Liam Davies vs Ionut Baluta – Results & Post Fight Report

Anthony Yarde took to the ring for the first time in 2022, and he routinely dispatched Stefani Koykov in the third round of their scheduled light heavyweight ten rounder at the Telford International Centre.

Yarde (23-2, KO22) was shaking off some rust in anticipation of a mooted meeting with unified champion Artur Beterbiev, that was officially confirmed for the OVO Arena in London at the end of January 2023.

Yarde controlled the first round, although the visitor was throwing plenty of leather. Yarde eased his way in, and opened up in the third, pinning Koykov (14-2, KO12) to the ropes, before a body shot and a short uppercut that dumped Koykov to the canvas, and he failed to beat the count.

The main event featured home hero Liam Davies (13-0, KO5), and he took the vacant European super bantamweight title, as well as the WBC International strap, with an entertaining unanimous victory against Ionut Baluta (15-4, KO3).

Davies had taken the British title back in June, upsetting Marc Leach, dropping the champion in the opening round on the way to a points win. Baluta had become accustomed to scoring upsets in the UK, with his last an eye-catching win on the cards against Brad Foster to take the WBC International belt.

Davies began well, judging the distance well and catching Baluta coming in. The work rate increased for Baluta in round two as he backed Davies up, but the home fighter was a step ahead, and by round five, Baluta was cut. The Romanian did rally in rounds six and seven, but was lunging in, allowing Davies to land the cleaner shots that were banking him rounds.

Davies kept his opponent at arm’s length, and eventually came through by scores of 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112.

Ethan James (10-0, KO0) had to deal with a late change of opposition, as Connor Parker was taken ill on the eve of their meeting, and his replacement, Keanen Wainwright (8-2, KO5), gave him a fright before going down by two points on the referee’s card. James was dropped in the first round by a counter combination, and it was a bruising battle, that James took 96-94 in the end.

Owen Cooper (7-0, KO2) impressively took the Midlands Area welterweight title, as he took a points win after ten rounds against Jamie Stewart (3-3-2, KO0). Cooper scored a fifth round knockdown with a short left hand, and largely dominated during the contest, eventually taking a 100-89 victory on the referee’s card.

Ezra Taylor (4-0, KO3) scored a second round stoppage win in his light heavyweight contest against Mohamed Cherif Benchadi (4-20-2, KO0). An accumulation of punches dropped Benchadi in the opener, and he was felled again by a right hand in the second with the fight waved off. Willo Hayden (5-0, KO1) won every round of six against Romania’s Marian Marius Istrate (3-14, KO0) at lightweight.

George Davey (6-0-1, KO1) returned to winning ways, stopping Paul Cummings (3-69-1, KO1) in the fourth round of their super welterweight encounter.

At super featherweight, Brad Strand (9-0, KO3) kept his unbeaten record in tact, knocking down Darwin Martinez (7-7-2, KO6) on the way to a 59-54 win after six rounds.

Macauley Owen (5-0, KO1) improved his record to five straight wins, as he scored a knockdown on the way to a 60-53 win on the referee’s scorecard in his lightweight contest against Eduardo Valverde (3-8-1, KO1).