Ben Whittaker next…
The night’s penultimate bout, 10 rounds at light-heavyweight or less, but first an elaborate (and very long!) ringwalk from Nigeria’s unheralded hopeful Ezra Arenyeka. Round one begins shortly.
Massey prevails!
115-113, 115-113, 116-112 are the three scorecards, all in favour of… Jack Massey!
The 31-year-old boxed well from minute one, weathered the storm and is rightly crowned the new European and Commonwealth cruiserweight champion.
Lovely embrace with his corner afterwards, given how long he’s waited for an opportunity like this.
Ah… now we wait
Chamberlain looks deep in conversation with his team, left eye almost swollen shut, and as the music blares around Selhurst Park, we await the judges’ scorecards. Massey has done enough to win…
But stranger things have happened.
Chamberlain vs Massey R12
Final round! This was always likely to go the distance, but unlike Massey’s heavyweight foray against Joseph Parker, this has proven a more intriguing watch and still hangs in the balance.
Massey has utilised his physique well in the clinch, slowed down Chamberlain’s flurries and made him miss enough to offset fleeting moments where power and pressure has been Isaac’s gameplan.
He prods and probes, landing more rights before the final bell as they sheepishly embrace. Both feel they’ve done enough to edge it…
Chamberlain vs Massey R11
Two rounds to go and for me, it’s still all to play for. This is a cracking bout, being fought at an exhausting pace and both are wearing the damage as they look to establish the better work late.
Chamberlain’s the aggressor but Massey very much landing the cleaner work, that right hand lands beautifully with Isaac’s eyes closing from all the cumulative damage he’s been absorbing.
Massey hasn’t just endured that spell of pressure, but zapped Chamberlain’s energy by doing so and given him less to work with.
Finishes the round with a three-punch combo and well, Chamberlain needs a big final stanza now.
Chamberlain vs Massey R10
Sky show English champion Viddal Riley on commentary duty and it’ll be interesting to hear what he thinks as someone heavily linked with a domestic duel against Chamberlain himself in recent months.
Massey appears to have found that second wind, bouncing and popping the jab nicely before Chamberlain wobbles him backwards with a stray left he didn’t see coming! Recovered well though.
The tide turns again, Massey lands a series of big rights to pin Chamberlain exactly where he wants him, teetering uncomfortably and defensively susceptible. Big response from the Derbyshire man.
