In a great action fight, middleweight king Gennady Golovkin stopped an incredibly brave Kell Brook in the 5 th round when the challenger’s trainer Dominic Ingle threw in the towel with Brook, busted up, taking a sustained beating. Full report to follow
Lee Haskins retains IBF bantamweight belt with controversial decision over Stuey Hall
Tonight on the big Golovkin-Brook card in London, IBF bantamweight champion Lee Haskins won a 12 round decision over old foe Stuart Hall. After an engrossing and entertaining battle, Haskins retained his belt by scores of 117-111, 115-113 and 116-112.
Photos/Matchroom Boxing
The large crowd booed the decision and Hall really did look hard done by. Switch hitter Haskins, who holds a previous points win over Hall, looked to have won the early rounds, although a couple of these were very close, but Hall came on in the last half of the action. Haskins looked far more the tired man over the second half as Hall repeatedly knocked his head back with shots.
The bad blood between these two saw to it that neither man would give in but it did look as though Hall was hard done by. Haskins looked surprised when the UD went his way. Hall looked utterly devastated.
As much as some fans clearly felt this was a bad decision, however, tonight’s fight was a classic case of not wanting to be a judge. Perhaps a draw would have been the fairest result.
Haskins can now move on as champion, but it could be a tough road for Hall – the clear winner in terms of fan support tonight.
All Results:
O2 Arena, London, England
Gennady Golovkin TKO 5 Kell Brook
Lee Haskins W 12 Stuart Hall
John Riel Casimero TKO 10 Charlie Edwards
Callum Smith TKO 7 Nemesapati
Martin J Ward TKO 8 Andy Townend
Paul Smith TKO 5 Daniel Regi
Conor Benn TKO 2 Joe Ducker
Gavin McDonnell pts 8 Robin Zamora
Kid Galahad TKO 4 Emiliano Salvini
