Unbeaten heavyweight Fabio Wardley (11-0, 10 KOs) scored a fifth round KO over former world title challenger Eric “The Drummer Boy” Molina (27-7, 19 KOs) in the Povetkin-Whyte co-feature on Saturday night at the Europa Point Sports Complex in Gibraltar. The 38-year-old Molina delivered good resistance and was in the fight when he hurt Wardley with a right hand in round five. Molina rushed in to finish the job only to be knocked out by a Wardley counter. Time was :52.
Super welterweight Ted “The Big Cheese” Cheeseman (17-2-1, 10 KOs) scored a spectacular eleventh round knockout over previously unbeaten James Metcalf (21-1, 13 KOs) to claim the vacant British title. In round four, Cheeseman battered Metcalf from pillar-to-post and nearly got a stoppage. Metcalf survived and somehow turned the tide. Cheeseman, however, wrested control away again late and laid out Metcalf at the end of round eleven. Time 3:10. Total war!
In his pro debut, Campbell Hatton, son of British ring legend Ricky Hatton, won a four round decision against winless Jesus Ruiz (0-11). Referee’s score was 40-36.
In a clash between undefeated welterweights, Michael McKinson (20-0, 2 KOs) outpointed Chris Kongo (12-1, 7 KOs) over ten rounds to claim the WBO Global title. McKinson dropped Kongo in round one and went on to win 97-93, 96-94, 95-94.
In an upset, heavyweight Nick Webb (17-2, 13 KOs) dropped previously unbeaten Eric Pfeifer (7-1, 5 KOs) three times in the second round to get a TKO win.
Wardley won’t be around long.
Never heard of Eric Pfeiffer but the man pretty much just quit in the fight. Good win for Webb.
Wardley is not all that and a bag of chips. He looked like crap against a washed-up trail horse, who was not that great, to begin with.
Yes, Wardley is pretty limited, but at least it was an entertaining fight. And Molina, while past his best, had a decent gameplan and tried his best to execute it.
Ooooo,! That’s cold…
Wardley not impressive at all. Lack of amateur experience is apparent.
I hv been a boxingvfan since i was 6 yrs old i am now 68 and follow all rhe bouts going bk to the 40s and 50s. I wantcto see chalo and canelo next. Andcto the old greats coming out of retirement be safe.
All this keyboard exsperts talk like they know what it takes just to step between the ropes dont know #### and need to just stfu !!!! Congrats and thank you to all the fighters who performed !!!!!!
The Cheeseman-Metcalf fight was the fight of the night. Cheeseman was more versatile than Metcalf and mixed boxing with slugging. Metcalf had his moments, but Cheeseman had the upper hand throughout most of the bout. He’s only 25, so he does have room to improve. He looks a lot older than 25 years of age.
As for Wardley, he holds his hands low, doesn’t move them very much, and needs to develop a jab. Molina was having success against him until he got countered while attacking. I would be kind if I called it a strategic fight. Everytime Molina made a move, Wardley would react and jump back. I was not impressed by Wardley’s performance. He’s got a long way to go.
Im upset at the way it ended. I thought Molina would pull it off. I was hoping. He is a good guy with some shocking pop here and there. It would be nice to see an old gate keeper knock off the young hungry lion. He looked good until the stoppage
Molina should just retire from boxing before they kill him.
Ricky Hatton should be ashamed with this opponent selection. They obviously dont have much confidence.