In a spirited encounter in Bolton, newly crowned European flyweight champion Chloe Watson declared, “this is just the beginning,” following her victory, broadcasted live on Channel 5 for everyone to watch.
Watson, hailing from Birkenhead, emerged victorious over France’s Justine Lallemand in a points-based win at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. She triumphed with impressive scores from the ringside judges: 97-93, 97-93, and 96-94.
At just 23, Watson, backed by an enthusiastic group of fans, clinched her first professional title at the Wasserman Boxing event. This significant achievement came in her seventh professional fight.
Under the guidance of British boxing icon Ricky Hatton, Watson effectively countered the seasoned Lallemand with her persistent intensity, securing a unanimous decision victory, all captured by the Channel 5 cameras.
Post-fight, Watson, bearing a visible bump on her head, commented, “It was a good scrap. Winning my first professional title is incredibly meaningful. I see this fight as a step forward and recognize the need for continuous improvement in the gym. This is just the start.”
After Watson’s exhilarating victory, super welterweight newcomer Dan Toward made his professional debut with a resounding statement.
Toward, a ten-time national amateur champion from Newcastle, halted Fabrizio Rubino in the second round’s closing moments, marking a bold entrance into professional boxing.
Speaking to Channel 5, Toward remarked, “I’m my own toughest critic and believe I can always fight better. Nonetheless, it was a solid performance, and I secured the finish. I’m set to fight again in Sunderland on December 16, on the Josh Kelly undercard. I aim to bring major events to the North East in the future.”
Meanwhile, in another headline fight of the night, heavyweight Nathan Gorman made his comeback after a year’s absence from the ring, only to face defeat against Ukraine’s Bohdan Myronets.
The match, somewhat disorderly, concluded with Myronets, who had previously upset Kash Ali in July, earning a 77-76 victory after eight rounds.