Probellum promoted at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, and at the head of affairs, Lewis Ritson took a wide points win against Dejan Zlaticanin at super lightweight.
Ritson (23-2, 13 KOs), who beat Christian Uruzquieta in December, has long searched for a big opportunity to come his way, while Zlaticanin (24-4, 16 KOs) previously served as WBC lightweight champion, and the Montenegrin was moving up to ten stone for the first time.
The contest looked all about size early on, with Ritson’s bigger frame causing Zlaticanin all sorts of problems, and the 37-year-old was firmly second best early on.
Ritson’s attacks to the body especially were eye-catching ones.
The ‘Sandman’ largely dominated throughout and hardly afforded the visitor room to stamp any authority on proceedings, and the result was a procession as the fight went to the cards.
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Two scores of 100-90, and a third at 99-91 moved the 28-year-old, who has top 15 rankings in both the IBF and WBA, closer to a world title shot.
Williamson climbs off the canvas to beat Cartwright
Troy Williamson made the first defence of his British super welterweight title, and the man from Darlington was pushed to the limit, getting off the floor to retain his belt in a points win over Mason Cartwright.
The champion was dropped in the second round with a number of heavy, unanswered shots, and he did well to see out the round.
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Cartwright (17-3-1, 7 KOs) controlled the first half of the fight, but Williamson (18-0-1, 13 KOs) roared back to narrow the gap, and it looked like the fight was up for grabs going into the final round, as both went at it in search of the Lonsdale Belt, and the judges were required to split the pair.
117-112, 116-111 and 114-113 ensured the title stayed in the North East.
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Wins for Ward, McCormack, Dickinson; Laws stunned
Thomas Patrick Ward (32-0-1, 4 KOs) extended his his lengthy unbeaten record, as he won every round of ten against Alexis Boureima Kabore (29-6, 8 KOs) at featherweight. The referee returned a verdict of 100-90.
Olympic Silver medalist, Pat McCormack made his professional bow, and the home favourite needed just over a minute to stop Justin Menzie at welterweight.
McCormack (1-0, 1 KO) trapped Menzies (5-6-1, 1 KO) in the corner, and unloaded with a whipping body shot, dropping the underdog, and he just about beat the count before the referee waved the contest off.
Super middleweight, Mark Dickinson (3-0, 1 KO) won every round of his six round contest with Peter Kramer (11-5-3, 8 KOs) at middleweight, and Joe Maphosa (12-1, 1 KO) did the same in his six rounder with Santiago San Eusebio (3-4-2, 2 KO) at super flyweight.
Local favourite, Joe Laws (12-2, 5 KOs) was upset in his six round encounter with Alexey Tukhtarov (5-27-6, 3 KOs) at super welterweight, with the journeyman taking a 58-57 win.
At the same weight, Alex Farrell (7-0, 3 KOs) took every round of six against Konstantin Aleksandrov (10-54-4, 3 KOs).
Debut win ✅
Debut finish ✅Sayers gets the finish in his pro debut! #ProbellumThrowdown pic.twitter.com/OrjiCDYzxy
— Probellum (@probellum) March 25, 2022
Ben Rees’ (0-0-1) debut ended in frustration, as the light heavyweight was badly cut in the opening round against Greg O’Neill (6-6-1, 1 KO) and the contest was called a technical draw.
Robert Ismay moved to (11-0, 4 KOs) scoring a fourth round stoppage of Christian Donfack Adjoufack (0-8) at cruiserweight, and Stephen Sayers (1-0, 1 KO) halted Darryl Sharp (6-86-1, 1 KO) in the second of their scheduled four rounder at the same weight.
