Liam Davies vs Shabaz Masoud – Post-Fight Report & Results

Shabaz Masoud again had Liam Davies’ number, as he became the new IBO super bantamweight champion with a split decision win at Resort World, Birmingham.

The pair met twice in the amateur code, with Masoud taking the win on both occasions, but Davies (16-1, KO8) came into this one having collected several titles, including British, Commonwealth and European straps before stopping Erik Robles Ayala in two in March to take the vacant IBO crown that he defended here.

Masoud (14-0, KO4) had only been out twice since a November 2022 twelfth and final round stoppage of Jack Bateson. He dropped Marvin Solano in the opening round of their July meeting, before winning all eight rounds in a tune-up for his clash with Davies.

Masoud enjoyed a strong opener, landing clean shots on the champion, and he was razor-sharp on the counter. Davies was falling short with a lot of his punches, and was admonished for hitting on the break in round two as he struggled to find his range. Masoud couldn’t miss with his back hand, and his handspeed was causing all manner of problems for Davies, and his problems worsened with a cut to the eye at the end of the fourth. The pattern continued, although Davies managed to finally find a clean right hand in the sixth, and it was his best session by far. Masoud got back to landing with his left hand once more, and he was boxing superbly, with Davies retaliating by going into the trenches with Masoud in round nine, as his need for rounds grew greater and greater. Davies started well in the tenth, only for Masoud to roar back with some solid combinations, and after a competitive penultimate frame, it looked like Davies needed something special to retain his belt in the last round.

Davies went for the knockout, but it wasn’t forthcoming, and the contest went to the scorecards.

A score of 115-113 for Davies was matched with the same score for Masoud, and the Stoke-on-Trent native took the title with a 116-112 tally.

Chantelle Cameron (20-1, KO8) took the interim WBC super lightweight title, as she took a clear points win against Patricia Berghult (17-2, KO4). Cameron is looking to get back into the world title mix after sharing two classics with Katie Taylor, and she took victory here by scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92.

Ekow Essuman (21-1, KO8) was involved in another thriller, defending his WBO European welterweight title with a majority decision win against Ben Vaughan (10-1, KO3). It was a bloody battle, and a 95-95 scorecard was overruled by tallies of 97-93 and 97-94 that ensured that Essuman retained his belt.

At light heavyweight, Ezra Taylor (10-0, KO7) wasted little time in wiping out Kristaps Bulmeistars (12-3, KO5) with virtually the first punch of the contest. Taylor connected with a sweeping right hand that scrambled the visitor’s senses, and the fight was wisely waved off.

Ethan James (13-1, KO0) returned to winning ways, taking his English welterweight title eliminator on points against Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards (11-1, KO1). James was adjudged a winner by scores of 99-91, 99-92 and 97-93.

Eoghan Lavin (3-0, KO0) took a first stoppage win as a pro, as he won his middleweight meeting with Remi Scholer (4-13, KO1) via second round stoppage, and at super flyweight, Bradley Thompson (6-0, KO2) took all four rounds against Sean Jackson (0-26-1). Also at super flyweight, Mykyle Ahmed (2-0, KO1) ran out a 40-35 winner against Yin Caicedo (10-25-4, KO4), while heavyweight debutant Lewis Williams (1-0, KO1) took an impressive second round stoppage win against Lamah Griggs (3-10-1, KO0).