David Avanesyan knocked out Liam Taylor in two rounds Saturday in London.
David Avanesyan took advantage of a significant opportunity on Saturday at The SSE Arena in London.
The U.K.-based Russian’s fight against Liam Taylor was elevated to main event status on the Sky Sports card when Anatoli Muratov had to pull out of his fight against Chris Eubank Jr. because of unspecified issues with his medicals.
And Avaneysan shined, taking out Taylor in the second round of their scheduled 12-round welterweight bout.
Avanesyan (28-3-1, 16 KOs) forced Taylor (23-2-1, 11 KOs) to take a knee with a hard right hand in the opening round. And, in the second, a brutal three-punch combination from Avanesyan with Taylor’s back against the ropes prompted referee Mark Lyson to stop the fight.
The official time of the stoppage was 2:18 of Round 2.
Avanesyan, ranked by two of the four major sanctioning bodies, has now won five consecutive fights since he was stopped in six rounds by Egidijus Kavaliauskas in 2018.
Promoters were unable to find a substitute from Muratov at the last minute.
David Avanesyan knocked out Liam Taylor in two rounds Saturday in London.
David Avanesyan took advantage of a significant opportunity on Saturday at The SSE Arena in London.
The U.K.-based Russian’s fight against Liam Taylor was elevated to main event status on the Sky Sports card when Anatoli Muratov had to pull out of his fight against Chris Eubank Jr. because of unspecified issues with his medicals.
And Avaneysan shined, taking out Taylor in the second round of their scheduled 12-round welterweight bout.
Avanesyan (28-3-1, 16 KOs) forced Taylor (23-2-1, 11 KOs) to take a knee with a hard right hand in the opening round. And, in the second, a brutal three-punch combination from Avanesyan with Taylor’s back against the ropes prompted referee Mark Lyson to stop the fight.
The official time of the stoppage was 2:18 of Round 2.
Avanesyan, ranked by two of the four major sanctioning bodies, has now won five consecutive fights since he was stopped in six rounds by Egidijus Kavaliauskas in 2018.
Promoters were unable to find a substitute from Muratov at the last minute.
David Avanesyan knocked out Josh Kelley in the sixth round Saturday in London.
David Avanesyan took another step toward a welterweight title shot. Josh Kelley will have to rebuild.
Avanesyan recovered from a slow start to put Kelley down and stop the 2016 Olympian in the sixth round Saturday night at SSE Arena in London.
The fight was set and canceled multiple times over the past few years before it finally took place. For Avanesyan, it was worth the wait.
Kelley (10-1-1, 6 KOs) got off to a strong start, outboxing his more-experienced opponent in the first few rounds even though he suffered a cut on the back of his head.
However, after Kelley was cut above his right eye from an accidental headbutt in the fourth round, Avanesyan picked up steam and began to impose his will on Kelley.
In Round 6, Avanesyan (27-3-1, 15 KOs) landed a barrage of hard shots that forced Kelley to touch the canvas for a knockdown. He was able to continue but the end was near. Avanesyan punctuated another flurry with a hard left, which hurt Kelley again.
At that point, with Kelley in extreme danger, his trainer, Adam Booth, threw in the towel to end the fight. The official time was 2:15 of the round.
Avanesyan, ranked No. 6 by the IBF, bolstered his credentials as a legitimate contender by winning his fourth consecutive fight — all by knockout — since he was stopped by Egidijus Kavaliauskas in 2018.
Kelley is now 1-1-1 in his last three fights, having drawn with Ray Robinson in June 2019 and outpointing Wiston Campos six months later.
David Avanesyan knocked out Josh Kelley in the sixth round Saturday in London.
David Avanesyan took another step toward a welterweight title shot. Josh Kelley will have to rebuild.
Avanesyan recovered from a slow start to put Kelley down and stop the 2016 Olympian in the sixth round Saturday night at SSE Arena in London.
The fight was set and canceled multiple times over the past few years before it finally took place. For Avanesyan, it was worth the wait.
Kelley (10-1-1, 6 KOs) got off to a strong start, outboxing his more-experienced opponent in the first few rounds even though he suffered a cut on the back of his head.
However, after Kelley was cut above his right eye from an accidental headbutt in the fourth round, Avanesyan picked up steam and began to impose his will on Kelley.
In Round 6, Avanesyan (27-3-1, 15 KOs) landed a barrage of hard shots that forced Kelley to touch the canvas for a knockdown. He was able to continue but the end was near. Avanesyan punctuated another flurry with a hard left, which hurt Kelley again.
At that point, with Kelley in extreme danger, his trainer, Adam Booth, threw in the towel to end the fight. The official time was 2:15 of the round.
Avanesyan, ranked No. 6 by the IBF, bolstered his credentials as a legitimate contender by winning his fourth consecutive fight — all by knockout — since he was stopped by Egidijus Kavaliauskas in 2018.
Kelley is now 1-1-1 in his last three fights, having drawn with Ray Robinson in June 2019 and outpointing Wiston Campos six months later.
Conor Benn outclassed Sebastian Formella en route to winning a wide decision Saturday in London.
Conor Benn took a significant step in his young career on Saturday night in London.
Benn outclassed Sebastian Formella to win a wide decision in a 10-round welterweight fight, arguably the strongest performance since he turned pro in 2016.
Formella, who went the distance with Shawn Porter on Aug. 22, was seen as the biggest test for the son of Nigel Benn. If so, he gets an “A”.
Benn (17-0, 11 KOs) had too much of everything for his German opponent at SSE Arena. He picked Fromella (22-2, 10 KOs) apart when they fought at an arm’s length – landing the much quicker, harder shots – and got the better of his opponent when they fought toe-to-toe.
Formella was just as resilient against Benn as he was when he fought Porter but, in both fights, solid technique and toughness weren’t enough for him to be competitive.
Conor Benn arguably gave the strongest performance of his career on Saturday. Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing
The loser, realizing after a few rounds that he was ineffective at a distance, demonstrated his courage but pushing the action and engaging Benn inside beginning in the middle rounds. However, he continued to take punishment until the final bell.
Benn’s only flaw was his inability to stop a fighter he dominated but that’s more a testament to Formella’s remarkable toughness than any deficiency on Benn’s part.
The scores were 100-91, 99-91 and 99-92, all for Benn. Porter shut out Formella in a 12-round fight.
Benn made a strong statement, demonstrating that the top 147-pounders might have their hands full with the 24-year-old Essex resident sometime in the near future.
“I’m getting better every time,” said Benn, who hadn’t fought since he stopped Steve Jamoye in October of last year. “I’m working hard. There is no fun and games. This is all business. …
“I just beat a former [secondary] world champion who went the distance with Shawn Porter. And I beat him just as good.”
Benn isn’t getting carried away after only 17 professional bouts and a limited amateur career. He has his eye on regional rivals for now, not the elite 147-pounders like Errol Spence Jr., Terence Crawford and Manny Pacquiao.
“There’s only one fight I’m interested in, and that’s Josh Kelly,” he said of his fellow British prospect. Forget all the other people calling me out. I don’t care. The only big domestic [opponent] I want is Kelly.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn, standing beside Benn when he was interviewed after the fight, said a Benn-Kelly fight could happen.
Kelly is expected to fight David Avanesyan in January. If Kelly wins that fight and Benn wins once more, Hearn said, Kelly and Benn could meet sometime in the summer.
“That’s a blockbuster for the summer,” Hearn said. “I know [Kelly trainer] Adam Booth would have no problem taking that fight.”
Benn looked wide-eyed at Hearn after he made that comment and asked, “Are you sure?” Hearn responded, “I believe so.”
Conor Benn outclassed Sebastian Formella en route to winning a wide decision Saturday in London.
Conor Benn took a significant step in his young career on Saturday night in London.
Benn outclassed Sebastian Formella to win a wide decision in a 10-round welterweight fight, arguably the strongest performance since he turned pro in 2016.
Formella, who went the distance with Shawn Porter on Aug. 22, was seen as the biggest test for the son of Nigel Benn. If so, he gets an “A”.
Benn (17-0, 11 KOs) had too much of everything for his German opponent at SSE Arena. He picked Fromella (22-2, 10 KOs) apart when they fought at an arm’s length – landing the much quicker, harder shots – and got the better of his opponent when they fought toe-to-toe.
Formella was just as resilient against Benn as he was when he fought Porter but, in both fights, solid technique and toughness weren’t enough for him to be competitive.
Conor Benn arguably gave the strongest performance of his career on Saturday. Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing
The loser, realizing after a few rounds that he was ineffective at a distance, demonstrated his courage but pushing the action and engaging Benn inside beginning in the middle rounds. However, he continued to take punishment until the final bell.
Benn’s only flaw was his inability to stop a fighter he dominated but that’s more a testament to Formella’s remarkable toughness than any deficiency on Benn’s part.
The scores were 100-91, 99-91 and 99-92, all for Benn. Porter shut out Formella in a 12-round fight.
Benn made a strong statement, demonstrating that the top 147-pounders might have their hands full with the 24-year-old Essex resident sometime in the near future.
“I’m getting better every time,” said Benn, who hadn’t fought since he stopped Steve Jamoye in October of last year. “I’m working hard. There is no fun and games. This is all business. …
“I just beat a former [secondary] world champion who went the distance with Shawn Porter. And I beat him just as good.”
Benn isn’t getting carried away after only 17 professional bouts and a limited amateur career. He has his eye on regional rivals for now, not the elite 147-pounders like Errol Spence Jr., Terence Crawford and Manny Pacquiao.
“There’s only one fight I’m interested in, and that’s Josh Kelly,” he said of his fellow British prospect. Forget all the other people calling me out. I don’t care. The only big domestic [opponent] I want is Kelly.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn, standing beside Benn when he was interviewed after the fight, said a Benn-Kelly fight could happen.
Kelly is expected to fight David Avanesyan in January. If Kelly wins that fight and Benn wins once more, Hearn said, Kelly and Benn could meet sometime in the summer.
“That’s a blockbuster for the summer,” Hearn said. “I know [Kelly trainer] Adam Booth would have no problem taking that fight.”
Benn looked wide-eyed at Hearn after he made that comment and asked, “Are you sure?” Hearn responded, “I believe so.”
