Frank Warren’s The Magnificent Seven rolled into Birmingham once again, having provided blood, guts and action at the British level once more.
The headlining act was as incendiary as it was eclectic, with the rematch between fan-favourite BBBofC Middleweight champion Nathan ‘Hitman’ Heaney (18-1-1) and Brad Pauls (19-1-1), closing the chapter on their rivalry. In a stunning display of the human condition, Brad Pauls would be decided as the ultimate victor; with both fighters cementing themselves amongst the great British Middleweight titlists.
The 5 ’10 BBBofC English Middleweight champion Pauls was confident, knowing that a ‘Newquay Bomb’ could detonate upon his opponent effectively, after their draw at the start of the year. The ‘Hitman’, however, was equally as familiar with his Cornish opponent and the cries of his Stoke-On-Trent brethren would spur him on.
The WBA Continental Middleweight title was also on the line in the bout, which started strong for the reigning and defending champion, with Heaney troubling Pauls at the midpoint, despite Pauls hitting much harder.
Both men had improved remarkably, with Heaney and Pauls recapturing the magic of their best rounds from their previous outing and channelling it into their performance; Heaney kept Pauls on the jab whilst Pauls thumped the ‘Hitman’ with heavy blows.
Heaney would, amongst the wails and fervour of his army, would settle well in the opening rounds, out-boxing Pauls, despite the artillery heading his way. This would change at the tail end of the fourth, with the right hand finally colliding with Heaney and sending him down; Heaney allowed Pauls to counter him with ease.
That moment would ignite the confidence of Pauls, who would press on to find further success. His underrated hook to the body would manoeuvre Heaney into a disturbed rhythm. Pauls would soon find himself on the receiving end in the sixth, wobbled by Heaney; although his work was still more efficient.
The singular jabs of Heaney soon became his undoing, allowing Pauls to reclaim the timing.
It was equally as contentious as their previous war, with Heaney starting to work the body moving into the ninth round. If back-and-forth ever needed a definition in the world of boxing, it would be this: two blood-and-guts warriors, exchanging constantly in a tit-for-tat barn-burner.
Both of their collisions are easily fight of the year contenders, but it was the overwhelming pressure of Brad Pauls that would win the second fight, sending the Stoke favourite to the canvas in the last round.
Ashley Lane (18-11-2) once again revelled in the underdog role in his first defence of his BBBofC British and Commonwealth Boxing Council bantamweight titles against tough dog Andrew Cain (12-1), who relieved the fan favourite of his title honours.
After his upset win against Chris Bourke (13-2) in March, ‘The Flash’ seemed eager to extend his winning ways; the battle began with the pre-fight mind-games, with Lane paying no attention to his hard-hitting opponent.
In the ring, however, there had to be respect for his power and ability, with Lane repeatedly tagged by Cain in the opening rounds, even whilst smothering some of his offensive abilities.
Certainly, in the opening stretch, Lane’s game-plan seemed immaculate against the large, heavy opponent placed in front of him. Perhaps, if anything, Lane was too focused on the game-plan, allowing Cain to find the gaps and exploit them with heaving shots.
With bullish confidence, Cain would reap Lane to the ground in the opening moments of the fifth; with Cain able to see his path to victory. A lethal body shot later in the round would fell the eager and determined champion, ending Lane’s ambitions in the process.
Recent Queensberry signing Chantelle Cameron (19-1) inched one step closer to her treasured rematch with Katie Taylor (23-1) by taking the vacant WBC Interim Super-Lightweight belt in her contest against French-woman Elhem Mekhaled (17-3).
‘Il Capo’ proved harder than ‘Diamond’, with the one-time undisputed super-lightweight champion demonstrating her aptitude at the highest levels of the sport. Mekhaled was certainly tough and willing, but was out-thrown in the exchanges and was physically imposed upon by Cameron.
The Parisian made her name in the super-featherweight division, becoming a European champion in the process. However, a step-up in weight against someone of Cameron’s class was a step too far on the night, with the hard-hitting Cameron slicing through ‘Diamond’ with relative ease.
Despite the disappointment, Mekhaled certainly still has the opportunity to campaign at her usual weight, whilst Cameron slips closer to her dream-fight, given the majority decision nod; judge Juergen Langos unfathomably scored the bout a draw.
Opening the event was Zach Parker (25-1), the super-middleweight with all the tricks, who has found a groove in his first outing at light-heavyweight. His opponent, Jack Arnfield (26-4), had once bested Parker’s conqueror John Ryder (32-7) in a controversial bout.
Yet, Parker still coasted in traditional fashion, only delivering the round four stoppage when it benefitted him the most; Arnfield went down twice prior to the end. However, after the less than impressive showing against Tyrone Zeuge (27-2-1) last time out, it could only be seen as an improvement.
In a bout that went under-the-radar of many fight fans and sports pundits alike, Owen Cooper (10-1) and Ekow Essuman (20-1) delivered a welterweight war, with Essuman ultimately prevailing through the fireworks of the youngster.
Cooper entered the bout as the reigning champion, whilst Essuman, known as ‘The Engine’ for his work-rate and output, was making a return after a loss kept him from a title eliminator.
With the WBO European belt on the line, both men were determined and – certainly – delivered. Cooper found comfort early on, with Essuman still revving his engine; in the fifth, it would burst forth, before downing Cooper in the sixth.
Cooper very much played a young man’s game, finding success with his left, whilst Essuman channelled his experience into a disciplined showing that played to his strengths. Cooper would return the favour in the ninth, sending Essuman to the floor.
Certainly, it was a tale of two halves that highlighted the ‘throw the kitchen sink’ mentality that English and British title fights often have, even if the title was not on the line; Essuman would sink Cooper in the final round.
Also on the card, light-heavyweight Ezra ‘The Cannon’ Taylor (9-0) blew a fuse against Spain’s EBU Silver titlist Carlos Alberto Lamela (8-4) with the golden carrot of the WBC International belt – and the ranking it provides – on the line.
The blistering 29-year-old has remained on the periphery of the United Kingdom’s bursting light-heavyweight scene and, certainly, announced himself as a student of the craft; yet, one with a lot to learn. With a very good guard, it was difficult for Lamela to work; whilst his own was too low to plaster Taylor with anything significant early on.
Despite hailing from Havana, Cuba, Lamela demonstrated a style that was far removed from the strict fluidity of the Cuban style, something that benefitted the power of ‘The Cannon’. In fact, Taylor was calmly walking Lemela down, employing a leading left to coerce the Cuban-Spaniard into moving.
The stubborn Spaniard took the pace from the fourth, with unorthodox movements giving Taylor trouble at a pivotal point in his career. Even as Taylor re-took the lead, his movements became slightly lethargic, proving that Taylor needs good domestic competition if he ever seeks to improve further.
Certainly, for Taylor to match his contemporaries, he will have to find the gears and push them; a nickname like ‘The Cannon’ needs the components to match. Either way, the unanimous decision win gave him necessary hours on the clock.
A highly-anticipated English heavyweight bout turned into a highly-anticipated English heavyweight rematch as BBBofC English title-holder Solomon Dacres (9-0) put right the only uncertain match-up of his career.
Given the controversial nature of their last meeting, it was certainly the best replacement that could be made, following the withdrawal of David Adeleye (12-1). With Michael Webster (10-2) having arguably won last time, it was vital that Dacres start strongly; although Webster began to neutralise his shot output.
‘The Real Deal’ was tentative, whilst Webster was energised by his performance in their November meeting. Certainly, Dacres was putting shots together with success but the ring was Webster’s domain.
Through slow, salient rounds, it became clear that this bout was going to play out much the same as last time; Webster pushing the action with Dacres succeeding in spurts. Even putting Webster down could not halt the Yorkshire man, who only felt the effects moving into the seventh; the round in which Dacres would finish the challenger.
Perhaps slightly underwhelming in nature, Dacres nevertheless saved his potential showdown with the exciting Adeleye.
With exciting performances and utter grit in abundance, Queensberry Promotions reaffirm their commitment to keeping their cards consistent throughout; it was nothing short of a magnificent night for Warren’s stable.