In a Wednesday night showdown at Montreal Casino, IBO Super Welterweight champ, Femke Hermans, didn’t just defend her title; she alos won the vacant IBF World crown, outmuscling Mary Spencer via majority decision. The ring was set in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, with Camille Estephan of Eye of the Tiger Management promoting the night’s raw fisticuffs. Not to be overshadowed, the evening’s co-main event saw NABF and NABA Super Middleweight titleholder, Erik Bazinyan, halt Ronald ‘Reckless’ Ellis’s momentum, ending his night in the sixth round.
In the spotlight, Femke Hermans, with a respectable 17-4 (7) record and tipping the scales at 153 lbs, clashed against the local favorite, Mary Spencer, standing strong at 7-2 (5) and 153.5 lbs. Their fight wasn’t just a brawl; it was a strategic chess match with gloves. Spencer came out strong in the third, snapping jabs and planting a solid left on Hermans’ chin as the round closed. But Hermans, not one to shy away from a challenge, switched gears and stance in the sixth, flipping to southpaw and pushing the pace.
The seventh round was nearly all Hermans, save for a solitary right from Spencer that briefly halted her momentum. As the fight entered the later rounds, it became a see-saw battle of tactics and sheer willpower, with Hermans’ work rate soaring and Spencer playing the counter game. Hermans didn’t just stick to one style; she was flipping the script – orthodox to southpaw, then back again, keeping Spencer guessing and the audience on the edge of their seats till the final bell. The man in the middle, Referee Junior Padulo, had the best view of the non-stop action.
When the dust settled, the scores echoed the fight’s intensity: 95-95, 96-94, 97-93 in favor of Hermans. But let’s not forget the co-main event. Erik Bazinyan, unbeaten at 31-0 (22) and weighing in at 166.4 lbs, squared off against Ronald ‘Reckless’ Akeem Ellis, holding an 18-4-2 (12) record and 167.1 lbs. The fight was a roller coaster of power punches and tactical prowess. Ellis had the upper hand early, but Bazinyan wasn’t there for a quick night out. He flipped the switch in the second, seizing control with relentless pressure. The third saw Ellis regain footing until a Bazinyan left hook sent tremors through his legs. The pendulum swung wildly in the fourth and fifth, with both fighters having their moments. However, the sixth wasn’t kind to Ellis. He was leading the dance when Bazinyan’s thunderous rights sent him to the canvas. Referee Alaine Villeneuve stepped in, calling an end to the bout at 1:44 of the decisive sixth round.