Echo Arena, Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom– In a redemption fight after a Michael Katsidis TKO loss last year, Kevin Mitchell (32-1, 24 KOs) put on an excellent showing and stopped top British lightweight, John Murray (31-1, 18 KOs) in eight rounds.
Mitchell used movement and precision punching throughout the contest while Murray performed true to form with dogged aggression and attempted physical intimidation.
Although the seven previous rounds were evenly-fought, with both fighters fighting well, it was Mitchell’s more balanced attack that seemed to be paying greater dividends as the fight progressed.
Stunned in the later stages of the seventh round, a Mitchell counter would drop his battered and facially-swollen opponent in the eighth. Although Murray beat the count, the referee would step in seconds later, after it was clear that the former undefeated star was no longer able to defend himself
On the undercard, Ricky Burns (32-2, 9 KOs) made the third defense of his WBO super featherweight title by stopping former world champ, Nicky Cook (30-3, 16 KOs) in the first round.
Within the first ten seconds of the bout, Burns landed a shot to Cook’s back, aggravating a pre-existing spinal injury. Cook immediately crumpled to the canvas and complained vehemently to the referee, who failed to consider the blow illegal.
Cook fought on in intense pain and was dropped two more times before the fighter’s corner finally threw in the towel.
Also, Tony Bellew (16-0, 10 KOs) captured vacant British light heavyweight title while defending the Commonwealth light heavyweight title by beating Ovill McKenzie (18-11, 7 KOs) via twelve-round decision. Seven months ago, in an exciting battle, Bellew had stopped McKenzie via TKO 8.
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