22:04:27
OPETAIA AND BRIEDIS REMATCH
Should be a good one this, for the IBF cruiserweight title. Two hard, proud men who won’t back down easily. Opetaia looks fresh and ferocious. Briedis put a lot of damage on him last time. This will be a war for as long as it lasts.
21:39:05
AND THE NEW…
Anthony Cacace is the new IBF champion of the world! An amazing display from the Belfastman, who used skill, power, work rate, absolutely everything to prevail. Once he hurt Cordina, he just kept pushing him back and landing hard shot after hard shot.
Cordina showed warrior spirit, but he was fighting hurt. Carrying a buzzed mindset round after round, never seemed to recover from round three.
21:31:52
CRACKING CACACE
The bell for the end of round six comes at just the right time for Cordina, who is eating uppercuts like sandwiches. A few Cacace body shots are flying in for good measure. Cordina can’t keep taking these. He’s on his last legs right now.
21:29:04
WHAT A SHOT
This was the moment in round three that had Cordina rocking and rolling on the ropes. In to round six now. Cacace looking like the puncher in there.
21:23:56
CHAMPIONSHIP SCRAP
Cordina got his legs back under him in the fourth round. Gave us a chance to grab a breath after that third round. Cordina copped a huge uppercut and was down hard. Ref Bob Williams definitely hovering.
Beginning of the end, or a wake-up call moment? In fine balance.
21:20:30
CACACE ON THE VERGE?
Round three and Cordina is in huge trouble! Hurt by a left hook, the (just about still) champion was wobbling around and survived the third round by the skin of his teeth. Sensational from Cacace.
21:12:08
CACACE THE APACHE
It’s taken him a while to get here, but some felt world level was always the destination for Cacace. Nicknamed the “Andytown Apache,” that is a reference to Andersonstown, an area of west Belfast. Anthony was also a very good amateur.
As was Cordina, who transitioned well into the professional game. Joe had to go back to the well and win the IBF for a second time which showed his immense mental resilience. Looking sharp midway through the second round here, Cordina.
21:07:19
WELSH WIZARD IN THE RING
Joe Cordina defending his IBF super-featherweight title against Belfast’s Anthony Cacace. Should be a good one this. Round one underway.
20:53:00
PICS OF THE WINNER
A couple of pictures to tell the story. Frank being counted out and a winner who deserves his shot at the title.
20:40:23
KABAYEL THE KRUSHER!
Wow, that was outstanding from Agit Kabayel, who grabbed a stoppage in round seven. Frank Sanchez went down from a wicked body shot combination. Later in the round, a poking jab to the breadbasket finished him off.
What a work rate from Kabayel. Hands high, lovely body shots and never strayed from the gameplan. Sanchez was lacklustre, lacking engine, lacking his unbeaten record. Who’ll fight him now?
20:28:06
KABAYEL THE BOSS
It’s Kabayel’s fight to lose going into round six. He’s dictated the pace and looks on top. If he can maintain the engine, then he can win this fight.
Sanchez struggling to keep the German off him. Blowing hard as well. Needs to find that vaunted power to turn things around.
Kabayel (left) dominating Sanchez (Getty Images)
20:18:20
KABAYEL FORCING THE PACE
This is a good start from these two. I’m already eating my words about the mesh of styles. Kabayel is opting to push forward and hammer the body.
Sanchez is very fast and explosive. He can’t afford to just languish on the ropes all night.
20:07:03
FINISHED IN A FLASH?
We are getting to the business end of things now. From the learning stage of the heavyweight division (Itauma) right up to a couple of guys on the verge of world title opportunities. Trained by Eddy Reynoso, Frank “The Cuban Flash” Sanchez faces Agit Kabayel.
It’s a WBC world title eliminator. Their styles might not match up well, let’s be honest. Expect a highly skilled affair.
19:46:40
MOSES DESTROYS OPPONENT IN TWO
Itauma turned it on towards the end of the first round. Mezencev overextended for a split second and paid the price. In round two, a right hook to the side of the head removed Mezencev from his senses. The loser stumbled and staggered around, trying to convince Howard Foster that he was cognizant. He wasn’t and it was waved off.
Itauma impresses (Getty Images)
19:34:04
MOSES ITAUMA READY TO RUMBLE
Heavy-handed prospect Moses Itauma is only 19 and he’s already blasting people away for fun. Opponent Ilja Mezencev isn’t exactly brimming with confidence during the ringwalks. A big puncher on paper, let’s see what he’s got.
