THE RESULT: Cheavon Clarke is the new British cruiserweight champion after stopping Ellis Zorro in round eight. Referee Mark Bates waved it off with Zorro being in no position to continue.
KEY MOMENTS: In round six, Clarke upped the pace and started working at an uncomfortable pace for his opponent.
Things unravelled for Zorro, who was caught with a heavy right hand at the close of the eighth, and, just like that, his title challenge was swiftly over.
RECORDS: New champ Clarke improves to 9-0 (7 KOs), while Zorro falls to 17-2 (7 KOs).
TALKING POINT: Clarke boxed well in spurts, seemed frustrated at times, and eventually got the job done, but he will need more experience and seasoning if he is to ascend beyond this level any time soon. Of course, there is no immediate rush for him to do that. Title defences will be incoming.
QUOTABLE: As catalogued by Declan Taylor in the live blog, after becoming the British champion, Clarke says: “I feel great, man. This was one for the believers, so thank you.
“He came out and he fought as we expected. After a defeat like that [against Opetaia] I would want to come out and show I’m not a walkover but I was the better man on the night.
“Cruiserweights, I’ve got it, come and take it because I’m winning this belt outright.”
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? A mild redemption for Zorro after the crushing Opetaia loss. The Lewisham man showed that he could hang at this level and can challenge again. Clarke is very much the man now at domestic class and issued a call out to see who wants to try and snatch the coveted strap off him.
