At the Church House, Westminster, London, UK, Saturday, Queensberry Promotions – Frank Warren, presented Light Heavyweight Commonwealth champion Lyndon “King” Arthur won a disputed split decision over Anthony “The Beast from the East” Yarde in the Main Event for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental and retaining the Commonwealth (British Empire) title after 12 dull rounds!
Yarde felt he won the fight with the last round going to him. Arthur felt it could have gone either way and mentioned a rematch. This was one of the dullest fights this writer has seen in some time.
In the Main Event WBO No. 6 ranked Lyndon “King” Arthur, 18-0 (12), of Manchester, Lancashire, UK, won by split decision over WBO No. 4 ranked Anthony “The Beast from the East” Yarde, 20-2 (19), of Ilford, Essex, UK, vacant WBO Inter-Continental and Commonwealth light heavyweight titles, 12 rounds.
In the first three rounds with only jabs from both, Arthur had the edge. In the fourth Yarde landed the first right on the chin of Arthur a minute into the round. In the ninth round Arthur landed his first right of the fight knocking the head of Yarde back. In the twelfth and final round at the halfway point Yarde rocked Arthur with a right on the chin spinning Arthur around, but couldn’t follow up.
Scores were John Lewis 117-111 Yarde and Michael Alexander and Marcus McDonnell 115-114 for Arthur, this writer 115-113 Yarde.
English Super bantam champion Michael “Trouble Maker” Ramabeletsa, 18-18 (8), of RSA, and Preston, Lancashire, UK, was stopped by southpaw Chris Bourke, 9-0 (6), of Streatham, London, UK, for the vacant WBC International title, at 2:43 of the second round of a scheduled 10 rounds.
In the second round Bourke scored a pair of knockdowns with left hands to the chin of Ramabelesta causing referee Ian John Lewis to wave it off.
Super bantam southpaw Dennis ‘The Menance’ McCann, 8-0 (5), of Maidstone, Kent, UK, defeated Pedro “Number One” Matos, 7-4 (1), of Lisbon, Portugal, over 8 solid rounds.
In the second round McCann moving well countered Matos with a left causing a cut on the left eyebrow of Matos. In the next 5 rounds the young 19 year-old southpaw McCann took the seventh after dropping a pair of rounds. In the eighth and final round McCann made it without a doubt a win.
Score by referee Marcus McDonnell 80-73 and this writer 79-73.
Light Heavyweight Karol Itauma, 1-0 (0), of Chatham, Kent, UK, defeated Lewis van “Poochi” Poetsch, 9-124-2 (2), of Lydney, Gloucestershire, UK, over 4 rounds.
In all four rounds the taller southpaw Itauma was able to use an effective jab and occasional lefts to durable Poetsch’s chin.
Referee Marcus McDonnell scored it 40-36 as did this writer.