RADISSON HOTEL,MANCHESTER
PIC;LAWRENCE LUSTIG
WBA,WBC AND RING MAGAZINE LIGHTWEIGHT TITLES
WBA CHAMP ANTHONY CROLLA AND WBC CHAMP JORGE LINARES WEIGH IN BEFORE THEY CLASH IN THEIR UNIFICATION BOUT AT THE MANCHESTER ARENA ON SATURDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER
It was a tough grueling fight that saw Linares ump out to an early lead on the strength of his quick combinations and handspeed.
In round five, Linares was cut over his left eye. In round six, Crolla was starting to take charge of the bout with his work to the body and uppercuts inside, until Linares hurt Crolla badly with a right hand that wobbled the Manchester native on the ropes.
Both guys had their moments down the stretch as Linares, at times seemed like he was losing his stamina, only to come back with hard combinations and he was able to eek out rounds.
Linares of Venezuela won by scores of 117-111, 115-114 and 115-113 and is now 41-3. Crolla is now 31-5-3.
Jack Arnfield won a twelve round unanimous decision over John Ryder in a middleweight bout.
Arnfield won by scores of 117-114, 118-110 and 115-114 and is now 21-2. Ryder is 23-3.
Callum Johnson scored a 9th round stoppage over Wilbeforce Shihepo in a scheduled twelve round light heavyweight bout.
In round five, Shihepo was docked a point for holding. Shihepo kept holding and was deducted another point in round seven. Later in the round, Johnson dropped Shihepo with a body shot. Johnson finihed things with a huge right that dropped Shiphepo in the 9th round. Shihepo could not beat the count at 2:07.
Johnson is now 16-0 with 11 knockouts. Shiphepo of Namibia is 23-9.
Conor Benn remained undefeated by scoring a 6-round decision over Ross Jameson.
The score was 60-55 for Benn, who is now 5-0. Jameson is 1-2.
Hosea Burton scored two knockdowns in the 3rd round and stopped Fernando castaneda in the same round of their scheduled ten round light heavyweight bout.
The stoppage came at 2:18 of round three, for Burton, who is now 18-0 with nine knockouts. Casteneda is 24-11.
