1) Round 11 of Heaney vs. Pauls
The 10-round British middleweight title fight between Nathan Heaney and Brad Pauls was an exhilarating spectacle, brimming with momentum shifts and gripping moments. However, it was in the eleventh round that the bout truly reached its pinnacle. Although Pauls held the upper hand for the majority of the match, Heaney, astutely recognizing that Pauls had exhausted his energy, summoned his strength and ended the round on a high note.
2) Davies’ uppercut
After successfully stopping three opponents consecutively, Liam Davies has undoubtedly earned recognition as one of the top finishers in the British boxing scene. His most recent triumph involved swiftly dispatching Erik Robles in the second round, thanks to a flawlessly executed right uppercut that landed perfectly on the Mexican boxer’s chin.
3) O’Leary’s left
Pierce O’Leary showcased his skill and dominance in the clash of undefeated super-lightweights by delivering a remarkable left hook to Hovhannes Martirosyan’s head in the ninth round. Both fighters traded blows, but O’Leary’s striking technique proved to be exceptional, making it undoubtedly the highlight knockout of the evening.
4) Heaney’s gum shield
In round eight, Paul’s powerful right hand left Heaney stunned, causing him to lose grip of his gum shield. Consequently, the shield dropped onto the canvas just before Heaney did. The referee promptly called a timeout, possibly too hastily, giving Heaney a chance to regain his composure while the gum shield was retrieved and reinserted.
5) McCann’s right hook
In a relentless display of counterpunching against Brad Strand, Dennis McCann showcased his prowess with an aggressive style. The pivotal moment came in the second round when McCann unleashed a powerful right hook, swiftly following a left cross. This perfectly executed punch landed with precision, causing Strand to crack and experience his first and sole knockdown of the entire bout.
Dennis McCann revels in his victory over Brad Strand (James Chance/Getty Images).
6) Davies’ quick finish
As the night wore on, and the likelihood of the main event commencing past midnight became a reality, witnessing Liam Davies swiftly defeating Erik Robles in a mere two rounds brought a sense of relief.
7) The Heaney flip
The moment Nathan Heaney rose to his feet after slipping in round 12, using his signature move of springing off his back and bursting upwards, confirmed that he still possessed some hidden strength. This impressive move was also witnessed during his victorious British belt triumph against Denzel Bentley in December.
8) Zeuge’s power
Although Tyron Zeuge’s efforts to disrupt the order of things against Zach Parker were commendable, it fell short in getting the job done. Zeuge deserves respect for utilizing his power and successfully flooring the home fighter with a right hand in round two. However, as Zeuge continued to employ this tactic, Parker became more accustomed to it, diminishing the surprise factor and ultimately hindering Zeuge’s success.
9) Joyce finally getting it done
The fight between Joe Joyce and Kash Ali was not anticipated to be the highlight, yet the feeling of relief when Joyce ultimately concluded the lackluster affair in round 10 was not exclusively felt by Joyce alone.
10) Stoke support
The event reached its climax, with both noise and action peaking, when Nathan Heaney and Brad Pauls, the headliners, entered the ring. The enthusiastic support from Heaney’s devoted Stoke fans undoubtedly contributed to making the already thrilling fight even more spectacular.