Radivoje Kalajdzic turned Craig Richards' highly anticipated return to his native London into a nightmarish setback. Richards, stepping into his hometown arena for the first time since his 2024 bout, was eager to re‑establish himself as a contender for the world title. Instead, the Serbian powerhouse, known as "Hot Rod," dominated the ten‑round clash and secured a unanimous decision, capping the fight with a crushing knockdown in the final seconds.
From the opening bell, both fighters displayed contrasting styles. Richards, a seasoned veteran with a reputation for aggressive body work, tried to impose his rhythm early, using sharp hooks to the ribs and occasional straight punches to the head. Kalajdzic, however, remained patient, slipping Richards' attacks and countering with crisp, precise jabs that kept the London crowd on edge.
By the middle of the sixth round, Kalajdzic landed a series of clean combinations that rocked Richards, causing him to stagger and lose his balance. The Serbian’s relentless pressure forced Richards to retreat to the ropes, where he struggled to regain his footing. Richards was not a quitter.
He rallied in the seventh and eighth rounds, landing a flurry of body hooks and a few solid crosses that seemed to shift the momentum back in his favor. In the ninth round, he appeared to have taken control, peppering Kalajdzic with well‑timed punches as he moved from one set of ropes to the other. Yet Kalajdzic’s resilience shone through. Sensing an opening, he launched a swift counter‑attack, slipping inside Richards' guard and delivering a rapid combination that targeted the head.
The decisive moment arrived in the closing seconds of the final round when Kalajdzic unleashed a powerful right hand that snapped Richards' head back and sent him sprawling onto his side. Richards managed to get back on his feet, but his legs were visibly trembling.
The referee, recognizing the danger of a further onslaught, allowed the bell to ring, effectively saving Richards from a potential knockout. The judges’ scorecards reflected Kalajdzic’s dominance, with each of the three officials awarding a 97‑92 victory in his favor. The undercard of the event featured several notable performances.
Lee Cutler, nicknamed "Chaos," demonstrated composure and tactical control against the hard‑hitting Louis Greene over ten rounds. Greene, known for his heavy‑handed approach, managed to land a solid blow early in the fight that momentarily stunned Cutler and caused his legs to buckle. However, Cutler quickly recovered, landing a crisp right in the fourth round and following up with a rapid one‑two combination.
Greene attempted to pressure Cutler with single, powerful shots, but Cutler’s superior footwork and ring IQ allowed him to evade and counter effectively. In the final round, Greene intensified his attack, but Cutler weathered the storm, clinching when necessary and ultimately earning a unanimous decision with scores of 98‑92 and 97‑93 twice. In the women’s division, Kayla Allen— the first female fighter signed by Zuffa Boxing— delivered a masterclass against Hungarian veteran Edina Kiss.
Allen kept her guard high, moved with agility, and systematically broke down Kiss with a series of crisp punches. A clean cross in the opening round snapped Kiss back, and Allen followed with a right hand that landed flush on the Hungarian’s chin, followed by a hard left that sent Kiss stumbling into the ropes.
The referee began a count as Kiss struggled to recover. In the third round, Allen continued to dominate, landing straight one‑two combinations that forced Kiss to retire on her stool at the end of the round. Alex MacMillan showcased his explosive power in a second‑consecutive knockout. Facing unbeaten prospect Guillaume Azagier, MacMillan cut off the ring from the opening bell, feinting to the body before delivering a crushing right hand that dropped Azagier heavily in the first round.
Unwilling to give his opponent any respite, MacMillan pressed forward, forcing Azagier back onto the canvas before the round concluded. In the second round, MacMillan again unleashed a barrage that left Azagier reeling, prompting his corner to throw in the towel. The referee halted the contest after MacMillan sent his opponent to the canvas a third time, cementing a spectacular finish. Mexican Olympian Rogelio Romero continued his flawless knockout streak, maintaining a 100 % KO rate in his seven‑fight professional career.
Facing Moldovan puncher Aurel Ignat, Romero employed his trademark southpaw left hooks to batter Ignat, causing visible damage. Ignat responded with his own punches, and in the third round, Romero briefly lost his mouthpiece, exposing himself to a brief onslaught.
Recognizing the danger, Romero delivered a ferocious right hook that staggered Ignat, prompting the referee to stop the fight while Ignat was still standing. In a debut bout, West Ham‑born amateur champion Fred Pullen faced Italy’s Leonardo Faretina over four rounds. Pullen, fighting out of a southpaw stance, opened the second round with a sharp right hand that sent Faretina to the canvas. The Italian quickly rose and displayed resilience, but Pullen’s precise, sniper‑like jab work allowed him to control the remainder of the contest, earning a clear 40‑35 decision.
The main event of the night featured a clash between top American prospect Alexis De La Cerda and Ireland’s unbeaten Cain Lewis. De La Cerda applied relentless pressure, forcing Lewis to retreat and absorb a steady stream of punches. By the sixth round, Lewis suffered a cut that began to bleed, yet he dug deep, rallying in the later rounds and pushing De La Cerda back in the final round. Despite Lewis’s valiant effort, De La Cerda’s consistent aggression and accuracy earned him a unanimous decision, with judges scoring the bout 80‑72, 79‑73, and 79‑74.
Cesar Mateo Tapia started strong against Leo Ruiz, using early aggression to dictate the pace. However, Ruiz adjusted his strategy midway through the ten‑rounder, taking control of the distance and landing effective counters. Tapia’s early burst faded, and Ruiz’s steady work earned him the unanimous decision, with scores of 97‑93 and 96‑94 twice. Overall, the evening delivered a diverse showcase of boxing talent—from hard‑hitting knockouts to tactical masterclasses—providing fans with a memorable night of action across multiple weight classes and both genders.