Gill Shocks & Stops Conlan In Seven!

By: Phil Kane

December 2nd, The SSE Arena (Odyssey Arena), Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom: Leading an Eddie Hearn - Matchroom Boxing bill streamed live on DAZN, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, UK, super featherweight, Jordan “The Thrill” Gill delivered Belfast, Northern Ireland, Michael “Mick” Conlan his second consecutive KO loss stopping the popular 2016 Olympian, in seven.

Conlan entering off a fifth-round knockout loss to IBF Featherweight Champion Luis Alberto Lopez in May and Gill a fourth-round stoppage at the hands of former IBF Super Bantamweight and Featherweight Champion, Kiko Martinez, October 2022, it would be Gill assuming the role of aggressor and Conlan on the move appearing to be looking towards the later rounds.

The give and take pressed on with Gill finding success dropping the southpaw Conlan with a driving right hand and subsequent battering to close round two.

In full survival mode “Mick” would make the most of his movement in the third setting up a stand and fight fourth with Gill complying waiting and looking for a big counter. Riding his limited success from the previous round Conlan continued to out-work Gill still patiently working intermittent big shots in the sixth

Gill swapping roles taking control of the real estate began to stalk his Belfast foe catching Conlan with an assortment of clean shots backing him to the corner for a lot of power punches forcing referee Howard Foster to step in and stop the punishment at 1:09 of round seven.

In a ten-round pairing of Belfast, Northern Ireland, welterweights, Lewis “the Croc” Crocker claimed the WBA Continental European Title with a dominant ten round points win over Tyrone McKenna.

“The Mighty Celt”, McKenna, a southpaw, would have his moments but they would be few and far between with Crocker taking charge from the opening bell boxing his way behind over and under big right hands to a one sided 98-92, 100-90 times two unanimous decision win. Crocker remains unbeaten at 18-0, 10Ko’s while McKenna, 2-3 in his last five (Ohara Davies, Regis Prograis, Crocker) falls to 23-4-1, 6Ko’s.

Belfast, Northern Ireland, undefeated, super welterweight, Caoimhin “Black Thunder” Agyarko held onto his unbeaten status with a tougher split decision points win over Darlington, County Durham, Troy “Trojan” Williamson.

Agyarko putting aside his “Black Thunder” mode moved, dodged a weaved around the straight ahead “Trojan” boxing his way to a tighter than scored 96-94 Williamson, 98-92, 97-93 Agyarko, split decision win. “Black Thunder” moves to 14-0, 7Ko’s while Williamson one victory from a December 2022, BBBofC British Super Welterweight challenge, twelve round unanimous decision loss to Josh Kelly slips to 20-2-1, 14Ko’s.

Belfast, Northern Ireland, southpaw, Sean “Public Nuisance” McComb, successfully made the second defense of his WBO European Super Lightweight title with a heavily slanted ten round points win over Liverpool, Merseyside, former belt holder, “Super” Sam Maxwell.

The sharper, quicker, more accurate volume punching proved more than a “Public Nuisance” flooring Maxwell three times; once in the third, fourth and ninth rounds enroute to a one way, 99-98, 100-87 times two unanimous decision win. McComb unbeaten since a February 2021 seventh round TKO loss to Gavin Gwynne improves to 18-1, 5Ko’s while Maxwell, 1-3 in his last four falls to 17-3, 11Ko’s.

In a scheduled six round lightweight bout, Blyth, Northumberland, UK, 21-year-old, Cameron “The One” Vuong recorded his second inside the distance win stopping Prague, Czech Republic, 40-year-old, “mark”, Michal Dufek in four. The stay busy win moves Voung to 3-0, 2Ko’s as Dufek, 1-8 in his last nine bouts drops to 36-32-2, 23Ko’s.           

Belleek, Northern Ireland, southpaw, middleweight, Fearghus “The Mighty Quinn” Quinn, battled Sofia, Bulgaria's, Angel Emilov. Quinn and a cut over the right eye caused by a fourth-round clash of heads, to a “almighty” zero retaining and  record padding, referee Eamonn Magill scored 60-54, six round points win. Quinn improves to 9-0, 3Ko’s as the made to order Emilov sinks to 11-54-3, 7Ko’s.

In an entertaining well matched super bantamweight bout, Ballycastle, Northern Ireland, Gerard “Short Fuse” Hughes and Belfast, Northern Ireland’s, Ruadhan “El Nino” Farrell swapped leather to a let’s do it again referee Hugh Russell Jr. scored 57-57 six round draw. Hughes shifts to 4-0-1 while Farrell moves to 4-1-1, 2Ko’s.

Newham, London’s, heavily touted, 18-year-old, middleweight, Emmanuel Buttigieg impressed in his pro-debut disposing of disposed of Famalicao, Portugal’s, Mario Oliveira in one round.

The taller longer, well-versed former amateur star methodically opened up, then Oliveira with a head topping hard right hand, left hook combination forcing referee Hugh Russell Jr. to save the wobbly 32-year-old at 1:25 of round one. The former four-time National Title, GB Gold Medal winner and England two-time European Games representative stats out 1-0, 1Ko while Oliveira regroups at 1-1.