In the bizarre main event of the evening, it was KSI that came out on the right side of a split decision in his rematch against fellow YouTuber, Logan Paul at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
It was a predictably wild affair, with neither man a recognised fighter, and the contest turned on a double point deduction for Paul in the fourth.
The American scored a knockdown in the same round with an uppercut, but was then deducted two points for hitting on the back of the head to undo his earlier work.
https://twitter.com/SkySportsBoxing/status/1193431997064105984
The action was wild and untidy, so it was no surprise that the fight was subjective, and this was reflected on the cards.
KSI took two of the scorecards at 57-54 and 56-55 which rendered Paul’s 56-55 verdict as redundant.
A trilogy is surely inevitable, despite KSI’s insistence that the pair’s feud was over post fight.
RESPECT! 🤝
It took two fights and lots of trash talk but @KSIOlajidebt and @LoganPaul seemed to settle their rivalry with a handshake #KSIvsLoganPaul2 pic.twitter.com/uCdfql0DyE
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) November 10, 2019
Saunders grinds to defend WBO title
Billy Joe Saunders wasn’t at his best, but still had enough to eventually see off the brave challenge of the previously unbeaten Marcelo Coceres.
Saunders made a successful first defence of his WBO Super Middleweight title, knocking down the Argentine challenger three times in the eleventh round before forcing a stoppage.
The former middleweight world champion began brightly behind his southpaw jab, but Coceres grew into the fight, connecting with some decent counters in the second.
Saunders was left with a mark under his eye in round three, with the South American targeting the Hatfield man’s.
Coceres also enjoyed success in the fourth, before Saunders caught his man with a heavy hook in the fifth to regain a foothold. Coceres wasn’t overawed in his first venture outside of his home country, and kept coming forward in round six and seven, landing combination shots.
Thank you every body’s who come out tonight not the best but got the KO much love 👑👌
— billyjoesaunders (@bjsaunders_) November 10, 2019
The champion began to take over from round eight, however Coceres was still having his moments through rounds nine and ten, where he landed with an uppercut before raising his arm in celebration at the end of the round.
A heavy hook in the penultimate round broke Coceres’ resistance, and he was dropped for the first time in the fight. A second knockdown came swiftly after with a big uppercut draining the fight out of Coceres. A third and final trip to the canvas was enough for the referee to stop the contest.
🗣 @BJSaunders_ makes it clear, he wants @Canelo next #WatchOnDAZN pic.twitter.com/jO2yW302xR
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) November 10, 2019
Haney eases to WBC defence
Devin Haney posted a shutout victory, and scored a knockdown, in a routine first defence of his WBC Lightweight title against Alfredo Santiago.
Haney was in control throughout, and won every round in an across the board 120-107 win.
‘The Dream’ gained the full belt as a result of the WBC’s decision to upgrade Vasyl Lomachenko to “franchise champion” allowing Haney to be elevated from his previous interim status.
The knockdown came in the fifth, when Haney dropped the challenger with an uppercut. Santiago admirably made it to the bell though, but was comfortably second best.
The 20-year-old continued to land with several quality shots throughout the fight, but the Dominican bravely survived to the final bell, where the result was inevitable.
“I think I dislocated my shoulder in there but I showed I’m a true champion,” said Haney. “It’s more experience for me, on to the next.
“I want all the top guys in 2020, any of the belt-holders. I’ll fight Lomachenko, or Ryan Garcia is a big fight.”
Elsewhere on the bill, there were wins for rising American prospects Diego Pacheco and Nikita Ababiy, with the latter’s opponent disqualified for punching after the bell.
