Queensberry promoted their first show on DAZN at Co-Op Live in Manchester, and at the head of affairs, Filip Hrgovic outpointed Joe Joyce to take the WBO International heavyweight title.
Joyce (16-4, 15 KOs) headed into this one on the back of three defeats in his last four contests, with Derek Chisora taking a points win over ten rounds last July in his most recent performance. Hrgovic (18-1, 14 KOs) was humbled by Daniel Dubois last June in his last bout, ruled out after eight rounds with damage to both eyes. Both were at a career crossroads, and this was a must-win for both.
Hrgovic started off his jab and right hand, and Joyce struggled to get out of the way of both in the first round. Joyce plodded forward, missing wildly with his punches, although he was heartened by blood around the eye of the Croatian in round three.
Joyce started to bulldoze and bully his way into contention, smothering Hrgovic and unloading with winging, energy-sapping shots, and by round seven, his cuffing blows were starting to slow the visitor down.
It was gruelling stuff, and both were having their successes but tiring in the later rounds, although Hrgovic found a second wind, clubbing Joyce with hard shots in the penultimate frame, and then finishing the stronger as the contest went the distance.
Hrgovic took the win and the belt by scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-95 to move back into the world title mix.
Adeleye scores contentious stoppage over TKV
The grudge match on the card saw the vacant British title at stake, and David Adeleye (14-1, 13 KOs) took the title by stopping Jeamie TKV (8-2, 5 KOs) in the sixth round.
After five scrappy rounds, Adeleye suddenly exploded into life, a massive left hook felling TKV heavily, but it wasn’t without controversy as the referee had his hand on TKV at the time the shot landed. That was the beginning of the end, as TKV was dropped again from an accumulation of punches, and the referee waved the contest off as TKV rose groggily.
Did David Adeleye hit Jeamie TKV on the break here? 😬
We may not have heard the last of this..
— Pro Boxing Fans (@ProBoxingFans) April 5, 2025
Raffery steamrolls O’Regan
Jack Rafferty (26-0, 17 KOs) defended his Commonwealth super lightweight title by halting the previously unbeaten Cory O’Regan (14-1, 3 KOs) in the fifth round of their meeting.
After making a solid start, O’Regan was felled heavily at the end of round three, a big right hand doing the damage, and although he bravely battled back, he was ultimately outgunned as Rafferty teed off in the fifth, with the towel coming in towards the end of the frame.
What a SHOT from Jack Rafferty 😮💣
O’Regan goes down!#HeavyImpact | NOW | Live on @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/rHH02zhLy7
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) April 5, 2025
Full undercard review
2024 Olympian Delicious Orie (1-0, 0 KOs) made an eagerly-awaited debut, and he started with a shutout win over four rounds against Milos Veletic (3-8, 1 KO) at heavyweight. It wasn’t spectacular, but Orie came through easily enough.
The final ten rounder on the card saw a barn-burner at super lightweight, where Bolton’s Khaleel Majid (15-0, 4 KOs) took a points win against Salford’s Alex Murphy (13-1, 0 KOs).
It was a pulsating fight, with little break in the action, and Majeed was the winner by scores of 97-94, 96-94 and 96-95.
In eight round affairs, Mark Chamberlain (17-1, 12 KOs) returned from his first pro defeat to Josh Padley by taking a points win at super lightweight against Miguel Angel Scaringi (8-5, 3 KOs), winning all available rounds, and Royston Barney-Smith (14-0, 7 KOs) did the same in his super featherweight contest with Cesar Ignacio Paredes (18-17-1, 5 KOs) by the same method.
The sole six rounder came at featherweight, where Nelson Birchall (8-0, 5 KOs) wiped out Rodrigo Matias Areco (5-14-2, 0 KOs) just 90 seconds into the contest with a body shot.
Done in 𝗢𝗡𝗘! 💥
Nelson Birchall delivers the perfect finish and winning dance 🕺😅#HeavyImpact | Tonight | Live on @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/LNSeFdAf0R
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) April 5, 2025
Featherweight hope Alfie Middlemiss (3-0, 0 KOs) took a 40-37 win over four against Alexander Morales (6-12-5, 2 KOs), and super middleweight debutant Ramtin Musah (1-0, 0 KOs) won all four rounds against Robbie Chapman (13-49-9, 2 KOs).
At bantamweight, Louis Szeto (1-0, 0 KOs) made his bow, but had to get off the deck in round two before taking a 38-37 win against Nabil Ahmed (2-41-3, 0 KOs).
