Troy Williamson reinvigorated his career with a dramatic ninth-round stoppage of the favored Mark Dickinson following a violent affair inside Rainton Meadows Arena at Houghton-le-Spring, England.

With only one victory in his past five bouts, it’s understandable why Williamson, at 34 years old, was thrown in with a comparative novice in Dickinson.

Williamson, 21-4-1 (15 KOs), had been keeping good company, however. Even though the results ultimately went against him – points defeats to Jahi Tucker, Ishmael Davis, Caoimhin Agyarko and Josh Kelly ended a purple patch that saw him win the British junior middleweight title – any suggestions that the man from Darlington, UK, was “shot” were wide of the mark.

Hopes of an upset were boosted further at Friday’s weigh-in when Dickinson, the English super middleweight titleholder, was stripped of his belt when he came in more than five pounds above the 168lbs divisional limit. Incidentally, Williamson opted against asking Dickinson to weigh in on the day of the fight, nor did he consider pulling out. Kudos for that.

Dickinson, fleshier than his rival, started quickly by winging in hooks from both sides, but the air of desperation in his work was impossible to ignore. Williamson was certainly paying attention and, in the third and fourth rounds, his superior activity threatened to take over as the contest – which was terrifically matched – heated up.

The favorite bit down on his gumshield and rallied in the sixth. As Dickinson stayed close to the older man, hurling shots to the body and leaning on Williamson, one wondered if the difference in weight would soon work in his favor in what had become an enthralling affair.

The pair continued to exchange looping and desperate blows, as any artistry was dispensed. Neither was willing to give ground. Or so it seemed. A left hook from Williamson stunned Dickinson, causing him to drop his hands, before a perfect right hand landed flush. Dickinson, 8-2 (2 KOs), collapsed heavily, regained his feet but was all at sea when Williamson, soon to be the new English titlist, was let loose again. The referee wisely stepped in quickly, at 1 minute, 51 seconds of the ninth.

In a mismatch, the hyped 18-year-old heavyweight Leo Atang won his second professional fight, and it was another seemingly effortless KO when 40-year-old Cristian Awanka, 1-6 (1 KO), was decked twice in the opening round and the contest, such as it was, was swiftly halted.

Sandy Ryan, 8-3-1 (3 KOs), had a better workout but was also levels above her opponent. After unanimously outpointing the plucky Jade Grierson, 5-1-1 (2 KOs), via scores of 100-91, 99-91 and 98-92, the 31-year-old declared her willingness to take on all comers between 140 and 154lbs.  

Earlier in the night, lightweight Cameron Vuong eased to 9-0 (4 KOs) when he outpointed Argentina’s 29-year-old Reuquen Cona Facundo Arce, 18-21-2 (7 KOs), over eight rounds. The referee’s 80-72 score in his favor was of the no-brainer variety.

Meanwhile, yet another burgeoning Matchroom prospect, 18-year-old bantamweight Adam Maca, cruised to 2-0 (2 KOs) via a fourth-round stoppage of Francisco Rodriguez. The result was by no means a foregone conclusion beforehand; Spain’s Rodriguez, twice Maca’s age at 36, had managed to win one of his previous 22 fights.

Matt Christie, a lifelong fight fan, has worked in boxing for more than 20 years. He left Boxing News in 2024 after 14 years, nine of which were spent as editor-in-chief. Before that, he was the producer of weekly boxing show “KOTV.” Now the co-host of ”The Opening Bell” podcast and regularly used by Sky Sports in the UK as a pundit, Matt was named as the Specialist Correspondent of the Year at the prestigious Sports Journalism Awards in 2021, which was the seventh SJA Award he accepted during his stint in the hot seat at Boxing News. The following year, he was inducted into the British Boxing Hall of Fame. He is a member of the BWAA and has been honored several times in their annual writing awards.