At the Emirates Arena in Glasgow Scotland Saturday MTK Global – Lee Eaton over ESPN+ featured four unbeaten boxers with Commonwealth Bantamweight champion Lee “Lightning” McGregor, of Edinburgh, Scotland, won a split Decision retaining his title over Ukashir Farooq of Pakistan and Glasgow, Scotland in the Main Event. In the co-feature WBC International Silver Super Welterweight champion Kieran “Chopper” Smith of the UK easily defended his title though suffering three cuts against a non-willing Vincenzo Bevilacqua of Italy, over 10 dull rounds.
In the Main Event Lee “Lightning” McGregor, 7-0 (6), #117 1/2, of Edinburgh, Scotland, defended his Commonwealth and British Bantamweight titles against Ukashir “Untouchable” Farooq, 13-0 (6), #117 1/4, of Pakistan and Glasgow, Scotland,
In the first two rounds each won one. The taller McGregor chops down on Faroog with too much holding by both. It’s been a sloppy performance by both with more wrestling than fighting. Faroog finally got a short right to the chin in at the bell on McGregor.
In the fourth round Farooq suffered a small cut under the right eye. It could have been from a clash of heads. In the sixth round Farooq had McGregor against the ropes with some body shots. McGregor gives up his height when he comes inside bending over. Farooq caught McGregor with a right on the chin while the latter was backing up.
In the seventh round McGregor leans on the head of Farooq when he comes in low and finally gets a warning from the referee. It was a good round for Faroog. In the eighth round McGregor landed several uppercuts with his right with Faroog on top of him at all times. The referee has had his work cut out for him seperating the many clinches. McGregor took the round.
In the eighth round both opened up a bit throwing punches. Farooq slips most of McGregor’s punches and when he counters McGregor with a short right McGregor ties him up. McGregor has a bloody nose.
In the ninth round Faroog counters a McGregor miss with a right to the chin. McGregor is fighting southpaw his round and switching back to orthodox. Faroog’s has cuts by both eyes. McGregor grabbed Faroog and pushed him through the ropes and the fans let him know of their displeasure. Faroog’s worst cut is just over the left eye.
In the tenth round the referee got both fighters together warning them about fouls. The referee finally takes a point from McGregor for holding. It is a close fight so it may be a factor in the end.
In the eleventh round Faroog rushes McGregor from the start landing a lead right on the chin. The wrestling match continues. McGregor warned again by the referee. McGregor got the last punch in a left hook to the chin.
The commentators calling it a great fight makes one shake your head. The place is filled with people cheering.
Scores were 114-113 for each with the last judge 115-112 for McGregor. This writer had it 114-113 Faroog.
WBC Silver World champion southpaw Kiernan “Chopper” Smith, 16-0 (7), #152 1/2, of Greenriff, Scotland, easily defeated Vincenzo Bevilacqua, 16-1 (0), #154, of Roma, Lazio, Italy, over 10 dull rounds.
In the first two rounds Smith dominated being the taller and a southpaw and Bevilacqua kept coming in low with hands high and doing little with an exceptional uppercut and overhand right. Due to a clash of heads Smith suffered a small cut over his left eye.
In the fourth round Smith came out firing and Bevilacqua firing right back. Bevilacqua has a good record but doing little on the offense. Listed as a southpaw on box rec is orthodox in this one. Unbeaten in 16 fights with no stoppages tells you he is not a puncher.
In the sixth round Smith had both hands to his side getting hit by the first combination Bevilacqua landed on the chin. The fans have little to cheer about in this one. Smith suffered another small cut between the eye’s. In the eighth round Bevilacqua finally got a solid punch in with a lead right knocking the head of Smith back. The fight continued with little change.
In the ninth round Bevilacqua grabbed Smith and walked him to the ropes without throwing a punch. The fight continued on the same pace. In the tenth and final round what seems nothing more than a sparring session the Italian is so far behind you would thing he would throw punches out of desperation knowing he needed a knockout to win. Smith was cut for a third time over the left eye possibly by a clash of heads. At the end Smith has quite a bit of blood coming down his face and looks more like the loser than the winner.
Scores were 98-92 twice and 99-91 with this writer 100-90.
Welterweight southpaw Paddy “Real Deal” Donovan, 2-0 (1), of Limerick, Ireland, easily defeated Danny Mendoza, 6-7 (4), of NIC, and Gerona, Cataluria, Spain, over 6 rounds.
In the first round Donovan dominated Mendoza being the taller of the two used an effective jab and going to the body with his left. In the second round Donovan slipped a punch and countered with a left to the chin and down went Mendoza for the 8-count. Mendoza was able to get through the round.
In the third round Donovan kept up the attack but as the counter puncher with Mendoza coming forward but throwing few punches. In the fourth round Donovan keeping his right down to his side landed a right cross knocking out the mouthpiece of Mendoza.
In the fifth round Donovan continued to use his reach advantage. Mendoza got in a few punches but was handled rather easily by Donovan. In the sixth and final round Donovan started using uppercuts trying to open up the defense of Mendoza. For the second time Donovan knocked out the mouthpiece of Mendoza with a right hook on the chin. Donovan won every round.
Scores were
Super Lightweight Pierce “Big Bang” O’Leary, 2-0 (0), #142, of Dublin, Ireland, easily decisioned Chris Adaway, 9-61-4 (1), #142, of Plymouth, Devon, UK, over 4 rounds.
In the first round Adaway kept moving around the ring with O’Leary trying to cut the ring off. When he does like with a ,inute left in the round he lands mostly body shots. At the end of the round O’Leary had Adaway pinned in a corner. In the second round with a little ofer a minute left in the round O’Leary landed a flurry of punches putting Adaway against the ropes. Adaway is 1-13 in 2019 and one of the many “record builders” from the UK.
In the third round at the halfway point O’Leary got in half a dozen body shots having Adaway in a corner. In the final seconds of the round O’Leary rocked Adaway with a right to the chin. In the fourth and final round Adaway stays in survivor mode doing enough to go the distance. As hard as O’Leary tried he wasn’t knocking out Adaway.
Light Heavyweight Tommy Philbin, 12-0 (4), #171 1/2, of Edinburgh, Scotland, defeated southpaw Darryl Sharp, 5-64-1 (0), #175 1/4, of Lancashire, UK, over 6 rounds.
In the first round Sharp has five fights lined up through December and knows how to go the distance only being stopped once in 64 losses. Philbin knocked out the mouthpiece of Sharp’s in the final seconds of the round. In the second round Sharp comes in with his head but not throwing much. Philbin does just enough to win the round.
In the third round Sharp continues to get into a clinch with Philbin. With a little over a minute left in the round Philbin landed a lead right on the chin of Sharp. Sharp is another “record builder” and at the end of the round walked to his corner smiling and hit himself with a left on the chin. In the fourth round Philbin comes out southpaw for the first minute trying to get Sharp to open up. Being a survivor Sharp seems content to avoid getting hurt and causing clinch after clinch.
In the sixth and final round Sharp forces a clinch and works the body of Philbin. Sharp does just enough to lose. Philbin only got tagged once from a Sharp straight left on the chin. Sharp
Score was 60-55 by the referee.