Daniel Dubois floored the overwhelmed Ricardo Snijders four times en route to a second round knockout win at the BT Sport Studio in London on Saturday.
Dubois (15-0, 14 KOs) sent Snijders (18-2, 8 KOs) to the canvas on three occasions in the opening round before ending proceedings in the second, retaining his WBO International Heavyweight title and moving forward to a long-awaited October date with Joe Joyce.
In front WBC champion Tyson Fury, who was watching on from ringside, Dubois got behind his jab from the off and it was his body work that was causing the damage here, rather than his usual punishing head shots, with a left hook to the body flooring the Dutchman halfway through the opener.
Snijders bravely rose, but it wasn’t long before a short left to the body had him on the canvas again.
Again, he survived the count and right on the bell, another assault to the body followed by a short right to the head scored a third knockdown.
The bell only delayed the inevitable and the second began the end, as Dubois immediately went to the body, raining in shots, with Snijders dropping to the canvas where the fight was mercifully waved off.
Job done.
Daniel Dubois stops Ricardo Snijders.
Now on to the big one with Joe Joyce 🙌 pic.twitter.com/AittLsob1A
— Boxing on BT Sport 🥊 (@BTSportBoxing) August 29, 2020
Thoughts immediately turned to Dubois’ next assignment, an October 24 showdown against Joyce, with promoter Frank Warren admitting the clash hinges on the UK Government’s stance on allowing crowds back in to sporting events.
“I was just getting warmed up. I was excited to be in there,” Dubois said post-fight.
“I needed any fight really and this was perfect for getting in and out. I can’t wait to get in on with Joe next.
“I need a step up, and this is the next step on my trajectory to the world title.”
“We are looking at October 24th at the O2, and we just have to see what happens in regards to having a crowd,” Warren added.
“It needs a live audience, but we just don’t know what’s going to happen.
“If there’s a problem and we can’t get bums on seats, then we will have to make a decision as a promotional outfit.”
Sunny Edwards kept hold of his IBF International Super Flyweight title, as he showcased his boxing skills in a dominant points win over the frustrated Thomas Essomba.
Edwards (15-0, 4 KOs) landed a nice left hand in the first, as he utilised his speed to good effect, but Essomba (10-6, 4 KOs) did have success of his own during the round.
The Croydon man switched stances with ease and proved elusive by stepping in and out of range and working off effective single shots.
Edwards’ footwork was drawing his foe in, and the Wolverhampton-based Cameroonian was having trouble getting to grips with the slickness of ‘Showtime’ throughout the contest.
The 24-year-old was proving to be a box of tricks, reducing Essomba to only sporadic moments of success when he fell short, although he did manage to close the distance to enjoy the better of the fifth and sixth rounds.
The seventh began with Edwards planting his feet, and he let harder punches go, with a right hand catching Essomba off balance. The challenger sensed the fight slipping away, and started the eighth on the attack.
The pair traded pleasantries in the centre of the ring, with the 32-year-old wanting Edwards to meet him head-on, but wisely the champion declined.
Edwards rolled his ankle in the tenth which was a concern, but he shrugged that off and stuck to his boxing and fleet of foot to fend Essomba off all the way to the final bell.
Marcus McDonnell tallied 116-112, Phil Edwards scored 117-112, and Terry O’Connor returned a 117-111 verdict, as Edwards kept hold of his belt and will now look towards world title level, with Warren telling Pro Boxing Fans on Tuesday that he hoped to land ‘Showtime’ a world title opportunity next.
In what was expected to be the fight of the night, Sam Maxwell (14-0, 11 KOs) retained his WBO European Super Lightweight title with an absorbing points win against former European champion, Joe Hughes (17-6-1, 7 KOs).
All the rounds were competitive, but Maxwell, 31, just had the edge in accuracy, and that eventually won the day.
Marcus McDonnell and Terry O’Connor saw the contest 97-94, while Michael Alexander scored 98-92 to ensure the belt remained with the Liverpudlian.
Willy Hutchinson wasted little time in moving to 12-0 with a quick-fire first round win against late replacement, Ben Thomas.
A big right hand and a body shot dropped Thomas, (2-3-3, 1 KO) who unsteadily beat the count, however the end wasn’t long in coming, as a two-fisted attack not long after the knockdown forced the stoppage.
First-round knockout 🔥
Willy Hutchinson didn’t waste any time against Ben Thomas 😳 pic.twitter.com/NtyvYS1xtX
— Boxing on BT Sport 🥊 (@BTSportBoxing) August 29, 2020
Hutchinson (12-0, 8 KOs) moves to a September 26 clash back down at 168lbs for the IBF International title.
Opening the show was promising Heavyweight David Adeleye, who impressively halted Phill Williams inside three rounds.
Williams had previously gone the distance last time out with Dorion Krasmaru over four, but Adeleye (3-0, 3 KOs) went through the gears, hurting Williams (3-26-1, 1 KO) with a right hand before a follow up salvo forced the referee’s intervention.
After the main event, Sam Noakes (4-0, 4 KOs) remained unbeaten and maintained his 100% knockout ratio with a fifth round stoppage win over Jordan Ellison at Lightweight.
A short right hand to the head dropped Ellison (11-30-2, 1 KO) in the fourth round and in the fifth, a body assault followed by a right uppercut closed the show.
