Viddal Riley Beats Seydi Coupe on Points to Retain European Cruiserweight Title – Full Results

Viddal Riley kept his unbeaten record intact, Zelfa Barrett produced a fifth-round stoppage and Ben Marksby came through a battle of undefeated super lightweights as MF Pro’s boxing card delivered plenty to talk about at Wembley.

Riley had to work the full 12 rounds against Seydi Coupe, but there was no argument from the judges about who deserved the European cruiserweight title. Elsewhere, Barrett’s meeting with Gavin Gwynne ended dramatically, while Tom Welland provided one of the night’s more emphatic finishes with a seventh-round body-shot knockout.

There were also unbeaten records lost, a split decision that produced some interesting scorecards and several prospects extending their winning runs.

Viddal Riley Defeats Seydi Coupe by Unanimous Decision

Result: Viddal Riley (15-0-0) beat Seydi Coupe (14-1-0) – Unanimous Decision, 12 rounds

Riley is still unbeaten, still European cruiserweight champion and now has another 12 rounds of championship experience under his belt.

The 28-year-old’s title defence against Coupe went the distance, with all three judges siding with the British fighter. Uwe Lorch scored it 116-112, Rainer Schwarz had it 117-111 and Andreas Stenberg returned the widest card at 119-109.

Those scores tell their own story. Coupe came into the contest with an identical 14-0 record, but Riley did enough over the championship distance to convince all three officials that he was the better man.

There was no spectacular knockout to add to the highlights reel, but a unanimous decision against another undefeated cruiserweight is hardly something to complain about.

Riley weighed in at 199½lbs, with Coupe slightly lighter at 198½lbs. Referee Giuseppe Quartarone oversaw the contest, which ended with Riley successfully defending his EBU European cruiserweight title.

For Coupe, it’s a first professional defeat and an opportunity to reassess after stepping up against the European champion. Riley, meanwhile, moves to 15-0-0 and can continue looking towards bigger opportunities in the division.

Not every important victory needs a dramatic finish. Sometimes getting through twelve rounds and keeping hold of the belt is enough.

Zelfa Barrett Stops Gavin Gwynne in Round Five

Result: Zelfa Barrett (36-3-0) beat Gavin Gwynne (19-5-2) – TKO, Round 5, 2:33

Barrett didn’t need the judges against Gwynne.

The Manchester lightweight secured a fifth-round stoppage after dropping his Welsh opponent twice in the round. Gwynne’s corner had seen enough and threw in the towel, bringing proceedings to an end at 2:33.

That’s a strong result for Barrett, particularly against a fighter who has built a reputation for making life uncomfortable for his opponents.

Gwynne arrived knowing how important this contest was for his career, but two knockdowns in the same round left his corner with a decision to make. They chose to protect their man rather than allow him to continue.

Barrett improves to 36-3-0, while Gwynne drops to 19-5-2.

A convincing stoppage victory, and exactly the sort of result Barrett needed to strengthen his position in the lightweight division.

Ben Marksby Hands Yaser Al Ghena His First Defeat

Result: Ben Marksby (15-0-0) beat Yaser Al Ghena (16-1-0) – Unanimous Decision, 12 rounds

One undefeated record had to go, and it was Al Ghena who suffered his first professional loss.

Marksby claimed the Commonwealth and WBO European super lightweight titles with a unanimous decision over 12 rounds, winning by scores of 116-111, 117-110 and 114-113.

The sixth round proved significant, with Al Ghena knocked down by a right hand to the head. In a contest where one judge had just a point separating the fighters, that knockdown was particularly costly.

Marksby moves to 15-0-0 and adds two titles to his growing credentials. Al Ghena falls to 16-1-0 after suffering his first defeat.

Fair play to both men for taking the fight while unbeaten. Marksby now has a meaningful championship victory on his record rather than another routine win against an overmatched opponent.

Tom Welland Knocks Out Jack Dillingham to Win English Featherweight Title

Result: Tom Welland (12-1-0) beat Jack Dillingham (7-1-1) – KO, Round 7, 2:50

Welland didn’t leave anything to the judges in his bid for the vacant British Boxing Board of Control English featherweight title.

A body shot sent Dillingham to the canvas in the seventh round, and the previously unbeaten fighter couldn’t beat the count.

Referee Steve Gray completed the count, with the official finish coming at 2:50 of round seven.

It’s a particularly satisfying result for Welland, who moves to 12-1-0 and picks up the English title. Dillingham suffers his first professional defeat and drops to 7-1-1.

Body-shot knockouts have a certain finality about them. No scorecard arguments, no debate about who deserved the decision. Welland found the finish and took the belt.

Full Undercard Results

Dan Toward Edges Jak Corrie on Split Decision

Result: Dan Toward (9-1-1) beat Jak Corrie (9-1-1) – Split Decision, 10 rounds

Toward handed Corrie his first professional defeat in a super welterweight contest that produced some widely differing scorecards. Luigi Boscarelli favoured Corrie 96-94, but Steve Gray and Pawel Kardyni both scored it 98-92 for Toward. A split decision, although two judges clearly felt Toward had done enough.

Frankie Stringer Takes Every Round Against Kurt Jackson

Result: Frankie Stringer (12-0-0) beat Kurt Jackson (7-5-1) – Points, 8 rounds

No surprise result here. Stringer maintained his unbeaten record with an 80-72 points victory over Jackson, taking every round on referee Rocky Israel’s scorecard. The lightweight prospect moves to 12-0-0.

Kieran Molloy Stops Steve Suppan in Two Rounds

Result: Kieran Molloy (16-0-0) beat Steve Suppan (17-6-1) – TKO, Round 2, 3:00

Molloy made short work of his welterweight assignment. Suppan was knocked down twice in the second round before the contest was stopped at the end of the session. Another victory for the unbeaten Irishman, who improves to 16-0-0.

JP O’Meara Outpoints Jorge Luis Huerta Balleza

Result: JP O’Meara (9-0-0) beat Jorge Luis Huerta Balleza (4-28-0) – Points, 6 rounds

O’Meara handled business over six rounds, winning every session against Huerta Balleza. Referee Kieran McCann scored the super featherweight contest 60-54, extending O’Meara’s unbeaten record to nine victories.

Arjon Basi Maintains Perfect Record Against Fernando Joaquin Valdez

Result: Arjon Basi (4-0-0) beat Fernando Joaquin Valdez (1-35-1) – Points, 4 rounds

Basi recorded his fourth professional victory with a straightforward 40-36 points decision over Valdez. Referee Kieran McCann awarded the unbeaten lightweight all four rounds.

Derrick Osadolor Stops Tomas Podlas in Second Round

Result: Derrick Osadolor (2-1-0) beat Tomas Podlas (5-16-1) – TKO, Round 2, 1:49

Osadolor secured his second professional victory with a heavyweight stoppage. Podlas was knocked down once in the opening round and again in the second before referee Rocky Israel ended the contest at 1:49.

Riley Keeps His Belt as Marksby and Welland Make Their Marks

Riley remains undefeated and European champion, Barrett has another stoppage victory on his record, and Marksby has emerged from a genuine unbeaten-versus-unbeaten contest with two titles.

Welland’s body-shot knockout was another result worth remembering, while Toward’s split-decision victory over Corrie will certainly give both camps something to discuss.

For Riley, though, the next question is the interesting one. Fifteen fights, fifteen wins and a European title successfully defended. How much longer before he gets the chance to test himself at world level?

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