The opening round was fought at a fast pace, with Garner landing the cleaner punches and forcing Magnesi backward at times. The second round was another busy one, with Garner backing Magnesi to the ropes on several occasions while the Italian answered with punches of his own. The third and fourth rounds featured non-stop action, with both fighters throwing throughout.
The fifth round was fought at close range, and the sixth and seventh rounds followed a similar pattern as the pace remained high. In the eighth and ninth rounds, referee Kieran McCann warned Magnesi for excessive holding.
The tenth round included several clinches, but the action picked up again during the closing stages. By the eleventh round, Garner appeared ahead on the scorecards, though Magnesi continued competing hard.
The twelfth and final round saw both fighters continue exchanging until the bell, bringing an entertaining contest to a close. The judges scored the bout 116-112, 119-109, and 118-110 in favor of Garner.
The victory adds the WBC Interim World Super Featherweight title to a résumé that already includes British, Commonwealth, European, and WBC International honors. Garner now moves into position for a potential future shot at full WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster.
Bradley Goldsmith Outpoints Brad Pauls
In the chief support bout, Bradley Goldsmith (16-1, 10 KOs) defeated Brad Pauls (21-3-1, 12 KOs) by unanimous decision to capture the IBF International middleweight title.
Goldsmith gained a slight edge during the opening rounds, with both fighters working primarily behind their jabs. He took the third round despite suffering a bloody nose and continued to enjoy success during the fourth and fifth rounds.
With a minute remaining in the sixth round, Goldsmith landed a glancing punch that sent Pauls to the canvas. Though there appeared to be some leg contact during the exchange, referee Steve Gray ruled it a knockdown and administered an eight-count.
Pauls produced one of his best moments in the seventh round when he landed a right hand that briefly shook Goldsmith. However, Goldsmith responded well and regained control during the closing rounds.
The judges scored the fight 99-90, 99-90, and 97-92 for Goldsmith.
Taylor Bevan Edges Ryszard Lewicki
Taylor Bevan (9-0, 8 KOs) earned a majority decision over Ryszard “The Polish Sniper” Lewicki (12-4-3, 5 KOs) after 10 rounds.
Bevan outworked Lewicki during the opening rounds before both fighters engaged in several spirited exchanges in the third. By the fifth round, a bruise had developed beneath Lewicki’s right eye from Bevan’s accurate punching.
One of Bevan’s strongest moments came midway through the seventh round when he landed a right hand that knocked Lewicki’s mouthpiece out. Lewicki responded well and remained competitive over the final rounds.
After 10 rounds, Bevan was awarded the decision by scores of 97-94, 97-94, and 95-95.
Iman Zahmatkesh Claims Commonwealth International Title
Iman Zahmatkesh (6-0, 4 KOs) defeated Franklin “The Raging Bull” Arinze (10-2, 7 KOs) over eight rounds to capture the vacant Commonwealth International cruiserweight title.
The opening round was competitive, with Arinze receiving a warning for low blows. During the second round, Arinze landed several punches behind the head without drawing a warning from referee Bernard Oyet.
Both men exchanged heavy shots in the third round. In the fourth, Arinze scored the fight’s lone knockdown with a combination that sent Zahmatkesh to the canvas for an eight-count.
Zahmatkesh rallied in the fifth and sixth rounds, landing several strong flurries during the closing seconds of each frame. The seventh round became physical as both fighters wrestled each other to the canvas before resuming action.
Midway through the eighth round, Zahmatkesh forced Arinze to the canvas during another physical exchange. Both fighters appeared exhausted by the final bell.
Referee Bernard Oyet scored the contest 77-74 in favor of Zahmatkesh.
Read the full article here
