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Wardley Huni Undercard Results: Lewis Richardson's Debut Delight, Mike Perez Stops Steven Ward In Nine

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Mosope Ominiyi

RingMagazine.com |6 hours ago

Wardley-Huni Undercard Results: Lewis Richardson's Debut Delight, Mike Perez Stops Steven Ward In Nine

IPSWICH, England -- Fabio Wardley's long-awaited dream finally came true tonight, when he produced a dramatic comeback victory to stop Australia's Justis Huni in a battle of unbeaten heavyweight contenders at Ipswich's Portman Road Stadium, clinching the WBA interim title too.

Huni (12-0, 7 KOs) stepped into the breach on a month's notice and boxed brilliantly with a warm reception departing the ring after replacing Jarrell Miller as the longtime American contender withdrew with a shoulder injury in training camp.

Wardley (18-0-1, 17 KOs) made the second appearance of his promotional deal with Frank Warren's Queensberry a memorable one, having iced domestic rival Frazer Clarke inside a round during their Riyadh rematch last October in another defence of since-vacated British honours as the 30-year-old's sizeable step towards the world scene was sealed tonight.

Before then, highly-rated Irish junior welterweight contender Pierce O'Leary gets a belated shot at European honours against Liam Dillon while the much-anticipated debut of Olympic bronze medallist Lewis Richardson will also take centre-stage at 160-pounds, when DAZN's televised coverage starts at 6.30pm BST.

Relive the fight-by-fight action below...

Richardson revels in debut win

By the time Lewis Richardson made his ringwalk, Portman Road had filled with plenty of the local faithful in full song - rain or shine - supporting the debutant from nearby Colchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist, who turned 28 during fight week, fired off a series of purposeful flurries in the opening round and while guilty of not going through the gears enough against a durable Estonian in Dmitri Protkunas (8-21-1, 1 KO), was comfortable boxing at distance throughout with a few flashy combinations for good measure.

He'll have to box better and with more urgency - as his ringside clan insisted - when he naturally steps up the levels, gradually growing out of the amateur style that became second nature to him over a 12-year period.

Perez overwhelms Ward

Former cruiserweight world title challenger Mike Perez was made to work hard for it, but ultimately emerged with a gritty ninth-round stoppage over Steven Ward to claim the WBA Intercontinental title at 200-pounds.

Perez's vaunted punch power was an ever-present worry for Ward (15-4, 5 KOs) to consider during the opening round, one-two combinations and single head shots tagging the Northern Irishman as they jostled for position in centre ring.

As time wore on, jeopardy lingered. Perez (31-3-2, 22 KOs) was first to the punch for sustained periods and briefly hurt Ward with an unanswered flurry as referee Bob Williams let them box out of a clinch and didn't tell either man to stop - much to Ward's detriment.

Two rounds later, Ward was down and teetering dangerously on the verge of a stoppage as Perez's relentless punching persisted. Now finding momentum and seeing the younger man wilt under pressure, an overhand left floored Ward before a left hook added to the damage.

The Martin Murray-trained 35-year-old was on borrowed time and mercifully, official Williams waved the contest off just as the towel came in.

Williams prevails on points

Ipswich's own Jack Williams was a 40-36 winner over Fernando Joaquin Martinez, then spoke post-fight about having to overcome a weight discrepancy as the Argentine came in at 126lbs -- a whole division above his junior featherweight category at 120.5lbs.

It didn't bother him much though, still having enough in the tank to box energetically in a competitive fourth.

Hysa halts Korte in two

Nelson Hysa (23-0, 21 KOs) was dominant from the first bell to an inevitable finish of Patrick Korte, defending his WBO European heavyweight title with a second-round stoppage win before an ambitious callout of Moses Itauma - less than an hour after news broke that The Ring's 2024 Prospect of The Year will headline an Aug. 16 card against Dillian Whyte.

Hysa, 40, wasn't exactly fleet of foot but neither was Korte who quickly found himself on the back foot and absorbing heavy punches galore. The defending champion floored the German in the first and it was only a matter of time before this became conclusive, Korte dropped to a knee and the punishment painfully extended into another round.

2:05 was the time of referee John Latham's stoppage, but it could've easily happened much earlier.

Adams victorious again

After a trio of six-rounders, Billy Adams (7-0) had an earlier night with a four-round assignment against 25-fight pro Alexander Morales, again going the distance as the junior lightweight southpaw returned on a big bill after opening his 2025 at York Hall in mid-April.

Gilley frustrated by Onyenani

Commonwealth junior middleweight champion Sam Gilley (18-1-1, 9 KOs) was disconsolate upon hearing a 76-76 draw scorecard after being spoiled and stifled over eight rounds by the durable and determined Gideon Onyenani (7-5-1), featuring as a late replacement for the 30-year-old as his snake-bitten rematch with Louis Greene was again off last month.

In the build-up, he spoke about a desire to be the first man to stop Onyenani - just three weeks removed from a 10-round decision defeat by Jimmy Sains for the Southern Area title.

Not only was he unsuccessful in that wish, but referee Kieran McCann was an ever-present theme separating them in centre ring and lecturing both as their messy matchup led to a stop-start affair.

Khan tested by game Garcia

Umar Khan was a 79-72 winner over Moises Garcia (12-14-1, 6 KOs) in the evening's second contest, but it was far from easy.

The unbeaten junior lightweight (12-0, 1 KO) emptied the tank in round two after flooring the Nicaraguan with a left hook midway through the round, only to be chin-checked - and fortunate to evade a knockdown - after a two-punch combo landed flush on him a round later.

The pair traded body work as time wore on, though Khan was largely in control for sustained periods after it became clear Garcia had recovered and boxed well off the back foot.

Winch win kicks off busy bill

Lillie Winch (5-0) threw caution to the wind as a section of vociferous support cheered her on, en route to a 60-54 points nod over gamely Czech visitor Katerina Dvorakova.

Both were bloodied and bruised as they engaged at close quarters, though there was a clear winner to kick off the evening's action at women's featherweight.

Undercard results: