

Raymond Ford

“We’re coming here to dominate. Whether it comes down to a 10 round decision or I stop him early, it really don’t matter. But I’m coming out victorious.

“He [Lukas] got the experience and everything, he’s been around a long time 38 years old. I’m just going to get him out of boxing and send him on his way out.”

Sakaria Lukas

“Saturday night I’m ready to go. You eat or get eaten. Talk is cheap and we can talk the whole night or the whole day but it’s going to change once you get smacked in the face.”

Christian Tapia

“We’re more than prepared to walk away with the victory.”

Thomas Mattice

“We ready. We train extremely hard, had a full camp. I don’t really have much talking to do, I’m ready to handle business. My mind is to hurt something and that’s it.”

Khalil Coe

“This is what boxing is about, taking the tough fights and giving the people a show and giving your best. So that what we want to do and what we’re going to do.”

Beatrice Ferreira 

“I prepared a long time for this moment this big opportunity and there’s nothing better than to be here in the best place in the world for boxing to make my debut and I want people to be happy with my performance.”

David Rodriguez 
“I’ve been around World champions, been in the ring with World champions, got nothing but knowledge and skills, technique, and fundamentals. I got everything to show everyone.”

Love and Spark clash on a stacked card in Cleveland, with the co-main bout featuring a Matchroom debut for Richardson Hitchins also at Super-Lightweight, where the Brooklyn talent faces Yomar Alamo for the IBF North American title.

Raymond Ford continues to catch the eye in his rise in the Featherweight division and defends his WBA Continental Americas title against Sakaria Lukas and Christian Tapia takes on Cleveland’s Thomas Mattice for the WBA Continental Americas Super-Featherweight title.

Love’s older brother and Olympian Raynell Williams continues his return to boxing against fellow Ohioan Ryizeemmion Ford, Khalil Coe faces unbeaten Bradley Olmeda, Nikoloz Sekhniashvili meets Ohio’s David Rodriguez and Brazilian Olympic silver medalist and former amateur World champion Beatriz Ferreira steps through the ropes for the first time in the paid ranks against fellow Brazilian Taynna Cardoso.

Steve Spark says the pressure is all on Montana Love to impress his hometown fans – and he’ll capitalize on that expectation and clinch a pivotal win for his World title ambitions as the pair clash for the WBA Intercontinental Super-Lightweight title on Saturday night at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio, live worldwide on DAZN.
 

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Spark (15-2 14 KOs) is calling Saturday night the biggest of his career as the Australian looks to crash into the reckoning for more big fights in 2023, and ‘The Viking’ is relishing his underdog status in Ohio, having acclimated to America by ending his training camp in Houston, Texas. 
 
The 26 year old makes his US debut against Love, who headlines at home for the first time in his pro career, and Spark insists he’ll spoil the party for ‘Too Pretty’ and jump the queue for World title action.
 
“I’ve been known as someone that takes the hard fights,” said Spark. “I’ve had 14 KOs in 15 wins, you don’t get paid for overtime in this business, I always look for that.
 
“I’m looking to impress the US fans. They will love my style and that’s why I am looking to get in there and ruin Montana’s homecoming and getting that belt in his backyard.
 
“I guess people have me as the underdog, this is my first step-up so rightly so, but in my mind, I’m not the underdog and I wouldn’t have taken the fight if I didn’t believe I could win. Not many people get this type of opportunity in their life, so I am taking it with both hands, in my stride and smiling when I do it because it is exciting, it’s a special moment in my life and I want to be known for putting entertaining fights. 
 
“I wear my heart on my sleeve, I give everything in my fights and that’s what I am bringing on Saturday. There’s a little adjustment to make with southpaws, but it doesn’t matter how they stand – they all fall.
 
“Pressure is a funny thing. We all feel it, the hometown pressure is on him, he must perform well in front of them. I’m going there with an ‘everything to gain, nothing to lose’ mentality. 
 
“I’m his toughest test and he’s mine. People might not believe me but when I step into the ring, he’s going to realize in the first round that he’s never been in with someone like me. I want to win this in epic fashion, make a big statement and announce myself as a top 140lber, a fan friendly fighter and one that’s going to be at the top for years to come – it all starts on Saturday. 
 
“I said I wanted to be 27 when I fight for my first World title and that’s next year. I am not looking past Montana, but I like to look through at what possibilities there are when I when and it’s motivating for me that it’s only a few steps from the World title. 
 
“He’s slick, he’s sharp and he’s well rated, he’s up there for a reason. But that’s why we’ve taken the fight, there’s no easy fights at this level and it’s a chance for me to jump the queue and rise up the rankings fast. If I want to be a World champion, this is the sort of fight I need to win and do it in good fashion. I’m young, I’m hungry, I’m fresh, whatever Montana brings to the ring, I’m going to meet it and give him a lot more.”
 
Love and Spark clash on a stacked card in Cleveland, with the co-main bout featuring a Matchroom debut for Richardson Hitchins also at Super-Lightweight, where the Brooklyn talent faces Yomar Alamo for the IBF North American title.
 
Raymond Ford continues to catch the eye in his rise in the Featherweight division and defends his WBA Continental Americas title against Sakaria Lukas and Christian Tapia takes on Cleveland’s Thomas Mattice for the WBA Continental Americas Super-Featherweight title.
 
Love’s older brother and Olympian Raynell Williams continues his return to boxing against fellow Ohioan Ryizeemmion Ford, Khalil Coe faces unbeaten Bradley Olmeda, Nikoloz Sekhniashvili meets Ohio’s David Rodriguez and Brazilian Olympic silver medalist and former amateur World champion Beatriz Ferreira steps through the ropes for the first time in the paid ranks against fellow Brazilian Taynna Cardoso.

Montana Love fulfils a dream on Saturday night – headlining for the first time in his hometown of Cleveland as he faces Steve Spark for the WBA Intercontinental Super-Lightweight title at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Saturday night (November 12) live worldwide on DAZN.
 

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Love (18-0-1 9 KOs) tops the bill in the sports mad Ohio city and on his second appearance at the home of NBA giants, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Love meets Australian Spark (15-2 14 KOs) in a pivotal clash in the 140lb division, with ranking positions and World title shots at the front of the hometown man’s mind.
 
“The city is showing me love and getting behind me,” said Love. “It’s a proud city and we look after each other and back. It’s a dream come true, being able to headline in the biggest arena in my home. Cleveland means everything to me. We don’t have much, but we stick together and get the job done. 
 
“The Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is an electric place, we’ve had a lot of great athletes come through the city in that building, and now I am one of them. I am living my dream, I went through the trials and tribulations to get here, and what I had to deal with is a big part of what makes me hungry now. 
 
“I promised my mother that I would take this 100 per cent seriously. The last thing she remembers of me is going to prison and being in and out of jail, so now I am trying to right my wrongs.
 
“I feel like I am made for this moment. I am coming off being co-main on a Canelo card; fighting in front of a packed house in Las Vegas and I’ve fought at home in front of a big crowd before, so there’s no pressure, I’m going to embrace it.
 
“Steve is a tough guy; he’ll bring the fight and it’ll make for a real spectacle. I want to win this in spectacular fashion, go for the KO – but we just want to look beautiful and put on a great show.”
 
Love and Spark clash on a stacked card in Cleveland, with the co-main bout featuring a Matchroom debut for Richardson Hitchins also at Super-Lightweight, where the Brooklyn talent faces Yomar Alamo for the IBF North American title.
 
Raymond Ford continues to catch the eye in his rise in the Featherweight division and defends his WBA Continental Americas title against Sakaria Lukas and Christian Tapia takes on Cleveland’s Thomas Mattice for the WBA Continental Americas Super-Featherweight title.
 
Love’s older brother and Olympian Raynell Williams continues his return to boxing against fellow Ohioan Ryizeemmion Ford, Khalil Coe faces unbeaten Bradley Olmeda, Nikoloz Sekhniashvili meets Ohio’s David Rodriguez and Brazilian Olympic silver medalist and former amateur World champion Beatriz Ferreira steps through the ropes for the first time in the paid ranks against fellow Brazilian Taynna Cardoso.

Richardson Hitchins will fight for his first pro title when he takes on Yomar Alamo for the IBF North American Super-Lightweight title and is the co-main event as Montana Love headlines in his hometown for the first time as he takes on Steve Spark for the WBA Intercontinental Super-Lightweight title on Saturday November 12 at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio, live worldwide on DAZN.
 

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Hitchins (14-0 6 KOs) inked a promotional pact with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom yesterday and wastes no time in his quest to crash into the top ten in the Super-Lightweight rankings and put the big names on notice as he fights for his first title in his 15^th pro fight, entering the bout on the back of three impressive wins; dismissing Angel Rodriguez in May inside four rounds to add to convincing ten round victories over Malik Hawkins and former World champion Argenis Mendez
 
Opposing the 2016 Olympian is Puerto Rico’s Alamo (20-1-1 12 KOs), the 27 year old is no stranger to title action having recently held the WBO Latino crown to go with his time holding the WBO NABO, WBC Youth and WBC FECARBOX belts, and ‘The Magic’ will be out to spoil Hitchins’ bow under Hearn and bounce back from a slender split decision loss to another new Matchroom signing, Liam Paro, in his last fight in December.
 
“November 12, my time to shine,” said Hitchins. “Eddie promised me big fights, big opportunities, and most importantly, activity. This is the beginning of all that, the beginning of this new journey in my career and I couldn’t be more excited. 
 
“Alamo is a very tough opponent, and I know he’s coming to win, but he’s simply a roadblock towards achieving my championship goals. As I’ve said before, I believe I’m the best 140 pounder in the world, and he’s going to find that out as soon as the bell rings. I plan on stealing the show November 12. I promise you; you don’t want to miss it.”
 
“It’s a good fight,” said Alamo. “I’m looking to jump back in the rankings and get a better shot. It will be my first time fighting in Cleveland and I am happy to be fighting in a city where I have a lot of love and support. I’m training at my best to give 100 per cent and to win in style.”
 
Raymond Ford (12-0-1 6 KOs) continues to catch the eye in his rise in the Featherweight division and defends his WBA Continental Americas title in Cleveland against Sakaria Lukas. The New Jersey talent landed that title against the unbeaten Edward Vazquez in February via split decision and defended it with a shutout win over Richard Medina in June, taking another ‘0’ in the process. 
 
Lukas (25-1-1 17 KOs) is the latest man to try to claim the strap from Ford, and the Namibian has familiarized himself with fighting outside his homeland in his last four fights. The 38 year old had only boxed once outside Namibia in his first 23 fights – with that bout taking him to Zimbabwe – but his last four outings has seen fights in Texas and Atlantic City either side of a pair of bouts in Cancun, Mexico, and now he’ll look to hand a first defeat to the 23 year old ‘Savage’.
 
“I’m stepping up again, I don’t duck any challenge,” said Ford. “Lukas has only lost once in 27 fights. I’m fighting to impress my fans and I see myself hurting him and being the first person to stop him. 
 
“Then, I’m coming after any of the Champions out there because there’s no fun and games anymore, I want those belts.”
 
“This is my third fight in the USA and I’m not here to be robbed!” said Lukas. “This boy Ford won’t see the final bell; he will just see me standing over him” 
 
 
There’s more Puerto Rican action on the card and this time against a local favorite, as Christian Tapia takes on Cleveland’s Thomas Mattice for the WBA Continental Americas Super-Featherweight title.
 
Unbeaten Tapia (15-0 12 KOs) picked up the title in March with a wide points win over Luis Lebron in Philadelphia, and kept busy in the same city with an eight round win over Mario Lozano, and now faces local man Mattice (19-3-1 15 KOs), who enters the bout on the back of two wins inside the distance, with a first round KO in May in Cleveland Heights and an sixth round stoppage in Toledo. 
 
“The Super-Featherweight division just got a little more interesting now,” said Tapia. “Matchroom has given me a global platform and I intend to take full advantage of it. On November 12 in Cleveland, I’m going showcase my skills, showing the 130lb division, showing the people watching and most of all show my opponent why I am the best kept secret in boxing. El Hijo Del Pueblo (The Son of the People) will not only be victorious but all ‘contenders’ in MY division will be put on notice.”
 
“This is one of the opportunities I’ve been looking for,” said Mattice. Being in my hometown makes it even better. I will be ready and victorious on November 12.”

World ranked Tim Tszyu kept his perfect mark intact b stopping late-replacement Steve Spark in round three of a scheduled 10-round bout at Newcastle Entertainment Center in Newcastle, South Wales, Australia.

Tszyu, who was the bigger fighter dropped Spark twice in round three with body shots and the fight was halted at 2:22.

Tszyu, 152 3/4 lbs is now 19-0 with 15 knockouts. Spark, who was coming up in weight and took the fight on about a week’s notice after original opponent Michael Zerafa pulled out is now 12-2.

Noynay Stops Wilson in 5

Joe Noynay stopped previously undefeated Liam Wilson in round five of a schedule 10-round super featherweight bout.

Noynay registered four knockdowns,, as he sent Wilson down once in round one, two times in round four and once in round five. The final knockdown was the clincher, and the fight was stopped at 2:40.

Noynay, 129 3/4 lbs of the Philippines is 19-2-2 with eight knockouts. Wilson, 130 ls is 9-1.

Wade Ryan stopped Troy O’Meley in round six of their scheduled 10-round super welterweight bout.

In round three, O’Meley was cut over the right eye from an accidental headbutt. Ryan dropped O’Meley in round five, and O’Meley pulled he plug on the fight in round six.

Ryan, 152 3/4 lbs is 19-9 with seven knockouts. O’Meley, 152 1/4 lbs is 11-2.

Sam Ah See returned from a six-year hiatus by stopping former interim titlist Czar Armonsot in the opening round of their scheduled eight-round welterweight bout.

In round one, Ah See hurt Armonsot with a hard uppercut that was followed up by a combination that sent Armonsot to the canvas. Seconds later, a hard right hook hurt Armonsot, and the fight was stopped at 2:47.

Ah See, 145 1/2 lbs of New South Wales, AUS is now 14-0-1 with seven knockouts. Armonsot, 143 1/2 lbs of Melbourne, AUS via the Philippines is 35-6-3.

Linn Sandstrom and Natalie Gonzales Hills battled to a six-round split draw in a super flyweight bout.

In round one, there was swelling under the right eye of Hills.

Each fighter won a card at 58-56 and third card was 57-57.

Sandstrom, 115 lbs of Australia via Sweden is 1-1-1. Hills of Australia via the Philippines was making her pro debut.

(July 6, 2021) —The newest superstar in Australian boxing, undefeated junior middleweight contender Tim Tszyu, will look to extend his unbeaten record and defend his WBO Global belt in a 10-round showdown this Wednesday, July 7 against countryman Steve Spark at Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Newcastle, Australia.
 
Tszyu was originally supposed to fight longtime contender Michael Zerafa, who pulled out of the bout due to health concerns. Spark filled in on about a week’s notice to save the main event.
 
Tszyu-Spark and select undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+ starting at 5 a.m. ET/2 a.m. PT.
 
Tszyu (18-0, 14 KOs), the WBO No. 1 junior middleweight contender, has built a fanatical following in Australia, where he has fought all of his pro bouts. Last August, he knocked out former world champion Jeff Horn in front of 16,000 fans, and less than four months later, he knocked out Bowyn Morgan in one round in front of more than 15,000 spectators. Tszyu returned March 31 against former world title challenger Dennis Hogan and notched a bloody fifth-round stoppage. Spark (12-1, 11 KOs) has won 11 fights in a row, including an upset over Jack Brubaker in April to earn the shot at Tszyu.
 
In other streaming action on ESPN+:

• Undefeated junior lightweight Liam Wilson (9-0, 6 KOs) will challenge Filipino veteran Joe Noynay (18-2-2, 7 KOs) in a 10-rounder for the WBO Asia Pacific title. Noynay is 6-0-1 in his last seven fights dating back to 2017.
   
• Junior middleweight veteran Troy O’Meley (11-1, 2 KOs) will face Wade Ryan (18-9, 6 KOs) in a 10-round rematch of last December’s battle, which was won by Ryan via split decision.
   
• In an eight-round welterweight tilt, Sam Ah See (13-0-1, 6 KOs) will seek to extend his winning streak to 11 against Czar Amonsot (35-5-3, 22 KOs).
   
• In a six-round female junior bantamweight bout, Linn Sandstrom (1-1) will fight Natalie Hills, who is making her pro debut.

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