In a closely contested and often scrappy boxing match at Wembley Stadium, Ukrainian southpaw Daniel Lapin maintained his perfect professional record, securing a points victory over British challenger Lewis Edmondson. The fight, characterized by its lack of clear-cut action and frequent holding, saw Lapin emerge victorious by majority decision after ten rounds. This win pushes Lapin's unblemished record to 12-0, while Edmondson's record now stands at 11-1. Both boxers struggled to establish dominance throughout the bout, with the judges' scorecards reflecting the tight nature of the contest.
The light heavyweight encounter unfolded with an absence of dramatic exchanges, as both fighters appeared hesitant to fully commit. Lewis Edmondson, riding the momentum of recent significant victories, including a notable win over Dan Azeez and Oluwatosin Kejawa, aimed to continue his ascent. However, the anticipated fireworks failed to materialize. Lapin, a towering 6ft 6ins southpaw, often sought to tie up Edmondson, leading to a contest punctuated by clinches and limited clean punching. Moments of potential action, such as Lapin's left-hand flashes in the third round and Edmondson's counter left hook, were few and far between, underscoring the fight's untidy nature.
As the rounds progressed, the struggle for control became increasingly evident. The fourth round saw Edmondson land a couple of rights, but Lapin quickly negated these with his holding tactics, preventing any sustained offensive rhythm from developing. The seventh round was indicative of the bout's overall flow, with Lapin receiving a warning for excessive holding amidst tangled arms and a scarcity of impactful blows. Despite a late flurry from Lapin at the end of the seventh, Edmondson effectively blocked the shots. The eighth round witnessed further grappling, with both fighters nearly going over the ropes. The referee, Marcus McDonnell, issued a verbal warning to Edmondson for an illegal blow to the back of Lapin's head as the contest devolved into an even less aesthetically pleasing affair.
McDonnell intervened in the ninth round to address the conduct of both boxers, urging them to engage more cleanly. While Lapin managed to create some openings with his left hand, Edmondson responded with defensive maneuvers, leading to more holding. The crowd's ironic cheers highlighted their dissatisfaction with the lack of sustained action. In the final round, Lapin appeared to edge ahead, connecting with a clean uppercut and effectively evading Edmondson's infrequent attacks. Despite Edmondson's confident gestures at the final bell, believing he had done enough, the official scorecards ultimately confirmed Lapin's victory. This outcome further solidifies Lapin's position in the rankings, where he holds the 15th spot with the IBF and 8th with the WBA, while Edmondson is ranked 14th by the IBF.
In summary, Daniel Lapin's performance against Lewis Edmondson was a testament to his tactical approach in a challenging and often fragmented contest. The fight, which was part of the Usyk-Dubois II undercard, served as another stepping stone for Lapin in his undefeated career. The strategic choices made by both fighters, particularly the frequent clinching, resulted in a fight that lacked the explosive moments often associated with professional boxing. Ultimately, Lapin's precision in key moments and his ability to navigate the messy exchanges proved just enough to sway the judges in his favor, securing a significant win on a major platform.