Stoke’s Heaney entered the ring to the usual acclaim from some of the noisiest fans in boxing. He was very much the favouite, looking set to put right the only blemish on what had been a 100% record before their prevous encounter. Pauls, in contrast, was almost casual in his ring entrance and demeanour, watching the pandemonium that greeted his opponent’s entrance with amusement.

There didn’t seem much for Pauls and his outnumbered but voiciferous supporters to laugh at early on as Heaney was the busier of the two but it all changed dramatically with a wicked counter in the fourth put Heaney down. It seemed more of a flash knockdown than a heavy onslaught but it changed the momentum of the fight and Pauls was dominant in rounds five and six, his heavy body shots hurting Heaney. The champions made a good start to the sent and although the challenger rallied, the Stoke man had done enough to nick it.

Round eight saw the fight changing again, with Pauls coming forward and hurting the champion, one glancing blow forcing Heaney to hang on. In the ninth Pauls seemed to tire and was forced to hold a couple of times. The tenth round was understandably quieter, with Heaney hurting the challenger a couple of times and being wrestled to the ground. Round eleven began in a similar vein until with thirty seconds remaining a volley of shots saw Heaney in trouble with only his sheer determination keeping him upright.

The twelfth began as the eleventh had ended. Pauls knew that the title was within his grasp and swarmed Heaney from the opening bell. The champion, seeing his belts slipping away, was on the floor although referee Michael Alexander ruled a push. It was only a brief respite as another salvo of bombs saw Heaney down and unable to beat the count, the end coming after 54 seconds of round twelve.

The chief support saw Cinderella man Ashley Lane, who won the British and Commonwealth bantamweight title four months ago, making a quick first defence against Liverpool’s Andrew Cain. Lane’s victory over Chris Bourke had been one of the stories of British boxing in 2024 but few gave him much chance of making a successful first defence of his titles against the big-hitting Cain and the predictions were proved right when the fight was stopepd in round five.

It had seemed as though we were in for a well-matched contest in the early rounds with both men having their moments but Cain began to show his superior class in the fourth. Round five saw Lane down after a series of punches and although he was soon up, thechallenger sensed victory and forced the champion down for a second time. Both his corner and referee Kevin Parker had seen enough and the fight was waved off after 1:45 of the fifth.

Former undisputed world super-lightweight champion Chantelle Cameron got back to winning ways with a majority points decision against French boxer Elhem Mekhaled for the WBC interim title. Cameron’s two previous fights had been a couple of epics with Katie Taylor, five belts up for grabs on both occasions and the Northampton fighter was keen to get back to winning ways after a first pro defeat at the hands of the Irish legend. A bright start by Cameron was met with equal venom from her opponent, moving up from super-feather. The fight turned into a war during an exciting fourth round, both women trading punches throughout an action-packed two minutes. Cameron gradually showed her authority and although one judge scored it a draw, the two other ensured that justice was done and a third mega-fight with Taylor is still on the cards.

Nottingham’s Ekow Essuman kept his top-level career alive via a trip to the canvas with a stunning last round stoppage of previously-unbeaten Owen Cooper to take his opponent’s WBO European welterweight crown. 35 year old Essuman, who suffered a first pro defeat when losing his British and Commonwealth titles to Harry Scarff last November, generally had the better of the exchanges throughout an enthralling contest and had Cooper in trouble during round six, putting his man down as the round reached its end.

Essuman was on top from then on but a shock result seemed a possibility when Cooper dropped Essuman in round nine. This seemed to inspire the veteran, who came out with all guns blazing for the final round, having Cooper in trouble in a corner before a heavy head shot left the Worcester man on the deck and with his title gone. Referee Bob Williams waved the fight off immediately and there was some concern with paramedics on the scene but happily Cooper made a good recovery and was able to congratulate the winner before leaving the ring.

There was also an early win for another former British champion, super-middle Zak Parker, who looked impressive with a fourth round stoppage of the veteran Jack Arnfield. Having only his second fight after being out of boxing for six years, Arnfield was game throughout but outclassed by the 30 year old Parker, who on this showing still looks capable of going further. Arnfield was put down twice in the fourth, the second time leading to referee Chris Dean calling a halt after 1:06 of the round, the first time he had been stopped in a lengthy career.

Local hero Solomon Dacres defended his English heavyweight title against prevous opponent, Middlesbrough’s Michael Webster. Their fight last November saw Dacres from Rowley Regis take a majority points decision but the judges weren’t needed second time around. This one took a while to warm up then the champion forced Webster to take a knee in the fifth round and when he went down again in the seventh the challenger shook his head to referee Kevin Parker. who called an end after 1:10 of the round. Dacres can now look forward to greater challenges in a crowded domestic scene.

Nottingham light-heavyweight Ezra Taylor overcame the Spanish-based Colombia Carlos Alberto Lamela over ten rounds for the WBC International belt. Taylor was on top throughout, although the resilient Lamela was hardly in trouble and had his moments before going down to a unanimous points defeat as the new titleholder extended his 100% record to nine fights.