In a thrilling WBO European cruiserweight title fight, Ellis Zorro (16-0, 7 KOs) faced off against the towering former British champion, Hosea Burton (28-4, 12 KOs).
Zorro, encouraged by the passionate home crowd, initially struggled to close the range with Burton who held the early advantage. By the second round, however, Zorro landed a solid right-hand counter and began to control the fight. Despite a challenging fourth round, Burton managed to come out on top, leaving Zorro trailing.
In an electrifying turn of events, the sixth round saw Zorro matching Burton's jab for the jab, despite their size difference. Zorro’s tenacity paid off when Burton was slumped on the ropes following a series of powerful hits. Although the referee initially ruled no knockdown, Burton couldn't withstand another strong right cross from Zorro, ending the bout in a surprising victory for Zorro. Despite being behind for much of the fight, Zorro’s resilience and tactical approach led to his triumph.
The WBC International light-heavyweight title fight between Ezequiel Maderna (29-11, 19 KOs) and Willy Hutchinson (16-1, 12 KOs) continued the evening’s high-stakes action. Hutchinson began with explosive energy, putting Maderna on the defensive. However, the second round saw Hutchinson's tactical skills shining through as he brought Maderna onto a sweet counter left hook, scoring a 10-8 round. Despite Maderna’s efforts to make a comeback, Hutchinson's superior speed and sharpness were too much for the Argentinian.
The bout concluded in the fourth round with a well-timed overhand right from Hutchinson that floored Maderna. The victory was a testament to Hutchinson’s bold prediction that the fight wouldn’t go past four rounds. Following his victory, Hutchinson made a clear statement about his readiness to take on any light-heavyweight contender, including a potential fight with Dan Azeez, adding further excitement to the future of the light-heavyweight division.
Image Credit: DAZN