By Alexey Sukachev
At the De Vere Whites Hotel in Bolton, UK, a new English super featherweight champion was crowned as the bigger, younger, tougher and hungrier Anthony Crolla (19-2, 7 KOs) dismantled former British 126lb titlist Andy Morris (19-4, 7 KOs) in seven bloody rounds.
It was a pitch battle from the start. The smaller and quicker Morris was going in and out, fighting in spurts and trying to tag Crolla with light but very fast combinations.
Anthony took them well, blocking a majority of punches, and steadily marched forward. Crolla, 23, was patient and he wasn't going anywhere from Morris. He was dropping rounds (although rounds two and three could have been scored in his favour) but he was increasing his pressure and punch output down the stretch of this fight.
Morris did his share of damage; his blows were cleaner and him being more active. Rounds four and five were for the former titlist. However, the fifth stanza also saw his right eye shutting up quickly. In round six, it became obvious Crolla was a freshier fighter of two. He pounded Morris relentlessly and Andy just couldn't find any shelter inside the ring. In round seven it was all Crolla.
Anthony hurt Morris badly with a liver shot at the start of the last minute of the stanza. He continued pounding his already wobbling foe and landed three more body punches. Morris was taking huge punishment in the centre of the ring, when referee Dave Parris intervened at 2:51 of the 7th to save him from more inflicted damage.
TKO victory for Anthony Crolla who can find himself a spot to challenge British champion Gary Sykes (who was in attendance) in the nearest future.
In a short but powerful thriller, former world title challenger Steve Foster (28-2-1, 18 KOs) got himsef back into a worldwide contention with a chilling third-round annihilation of European champion Leva Kirakosyan (33-6, 23 KOs).
It was a brawl between two hard-hitters from the starting bell. Russian/French Armenian Kirakosyan, resembling bigger/cruder version of Vic Darchinyan, used an awkward approach and crab-like stance and wild swings to scare Foster, known for his close battle with then-WBO champion Alex Arthur. Foster was smart finding safety in numerous clinches. Nevertheless, WBC/WBO #3 and IBF #5 Kirakosyan landed several haymakers to take the first round even though Foster closed it stronger.
The Brit came back with a zeal in the second and upset the stakes with his precision. He connected with cleaner, better punches to take a sighnificant advantage in round two. Round three proved to be the last one in this collision of two kayo artists. First, Foster was hurt by Kirakosyan's right hand but he survived in a clinch. Soon therefter, the defending champion moved in, Foster shifted to his left and connected with a monstrous left hand to the whiskers of Kirakosyan.
The Armenian stood for a couple of moments and then falled down badly. He barely got it on his feet but was too shocked for referee Adrio Zannoni to let him continue this fight. The end came at 2:16 of the third; this being a major leap up for Steve Foster, who is finally back on track.
Craig Lyon (12-0, 4 KOs) is a new English bantamweight titlist after his opponent and former super flyweight titleholder Ross "The Boss" Burkinshaw (9-3-2, 5 KOs) surrendered in his corner after the conclusion of the fifth round. It was Lyon all the way. He was bigger and punched harder than Burkinshaw who was receiving an increasing amount of punches with each fought minute. He was also down in the first after a big left hook by Lyon.
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Also, prospect Rhys Roberts (11-0, 2 KOs) scored his second career knockout with a stoppage win over Manuel Sequeira (10-18-1, 7 KOs).