Khalil El Hadri, 21-3 (11 KOs), stopped Samir Ziani, 36-4-1 (8 KOs), in the fourth of an all French matchup between two fighters close to the top over the weekend in Clichy and won the WBC International Silver interim junior lightweight title.
El Hadri, with his hair colored blue with a red stripe – the colours of his favourite football team, Paris Saint Germain – was able to counter his aggressive southpaw opponent and floored him the first and had him under pressure in the third as well.
In the fourth Ziani pressed the action but was hurt by a barrage of punches and went down again. He got up and was allowed to continue but when hit again the referee stepped in and stopped it. Ziani protested but looked unsteady.
It was a bad defeat for Ziani, who was ranked No. 19 by the WBC before the fight, with El Hadri at No. 28.
Full International Silver junior lightweight king is Italian Michael Mignesi, who beat El Hadri on March 28 a close decision.