The British heavyweight title was at stake in a highly anticipated contest at Derby Vaillant Live arena, with Londoner Jeamie 'TKV' Tshikeva taking on Olympian Frazer Clarke. TKV, a 32-year-old Tottenham man, edged out the bigger and more experienced Clarke by split decision to claim the prestigious title.
In a bout that was far from a technical showcase, both fighters resorted to grappling and clinching as their usual punching exchanges fell by the wayside. However, in the 11th round, TKV landed a heavy left hook that left Clarke reeling, prompting the referee to intervene. Despite being badly hurt, Clarke showed remarkable bravery by insisting on continuing, with his corner poised to pull him out unless he responded.
In the end, the judges scored the contest 115-113 and 115-112 in favor of TKV, while the third judge went 115-112 for Clarke. TKV's victory marked the biggest win of his career, while Clarke suffered his second defeat as a professional boxer at the age of 35.
The bout was not without controversy, however, with tensions simmering between the two fighters ahead of the contest due to a postponement that had been made earlier in the year. Clarke's corner repeatedly protested low blows from TKV during the fight, prompting the referee to issue warnings and eventually deduct points from the Londoner.
TKV's post-fight comments have also drawn attention, with him apologizing for what he described as "distasteful" remarks that had been made about his family. The 32-year-old has won over fans with his fighting spirit and humility, with TKV stating that he was able to get inside Clarke's head by starting the fight aggressively.
Clarke, who reached the podium at Tokyo 2020, is now facing an uncertain future in boxing, while TKV has cemented his place as a top contender in the heavyweight division. The victory marked a significant moment for British boxing, which returned to live television on the BBC for the first time in two decades.
Francesca 'Billion Dollar Baby' Hennessy also impressed in her chief-support bout against Fabiana Bytyqi, winning all 10 rounds by unanimous decision to extend her perfect record to 7-0. The victory marked a significant moment for British women's boxing and cemented Hennessy's status as one of the sport's top stars.
The upcoming schedule for Born to Brawl has also been revealed, with fans able to catch every episode on BBC iPlayer and other platforms.
In a bout that was far from a technical showcase, both fighters resorted to grappling and clinching as their usual punching exchanges fell by the wayside. However, in the 11th round, TKV landed a heavy left hook that left Clarke reeling, prompting the referee to intervene. Despite being badly hurt, Clarke showed remarkable bravery by insisting on continuing, with his corner poised to pull him out unless he responded.
In the end, the judges scored the contest 115-113 and 115-112 in favor of TKV, while the third judge went 115-112 for Clarke. TKV's victory marked the biggest win of his career, while Clarke suffered his second defeat as a professional boxer at the age of 35.
The bout was not without controversy, however, with tensions simmering between the two fighters ahead of the contest due to a postponement that had been made earlier in the year. Clarke's corner repeatedly protested low blows from TKV during the fight, prompting the referee to issue warnings and eventually deduct points from the Londoner.
TKV's post-fight comments have also drawn attention, with him apologizing for what he described as "distasteful" remarks that had been made about his family. The 32-year-old has won over fans with his fighting spirit and humility, with TKV stating that he was able to get inside Clarke's head by starting the fight aggressively.
Clarke, who reached the podium at Tokyo 2020, is now facing an uncertain future in boxing, while TKV has cemented his place as a top contender in the heavyweight division. The victory marked a significant moment for British boxing, which returned to live television on the BBC for the first time in two decades.
Francesca 'Billion Dollar Baby' Hennessy also impressed in her chief-support bout against Fabiana Bytyqi, winning all 10 rounds by unanimous decision to extend her perfect record to 7-0. The victory marked a significant moment for British women's boxing and cemented Hennessy's status as one of the sport's top stars.
The upcoming schedule for Born to Brawl has also been revealed, with fans able to catch every episode on BBC iPlayer and other platforms.