Shabaz Masoud pulled off the bookies’ upset over Liam Davies in Birmingham on Saturday to win the IBO super bantamweight world title. Masoud’s victory makes it 3-0 in his rivalry with Davies, which dates back to the amateurs, where Masoud toppled the former IBO champion on two occasions.
In their first professional meeting, the Ben Davison-trained boxer improved to 14-0 with a split decision victory over Davies (113-115, 115-113, 116-112) in front of a raucous pro-Masoud crowd at the BP Pulse Live.
The key for the 28-year-old was the southpaw back hand, which connected cleanly on Davies’ chin all night long. Davies could not find an answer for that punch and the overall sharp skills of Masoud. Masoud built up a big lead after five rounds, and it was a mountain to climb for Davies from there. He did finish the fight strong though, managing to push the pace when Masoud was tired and land combinations up close.
One judge turned in a controversial scorecard for Davies, although Masoud still came away the deserved winner. It was a matchup that pitted Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom against Frank Warren’s Queensberry — and another Matchroom vs. Queensberry fight sits ahead in December in the same weight class, Dennis McCann vs. Peter McGrail. Masoud could likely face the McCann vs. McGrail winner in 2025.
Saturday’s undercard featured former undisputed champion Chantelle Cameron, who took a decision over Patricia Berghult, as well as former British champion Ekow Essuman, who won a majority decision over Ben Vaughan.
Catch full Davies vs. Masoud results below on Uncrowned, as well as our main card live blog.
Main Card
Super Bantamweight: Shabaz Masoud def. Liam Davies via split decision (113-115, 115-113, 116-112)
Women’s Super Lightweight: Chantelle Cameron def. Patricia Berghult via unanimous decision (99-91, 100-90, 98-92)
Welterweight: Ekow Essuman def. Ben Vaughan via majority decision (95-95, 97-94, 97-93)
Light Heavyweight: Ezra Taylor def. Kristaps Bulmeistars via first-round TKO | watch video
Welterweight: Eithan James def. Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards via unanimous decision (99-92, 99-91, 97-93)
Heavyweight: Lewis Williams def. Lamah Griggs via second-round TKO | watch video
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER36 updates
Masoud BEATS Davies by split decision
Shabaz Masoud makes it 3-0 in his rivalry with Liam Davies as he takes a split decision (113-115, 115-113, 116-112) over the Telford man to win the IBO super bantamweight title in a minor upset.
The 115-113 scorecard in favour of Davies will be controversial.
Davies vs. Masoud Round 12
Davies gave it everything in that final round, it’s not enough on my card though. Great fight between the pair. Both men threw from the first round to the final bell, Masoud was just sharper tonight and came in with a game plan that he executed perfectly.
10-9 Davies, 115-113 Masoud.
Davies vs. Masoud Round 11
Liam Davies is told he needs a stoppage in the corner between the 11th and 12th round. He’s had more success in the second half but it’s not been sustained. Davies has had flurries but Masoud has dominated long periods in rounds.
10-9 Davies, 106-103 Masoud.
Davies vs. Masoud Round 10
Davies troubled Masoud with a combination in the first minute. Masoud had a strong two minutes after that though, and might’ve edged the round. Davies just hasn’t had an answer for Masoud’s left hand all night long.
10-9 Masoud, 97-93 Masoud.
Davies vs. Masoud Round 9
Davies stunned Masoud in the second minute with a left hand, his best success in this fight. Masoud closed out the round strong though, catching Davies coming in with two-punch combinations.
10-9 Davies, 87-84 Masoud.
Davies vs. Masoud Round 8
Davies managing to close the distance more in Round 8, Masoud happy to fight Davies’ fight at times though, choosing to trade with him on the inside.
10-9 Davies, 78-74 Masoud.
Davies vs. Masoud Round 7
Fantastic response from Shabaz Masoud in Round 7 after Davies had his best spell in the sixth. More flush left hands from Masoud, and Masoud is now incorporating the right hook. Left hand-right hook combination in the final 25 seconds.
10-9 Masoud, 69-64 Masoud.
Davies vs. Masoud Round 6
Best round of the fight for Liam Davies, who lands a sustained attack on Masoud in the second minute. Masoud responds in the final minute with multiple straight left hands. Close round.
10-9 Davies, 59-55 Masoud.
Davies vs. Masoud Round 5
Masoud’s defense is compact when they are up close. Daives needs to switch levels, attack the head and the body and use more feints to disguise attacks. Masoud is sharper than Davies and that is proving a really difficult challenge for the Telford man to overcome.
10-9 Masoud, 50-45 Masoud.
Davies vs. Masoud Round 4
Blood is starting to flow from the right eye of Liam Davies, the side of the face that Masoud is hammering with the left hand. Davies threw a combination in the last 45 seconds and followed it up with a decent right hand to the body. He needs to get closer.
10-9 Masoud, 40-36 Masoud.
Davies vs. Masoud Round 3
Masoud’s hands are too fast for Davies at this point in the fight, more power left hands connecting on Davies’ face. Davies is struggling to land really clean. He needs to take his time more instead of rushing the punches.
10-9 Masoud, 30-27 Masoud.
Davies vs. Masoud Round 2
Better round for Davies, who lets a few combinations go. The clean power punches in that round again came from Masoud though. The southpaw left hand from Masoud still cannot miss. Davies warned several times now for use of the elbow.
10-9 Masoud, 20-18 Masoud.
Davies vs. Masoud Round 1
Terrific opening round for Shabaz Masoud, who finds a home on Liam Davies’ chin for that left hand. Masoud landed the straight back hand flush at least half a dozen times. Big round for the challenger on the back foot, Davies attempting to apply pressure and push him back.
10-9 Masoud.
Main Event Next: Liam Davies vs. Shabaz Masoud
In a battle of unbeatens, domestic rivals Liam Davies (16-0, 8 KOs) and Shabaz Masoud (13-0, 4 KOs) clash for the IBO super bantamweight world title. Masoud holds two amateur wins over Davies. Will it be repeat or revenge in the pro game tonight?
Cameron BEATS Berghult in the co-feature
Chantelle Cameron dominates Patricia Berghult to win a wide unanimous decision (99-91, 100-90, 98-92). She will now have her eyes firmly set on the Nov. 15 Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2 winner.
Cameron vs. Berghult Rounds 9-10
Berghult had her best round of the fight in round 9, keeping Cameron away for long periods of the round with her left hand but Cameron still had her moments, probably the only round you can score for Berghult.
Cameron finishes the fight strong though in the final round with more aggression and work rate and should win a comfortable decision.
99-91 Cameron
Cameron vs. Berghult Rounds 7-8
The right hand has been the best punch for Cameron in the last few rounds. Berghult throws a wild, looping left hand and is easily countered by Cameron’s right. Cameron is clearly levels above Berghult and is on her way to a shutout decision win.
80-72 Cameron
Cameron vs. Berghult Rounds 5-6
Big body attack from Cameron at the end of round 6. Berghult looks winded, the left hook to the body — which Cameron is sitting down on — is doing the damage. Two more dominant rounds for Cameron.
60-54 Cameron
Cameron vs. Berghult Rounds 3-4
One-sided for the most part. Berghult stumbled back when Cameron landed the left hand in round 3, looked more of a balance issue rather than the impact of the punch though. Cameron finding a home for the right hand in the final 30 seconds of round 4. Two more rounds in the bank for the Brit.
40-36 Cameron
Cameron vs. Berghult Rounds 1-2
Cameron starts aggressively, forcing Berghult back with a jab and then when she gets close, Cameron lets her hands go with hooks and uppercuts. The right uppercut, left hook combination landing clean several times. Cameron wins both rounds convincingly.
Livescore
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