In a contest for the WBC international cruiserweight championship, Aloys Junior emerged victorious over Ellis Zorro. The bout, which served as the chief support for the Ryan Garner-Reece Bellotti main event at the Bournemouth International Centre, was marked by a lack of sustained excitement. Despite Junior's pre-fight claims of delivering an emphatic performance, the fight progressed without significant highlights, culminating in a decision victory for Junior with scores of 96-94 and two 97-93.
Aloys Junior, at 22 years old, showcased his Mike Tyson-inspired bob-and-weave approach from the outset, relentlessly targeting Zorro's body. His aggressive intent was clear, yet Zorro, returning from a hiatus, displayed composure, effectively using his jab and clinching to manage Junior's attacks. As the fight wore on, Zorro's confidence grew, landing significant blows late in rounds and demonstrating that he was very much in contention, despite Junior's consistent forward pressure.
The fight between Junior and Zorro developed into a strategic battle rather than a high-octane slugfest. Both fighters vied for control, with neither establishing clear dominance for extended periods. The exchanges were often untidy, reflecting the cautious approaches of both competitors. Junior, despite bleeding and showing facial marks, persisted with his heavy, singular punches, while Zorro effectively dodged many of the power shots, absorbing them on his arms and gloves.
Junior middleweight Carl Fail made a significant impact in his return to the ring after a two-year absence, securing an eighth-round technical knockout against the previously undefeated Amir Abubaker. Fail, fighting out of Coventry, displayed superior hand speed and combination punching. While Abubaker possessed heavier power, Fail's precise timing and left-hand assaults, including a powerful uppercut-straight left combination, consistently put Abubaker on the defensive. Fail's movement proved too much for Abubaker, who struggled to cut off the ring, leading to the referee's intervention at 2 minutes and 40 seconds of the eighth round.
Hassan "Shooter" Ishaq, a junior featherweight prospect, marked his professional debut with an impressive performance. With strong support from his hometown of Slough, Ishaq launched powerful shots early in the fight against Brandon Gallardo Vargas. Ishaq's ability to seamlessly switch between body and head attacks, combined with his fluid movement, made him untouchable. He even demonstrated versatility by switching to a southpaw stance in the third round before resuming his orthodox attack, compelling the referee to halt the contest at 1 minute and 27 seconds into the round.
In the junior bantamweight division, Tony Curtis Jnr improved his record to 11-1 with a unanimous decision victory over Charles Tondo. Curtis, guided by boxing legend Roy Jones Jnr in his corner, demonstrated a disciplined performance, effectively making Tondo miss and landing an early right hand. Despite Tondo's attempts to taunt and draw Curtis into an aggressive exchange, Curtis maintained a strategic approach, consistently moving and preventing Tondo from unleashing his offense. While the pace of the fight was not high, Curtis's tactical execution secured him a comfortable 59-55 win on the referee's scorecard.