Undercard Results From the DeGale – Eubank Jr Show in London

The biggest fight on today’s busy boxing docket takes place at the O2 Arena in London where former two-time world super middleweight title-holder James DeGale takes on Chris Eubank Jr. in a domestic squabble with global implications. The winner will have a lot of options going forward, including potential big money dates with Callum Smith and Billy Joe Saunders. The loser, assuming he loses badly, will sink into irrelevancy.

There are eight fights altogether on the program. Refresh this page frequently as we keep you abreast of the action.

In the semi-windup, fast-rising Joe Joyce (8-0, 8 KOs) ran roughshod over Bermane Stiverne (25-4-1) en route to a sixth round stoppage. After a fairly even first round in which both traded haymakers, Joyce took control with his higher workrate. He knocked Stiverne into the ropes in round three — which counted as a knockdown — and buzzed him several times thereafter. Stiverne was on his feet but had eaten a lot of leather when the referee decided that he had seen enough.

A former world heavyweight titlist, Stiverne came in at 273 pounds. By comparison, he carried 239 pounds for his first meeting with Deontay Wilder. Because Stiverne spent much of his youth in Canada, the fight was billed for the British Empire Heavyweight Title.

In a 12-round lightweight contest, former IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby (27-2), weighing a career high 134 1/2 pounds, overcame bad cuts over both eyes to win a unanimous decision over Delaware invader Omar Douglas (19-3). The scores were 115-114 and 116-112 twice.

The first cut, over the left eye, came in round three and may have been the result of an accidental clash of heads. The second cut was undeniably the result of an accidental head butt. Selby started slow and the fight was in the balance heading into the late rounds, but Selby exhibited more class (and arguably more grit) when it mattered. The oldest of two prominent fighting brothers, Selby aspires to be the first Welshman to win world titles in to different weight classes.

In a late addition to the card, cruiserweight Chez Nihell, a 31-year-old British Army Corporal, won his pro debut with a 4-round decision over Kent Kauppinen (2-8).

In a fight billed as a British light heavyweight title eliminator, Andre Sterling improved to 10-0 with a 10-round decision over scrappy but ultimately out-gunned Ricky Summers (15-2). Sterling was on the deck in the second round, put there by a short right hand, but wasn’t badly hurt. Summers fought from the third round on with a bad cut over his right eye. The scores were 97-92 and 97-93 twice.

In the opening bout of the evening, an entertaining 8-round affair in the 130-pound weight class, Northern Ireland’s Anthony “The Apache” Cacase (17-1) outpointed Argentina’s Alan Isaias Castillo (27-7). The referee, the sole arbiter, awarded the Argentine only one round with one round even.

This was Cacace’s first fight in 15 months and second fight back after losing a close but unanimous 12-round decision to Martin Ward in a bout for the British 130-pound title.

Photo credit: Ian Walton /  SHOWTIME