Boxing

ANTHONY YARDE beat Ralfs Vilcans in his comeback fight at the Copper Box Arena tonight. The Beast from the East, 33, won 98-92 on points in a less-than-convincing affair. But he got the job done. Yarde, who pushed light-heavyweight king Artur Beterbiev hard in 2023, scored a knockdown in the opening seconds of the fight, but failed to bag the stoppage he craved after that.TV: Sky Sports Main EventLive stream: NowTV / Sky Sports+CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSFollow our live blog below…Results from tonight Tulani Mbenge def. Michael Mckinson UD12Anthony Yarde def. Ralfs Vilcans UD10Jeamie TKV def. Franklin Ignatius TKO6Adam Azim def. Ohara Davies TKO8Lewis Edmondson def. Dan Azeez MD12Copy linkCopiedAzim BEATS Davies in main eventElectric performance from Adam Azim, who scores two knockdowns en route to an eight-round KO win over Ohara Davies. He was systematic in his beating of Davies, who failed to offer anything meaningful all night. Credit: PACopy linkCopiedAction shotsBoth men landed the fair share of punches in there tonight. But it was Anthony Yarde who came out on top with the points victory. Credit: PACredit: GettyCredit: GettyCopy linkCopiedBuatsi on Yarde”That guy [Vilcans] shouldn’t have seen past round three, in my opinion”, Buatsi says. Copy linkCopiedYarde on Buatsi”I’ll fight anybody. Styles make fights. Tonight I got a bit complacent. I’d turn up [for Joshua Buatsi, Craig Richards, Dan Azeez],” Yarde says. Joshua Buatsi is one of the fights I want, for sure.”Copy linkCopiedYarde BEATS Vilvans98-92 to Anthony Yarde, according to referee Victor Loughlan. I had it a little closer than that, but hey-ho. It’s a win for Yarde nonetheless. Bigger fights to come for the Londoner. Copy linkCopiedYarde vs Vilcans R10A very pedestrian round 10 finishes things off as Yarde fails to land anything more of any meaning. Both men look pretty happy to leave it to the scorecards, especially Yarde. But Vilvans may have won at least four rounds in there. It could be close if the judges have scored this without any hometown bias. Both men windmill in the final few seconds of the round and that’s it. Copy linkCopiedYarde vs Vilcans R9A great round for Ralfs Vilcans. The Latvian has given it a right go since being floored in the first round. Yarde looks like he’s feeling it a little after expending so much energy trying to take Vilcans out in the middle rounds. Yarde does land a big right hand towards the end of the round but that’s all he’s really done in the ninth. One more to go. Copy linkCopiedYarde vs Vilcans R8A slower round eight here as Yarde looks to get behind his jab again.The only knockdown of the fight, remember, came in the first seven seconds of the fight. Hard to believe we’re in round eight. Yarde just hasn’t put it together how he hoped he would. He’s been, at times, out-landed and outworked. But he’s pressed the action and landed the more eye-catching shots throughout. Copy linkCopiedYarde vs Vilcans R7All-in-all, Yarde has been sloppy tonight, and perhaps a lot of it comes down to ring rust. Or he’s just not up to facing an opponent like this. But he’s no closer to getting the stoppage he craves in the seventh. Vilcans is clearly tough and if he’s going to go away, Yarde will have to set his shots up rather than try and land one-hitter quitters. Another solid defensive round for Vilcans.Copy linkCopiedYarde vs Vilcans R6Yarde going for the finish here again. Those right hands from Vilcans are coming less and less. Yarde marching his man down but he’s not loading up, perhaps looking to do things a little more methodically with his man gasping for air. Vilcans lands a nice upset as Yarde plods forward but it angers the Brit clearly as he comes forward himself and lands a massive left hand which stumbles the Latvian onto the ropes. Copy linkCopiedYarde vs Vilcans R5Some heavy artillery coming from Yarde now. He lands a really solid right and you can see it wobbles Vilcans’ legs a little. Vilcans comes back with a right of his own but Yarde walks through it. Yarde continues to stalk his opponent, intent on trying to finish him as soon as possible. You wonder how much of this pressure Vilcans will take with half the fight left. Copy linkCopiedYarde vs Vilcans R4Another solid start to the round from Vilcans but Yarde begins to the target the body with success as well. Yarde lands a nice uppercut in close and begins to try and walk the Latvian down with little respect for what’s coming back at him. Vilcans brought back down to earth a little bit towards the end of the fourth. Copy linkCopiedYarde vs Vilcans R3Vilcans actually lands a few jabs here in the third round and Yarde is tyring to counter him with a left hook. Yarde is also heading down to the body, but he’s probably just best off going back to the jab in order to set something up. Vilcans with a bit of a comeback round here in the third. Yarde finishes strong though, landing a couple of overhand rights. Copy linkCopiedYarde vs Vilcans R2You really get the sense watching this that Yarde is looking to get the rounds in. He realised after five seconds he can hurt his opponent when he wants. And now he just wants to get some work in after eight months out of the ring. Copy linkCopiedYarde vs Vilcans R1Yarde scores a KNOCKDOWN in SEVEN seconds. Vilcans already looking way out of his depth in there as Yarde floors his with his first punch. The Latvian composes himself soon after but Yarde lands at will whenever he steps forward to the body. Copy linkCopiedYarde vs VilcansHere we go. The fight is set to start in a few moments. Yarde about to make his way to the ring. Copy linkCopiedMbenge WINSThe South African overcomes Michael McKinson with scorecards of 116-112×2 and 117-111. Copy linkCopiedMcKinson vs MbengeThe fight is now over and we’re awaiting the judges’ scorecards. I’ve got it to Mbenge by a few rounds. McKinson has his arms in the air but he could be in for a shock in a moment. Copy linkCopiedCool and confident Anthony Yarde relishing the chance to fight at the Copper Box again tonight. He looks supremely confident. And you only need to look at his opponent’s BoxRec to see why. Copy linkCopiedMckinson vs MbengeUnder pressure. That’s Michael McKinson right now. Mbenge has been utterly relentless all night.Copy linkCopiedYarde up NEXTAnthony Yarde returns to the ring for his first fight since February AFTER this clash between McKinson and Mbenge. He’s at the arena and getting ready for action. Copy linkCopiedMcKinson vs MbengeMbenge is RELENTLESS in there. He continues to plod forward in the fifth round and is landing chopping right hands at will. McKinson having to do a lot of defending and you begin to wonder when his legs will tire. There’s still seven and a half rounds to go. Copy linkCopiedMcKinson vs MbengeTasty fight here between McKinson and Mbenge through three rounds.The Pompey man started well and landed some solid shots in the first two rounds. But Mbenge switched to a body attack in the third round and had some success, backing McKinson up whenever he wanted to. Copy linkCopiedTonight’s main card line-up*On after the main event. Michael McKinson vs Tulani Mbenge (12 rounds – welterweight)Anthony Yarde vs Ralfs Vilvans (10 rounds – light-heavyweight)Adam Azim vs Ohara Davies (12 rounds – super-lightweight)Dan Azeez vs Lewis Edmonson (12 roiunds – light-heavyweight)*Copy linkCopied More

ADAM AZIM put on a blistering performance to knock out Ohara Davies in the eighth round of their fight. The Assassin was surgical throughout as he scored two knockdowns en route to his impressive stoppage win. Anthony Yarde beat Ralfs Vilvans on points on the undercard. TV: Sky Sports Main EventLive stream: NowTV / Sky Sports+CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSFollow our live blog below…Edmondson BEATS AzeezIt was a close, competitive fight. But wow. I didn’t expect that one. Lewis Edmondson wins it on the scorecards by majority decision, beating Azeez 114-114, 114-113, 115-112. Big win for the 28-year-old. Copy linkCopiedChampionship roundsAzeez continues to impress in the final rounds here with 11 and 12 on deck. Edomondson is giving it a good go here, despite having never been this later in a fight before. Big right hand for Azeez lands and Edmondson takes it well but he’s struggling to do much more in there at the moment. It was a close right to begin with then Edmondson had a point taken and since then Azeez has taken control of things a little more. Whoever finishes these final two rounds strong, however, could nick it. Credit: PACopy linkCopiedPoint taken from EdmondsonA point has been taken from Lewis Edmondson by the referee for hitting after being told to break. Azeez has really taken control of the fight in the last two rounds and Edmondson looks like he’s starting to feel the pace a little bit as well. I have Azeez a couple of rounds up and he usually does his best work in the latter rounds as well. Copy linkCopiedAction shotsHere’s how the fight is looking so far. It’s been an even but entertaining one. Hard to split. Both men have used their jabs and right hands effectively. Credit: PACredit: PACredit: PACopy linkCopiedAzeez vs Edmondson R5Callum Simpson, British super-middleweight champion, is sat ringside and has the fight close but in favour of Edmondson so far. It’s been a very even affair so far. Azeez is an absolute laser with his jab from so far back, using every ounce of athleticism he has to bypass Edmondson’s lead hand. Azeez and Edmondson warned to keep things clean by the ref after a couple of awkward exchanges with both men up close. Copy linkCopiedAzeez vs Edmondson R3It’s been a solid start to this British and Commonwealth title match-up between Dan Azeez and Lewis Edmondson.Both men boxing well but looks to be Azeez with most of the early control in there. Edmondson is rangey though and could cause some problems with that jab. Copy linkCopiedOhara talks retirementDavies: “I think my time in the sport is done. This might be the end of my boxing career. I’ll still be around but I no longer enjoy it. “I didn’t enjoy this camp. I might be involved in some other parts, but these young guys, Azim, Dalton Smith, Harlem Eubank, it’s time for them to reign.”Copy linkCopiedAzim KNOCKS OUT Davies R8And there’s the statement Adam Azim wanted. He lands a stiff jab in the opening minute of the round and that immediately puts Ohara on the backfoot. He follows it up with a blistering left hook and down goes Ohara. The referee begins to count. But his corner is having none of it and the towel comes in. Credit: PACopy linkCopiedAzim vs Davies R7Shane McGuigan tells his man in the corner to go for the stoppage. He’s seen enough and thinks Azim can finish it here. Azim comes out and looks to land some really sharp shots and is having success with most. But Ohara is hanging in there nice and tough. Azim is willing to sit in the pocket and systematically break his opponent down, however. He can do this all night. But he’ll want an emphatic finish. Copy linkCopiedAzim vs Davies R6Ohara has calmed things down in the sixth round. He’s feeling the pressure a little less and Azim has slowed things down too. Azim still pressuring nicely, he doesn’t want to let his man off the hook in there as the fight enters the second half. A big left hand comes in from Ohara but Azim takes it and finishes the round strong by landing two big shots of his own. Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedAzim vs Davies R5Azim KNOCKS DOWN Davies. It looks as if Ohara Davies has broken his nose in there. It’s bleeding profusely and Azim has literally smelt the blood. Azim goes for it and puts his man on the deck after a flurry of punches against the ropes.He gets back up but Azim is now turning the screw. The stoppage could be near. Copy linkCopiedAzim vs Davies R4Azim lands a lovely left hook in the opening minute and gets a smile from Davies in response. Another heavy right hand from Azim follows before Ohara comes back with a couple of solid jabs of his own. One-two and finishes with a left hook, does Azim with his next move. Ohara tries to land a haymaker but misses and Azim comes back with a really solid uppercut to answer.Credit: PACopy linkCopiedAzim vs Davies R3Azim probing with some stinging jabs but Ohara is equal to them, parrying the odd one on the way in. Davies does come very close to landing his own looping hook but Azim sees it coming and dodges a second before it lands. Another tense round. Copy linkCopiedAzim vs Davies R2Another very tense round from Davies, who keeps Azim at bay with long arms but he’s still very hesitant to throw anything of note. He’s still trying to figure out the speed of Azim. Davies tries to pick things up in the final minute of the round and just misses with a chopping right hand of his own. Another round to Azim.Credit: PACopy linkCopiedAzim vs Davies R1Both men looking to show all their flare in the first round here but Azim definitely looking the quicker and the flashier of the two. Davies on the back foot as Azim comes forward and lands some very sharp right hands on the temple of Davies. The hand speed difference is very telling and already Davies looks incredibly hesitant to let his hands go. Really sharp opener for Azim. Copy linkCopiedAzim makes his entranceHere comes Adam Azim! A dazzling entrance for his main event clash with Ohara Davies. Copy linkCopiedOhara Davies is on his wayHere comes Ohara!He looks pretty dialled in. Copy linkCopiedAzim vs DaviesAdam Azim’s clash against Ohara Davies is NEXT. It’s been an entertaining build-up so far, but now the talking stops as both men enter the ring for what should be a cracker of a fight. Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedBuatsi on Yarde’s winJoshua Buatsi was a little critical of Anthony Yarde’s performance tonight. The pair have been linked with a fight against each other for years.“That guy [Vilcans] shouldn’t have seen past round three, in my opinion”, Buatsi says.Copy linkCopiedAntony Yarde WINSIt’s a comeback win for Anthony Yarde, but not in the manner he wanted. Referee Victor Loughlan scored it 98-92 to Yarde, who clearly wanted the stoppage, but just couldn’t find it. He got the knockdown but after that Vilcans came into his own. Copy linkCopiedYarde vs Vilcans R10A very pedestrian round 10 finishes things off as Yarde fails to land anything more of any meaning. Both men look pretty happy to leave it to the scorecards, especially Yarde. But Vilvans may have won at least four rounds in there. It could be close if the judges have scored this without any hometown bias. Both men windmill in the final few seconds of the round and that’s it. Copy linkCopiedYarde vs Vilcans R9A great round for Ralfs Vilcans. The Latvian has given it a right go since being floored in the first round.Yarde looks like he’s feeling it a little after expending so much energy trying to take Vilcans out in the middle rounds.Yarde does land a big right hand towards the end of the round but that’s all he’s really done in the ninth.One more to go.Copy linkCopiedYarde vs Vilcans R8A slower round eight here as Yarde looks to get behind his jab again.The only knockdown of the fight, remember, came in the first seven seconds of the fight. Hard to believe we’re in round eight.Yarde just hasn’t put it together how he hoped he would. He’s been, at times, out-landed and outworked.But he’s pressed the action and landed the more eye-catching shots throughout.Copy linkCopiedYarde vs Vilcans R7All-in-all, Yarde has been sloppy tonight, and perhaps a lot of it comes down to ring rust. Or he’s just not up to facing an opponent like this. But he’s no closer to getting the stoppage he craves in the seventh. Vilcans is clearly tough and if he’s going to go away, Yarde will have to set his shots up rather than try and land one-hitter quitters. Another solid defensive round for Vilcans.Copy linkCopiedYarde vs Vilcans R6Yarde going for the finish here again. Those right hands from Vilcans are coming less and less. Yarde marching his man down but he’s not loading up, perhaps looking to do things a little more methodically with his man gasping for air. Vilcans lands a nice upset as Yarde plods forward but it angers the Brit clearly as he comes forward himself and lands a massive left hand which stumbles the Latvian onto the ropes. Copy linkCopied More