By Shaun Brown
Craven Park Stadium, Hull - Dillian “The Bodysnatcher” Whyte (15-0, 12 KOs) moved one step closer to an end of year all-British grudge match with former amateur rival Anthony Joshua with an impressive first round stoppage win over Irineu Costa (17-4, 15 KOs).
Costa, who has shared the ring with Christian Hammer, Joseph Parker and Denis Boystov, took another Brit David Price six rounds back in February, but was down in round one after a right hand/left hook to the top of his head from Whyte.
The Brazilian was on his back not long after when Whyte landed another right to the top of the head followed by another left hook which left the off-balance Costa waved off by referee Michael Alexander.
Whyte said afterwards: “I was hoping to go a few more rounds. I was looking for the right hand but the left hook is one of my best punches.
“He’s taking me back to basics,” he said of his new trainer Jonathon Banks. “Once my jab started landing Costa didn’t know what to do, he was lost," he added.
Banks said: “I was taught by a great teacher (Emanuel Steward) and all I can teach is what I know. You haven’t seen nothing yet.”
Of a possible Joshua fight, the Olympian's promoter Eddie Hearn said: “They’ll both fight September 12. The deal’s done and if they both win they’ll fight each other later in the year.”
Martin J Ward (12-0-2, 6 KOs), whose last two bouts were a draw and a win against Maxi Hughes, found himself in against a late change of opponent in the shape of former two-time European super featherweight title challenger Sergio Blanco (21-2-1, 6 KOs) who celebrates his 40th birthday today.
Ward, a talent that has been slipping under the radar, had been due to face former world bantamweight title challenger Daniel Diaz. However, the 24-year-old never looked in any real danger of losing his 14th bout against his Spanish foe who was only having his fourth fight in five years.
Moving seamlessly through the gears in the early rounds Ward looked a class above his opponent but mistimed shots, taking counters on the inside and general scrappy work unexpectedly brought Blanco more into the contest.
At times, Ward displayed eye catching stuff such as lead uppercuts but in all honesty Blanco never looked really troubled and never showed any fear of Ward’s punching power.
In retaining his WBC International super featherweight strap, Ward was awarded a 97-93 (twice), 98-93 points decision.
Heavy handed rising super bantamweight prospect Gamal Yafai made it three wins out of three in 2015 moving to (7-0, 3 KOs). The 23-year-old younger brother to Kal, the unbeaten world rated super flyweight contender, put his Spanish opponent Angel Lorente down near the end of the penultimate round of their six rounder but the (6-9-1, 3 KOs) 28-year-old survived the count and the final three minutes as Yafai ran out a comfortable 60-53 points winner.
On the non-televised undercard action from a wet Craven Park Stadium, there were four round decision wins for George Rhodes Jr (2-0) at welterweight, Charlie Flynn (4-0) at light welterweight with light middleweight Connor Seymour (3-0-2) picking up a points victory over six.
Veteran journeyman of over 200 fights Kristian Laight upset the apple cart in the fourth bout of the evening edging out local fighter Carl Chadwick 2-1 over four rounds at light welterweight. The victory was Laight’s tenth of his professional career and his 219th bout since his pro debut in 2009.
Former IBF bantamweight champion Stuart Hall returned to action, since losing his title to Randy Caballero last October, by winning every session of his six round contest against the Spanish based Nicaraguan Edwin Tellez. Hall moves to (17-4-2, 7 KOs) and now has his eyes set on WBA bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell who defeated Hall back in 2011.
