ANOTHER MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
23:31:09
As we bid farewell to yet another fantastic Mag 7 show, the joyful words of Brad Pauls still echo in our minds. Until we meet again, let Cornwall remain in our hearts forever.
‘CORNWALL FOREVER’
23:30:19
Brad Pauls, a history maker, expresses his sentiment by stating, “Tonight, it feels as though the fans emerged victorious. As promised, I wholeheartedly dedicated myself to this endeavor. Cornwall will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Every day, Terry accompanies me to the gym. Without Terry Steward by my side, I would be unable to achieve this. Terry Steward has been my constant support, and thanks to their unwavering dedication, I have finally obtained my desired results.
“I am part of a highly active division and I am willing to face any opponent with enthusiasm. This is the pinnacle of my career, as I have dedicated 21 years to boxing and this is the ultimate fulfillment of my aspirations. It is remarkable to see my dreams materialize; thoughts of this moment have consumed me daily and now that it has arrived, it feels almost unreal.”
IT’S ALL OVER! PAULS IS THE NEW CHAMPION!!
23:22:51
Pauls receives instructions from his corner and immediately takes a risk by aggressively attacking from the beginning of the round. Heaney becomes trapped in a dangerous situation, enduring powerful punches while being cornered against the ropes. Eventually, he collapses to the canvas and desperately tries to recover before the referee, Michael Alexander, counts him out. The official time of the stoppage was recorded as 00:54 in Round 12.
Brad Pauls has become the latest British middleweight champion, marking the first time a fighter from Cornwall has held the title since 1939.
PAULS PILING ON THE PRESSURE
23:20:09
As we enter the 11th round, Pauls is determined to secure a knockout victory. He was dissatisfied with the outcome of the previous fight and seems determined to avoid leaving the decision in the hands of the judges. With just a minute left in the 11th round, he intensifies his assault, putting immense pressure on his opponent, Heaney. Despite the onslaught, Heaney remains resilient and manages to retain his standing until the round concludes. “Keep attacking him,” urges Pauls’ coach Terry Steward from the corner. And now, we proceed into the 12th round.
HEATING UP
23:08:28
The anticipated toe-to-toe battle is now unfolding. Although Heaney faced a crisis in the fourth round, he has managed to regroup effectively. However, Pauls remains the dominant force in the fight. With only four rounds remaining, the outcome is still uncertain and the intensity of the fight is increasing.
HALFWAY HOME
23:00:53
As the fight progresses, Heaney becomes more aggressive in his attacks, but Pauls starts to dominate. The champion is having difficulty causing any significant damage to Pauls, who fearlessly advances and lands powerful punches with both his right hand and left hooks. With six rounds remaining, the outcome of the match is still uncertain for both fighters.
HEANEY REGROUPS
22:57:08
Following his struggle in the fourth round, Heaney regains his composure in the fifth, remains steadfast, and returns to his boxing stance. However, as we progress into the sixth round, Pauls exhibits a renewed vigor. He is aware of his ability to inflict damage upon Heaney and is now throwing punches with greater conviction.
DOWN GOES HEANEY!
22:54:16
Following a disappointing start to the game, Brad Pauls finally experiences a significant breakthrough in the final 30 seconds of the fourth quarter. Surprisingly, Heaney fails to put in enough effort with his jab, allowing Pauls to skillfully dodge it and strike him with a powerful right hand. Heaney is knocked down instantly but manages to get back up before time runs out. Although he survives the round, it remains to be seen how the fifth round will play out.
THREE DOWN
22:48:58
Heaney continues to dominate with his long reach, causing Pauls to struggle and overextend in his attempts to land punches. Although Pauls did manage to connect with a couple of left hooks before the bell, it can be argued that he is already trailing 3-0 and needs to establish a stronger position in this round.
JAB IS KEY
22:44:57
Nathan Heaney displays impressive maturity with his well-executed jab in the second round, effectively keeping the powerful Pauls at a distance using his longer reach. While the champion has established a solid position, the outcome of the match is far from certain.
EVEN OPENER
22:41:02
Similar to their initial fight, there is minimal difference between the two men during the first round. Heaney manages to land a few impressive shots, including a powerful right uppercut that elicits a loud cheer from his supporters in the crowd. It’s an exciting beginning to this highly anticipated rematch.
BUT FIRST – THE HEANEY RINGWALK
22:24:33
About to make their entrance, Nathan Heaney, a prominent ticket seller in the nation, prepares for his ringwalk accompanied by the iconic anthem of his beloved Stoke City, Delilah. This combination has established itself as one of the most remarkable spectacles in the world of boxing.
MAIN EVENT TIME
22:20:51
Next up is the highly anticipated rematch between British middleweight champion Nathan Heaney and Brad Pauls. These two fighters previously faced off in March and after 12 exhilarating rounds, the result was a split draw. Now, four months later, they are meeting once more in an attempt to determine a clear winner. However, it is expected that this match will be just as closely contested as their previous encounter.
IT’S ALL OVER
22:11:16
Our new British and Commonwealth bantamweight champion has been crowned! With only 1 minute and 10 seconds remaining in the fifth round, the fight was halted after Lane was knocked down for the second time. In the opening minute of the round, Lane was initially dropped by a powerful right hand but managed to recover and cling on. However, it was evident that the champion’s fate was sealed as he was once again sent to the canvas by a relentless series of punches. Referee Kevin Parker made the decision to stop the fight at 1 minute and 47 seconds of the fifth round.
Trainer Paul Stevenson and the Everton Red Triangle achieve another remarkable victory with an exceptional display.
MORE OF THE SAME
22:09:13
Cain exerts controlled and strategic pressure in the fourth round, completely dominating the fight. Lane appears to be running out of ideas, as nearly all of his offensive moves are swiftly countered with devastating precision.
CAIN CONTROL
22:04:28
In the third round, Cain displayed his expertise by delivering superior shots and leaving Lane struggling to keep up. Even when Cain found himself pinned against the ropes, he skillfully countered his opponent’s attacks. It appears that Cain is gradually finding his rhythm, whereas Lane has yet to find his stride.
TWO DOWN
22:01:11
Both men were evenly matched, just as anticipated, with only two rounds completed. Andrew Cain delivered a superb uppercut followed by a flawless left hook to the body in the second round. He has adapted smoothly to this fight, but the question remains: can he sustain his performance?
LANE V CAIN IS HERE
21:54:01
In the co-main event, witness Ashley Lane’s defense of his British and Commonwealth bantamweight titles against Andrew Cain, setting the stage for an exhilarating clash. Notably, this bout possesses an extra layer of excitement as the rhyming surnames of the fighters make it truly unique.
CAMERON SPEAKS
21:41:46
Chantelle Cameron, following her win by majority decision, declared: “I have returned and I am determined to reclaim those championship belts. This was my initial bout with Grant, so my focus is on gaining momentum and avoiding any unnecessary delays.”
Grant Smith, her new trainer, praised her skills, stating, “She possesses remarkable fighting abilities. My intention was to relieve any pressure on her and encourage her to execute the techniques we have been practicing in the gym.”
“I must acknowledge her bravery to consider that fight a draw, given the powerful blows she endured. I commend her for withstanding hits that could have easily knocked a man out. I am unsure what criteria the judge used to determine their scoring.”
TO THE SCORECARDS WE GO…
21:34:41
Chantelle Cameron secures the win by majority decision. Surprisingly, Juergen Langos scores it 95-95, whereas Ernesto Saldivar and Victor Loughlin score it 98-92 and 99-92 respectively in favor of Cameron. The 95-95 scorecard stands out as one of the most unusual of the year.
‘WALK INTO HER’
21:28:54
Grant Smith is urging his boxer to maintain the pressure, as Cameron persistently pushes forward in pursuit of a breakthrough. Special recognition goes to Mekhaled for enduring thus far. The ninth and second-to-last round is about to commence…
SIX DOWN
21:22:51
Mekhaled is showing great determination, but she is starting to face a tough challenge from Cameron, who seems unbeatable today. Cameron is moving skillfully and finding success with almost every attack.
CAMERON TURNING THE SCREW
21:16:14
After Cameron delivers a powerful uppercut and hook, Mekhaled is sent stumbling in their wake. However, Mekhaled manages to hold her ground and withstand Cameron’s relentless assault, even finding moments of success herself. As we enter the fifth round, the fight continues.
MEKHALED IN TROUBLE
21:08:02
Cameron quickly dives into the business in her initial encounter with Grant Smith in the corner. She lands a powerful left hook, causing discomfort to Mekhaled, and maintains her offensive position throughout the majority of the first round. This proves to be a challenging task for the Parisian fighter, who has primarily competed in the super-featherweight division but is now facing the formidable former unified super-lightweight champion.
CAMERON DEBUT UP NEXT
20:58:53
Next up in Chantelle Cameron’s Queensberry Promotions debut, we enter the fifth fight of the night. This time, she will be facing Elm Mekhaled in a 10-round bout. This match marks her return to the ring after her defeat against Katie Taylor in their November rematch.
IT’S ALL OVER!
20:52:24
Power’s corner speech fails to produce the desired outcome as Dacres delivers a devastating series of punches consisting of a hook, cross, and another hook, causing Webster to turn away and ultimately collapse onto the canvas. Despite managing to rise to his feet once more, referee Kevin Parker intervenes, deeming the situation too perilous. The official time recorded for this conclusion is 1 minute and 10 seconds into the seventh round.
CORNER WORK
20:51:09
In the corner, Michael Webster’s coach Denis Power, seeking to extract more from his fighter, imparts words of wisdom, sharing his personal experience: “Despite the recent loss of my mother, I remained dedicated to your training.”
Will it inspire him now?
WEBSTER BACK IN BUSINESS
20:48:46
Webster handles the knockdown from Webster with maturity, swiftly regaining his stance and maintaining a solid defense. He manages to land a few successful triple jabs, showcasing his own abilities. As we enter the last four rounds, the intensity continues to build.
DOWN GOES WEBSTER!
20:45:35
Dacres secures a significant breakthrough in the fifth round with a powerful three-punch combination that brings Webster down. Although Webster takes his time to stand up, he successfully beats the count. The match has been closely contested up until this point, but with that knockdown, will Dacres now seize control?
INTO THE FOURTH
20:38:40
Similar to their initial meeting, there is little difference between these two imposing individuals. Dacres, the champion from England, is effectively connecting his punches, yet Webster appears content with the tempo at which the fight is unfolding.
DACRES-WEBSTER 2 UNDERWAY
20:28:04
Queensberry wastes no time as they bring the heavyweight rematch between Sol Dacres and Michael Webster into the ring, with four fights left on the schedule. Previously, these two fighters engaged in a 10-round battle in November, where Dacres emerged victorious with a majority decision. Now, the question arises: Will history repeat itself or will Webster seek revenge?
TAYLOR UD10
20:13:17
Ezra Taylor emerges victorious over Carlos Alberto Lamela with a unanimous decision, securing scores of 97-93 and 99-91 twice. This match served as a valuable learning experience for Taylor, propelling his record to an impressive 9-0. Carl Frampton candidly remarks, “To be honest, it wasn’t an enthralling fight. It became rather monotonous at times.”
WE GO TO THE SCORECARDS
20:11:42
This is the first time Taylor has gone the full 10 rounds, and it is highly likely that the judges will award her a lopsided decision.
INTO THE 10TH…
20:06:31
There is not much to update on from the previous few rounds as the fight has continued in a similar fashion. Taylor persistently pursues Lamela, but fails to significantly impact him. It is worth noting that Taylor is now venturing into unfamiliar territory, as he has never exceeded eight rounds prior to this evening. This marks a positive accomplishment for Taylor in his boxing career.
SIX DOWN
19:52:28
After the previous intense fight, this one seems to be quite lowkey. Taylor is not making any mistakes, but the pace is sluggish and Lamela is not contributing much in terms of attacking. With only four remaining, can Taylor bring an explosive end to this performance?
MORE OF THE SAME
19:39:37
The second round primarily consists of one-way traffic, with Lamela occasionally landing a counter right hand in the last minute. Taylor is finding success with overhand rights, but the opponent’s chin has proven to be resilient thus far.
EASY FOR EZRA
19:35:58
In the initial round against Lamela, Taylor completely dominates the match, leaving his opponent feeling overwhelmed as he absorbs a series of powerful right-hand blows. With no counterattacks from Lamela, Taylor is free to dictate the pace and appears to be relishing his control over the fight.
EZRA UP NEXT
19:26:44
There are two fights with two impressive knockouts so far in Birmingham. Now, we have light-heavyweight prospect Ezra Taylor facing off against Carlos Alberto Lamela, who was born in Cuba but now resides in Spain. The question is, can Taylor continue the streak of knockouts tonight? The odds are in his favor, considering he has 10 rounds to achieve it against his opponent, who currently holds a record of 8-3.
SMASH AND GRAB
19:20:11
As per the TNT commentary team, Cooper had a significant lead according to all three judges before the stoppage. However, Essuman, who is 35 years old, managed to showcase his skills at the most crucial moment. The fight was truly remarkable, and Essuman’s performance was exceptional.
COOPER IS DOWN AND OUT!
19:16:58
I can hardly believe how quickly the fight ended in the fifth round, especially after witnessing what happened in the ninth. It’s astonishing that Cooper, of all people, was the one knocked out. Essuman was on the verge of defeat in the ninth, but he refused to accept it. With a powerful left hook, Cooper was sent back into the corner, and Essuman wasted no time in attacking him. Two more significant punches connected with Cooper’s chin, causing him to go down, and referee Bob Williams immediately put an end to the match.
DOWN GOES ESSUMAN!
19:14:26
Cooper lands a massive right hook, causing Essuman to fall to the ground with less than a minute remaining in the ninth round. Despite getting back on his feet, Essuman manages to survive until the end of the round without Cooper seizing the opportunity to end the fight. This turn of events adds another exciting twist to this thrilling match. The corner shouts out, “Listen, he’s completely defeated!” As we enter the final round, the 10th round awaits.
MORE OF THE SAME
19:07:13
Once more, Essuman successfully pins Cooper against the ropes for a significant portion of the round, granting him the opportunity to deliver powerful blows to both the head and body. Although Cooper struggles to make an impact, his remarkable resilience enables him to persist in the fight. As only three rounds remain, is there a chance for Cooper to make a comeback?
DOWN GOES COOPER!
19:02:40
Following a traditional and fierce attack from Essuman, who successfully connected a succession of powerful hooks, Cooper eventually succumbs with just a handful of seconds left in the round. Despite this setback, Cooper manages to rise to his feet and clings on until the round concludes. The question now arises: will he be able to endure the seventh round?
FIREWORKS IN THE FIFTH
18:57:57
In the beginning of the round, Essuman overpowers Cooper and pushes him towards the ropes, unleashing a series of powerful hooks to his head and body. However, Cooper remains composed and gradually makes his way back to the center of the ring. With two precise right hand punches, Cooper lands solid hits that affect Essuman. As we reach the midway point, it becomes clear that both fighters have equal chances of winning this match.
THREE DOWN
18:51:51
Cooper delivered an impressive performance in round three, showcasing his skills. However, he received a powerful left hook from Essuman just one minute into the fourth round. Sensing Cooper’s increasing confidence, Essuman has chosen this moment to intensify his aggression.
ENGINE BREAKING?
18:40:02
In a surprising twist, Essuman holds a significant age advantage over the undefeated Cooper, who triumphed in the English title match at this exact arena on March 16. However, Essuman is currently recovering from his first loss to Harry Scarff in November, where he suffered a defeat by points in Manchester. As we progress through the match, Cooper appears to have found his rhythm early on, creating an exciting and promising spectacle.
WELTERWEIGHTS NEXT
18:30:40
In the first fight of tonight’s (Magnificent) seven bouts, Zach Parker delivers a sensational knockout. Following that, we have Owen Cooper taking on Ekow Essuman for the highly coveted English welterweight championship.
IT’S OVER
18:26:03
After being struck by Parker’s powerful right hand, Arnfield is left unsteady and retreats towards the ropes. Parker seizes the opportunity and prepares for a devastating right hand that sends Arnfield crashing to his knees. Despite the difficulty, Arnfield manages to rise and surpass the count, continuing the fight. However, Parker’s relentless assault proves too much for Arnfield as he knocks him down once again, prompting referee Chris Dean to end the match. The official time of the conclusion was 1 minute and 16 seconds into the fourth round.
THREE DOWN
18:23:42
There isn’t much to update on the progress of the fight so far. Parker has been making small advancements, but Arnfield has successfully matched his every move. It’s worth noting that this is Parker’s first match since experiencing his first career knockdown against Tyron Zeuge in March. Despite the knockdown, Parker managed to win the fight by points. As of now, neither fighter has scored a knockdown.
PARKER-ARNFIELD FIRST
18:15:00
Now, let’s get straight to the action as the 10-round match between Zach Parker and Jack Arnfield begins. This electrifying bout marks the first televised fight of the night. After completing the exciting first round, we shift our focus off-screen where Shabaz Masoud and Bradley Thompson emerged victorious in their respective matches. Masoud claimed a well-earned victory through points after an intense eight-round battle, while Thompson showcased his skills and secured a win in a thrilling four-round encounter.
WE’RE OFF
18:13:12
Welcome to tonight’s live blog for the latest Magnificent Seven card in Birmingham. I’m Declan Taylor and I will be guiding you through every detail, from start to finish, using the power of text. If you want to participate, don’t forget to enter your predictions on the Boxing News app. Additionally, feel free to share your thoughts with me via Twitter at @declantaylor87.
In a showdown for the British middleweight title, Nathan Heaney and Brad Pauls will once again meet in the ring. The highly anticipated rematch between the two will be the main event of the upcoming Magnificent 7 card. In their previous encounter back in March, Heaney and Pauls fought fiercely but ultimately ended in a draw.
TNT Sports will broadcast the preliminary bouts of ‘Fight Night Live’, known as the televised undercard action, starting at 6pm (UK/IRE) featuring Bradley Thompson and Shabaz Masoud. Tune in to catch all the action.
Nathan Heaney vs. Brad Pauls 2 Fight Card
Nathan Heaney vs. Brad Pauls
British middleweight title – 12 x 3 rounds
Zach Parker vs. Jack Arnfield
Super-middleweight – 10 x 3 rounds
Chantelle Cameron vs. Elhem Mekhaled
The WBC Interim World super-lightweight title is currently vacant. The match will consist of 10 rounds, with each round lasting 2 minutes.
Ashley Lane vs. Andrew Cain
The bout for the British and Commonwealth bantamweight championship will consist of 12 rounds, with each round lasting 3 minutes.
Solomon Dacres vs. Michael Webster
English heavyweight title – 10 x 3 rounds
Owen Cooper vs. Ekow Essuman
The bout will be for the English and WBO European welterweight titles, with a duration of 10 rounds, each lasting 3 minutes.
Shabaz Masoud vs. Marvin Solano
Featherweight – 8 x 3 rounds
Ezra Taylor vs. Carlos Alberto Lamela
The WBC International light-heavyweight title is currently vacant and the fight will consist of 10 rounds, each lasting for 3 minutes.
Bradley Thompson vs. Stephen Jackson
Super-flyweight – 4 x 3 mins
