Ekow Essuman, the English welterweight champion, extended his unbeaten record with a wide unanimous points decision over France’s Cedrick Peynaud on the Queensberry’s behind closed-doors show at York Hall, East London.
In a fight of few highlights, Essuman dominated, showing a good jab and some neat combinations, but he struggled to put a dent in Peynaud, who tried hard to find a punch to change the direction of the fight but never managed it.
Peynaud, 34, is well known in Britain for his two fights with Conor Benn. In the first, in 2017, also at York Hall, he looked desperately unlucky not to get the decision, as he knocked Benn down twice in the first round and dominated the early staged before being floor twice late on. The rematch was a more straightforward win for Benn.
But he struggled to make much of an impact against Essuman, 31, who had nine bouts for the British Lionhearts in World Series Boxing and who was recording his 14th win as a professional. He also picked up the IBF’s “European” belt.
Essuman built a big lead over the first three rounds as he kept Peynaud backing away with a solid jab and good straight rights. Peynaud came out for the fourth round with a more positive approach and while he had his moments, by the fifth round Essuman was well on top, opening up to head and body with both hands.
By the seventh round, Peynaud was starting to get a bit desperate, loading up on big hooks as Essuman attacked. Essuman regained control in the eighth round, though, and although he never looked like stopping the Frenchman, he won comfortably.
Steve Gray scored it 100-90, Marcus McDonnell 98-93 and Michael Alexander 98-92. Bob Williams refereed .
Ed Harrison ended the unbeaten record of Mohammed Bilal Ali in the four-round lightweight show-opener. Harrison, who was winning for the second time in six fights, took the action to Bilal Ali from the opening bell, while Bilal Ali held constantly and was deducted a point by referee Marcus McDonnell.
Bilal Ali, 24, had won the first four fights of his career, but struggled to establish himself in the first two rounds, as Harrison roughed him up and found a home for his left hook. The Londoner had a better second round, but things began to unravel in the third round, as Harrison dominated, landing one cracking right, while Bilal Ali held up close, eventually getting a point taken off by McDonnell, who had already given him two warnings.
There was confusion at the end, as Thomas Treiber announced Bilal Ali as the winner. McDonnell, who was the sole scorer, refused to raise his hand, however, and Harrison was eventually named the winner by 39-37.
Josh Frankham won his professional debut at the expense of journeyman Kevin McCauley, comfortably winning their super-welterweight four-rounder on points.
Frankham, 21, was able to have things mostly his own way. Keeping things at distance with a sharp left jab and a good right. McCauley stood and trade when he could, but Frankham was too fresh and threw too many punches to give him much of an opening.
By the last round, McCauley was trying to run down the clock as Frankham opened up. McDonnell scored it 40-36 for Frankham. McCauley, 40, was losing his 54th time in a row and the 208th time overall in 235 pro fights.
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