Radivoje Kalajdzic turned what should have been a celebratory homecoming for Craig Richards into a nightmarish setback. Richards, stepping back into the ring in his native London for the first time since his 2024 bout, was eager to re‑establish himself as a contender for the world title.
Instead, he found himself outmatched by the Serbian powerhouse known as "Hot Rod" Kalajdzic, who secured a unanimous decision after delivering a crushing knockdown in the final seconds of the fight. The ten‑round contest was a roller‑coaster of momentum shifts.
In the sixth round, Kalajdzic rocked Richards with a series of heavy blows that left the Englishman visibly wobbled. Richards, however, showed the heart of a veteran, rallying with fierce determination and forcing Kalajdzic onto the back foot. The two fighters exchanged brutal body hooks and sharp crosses, each trying to impose his own rhythm on the bout.
As the fight entered its closing stages, Richards appeared to have seized the advantage. He pressed Kalajdzic against the ropes, landing well‑timed body shots and snapping his head with powerful cross‑hands. Yet Kalajdzic, never one to surrender, responded with a ferocious counter‑attack. He darted forward, unloading a rapid combination that peppered Richards' head with crisp punches.
In the final seconds, Kalajdzic unleashed a perfectly timed right hand that sent Richards sprawling to the canvas. The Serbian boxer watched as his opponent fell onto his side, struggled to his feet, and then faltered, his legs trembling.
The bell rang just in time to prevent a definitive finish, and the three judges all scored the bout 97‑92 in Kalajdzic's favour, awarding him a clear unanimous decision. The night also featured a series of other notable match‑ups that showcased the depth of talent across weight classes. In a gritty ten‑round showdown, Lee Cutler, nicknamed "Chaos," demonstrated why he earned that moniker by maintaining composure and control against the heavy‑handed Louis Greene.
Greene started slowly but soon landed a solid blow that rattled Cutler and caused his legs to buckle momentarily. Cutler recovered quickly, delivering a crisp right to open the fourth round and following up with a precise one‑two combination. Greene persisted with single, powerful punches, but Cutler's superior footwork and ring‑craft allowed him to evade and outmaneuver his opponent. In the final round, Greene surged forward with renewed urgency, yet Cutler weathered the assault, clinching when necessary to secure a unanimous decision with scores of 98‑92 and two judges marking it 97‑93.
In the women's division, Kayla Allen made history as the first female fighter signed by Zuffa Boxing, delivering a dominant performance against seasoned Hungarian veteran Edina Kiss. Allen kept her guard high and moved fluidly around the ring, launching a relentless barrage of punches.
A clean cross within a fluid combination sent Kiss staggering backward. Although Kiss attempted to retaliate with a flurry at the start of the second round, Allen asserted control, landing a powerful right to the chin and a hard left that forced the Hungarian to retreat.
As Kiss turned away, Allen intensified her attack, causing Kiss to stumble into the ropes, prompting the referee to initiate a count. In the third round, Allen continued her systematic dismantling with crisp one‑two punches, leading Kiss to retire on her stool at the end of the round.
The undercard also featured Alex MacMillan, who produced a spectacular finish in his second consecutive bout. From the opening bell, MacMillan pressed the unbeaten prospect Guillaume Azagier, cutting off the ring and feinting at the body before delivering a devastating headshot. A massive right hand sent Azagier crashing to the canvas in the first round. Unwilling to give his opponent any respite, MacMillan followed up with a relentless assault, knocking Azagier down a second time before the round concluded.
In the second round, MacMillan continued his onslaught, forcing Azagier into a corner and delivering a third knockdown, after which Azagier's corner threw in the towel, ending the contest decisively. Mexican Olympian Rogelio Romero maintained his perfect knockout record in his seventh professional fight, handing Moldovan puncher Aurel Ignat his first loss.
Romero, a southpaw, peppered Ignat with vicious left hooks, inflicting damage early on. Ignat attempted a comeback in the third round, but Romero, momentarily distracted by a lost mouthpiece, found his rhythm again and unleashed a thunderous right hook that left Ignat wobbling. The referee intervened, stopping the fight while Ignat remained standing, preserving Romero's 100% knockout streak.
In another debut, West Ham amateur champion Fred Pullen transitioned to the professional ranks with a solid performance against Italy's Leonardo Faretina over four rounds. Pullen, a southpaw, opened the second round with a crisp lead right that dropped Faretina. The Italian rose quickly, showing resilience, but Pullen's precision and control earned him a dominant 40‑35 scorecard. The evening also highlighted a high‑stakes eight‑round clash between top American prospect Alexis De La Cerda and Ireland's Cain Lewis.
Both fighters entered with unbeaten records, making the bout a true test of skill. De La Cerda applied relentless pressure, and by the sixth round, Lewis was cut and bleeding. Despite the injury, Lewis dug deep, pushing De La Cerda back in the final round.
Nevertheless, De La Cerda's consistent aggression and effective punching secured him a unanimous decision, with judges scoring the fight 80‑72, 79‑73, and 79‑74. Finally, the night concluded with a ten‑round battle between Cesar Mateo Tapia and Leo Ruiz.
Tapia started strong, but Ruiz adapted, taking control of the later rounds and finishing the fight with a clear unanimous decision, scoring 97‑93 and two judges marking it 96‑94. This diverse card showcased a blend of power, technique, and heart across multiple weight classes, underscoring the excitement and unpredictability of the sport.