Radivoje Kalajdzic transformed Craig Richards' much‑anticipated return to London into a disheartening setback, delivering a performance that left the hometown crowd stunned. Richards, who had not fought in his native city since 2024, entered the ring with the clear objective of re‑establishing himself as a contender for the world title.
Instead, he found himself outmatched by the relentless Serbian heavyweight known as "Hot Rod" Kalajdzic, who secured a unanimous decision after a decisive knockdown in the final moments of the bout. The ten‑round clash was a roller‑coaster of momentum shifts.
In the sixth round, Kalajdzic landed a series of heavy blows that sent Richards reeling, his balance visibly compromised. Richards, however, demonstrated the resilience that earned him the nickname "Spider," rallying with a fierce counter‑offensive that kept the fight competitive. As the rounds progressed, both fighters exchanged punishing body hooks and crisp head shots, each trying to impose his own rhythm on the contest. The ninth round saw Richards briefly seize control, peppering Kalajdzic with well‑timed body work and powerful crosses that seemed to push the Serbian toward the ropes.
Yet Kalajdzic responded with a ferocious combination, driving his fists into Richards' head with relentless precision. The climax arrived in the closing seconds of the final round when Kalajdzic unleashed a perfectly timed right hand that connected flush, sending Richards sprawling onto his side. Though Richards managed to rise, his legs trembled and his composure was shattered. The bell rang just in time to prevent a possible knockout, and the three judges all scored the fight 97‑92 in favor of Kalajdzic, awarding him a clear unanimous victory.
In another notable bout, Lee Cutler—often dubbed "Chaos"—exhibited remarkable composure as he neutralized the aggressive assault of Louis Greene over ten rounds. Greene, a heavy‑handed fighter, started the fight cautiously before landing a solid punch that briefly unsettled Cutler and caused his legs to wobble.
Undeterred, Cutler recovered quickly, delivering a crisp right at the start of the fourth round and following up with a swift one‑two combination. Greene attempted to retaliate with single, powerful shots, but Cutler's superior footwork and strategic angles allowed him to stay out of danger. In the final round, Greene intensified his pressure, but Cutler weathered the storm, clinching when necessary and ultimately earning a unanimous decision with scores of 98‑92, 97‑93, and 97‑93. The women's division also featured a historic moment as Kayla Allen, the first female fighter signed by Zuffa Boxing, dominated Hungarian veteran Edina Kiss.
Allen maintained an upright guard, moving fluidly on her feet while delivering a relentless barrage of punches. A clean cross within a combination pushed Kiss back several steps, and despite Kiss's attempt to answer with a flurry at the start of the second round, Allen asserted dominance with a sharp right to the chin and a powerful left that forced the Hungarian to retreat.
Kiss stumbled into the ropes, prompting the referee to start a count. Allen continued her assault in the third round, landing precise one‑two punches that left Kiss unable to continue, prompting her to retire on her stool at the end of the round. Alex MacMillan showcased his finishing prowess in a second consecutive knockout.
From the opening bell, he closed the distance on unbeaten prospect Guillaume Azagier, cutting off the ring and feinting to the body before unleashing a crushing right that sent Azagier to the canvas in the first round. Unwilling to give his opponent any respite, MacMillan pressed forward, delivering another series of blows that forced a second knockdown before the round concluded.
In the second round, Azagier attempted to rally, but MacMillan's relentless pressure left him reeling. As the corner threw in the towel, MacMillan delivered a third decisive blow, ending the fight definitively. Mexican Olympian Rogelio Romero continued his perfect knockout streak, extending it to seven professional fights by stopping Moldovan puncher Aurel Ignat. Romero, a southpaw with a devastating left hook, battered Ignat throughout the early rounds.
Although Ignat managed to land a few counters, Romero's power remained the story of the night. In the third round, after a brief lapse where Romero momentarily lost his mouthpiece and absorbed some shots, he regained composure and unleashed a thunderous right hook that rocked Ignat. The referee intervened, stopping the contest while Ignat was still on his feet, preserving Romero's unblemished KO record. In London, national amateur champion Fred Pullen made a solid professional debut against Italy's Leonardo Faretina.
Pullen, fighting out of a southpaw stance, opened the second round with a sharp lead right that sent Faretina to the canvas. The Italian fighter rose quickly, showing resilience, but Pullen maintained control for the remainder of the bout, utilizing precise, accurate punching to outscore his opponent 40‑35 on the judges' cards.
The eight‑round showdown between top American prospect Alexis De La Cerda and Ireland's Cain Lewis highlighted the depth of talent in the lightweight division. De La Cerda applied steady pressure, forcing Lewis into exchanges that resulted in a cut above Lewis's eye by the sixth round. Despite the bleeding wound, Lewis fought back fiercely, pushing De La Cerda toward the ropes in the final round.
Nevertheless, De La Cerda's consistency and ring generalship earned him a unanimous decision, with judges scoring the fight 80‑72, 79‑73, and 79‑74. Finally, in a ten‑round encounter, Cesar Mateo Tapia began strongly against Leo Ruiz but could not sustain his early tempo. Ruiz gradually asserted his dominance, taking control of the pace and landing cleaner, more effective shots as the fight progressed. By the later rounds, Ruiz had seized the initiative, finishing the bout with a unanimous decision, the judges scoring it 97‑93, 96‑94, and 96‑94 in his favor.
Overall, the night delivered a diverse array of outcomes—knockouts, tactical battles, and breakthrough performances—underscoring the unpredictable and thrilling nature of professional boxing across multiple weight classes and both genders.