AFTER initiating a rivalry with a well-regarded talent in Junaid Bostan when they first met, many felt as though the script was written and that a damning defeat in the rematch was on the cards for Bilal Fawaz. Instead, he had other ideas, and it was he who came out on top to spoil the party once again.
Nine months on from their draw in Greenwich, Junaid Bostan, 10-1-1 (5 KOs), and Bilal Fawaz, 10-1-1 (3 KOs), went to battle for a second time, once again the English super-welterweight title was at stake and once again the build-up was heated.
Until their first meeting, Bostan had excelled in the professional ranks, looking to be one of the United Kingdom’s top prospects, not just at super-welterweight, but in the sport itself.
A gruelling affair with Fawaz in January somewhat stunted his progress, but to his credit, the Rotherham-born 154lber showed no hesitation in pursuing a rematch with Fawaz, to continue his pursuit of the English title and right the wrongs of their initial clash.
Ahead of their rematch, the co-main event of the Allen-Makhmudov bill, there was clear bad blood and ill intentions from both men, with Fawaz feeling hard done by the first time around and Bostan keen to prove himself to be a level above.
Each desperate to lay down the gauntlet from the get-go, an early head clash as both rushed in during the second-round left both men cut and set the tone for what soon became an enthralling encounter.
However, at the end of round three, it was Fawaz who landed a short right-hand that shockingly rocked Bostan to his core and left him on wobbly legs, surviving the end of the round but doing so by the skin of his teeth
Despite the end seeming nigh, Bostan then made a remarkable recovery in the fourth and almost floored Fawaz himself, tremendously turning the tide before roaring in celebration of his efforts in-between rounds four and five. Although, Bostan’s joy was later proved to be premature.
Both men had their moments of success from this point onwards and whilst Bostan felt as though he had done enough, the judges ruled that it was Fawaz who deserved the nod, ruling a surprise majority-decision in his favour. (96-95, 95-95, 95-94).
A trilogy bout could be next, with Bostan likely to feel both hard done by and able to level the scores, whilst Fawaz has ensured that his time under the spotlight will certainly not be short-lived.
Other Results
- Joe Howarth vs Karl Sampson – 6 Rounds – 135lbs – Howarth (PTS)
- Joe Hayden vs Angelo Dragone – 6 Rounds – 147lbs – Hayden (PTS)
- Conner Tudsbury vs Khalid Graidia – 6 Rounds – 175lbs – Tudsbury (RD4 TKO)
- Ibraheem Sulaiman vs James Chereji – 8 Rounds – 130lbs – Sulaiman (PTS)
- Hamza Uddin vs Paul Roberts – 10 Rounds – 112lbs – Uddin (RD5 TKO)
- Josh Padley vs Reece Bellotti – 10 Rounds – 130lbs – Padley (UD)
- Dave Allen vs Arslanbek Makhmudov – 12 Rounds – 200lbs+ – Makhmudov (UD)
