Shabaz Masoud vs Jose Sanmartin – Results & Post-Fight Report

Shabaz Masoud took the vacant WBA Intercontinental super bantamweight title on top of a NXTGEN show in Newcastle, but was made to work hard before taking a split decision against Jose Sanmartin over ten rounds.

Masoud (12-0, KO4) came into this bout held in high regard, and was coming off a last round stoppage win over Jack Bateson in November last year. Sanmartin (34-8-1, KO21) had been in with the likes of Emmanuel Navarrete and Mauricio Lara, and was coming off a ten round loss to Kevin Gonzalez in March

The first three rounds were give and take, with Masoud having to work hard to keep Sanmartin at bay, but the Columbian caught him with several shots in the third. Masoud responded with his best round in the fourth, and continued that in rounds five and six, working well off his jab. Another jab heavy round came in the seventh, but Sanmartin made a late bid for the win with a relentless work-rate, and that put him right in the argument as the contest went to the cards.

The visitor took a verdict of 96-94, but Masoud received a tally of the same score, and a too-wide 98-92 to take the belt and the win.

Mark Dickinson (6-0, KO2) impressed, with the West Rainton native halting Grant Dennis (18-6, KO3) in the fifth round of their scheduled ten rounder at middleweight. Dennis was dropped heavily by a barrage of punches, and the referee didn’t allow him to continue once the count was completed.

Callum French (4-1, KO1) suffered an upset loss on the card, as he was stopped in the eighth and final round against the experienced Jeff Ofori (13-6-2, KO4). French was cut in a head clash in the fourth, and was generally second best against Ofori, who caused French’s corner to throw in the towel with more than two minutes remaining in the last frame.

Ishmael Davis (12-0, KO6) wore down Ewan Mackenzie (8-1, KO3) in their English super welterweight title eliminator, eventually forcing Mackenzie’s corner to throw the towel in midway through the eighth round.

Cameron Vuong (2-0, KO1) is highly-touted by Matchroom, and he banked six useful rounds, winning them all in his lightweight contest against John Henry Mosquera (5-5, KO1).

At super lightweight, Ben Rees (2-0, KO2) scored a fifth round stoppage win against Konrad Czajkowski (2-2-1, KO1). A two-fisted attack forced the referee’s intervention. Ben Rees (2-0-1, KO2) had to get off the floor in the second round at light heavyweight against Sadaam Moamed Da Silva Caetano (7-4, KO5) before winning via stoppage in round five.

Jimmy Sains (2-0, KO2) took a second straight early win, ending his middleweight meeting with Jesus Lobeto (1-3-1, KO0) in the second round.