Joshua Buatsi Edges Craig “Spider” Richards in UK!

By Ken Hissner: At the O2 Arena, Greenwich, London, UK, Saturday over DAZN Eddie Hearn (Matchroom Boxing) in the Main Event former WBA International Light Heavyweight champion Joshua Buatsi defeated current WBA International champion Craig “Spider” Richards over 12 solid rounds.

In the Main Event Joshua Buatsi, 16-0 (13), #174 ¾, of Accra, GH, and Croydon, London UK, defeated Craig “Spider” Richards, 17-3-1 (10), #174 ¼, of Crystal Palace, London, UK, over 12 action rounds.

In the first round it was all Buatsi having Richards defenseless in the final twenty seconds against the ropes. In the second round it was Richards having Buatsi with hands held high and little offense. In both the third and fourth rounds Buatsi had a good round but caught with a solid right on the chin just before the bell.

In the fifth round a left uppercut from Richards on the chin of Buatsi was the best punch of the round. In the seventh and eighth rounds both fighters did too much holding with Buatsi still taking the round with Richard fighting back better when hurt.

In the ninth round it was Buatsi using short uppercuts inside while Richards would come back with wide wild punches. Richards looked exhausted between rounds.

In the tenth round Buatsi had his way until the final minute when a Richards right uppercut knocked out the mouthpiece of Buatsi. In the eleventh round Richards got his second wind dominating Buatsi with head shots. In the twelfth and final round the infighting was furious with both trying for the knockout in what ended up being the best round of the fight!

Scores were 116-112 with 115-113 twice as did this writer.

In the co-main Event heavyweight Alen “The Savage” Babic, 11-0 (10), #208 ¼, of Zagreb, Croatia, won a total war over Adam Balski, 16-2 (9), #210 ¼, of Warsaw, POL, over ten action rounds.

In the first round a glancing left from Balski on the chin dropped Babic for an 8-count by Referee Victor Laughlin. He was up and chasing

Balski who used an effective jab in a shootout from both. In the second round and third rounds Babic was all over Balski swinging wildly landing good body shots throughout the round along with overhand rights.

In the fourth round Babic continued to outwork Balski who did get some counter punches in swinging wildly. Babic had Balski against the ropes at the finish. In the fifth round Balski came back well enough to edge out the round when not on the ropes but in the middle of the ring. In the sixth round it was all Babic pinning Balski into a corner. Balski tried to steal the round once again at the end of the round with wild punches landing.

In the seventh round Babic had his best round roughing up Balski with overhand rights to the head having him in trouble with a minute remaining in the round. Balski’s face well marked. In the eighth round Babic continued outscoring the defensive minded Balski who was in a survival mode. Babic scored another big winning round.

In the ninth round Balski fought well off the ropes landing a late punch having Babic hurt at the bell losing a point from referee Victor Loughlin. In the tenth and final round Balski was moving and countering knowing he needed a stoppage. In the final minute Babic got a second wind pulling out the round and the fight as Balski’s face showed the one of a loser with bruises under both eyes. The fans gave both a deserving ovation!

Scores were 97-91 twice and 95-93 with this writer 96-92.

WBA Continental Super Light champ Robbie Davies, Jr., 23-3 (15), #139 ¾, of Kirkby, Merseyside, UK, won a split decision over Javier “El Intocable” Molina, 22-5 (9), #139 ¾, of Norwalk, CA, over 10 rounds to retain his title.

In the first round after a minute a left hook from Molina on the chin of Davies buckled the knees of Davies. The latter was able to get back being the aggressor in the final half minute of the round. Almost a minute into the second round a Molina left hook on the chin got Davies attention. Davies continued to use his head without warning from Referee Bob Williams in a round Molina again took.

In the third round Davies had Molina against the ropes for the most part of the round with effective right uppercuts. In the fourth round after one minute Referee Williams warned Davies for pushing Molina to the canvas after the second time he did it. Molina finished the last minute well enough to take the round.

Twenty seconds into the sixth round Davies rocked Molina with a right on the chin. Seconds later he landed a pair of rights on the chin of Molina. It wasn’t until the final thirty seconds that Molina spun off the ropes giving the round to Davies.

In the seventh round Davies pushed Molina through the ropes without a warning from referee Williams upon Molina rising. Davies was in control until the final seconds when Molina landed a solid combination to the chin of Davies. In the eighth round Molina rocked Davies with a right followed by a left hook on the chin having him hurt and backing up the rest of the round.

In the ninth round Davies controlled for the most part though pushing Molina to the canvas for the sixth time. Molina ended the round with a combination to the chin of a Davies round. In the tenth and final round Davies pushed Molina down for the seventh time without warning once again. For the most part Davies had an edge in the round.

Scores were 97-94 for Molina, 96-94 for Davies and 96-94 for Davies with this writer 95-95.

In the co-main Event WBC and IBF Super Lightweight World champ Chantelle “Il Capo” Cameron, 16-0 (8), #140, of Northampton, Northamptonshire, UK, easily defeated former IBF Light champ Victoria “La Leona” Noelia Bustos, 23-7 (0), #137 ¼, of Rosario, Santa Fe, ARG, over 10 shut out rounds.

In the first two rounds making her third defense Cameron out landed the retreating defensive minded Bustos the entire round. In the third and fourth rounds Cameron started unloading with rights to the chin of Bustos. Bustos was only effective with her jab.

In the seventh round Cameron continued winning every round out working and out landing Bustos. In the eighth round Bustos started coming in lower and getting hit with punch after punch in a survival mode. In the ninth round Bustos had her best round though she had much swelling under the right eye. In the tenth and final round Cameron showboated easily outscoring the beaten Bustos. Referee was John Latham.

Scores were 100-90 with this writer 99-91.

WBA Inter-Continental Female Super Bantam Ellie Scotney, 5-0 (0), #121 ½, of Catford, London, UK, defeated former IBF Bantam champion Maria Cecilia Roman, 16-7-1 (0), #121 ½, of San Juan, ARG, over 10×2 lopsided rounds.

In the first rounds final minute Scotney landed left hooks to the chin of 39 year-old Roman in a close round Scotney took. In the second and third rounds each fighter won one. In the fourth round Scotney used an effective jab making Morales miss quite a bit. Scotney landed a solid right to the chin of Morales in the final ten seconds.

In the sixth round Scotney had her best round up to this point with rights to the chin and left hooks to the body. In the seventh round Scotney did more to make Roman miss faking rights landing jab after jab with occasional overhand lead rights to the chin of Roman. In the final minute Roman landed her best punch a right on the chin of Scotney.

In the ninth round Scotney had her way the entire round blasting Roman with rights. A clash of heads caused a cut on the top of the head of Roman. It was a big round for Scotney.

In the tenth and final round Roman kept coming forward knowing she needed a stoppage while walking into Scotney’s countering. Referee was Howard Foster.

Scores were 100-90 and 99-91 twice as did this writer have it.