GLASGOW, Scotland — Former undisputed junior welterweight world champion Josh Taylor makes his long-anticipated foray into the 147-pound division on home turf tonight in Glasgow, and ambitious ex-Team GB teammate Ekow Essuman is a tricky first assignment.
Elsewhere, heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma and rising cruiserweight contender Aloys Youmbi open their promising 2025 campaign with contrasting challenges as highly-regarded head trainer Ben Davison has a busy night ahead.
As a reminder, read yesterday’s weigh-in report with storylines to watch, in Queensberry’s 12-fight card first streamed live on YouTube and later DAZN worldwide after 7pm.
Follow the fight-by-fight undercard results as they unfold below…
Brown blasts past Porter in style
Both men declared they would send the other to sleep after yesterday’s fiery weigh-in and it was Aston Brown (8-0, 3 KOs) who maintains his unbeaten record in an exciting slugfest that was over before you were given a chance to settle down.
Porter (5-1, 3 KOs) was visibly distraught after coming second best and being floored thrice, having begun swinging wildly and finding out the hard way that trading was unwise.
Afterwards, Brown stressed he wasn’t surprised at the explosive manner of his stoppage victory – as much as commentator and former British middleweight champion Nathan Heaney (18-2-1, 6 KOs) pointed to his relaxed demeanour ringside minutes prior.
“I’m levels above, have a massive amateur background and pedigree, was boxing in the WSB and with Team GB, I’ve been in the game a long time so knew he would come swinging and that I’d catch him,” the 34-year-old told Queensberry’s official channels post-fight.
Limond, Arthur victorious over four
It was a triumphant day’s work for two more Scottish boxers fighting at home, as Drew Limond (4-0, 1 KO) dismissed persistent holding and some rough-housing at close-range to outpoint Ezequiel Gregores over four rounds.
Then, the crowd noise heightened as it was the turn of highly-rated prospect Alex Arthur Jr, son of famous former junior lightweight Alex Arthur, who showed flashes of encouragement during a comfortable and classy pro debut against Robbie Chapman at light-heavyweight.
His dad said the opposition choice was purposeful, getting someone durable in Chapman (13-50-9, 2 KOs) rather than another knockover job. The 23-year-old, who boxed at world level as an amateur, said he was developing a bullish nature with his words by virtue of living with world-ranked light-heavyweight Willy Hutchinson (18-2, 13 KOs) for a month.
McCormack itching for more action
After going the six-round distance in Bournemouth on March 1, junior welterweight contender Luke McCormack (4-0, 3 KOs) scored a strange but nonetheless inevitable stoppage win over Samir Cuentas (4-6) in their matchup, scheduled for eight rounds.
McCormack, heavy-handed and a distinguished decade-long amateur, listened to coach Davison in the corner by biding his time to pierce through the older man’s defences. He found the target with a left hook to floor Cuentas, before a peculiar sequence unfolded in the final seconds of the second stanza.
Referee Darren Maxwell counted to six and waved the action off after being unconvinced the Panamanian would beat the count. As soon as he did, the 32-year-old sprung back to his feet rather dramatically but by that stage, it was futile and while he complained, those protests were ignored after some initial bemusement from the visiting corner.
Afterwards, the Sunderland man was in good spirits when telling Queensberry’s Dev Sahni: “I want to make up for lost time. Ben said keep calm and work behind the jab, big shots will come and it did. He was quite awkward but don’t think he wanted to get up, left it too late.
“Hopefully challenge for some titles by the start of the new year, forget about Pat [McCormack, his 7-0 welterweight twin brother].”
Welsh wastes no time
Elsewhere in the 135-pound division, it was a quick afternoon’s work for Lee Welsh as he banked a trio of knockdowns en route to a first-round finish of Tony Morton before referee Maxwell had compassionately seen enough one-sided damage to step in.
Bibby back in the win column
After a controversial points defeat last time out against Rashid Omar in Swansea, Billy Nelson-trained lightweight Luke Bibby (10-1, 2 KOs) returned to winning ways with a disciplined display and didn’t lose a minute against Cesar Ignacio Paredes (18-19-1, 5 KOs).
Full undercard results
Aston Brown TKO1 Reece Porter (1:48) to win Scottish Area middleweight title
Light-heavyweight: Alex Arthur Jr (40-36) Robbie Chapman
Junior middleweight: Drew Limond PTS4 (40-36) Ezequiel Gregores
Junior welterweight: Luke McCormack TKO2 (2:51) Samir Cuentas
Lightweight: Lee Welsh TKO1 (2:38) Tony Morton
Lightweight: Luke Bibby PTS4 (40-36) Cesar Ignacio Paredes