By Ken Hissner: At Manchester Arena Saturday on ESPN+ Frank Warren in the Main Event featured Joe “Juggernaut” Joyce knocked out former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker in 11 rounds for the vacant WBO interim world title.
In the co-feature WBC, WBO and IBO Featherweight Champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano in a unification match, easily defeated IBF Featherweight World Champion Sara Manfoud by decision.
In the main event Joe “Juggernaut” Joyce, 15-0 (14), #271 ¼, from Putney, London, United Kingdom, eliminated former WBO champion Joseph Parker, 30-2 (21), #255 ¼, from South Auckland, New Zealand, and Morecambe, United Kingdom, at 1:03 of the eleventh round of a scheduled 12 for the vacant WBO interim heavyweight title.
In the third round, Joyce got Parker hurt and back on his feet with a flurry of punches. In the seventh round, Joyce pushed Parker into the ropes at the last minute.
In the eighth round, Parker sustained a cut to his left eyebrow and was subdued between rounds by referee Steve Gray. In the tenth round, Parker received a cut on his right eyebrow, but managed to win the round. He tried to fight back, with both fighters looking almost exhausted. In the eleventh round, a left hook from Joyce to the chin and down went Parker. He attempted to beat referee Gray’s count, but was parried when he got to his feet.
In the co-feature, the WBC, WBO and IBO World Featherweight Champion, the left-handed Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano, 43-2-1 (30), 124 ½, from PR and Brooklyn, NY, defeated the champion World IBF Featherweight Sara Manfoud, 11 -1 (3), #124 ½, from Hilleroed, Denmark, in 10×2 rounds.
In the first round, Serrano controlled the round, backing up Manfoud and landing effective jabs. In the second round, a clash of heads caused a cut to the top of Manfoud’s head in another round for Serrano. In the third, knowing the fight could be stopped due to the cut, Manfoud fought back better, though it was still a round from Serrano.
In the fourth and fifth rounds, Serrano continued to come out ahead by working the Manfoud game. In the sixth round, Manfoud built up a lead on several occasions, possibly taking a close round. By the seventh round, Serrano was landing more power shots than before easily taking the round.
In the eighth round, it was close, with Manfoud knowing it would take a knockout to win, while Serrano won another round. In the ninth round, he came close, with Manfoud landing his best shot, a right hand to the chin in the closing seconds, good enough to take the round.
In the tenth and final round, it went well, with Manfoud landing a solid right hand at the midpoint, but Serrano seemed to secure another victory. Referee Mark Lyson had an easy night without a clinch from these fighters.
The scores were 99-92 and 97-93 twice, with this writer 98-92.
IBO Super Feather World Champion Michael Magnesi, 21-1 (13), #129, of Cave, Lazio, IT, lost a split decision to southpaw Anthony “The Apache” Cacace, 20-1 (7), #129 ½ , of Belfast, No. IRE, over 12 rounds.
In the first round, Magnesi, who is on an 8-fight knockout streak, was the aggressor who beat the taller Cacace, who hasn’t fought in over a year. In the second and third rounds, Cacace had an advantage. In the fifth round, a clash of heads caused a cut on Cacace’s left eyelid.
From sixth to ninth Cacace had an advantage moving well against the oncoming Magnesi. In the tenth and eleventh rounds, Cacace does his share of the clinch, he hasn’t fought in over a year, although he apparently still has an overall advantage. In the twelfth and final round, Magnesi won the round against the fatigued Cacace. The referee was Michael Alexander.
Scores 116-112 for each and 117-111 Cacace.
British, Commonwealth and IBF Euro Welterweight Champion Ekow “The Engine” Essuman, 18-0 (7), #146 ¼, from Botswana and Nottingham, UK, defeated Samuel “True Sensation” Antwi, 14- 1 (6), #145 ½, from Stockwell, London, UK, in 12 rounds.
In the first three rounds, all even, with Antwi taking two of them. From the fourth to the sixth round, Essuman outboxed Antwi, who was the aggressor.
In the seventh round, Essuman rocked Antwi midway through the round and had him on the ropes for half a minute. In the eleventh and twelfth Antwi finished stronger but not enough to take the victory. The referee was Victor Loughlin.
The scores were 115-113, 117-112 and 116-112, just like this writer.
Nathan “Hitman” Heaney, IBO International Middle Champion, 16-0 (6), #160, from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK, won a technical decision over Jack “Quiet Storm” Flatley, 19- 3-1 (4 ), #159 ¼, from Bolton, Lancashire, United Kingdom, in the fifth round of a scheduled ten.
In the first three rounds, Heaney had a lead but was suffering from swelling outside his left eye. In the fifth round, due to a clash of heads when Flatley charged into Heaney’s head, resulting in a nasty cut to his right eyebrow, prompting the ringside doctor to stop the fight. They had to go to the scorecards. The referee was Steve Gray.
Scores 49-46 twice and 50-45 and 49-46 this writer.
Raven “The Omen” Chapman, 4-0 (0), #125 ¼, from Wycombe, United Kingdom, defeated former IBF Super Fly World Champion Jorgelina “Jota” Guanini, 10-5 (2), #124, from Necochea, Bueno Aires, ARG, over 8 × 2 rounds for the vacant WBC International Featherweight title.
In the second round, Chapman rocked Guanini with a right hand to the chin, nearly dropping her 30 seconds into the round, and referee Victor Loughlin should have given her a knockdown because her one glove touched the canvas shown on replay. In the fourth and fifth rounds, Guanini came back well enough in even rounds.
In the sixth through eighth rounds, it was very competitive, with Chapman having the upper hand being the stronger of the two.
Scores 79-73, 77-75 and 78-74, same with this writer.
Super Middle Mark “Kid Dynamite” Heffron, 29-2-1 (23), #169 ½, from Oldham, Lancshire, UK, stopped Martin Bulacio, 10-7 (7), #168, from Sacanta, Cordoba, ARG , at 1:15 of the first round of eight scheduled rounds.
In the first round, Heffron landed a right hand followed by a left, hurting Bulacio and putting him on the ropes. He followed up with a combination, and referee Mike Alexander wisely ordered it to stop.
