Home Columns Gavin Gwynne vs Luke Willis – Results & Post-Fight Report

Gavin Gwynne vs Luke Willis – Results & Post-Fight Report

Gwynne outpoints Willis to claim British title

By
Paul Mason
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Gavin Gwynne added the British lightweight title to his Commonwealth crown with a points win over Luke Willis in London on Friday Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Gavin Gwynne added the British lightweight title to his Commonwealth crown with a points win over Luke Willis in London on Friday Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing

Good Friday action came from York Hall, Bethnal Green, and in the MTK Global promoted main event, Gavin Gwynne added the vacant British lightweight title to his Commonwealth crown with a points win over Luke Willis.

Gwynne won the Commonwealth belt in February 2021 with a seventh round stoppage of Sean McComb, and defended in November with a wide points win over Jack O’Keeffe, whilst unbeaten Willis was stepping up to championship level for the first time, having gone ten rounds for the first time in his most recent fight, a majority decision win against Rylan Charlton in October last year.

It was a pretty even opening, with the Welshman stalking Willis, but the Liverpudlian landed with some solid combinations.

It was close quarters stuff for the first four rounds, with both taking turns to dish out meaty punches from tight angles, and the fifth saw both targeting the body.

The champion was going through the gears impressively, and enjoyed strong sixth and seventh rounds, but Willis (11-1, 1 KO) was still competitive, and the rounds followed a similar pattern of both men putting pressure on the other.

Gwynne celebrates winning the British title at the third attempt Photo Credit: Instagram @gavg1
Gwynne celebrates winning the British title at the third attempt Photo Credit: Instagram @gavg1

Gwynne (15-2, 3 KOs), who had unsuccessfully challenged for the Lonsdale belt on two previous occasions, continued to walk down Willis, but he stood firm, firing back at regular intervals, and the contest looked like it was in the balance going into the final round.

It was the workrate of Gwynne or the movement and punch-picking of Willis that was going to decide the contest, and after a tight last session, the fight went to the cards, where it looked as though Gwynne had done just enough to get his hand raised.

Scores of 118-110, 117-113 and 116-112 in Gwynne’s favour gave him the nod.

Gilley retains English title

Chief support came in the form of an English super welterweight title clash, and Sam Gilley retained his belt with a ninth round stoppage of Drew Brown in a thriller.

It was a real back-and-forth tussle, with the crowd engrossed in the action, and it was Gilley (14-1, 7 KOs) who outlasted his opponent as Brown (12-1, 1 KO) unraveled down the stretch.

The ninth saw the champion on the attack, and he landed with a big right hand that sent his rival reeling towards the ropes.

Gilley didn’t need a second invitation, and rushed in, raining in blows until the referee intervened.

Zaurbek blasts out Botelli

Sultan Zaurbek is definitely a man to keep tabs on, and the Kazakh, who is trained by Dave Coldwell ruthlessly knocked out late-notice replacement opponent Nicolas Nahuel Botelli (11-7, 6 KOs) in five rounds at super featherweight. 

Zaurbek (13-0, 9 KOs) struck the decisive blows in the fifth, dropping the Argentine with a left hook to the body, and Botelli was unable to continue.

O’Leary scores first round stoppage

Pierce ‘Big Bang’ O’Leary (9-0, 5 KOs) remained unbeaten, and the Irish super lightweight needed less than a round to knock out Nathan Augustine (4-4-1, 2 KOs).

A left hook did the damage with just under 20 seconds to go in the opener, and Augustine was not able to beat the referee’s count.

Hughes halts Connolly

Nina Hughes (2-0, 1 KO) picked up her second professional victory, as the Essex-based super bantamweight stopped the tough Bec Connolly in two rounds. 

Connolly (3-13) was dropped in from a right hook late in the round, and was halted just a round later.

Remaining Undercard

Carl Fail (6-0, 2 KOs) took all six rounds of his middleweight clash with Victor Garcia (9-12-4), while at super welterweight, Elliot Whale (6-0, 2 KOs) forced Fernando Valencia (9-33, 5 KOs) to retire after the fourth round of their scheduled six rounder.

Dean Richardson (12-0-1, 9 KOs) was unable to continue his winning streak, as the middleweight was held to a six round draw by Angel Emilov (10-40-1, 6 KOs).

In another middleweight attraction, Paul Ryan (4-0, 2 KOs) dropped Gabor Gorbics (26-26-2, 16 KOs) in the first round, on the way to a landslide 60-53 win on the referee’s card.

Jimmy Croxson (1-0) made his professional debut, and the super lightweight took a 39-37 win over Fonz Alexander (7-125-1, 4 KOs).

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