Conor Benn vs Chris Algieri – Results & Post-Fight Report

On top of the latest Matchroom bill at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, Conor Benn passed his latest test with flying colours, knocking out Chris Algieri in the fourth round to defend his WBA Continental welterweight title.

Benn had been steadily stepping up in class, with wins over Sebastian Formella, Samuel Vargas and Adrian Granados in recent times. Algieri came in as a former WBO world champion at ten stone, but that was back in 2014, although his last fight was an impressive points win over Mikkel LesPierre in August.

Benn worked well to the body in the opening session, in what was a measured beginning. Algieri was struggling to settle into a rhythm, and towards the end of the second, he was caught off balance by a cuffing left hook, but the feet tangled at the same time and the New Yorker was dumped on the canvas and counted. The third saw more good movement and solid body shots from Benn, although he had to be wary of the odd shot coming back from his opponent. The end of the contest came suddenly and brutally, as Benn detonated a massive right hand in the fourth that crumpled Algieri on impact, and the fight was over. Algieri needed attention post-fight, but was thankfully ok after some recuperation in his corner.

Katie Taylor made another defence of her undisputed lightweight crown, this time turning back the challenge of Firuza Sharipova via unanimous decision, her seventh consecutive fight to go the distance. It was a pretty messy affair, and the challenger was docked a point for holding in the sixth round, and the styles between the two struggled to mesh together. Scores of 98-92, 97-92 and 96-93 ensured the Irishwoman kept hold of her WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO straps. A meeting with unified featherweight champion Amanda Serrano is rumoured to be next for Taylor.

Robbie Davies Jr breathed new life into his career, as he knocked out Henry ‘Hank’ Lundy in the second round to win the vacant WBA Continental super lightweight title. A massive right hand to the head did the damage, as Lundy landed through the ropes, where he was unable to beat the count.

Joe Cordina made a successful first defence of his WBA Continental super featherweight title with a landslide points win against Miko Khatchatryan. Welshman Cordina went through the motions in the main, and took victory by two scores of 98-92, and a third at 100-90.

Caoimhin Agyarko made his Matchroom debut, and the Irishman picked up the vacant WBA International middleweight title with a ninth round stoppage of Noe Larios Jr. A left hook staggered Larios in the penultimate round, and Agyarko jumped in for the kill, with a two fisted attack forcing the referee to jump in.

Jordan Gill saw his European title shot against Karim Guerfi postponed on fight week, and then was dealt a further blow as he was held to a technical draw by Alan Isaias Luques Castillo after three rounds of a scheduled eight. Gill suffered a horror cut following a clash of heads, and because four rounds hadn’t been completed, the contest was a stalemate.

Peter McGrail made it two wins from two, overcoming a cut to stop Engel Gomez in two rounds at featherweight. Peter’s brother Joe McGrail made his professional debut, and the super bantamweight dropped Francisco Rodriguez in round two before the Spaniard retired at the end of the session.

Callum French also debuted, and the Gateshead native won all six rounds of his super lightweight contest against Rustem Fatkhullin. Paddy Lacey moved to 3-0, taking all four rounds against Vasif Mamedov at middleweight.