Luke Keeler W10 Luis Arias... Ireland's Luke Keeler (17-2-1) got a career-best win when he decisioned Luis Arias (18-2-1) over ten rounds in a middleweight contest held in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Keeler said afterwards, “I’m happy, and we still have more to improve. It’s exciting for me because Daniel Jacobs couldn’t do that to Luis Arias when he fought him. Arias was a tough lad and kept coming, but it was great to get the win and now it’s about stepping up again in the next one.”
Chris Jenkins W9 Paddy Gallagher... Chris Jenkins retained his British welterweight title and acquired the vacant Commonwealth title by defeating Paddy Gallagher via ninth-round technical decision. Jenkins is now 22-3-2. Gallagher (16-6) disputed the decision: “I felt I should have won. The crowd felt that too, even though people will obviously say they would be biased. We went nine rounds, and I felt I won at least four rounds and knocked him down in one.”
Padraig McCrory TKO8 Steve Collins Jr... Super middleweight Padraig McCrory (9-0) stopped Steve Collins Junior (14-3-1) in round eight. McCrory said afterweards, “I’m so happy. It took me about 40 minutes to get backstage after my win because everyone was so proud of me and wanting to hug me, so I really appreciate that. It was a close fight and I knew I needed to win the eighth round. I found it hard to catch him clean the whole way through, but then in the last round I managed to get the stoppage.” The defeated Collins replied: “I lost composure out there. I started off well and then lost the focus. I’ve done it before and it’s happened again. It’s very frustrating, especially as I felt I was the better boxer in the fight.”
MORE RESULTS:
Sean McComb W8 Renald Garrido. McComb: “It was a decent performance. Still in my first year as a professional and still learning. Garrido was a tough fighter. He took a lot of good body shots and kept coming forward. It was a massive platform for me in front of a big audience. This was a dream come true and it will probably take me a year or so to actually realise just how big a platform this was.”
Dennis McCann TKO1 Georgi Andonov. McCann: “Good performance out there. I want to thank all the fans for cheering me on and showing me a lot of love out there, along with MTK Global and Frank Warren for everything they’ve done for me. I’ve never seen an 18 year old get as pushed as much as I have, so I appreciate it very enough, and I also want to thank my coaches because it wouldn’t be possible without them.”
PADDY BARNES bt Joel Sanchez PTS6
Barnes: “I was happy to get the win. I was a bit nervous getting in there because I was coming off the back of two defeats, so I knew that I needed the victory.
“I tried to show the fans a bit of hand speed at times and throwing punches in bunches because I’m a fit fighter, but I got the win which is more than anything.”
ALFREDO MELI bt Araik Marutjan PTS8
Meli: “My opponent was a good tough lad. He came for it and it was made brilliant for the fans. That’s the main thing, I wanted to put on a good show and I think I did a good job doing it.
“I had to get off the ground to finish the job off, but it was an evenly matched fight with two guys who came to win. It was a great bill to be a part of and hopefully we can have more.”
CALLUM BRADLEY bt Jose Hernandez PTS4
Bradley: “It was a good fight. I’ll look back to see how well I boxed, but my opponent came to win and didn’t lie down, so it was entertaining.
“Thanks to MTK Global for getting me on such a big show. It was fantastic to be a part of it on such a big stage, and now hopefully I’ll get back out before the end of the year.”
SEAN DUFFY bt Naheem Chaudhry PTS4
Duffy: I don’t know how he managed to stay up on his feet. He must be made of stone. He said it was the hardest he’s been hit in all of his fights, so fair play to him for going through them punches and staying in there.
“It was a brilliant card to be a part of. It’s everything that it’s been made out to be. To be on a big bill like this in only my second fight. Now I’d like to be out again before the end of the year. I appreciate everything that MTK Global have done for me so far.”
