Radivoje Kalajdzic turned Craig Richards' much‑anticipated return to his native London into a nightmarish spectacle that will be remembered for its sudden twists and relentless aggression. Richards, who had not fought in his hometown since his 2024 bout, entered the arena with a clear objective: to re‑establish himself as a viable contender for the world championship and to prove that the home‑crowd advantage could fuel a comeback. Instead, he found himself on the receiving end of a ferocious assault by the Serbian powerhouse known as "Hot Rod" Kalajdzic, who ultimately secured a unanimous decision after delivering a decisive knockdown in the final moments of the ten‑round contest. From the opening bell, the atmosphere was electric, with the London crowd chanting for their local hero while Kalajdzic stared down his opponent with a steely resolve.
The first few rounds were a tactical chess match, each fighter probing for openings. Richards managed to land a few clean body hooks and crisp jabs, showcasing the technical skill that had earned him a reputation as a dangerous inside fighter. However, Kalajdzic’s size, power, and relentless forward pressure began to tell a different story as the bout progressed.
The turning point arrived in the sixth round when Kalajdzic landed a crushing combination that rocked Richards, causing him to stumble and lose his balance. The Serbian’s heavy punches forced Richards to retreat, and for a brief moment it seemed the fight might swing in Kalajdzic’s favor.
Yet Richards, ever the fighter, demonstrated remarkable resilience. He regrouped, tightened his defense, and began to dictate the pace again, using sharp, well‑timed body hooks and powerful cross‑body shots that threatened to turn the tide. As the fight entered its final round, Richards appeared to have seized momentum. He unleashed a flurry of punches, moving from one set of ropes to the other, delivering precise body hooks and hard, looping crosses to Kalajdzic’s head.
The crowd roared with each landed shot, believing that the hometown hero might finally secure a dramatic victory. But Kalajdzic, known for his uncanny ability to absorb punishment and counter‑attack with lethal precision, waited for the perfect moment. In the closing seconds of the bout, Kalajdzic launched a sudden, vicious counter‑punch.
He slipped inside Richards' guard and unleashed a thunderous right hand that connected cleanly with the champion’s jaw. The impact sent Richards sprawling to the canvas, his body collapsing onto his side. Though he managed to rise, his legs trembled and his vision blurred. The referee, recognizing the danger of a continued assault, allowed the final bell to ring, sparing Richards from a potentially catastrophic finish.
The judges’ scorecards reflected Kalajdzic’s dominance, each awarding him a 97‑92 victory, cementing his status as the night’s undeniable victor. Beyond the headline bout, the event featured several other noteworthy matchups that showcased the depth of talent across weight classes.
Lee Cutler, nicknamed "Chaos" for his unpredictable style, displayed masterful control against the heavy‑handed Louis Greene. Greene began the fight with a quiet approach but soon found an opening, landing a solid shot that momentarily staggered Cutler and caused his legs to buckle.
Demonstrating composure under pressure, Cutler recovered quickly, delivering a crisp right at the start of the fourth round that set the tone for the remainder of the fight. While Greene attempted to close the distance with single, powerful punches, Cutler’s superior footwork and combination punching kept the Frenchman at bay.
In the decisive tenth round, Greene intensified his aggression, but Cutler’s defensive acumen and timely clinches allowed him to survive the onslaught and secure a unanimous decision, with scores of 98‑92, 97‑93, and 97‑93. In the women’s division, Kayla Allen—historic as the first female fighter signed by Zuffa Boxing—dominated Hungarian veteran Edina Kiss with a blend of technical precision and relentless pressure. Allen maintained a high guard, moving fluidly around the ring and delivering a series of crisp, straight punches. A clean cross within a fluid combination sent Kiss reeling backward.
Although Kiss attempted to retaliate with a flurry of wild punches at the start of the second round, Allen’s disciplined right hand found the Hungarian’s chin, followed by a powerful left that forced Kiss to retreat. The referee began a count as Kiss stumbled into the ropes, and after a sustained onslaught in the third round, Kiss chose to retire on her stool at the end of the round, giving Allen a decisive victory. Alex MacMillan continued his streak of spectacular finishes in his second consecutive bout.
From the opening bell, MacMillan pressed the action against unbeaten prospect Guillaume Azagier, cutting off the ring and feinting to the body before unleashing a brutal head attack. A massive right hand sent Azagier crashing to the canvas within the first round.
Unwilling to give his opponent any respite, MacMillan followed up with a series of relentless blows that forced a second knockdown before the end of the round. In the second round, Azagier was again on the canvas, prompting his corner to throw in the towel. MacMillan’s aggressive style and knockout power earned him yet another emphatic victory.
Mexican Olympian Rogelio Romero maintained his perfect knockout record, extending it to seven professional fights with a decisive win over Moldovan puncher Aurel Ignat. Romero, a southpaw with a devastating left hook, battered Ignat throughout the bout. Although Ignat managed to land a few counter‑punches in the third round, Romero responded with a ferocious right hook that sent Ignat wobbling. The referee intervened, stopping the fight while Ignat was still on his feet, preserving Romero’s unblemished KO streak.
In other notable action, West Ham‑born amateur champion Fred Pullen made a promising professional debut against Italy’s Leonardo Faretina. Pullen, a southpaw, opened the second round with a powerful lead right that dropped Faretina. The Italian rose quickly and displayed resilience, but Pullen’s precision and ring generalship allowed him to dominate the remainder of the four‑round contest, earning a clear 40‑35 decision. The co‑main event featured a clash of unbeaten prospects: American Alexis De La Cerda versus Ireland’s Cain Lewis.
De La Cerda applied constant pressure, and by the sixth round, Lewis suffered a cut that began to bleed profusely. Despite the injury, Lewis fought back valiantly, pushing De La Cerda onto the defensive in the final round. Nonetheless, De La Cerda’s consistent aggression and effective scoring earned him a unanimous decision, with judges scoring the bout 80‑72, 79‑73, and 79‑74. Finally, in a ten‑round showdown, Cesar Mateo Tapia started strong against Leo Ruiz but was unable to maintain his early momentum.
Ruiz adjusted his strategy, took control of the middle rounds, and finished the fight strongly, securing a unanimous decision with scores of 97‑93 and two cards of 96‑94. Overall, the night delivered a blend of high‑octane knockouts, tactical battles, and emerging talent, offering boxing fans a rich tapestry of action and setting the stage for future championship aspirations across multiple divisions.