Moses Itauma blitzes McKean in the first-round knockout

19-year-old British heavyweight sensation Moses Itauma demonstrated he is the real deal, dismantling Australian Dempsey McKean in the first round to extend his unbeaten record to eleven with nine by knockout. Itauma took a step up in opposition and passed the test in explosive fashion, marching forward and landing a brutal left overhand from his southpaw stance, sending McKean to the canvas again and unable to recover. 

Itauma asserted his dominance, knocking down McKean twice in the opening round. His precision, punching and power were evident. Itauma is promoted by Queensbury Promotions. Frank Warren has all the attributes of a future champion but will be difficult to match, as not many people will want to take the risk without the reward.  

Ishmael Davis, proved once again that he is as tough as they come, facing former light middleweight title challenger Serhii Bohachuk, but Davis was steamrolled by the experienced Ukrainian who started slowly. Bohachuk dropped Davis in the second round with a perfectly timed left hook. Bohachuk is now the WBC light middleweight mandatory challenger after Davis’s corner stopped the fight at the end of the sixth round. Davis had endured too much punishment, and Bohachuk was relentless in marauding forward and non-stop volume punching.

Johnny Fisher held onto his unbeaten record in controversial fashion over Dave Allen, showing his ring craft and experience, took control from round five onwards, Allen turned the tide of the fight after Fisher took control early, and dropped Fisher heavily in the fifth with a flurry of punches hurt Fisher and sent him to the canvas. Fisher showed great heart and determination to see out the final four rounds but was out on his feet with exhaustion.  

There was disbelief at ringside when Fisher won by split decision by a razor-thin margin two judges scored the fight 95-94 in his favour, with the other scoring it for Allen 96-93.  

Former European bantamweight champion Lee McGregor defeated Isaac Lowe. The fight was fought at a relentlessly fast pace, but McGregor's jab and IQ were evident as he was able to take control despite Lowe's good start. He was deducted two points in the ten-round contest in the ninth tenth and final round for his mouthpiece fell off repeatedly McGregor won by unanimous decision 96-92 and 97-91 twice. 

Peter McGrail overcame late replacement Rhys Edwards as the original Dennis McCann fight was cancelled due to McCann's multiple failed drug tests. Edwards, on just days’ notice, arrived in Riyadh only 48 hours before the first bell arrived. The fight was close but the fact that McGrail had a full training camp to prepare was the difference, as he landed with eye-catching shots.

Edwards was never deterred throughout the ten rounds, having success of his own, the fight was very close which was reflected on the judge’s scorecard, as McGrail was given the nod by unanimous decision 96-95 and the other two judges in agreement 96-94.