MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS AS MASOUD BEATS McGRAIL
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 07 Dec 2025
Shabaz Masoud has set his sights on moving up to Featherweight and facing WBA World Champion Nick Ball in 2026 after he put an end to over a year outside the ring with a unanimous points victory over Peter McGrail to capture the vacant EBU European Super Bantamweight Championship on a remarkable night of boxing in the Principality.
It was a Royal occasion at the stunning Salle des Etoiles Sporting Monte-Carlo as honorary guest, Albert II, Prince of Monaco, watched on from ringside alongside Matchroom Sport Chairman, Eddie Hearn.
Liverpudlian McGrail started strong and ensured it was a close finish in the later rounds of the main event. But Masoud dug deep and delivered a fine display with the judges all favouring him 116-111, 115-112, 114-113 on the scorecards.
Speaking after the fight, the Stoke native said: "I've got big plans. I'm struggling making Super Bantamweight and I don't mind moving up for a world title.
"There's a British world champion at the weight above, Nick Ball. That's the fight I want. I need to move up."
And the action, on what was an action-packed card, certainly did not disappoint.
It began with 'The Public Nuisance' Sean McComb who silenced the home crowd as the Northern Irishman stopped local favourite Hugo Micallef in the eighth round, dropping his opponent three times prior, to claim the IBF European Super-Lightweight Championship.
Then there was a huge upset in the second bout of what was a dramatic evening, as Conah Walker sensationally stopped Team GB Olympic hero Pat McCormack in breathtaking fashion in the 12th and final round of the all-British clash.
In the dying embers of the fight McCormack was knocked through the ropes, and subsequently stopped on his feet as he suffered the first defeat of his career after an incredible flurry of punches from Walker steered the livewire 'Wolf' to a monumental victory and straight into world title contention in the Welterweight division.
The 'Romford Bull' Johnny Fisher, meanwhile, survived an early scare when he was put down in the first round by towering Croatian opponent Ivan Balaz in a barnstorming Heavyweight battle.
Fisher – fighting under the stewardship of renowned trainer Tony Sims for the first time – dug deep and rallied to get himself back into the contest. Then in round four, Fisher extended his record to 14-1, 12 KOs, when he put Balaz three times before he had his hand raised in triumph.
And in the co-main event, the electric Elif Nur Turhan produced a devastating performance over Beatriz Ferreira to be crowned the new IBF World Lightweight Champion with a fierce fifth round stoppage.
The undefeated 'Golden Turk' put the two-time Brazilian Olympic medalist down early in the opening round of the bout. She remained relentless in her pursuit for glory and after pummelling Ferreira in the corner deep in the fifth, the referee duly stepped in, to see Turhan rule the world for the first time in her burgeoning career – with promoter Hearn labelling her as one of the most destructive pound-for-pound stars in the sport today.
For all the latest highlights and reaction, follow @matchroomboxing on social media.
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