IBO super bantamweight champion Shabaz ‘Maverick’ Masoud (15-0 (4) won a close 12-round unanimous decision over southpaw WBA International champion Peter “Blood” McGrail (12-2 (6) for the EBU title on Saturday night at the Salle des Etoiles, Monte Carlo, Monaco.
In the first four rounds with a pair of southpaws, McGrail dominated. In the fifth and sixth rounds, Masoud came back, boxing well, taking the rounds with his jab. In the seventh round, it was close that McGrail had an edge. In the eighth and ninth rounds, it was close, with Masoud having an edge, going to the body and hurting McGrail at times with left uppercuts.
In the tenth round, Masoud complained of a punch behind the head, with Referee Giuseppe Quartarone taking a point from McGrail. In the eleventh round, McGrail had an edge with Masoud begging for another point, holding the back of his head.
In the twelfth and final round, McGrail got hit behind the head without a warning from the referee. Masoud spent the round holding with a warning and running, giving McGrail the final round.
The scores were 116-111, 115-112, and 114-113.
Conah “Wolf” Walker, 17-3-1 (8) came from behind and stopped 2-time Olympian, 2021 Silver medalist Pat McCormack (8-1 (6) at 2:16 of the 12th and final round, for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental welterweight title.
In the first three rounds, Walker kept coming forward, getting countered by McCormack, who took both rounds. In the fourth round, Walker had his best round, but it was not enough to win, as he was outlanded by McCormack.
In the fifth round from the start, Walker worked the body and head, taking his first round. In the sixth, McCormack came back well, outworking Walker. In the seventh rounds opening minute a right from Walker opened a cut on the left eyebrow of McCormack. Close rounds in this one and the eighth.
In the ninth round’s final seconds, a left from McCormack knocked back the head of Walker. In the tenth round’s final minute, McCormack, complaining to the referee, got hit with a left hook from Walker, who took the round.
In the eleventh round, both had their moments, with Walker having some bleeding outside of his left eye. In the twelfth and final round, in the final minute, Walker landed over a dozen punches, driving McCormack through the ropes onto the ring apron. As hard as he could, McCormack couldn’t get upright, being counted out by referee Jean-Robert Laine. McCormack was ahead on two of the scorecards at the end.
In the chief support IBF World lightweight champ and 2020 Olympic Silver medalist Beatriz “The Beast” Ferreira (8-1 (2) was stopped by WBC Int’l champ “The Golden Turkish Warrior” Elif Nur Turhan (12-0 (8) at 1:08 of the fifth round of a scheduled 10×2 rounds.
In the first round, what looked like a knockdown by Turhan with a right uppercut was not counted as one. Shortly later, Turhan dropped Ferreira with a right for an 8-count from referee Diana Drews-Milani. In the second and third rounds, Ferreira came back in close rounds through the fourth. In the fifth round’s final minute, Turhan landed a flurry of punches, dropping a defenseless Ferreira, causing the fight to be halted.
“The Fresh Prince of Monaco” Hugo Micallef (11-1 (3) was stopped by southpaw IBF European super lightweight champ “The Public Nuisance” Sean McComb (21-2 (6) at 2:35 of the eighth round of a scheduled 10 rounds.
In the first round, the southpaw McComb, half a minute into the round, landed a left to the chin of Micallef. Again, halfway through the round and in the final minute, he repeated landing the left on the chin. In the third round’s first minute, McComb countered with a left on the chin, dropping Micallef for an 8-count from referee Stephane Nicolo.
In the sixth round, McComb drew blood from the nose of Micallef, who had swelling outside of his left eye, then McComb landed a left to the body, dropping Micallef for a second time for an 8-count from referee Nicolo. In the seventh round, Micallef tried fighting back while backing up, but lost another round.
In the eighth, with half a minute remaining, McComb dropped Micallef for a third time with a left on the chin, taking an 8-count, and after getting up, referee Nicolo waved it off.
Heavyweight Johnny “The Romford Bull” Fisher (14-1 (12) came back to stop Ivan Balaz (7-1 (5) at 1:19 of the fourth round of a scheduled 10 rounds, scoring three knockdowns.
In the first round, Fisher had his way until the final minute when Balaz had Fisher hurt and out on his feet, holding on the rest of the way. In the second round, after a minute, Fisher landed a low left, forcing referee Aurel Pena to give Balaz a rest. Blaz took another round. In the third round, Fisher came back well enough to take his first round.
In the fourth round’s opening minute, Fisher dropped Balaz with a left on the side of the head for an 8-count from referee Pena. Seconds later, a right on the chin from Fisher again dropped Balaz. Seconds later, a left on the chin from Fisher dropped Balaz a third time as referee Pena called a halt.
The Ring Announcer was David Diamante.
Last Updated on 12/06/2025
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