Billy Joe Saunders overcomes slow start to beat Artur Akavov and defend title
ByPA Sport
Updated 04/12/2016 at 10:24 GMT
Billy Joe Saunders took his time before coming to life in the first defence of his WBO middleweight title against Artur Akavov at the Lagoon Leisure Centre in Paisley.
Billy Joe Saunders defends title.
Image credit: Eurosport
After a slow start to the fight - understandable as the Hatfield boxer had been out of action for almost a year - he eventually got going and finished the 12-rounder strongly.
The three judges called it 116-113, 116-112, and 115-113 in his favour to take his record to 24-0, although Saunders admitted in the ring afterwards that he had not been at his best.
The Englishman was supposed to defend the belt last week in Cardiff but issues with medical paperwork from the Russian's team saw the fight postponed.
A scheduled defence against Ukraine's Max Bursak seven months ago was scuppered after the 27-year-old sustained a hand injury in training.
With former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury at ringside supporting Saunders after carrying into belt into the ring, the champion was determined to retain the title he won against Ireland's Andy Lee last December.
Akavov, previously beaten once in 17 fights but never stopped, looked impressive in the early stages and the champion felt the force of a couple of good shots, particularly in the third round.
Saunders tried to up the tempo but Akavov responded, landing some clean counters in the clinches and the silence among Saunders' support was telling.
The champion, try as he might, was struggling to land punches of real significance and his opponent, always willing to come forward, continued to frustrate.
The outhpaw was finding some success with his jab and in round eight he used it to set up several attacks which probably nicked him the round.
Saunders started to move forward with more purpose, perhaps sensing the Russian was beginning to feel the effects of his earlier work and the ninth was his too.
Akavov came back at the start of the 10th but Saunders had gained control and soon had his man on the run, imposing himself in the final rounds to take the contest.
Earlier in the evening, Jack Catterall retained his WBO Intercontinental super-lightweight with a dominant if unspectacular performance against Argentinian Diego Gonzalo Luque.
The 23-year-old from Chorley, one of British boxing's hottest prospects, controlled the 10 rounds and carried a unanimous decision with all three judges calling it in his favour 100-89, 99-91 and 100-90, as he extended his record to 17-0.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement