An Upset of the Year contender, a Fight of the Year contender and a big night in Newcastle for British boxing. Here’s what you might have missed after a busy weekend in the ring...
Mikey Garcia Stunned By Sandor Martin
In one of the biggest upsets of the year, former four-weight world champion Mikey Garcia was handed a hammerblow in his bid to regain a world title after being outboxed and outclassed by 12/1 underdog Sandor Martin in Fresno, losing by majority decision to the man from Barcelona.
Garcia, now 40-2, was widely considered one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world a few years ago but since a brave assault on Errol Spence Jr’s IBF welterweight title in 2019, which he lost via unanimous decision, the American has been plagued with inactivity, fighting just once in 2020, beating Jesse Vargas on the scorecards in February.
"I thought I was ahead on the three cards," Garcia told DAZN.
"It is what it is. That's why there's three judges. They decided he was the one winning the fight.
"He didn't beat me up, I'm not bruised up or anything. I knew he was a very good boxer. That's why I kept coming forward, but I knew I couldn't be reckless, either.
"I still thought I did enough to win. He kept moving around the ring.”
Savannah Marshall Puts Herself On Collision Course With Claressa Shields
Savannah Marshall put on a boxing clinic in Newcastle against Lolita Muzeya, stopping the Zambian inside just two rounds.
Muzeya began the fight like a bull in a china shop, taking the fight to the Hartlepool native from the opening bell. The aggressor had some success, landing a punch within seconds of the first bell, kicking off a thrilling firefight, but it was Marshall who had more success, landing a huge uppercut and several counters throughout the opener.
Spent from her early bravery, Muzeya was overwhelmed in the second round by the champion, leaving several punches unanswered, forcing the referee to step in and call a halt to proceedings.
Marshall’s attention swiftly turned to three-weight champion and self-proclaimed ‘GWOAT’ (Greatest Women Of All Time), Claressa Shields. The pair will feature on the same BOXXER card on December 11, before meeting in what would probably be the biggest women’s boxing match ever in 2022.
BOXXER promoter Ben Shalom said: "We believe that we have the best fighter in the sport. Claressa feels that she is the best.
[Their super-fight] is going to happen very soon.
"It's time for Savannah to feel like she is a superstar."
Marshall added: "Claressa couldn't last two minutes with me!"
Hughie Fury Impresses Against Christian Hammer
Heavyweight Hughie Fury kept himself on course for another shot at a world title with an impressive win over Christian Hammer in Newcastle, who retired in the fifth round with a bicep injury.
The Brit dominated from the opening bell of the bout and although the Romanian-German put up some fierce resistance, the cousin of Tyson Fury eventually broke the away fighter down with some excellent combinations and thudding rights.
"I had more gears to offer," Fury told Sky Sports.
"He was getting sick in there. My dad said: 'Keep hitting him with light shots and he'll go'.
"That was only 50 percent of me.
"The stoppage was coming no matter what. You could see Hammer was getting sick of being hit.
"I'm only 27. This is what I love to do - fight!"
Chris Eubank Jr Breaks Opponent's Ribs, Calls Billy Joe Saunders “A Rat”
Chris Eubank Jr made short work of stand-in opponent Wanik Awdijan, forcing him to pull out after just five rounds with broken ribs in Newcastle.
The one-sided affair tees Eubank Jr up for a major fight in December, which is widely believed to be Liam Williams, before a potential world title shot next year.
“The options are endless but I just know that, from December, it is only big fights or world titles,” ‘Next Gen’ said after his win. “Anyone with a world title, anyone the fans want to see me fight.
“Liam Williams’ name keeps popping up, that’s an option. And that rat Saunders is running around saying he will fight me for £5million.”
Emanuel Navarette Retains WBO Featherweight Belt
WBO Featherweight champion Emanuel Navarette came through of his toughest test to date, beating Joet Gonzalez via unanimous decision in a brutal Fight of the Year contender.
Although there were no knockdowns, a whopping 1,646 punches were thrown between the pair at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego. The Mexican champion threw 979 of those punches - an average of 81.6 per round.
"The difference was the conditioning," Navarrete said on ESPN after the fight. "It was a pretty close fight, but I think the conditioning was the difference.
"Without a doubt I hurt him, but every single time he came back. And he hurt me. A couple shots landed, hurt me during the fight."
