Demolition of Connor Ben Chris Algerie earns a roar of approval from Nigel | boxing

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Conor Penn took a huge step into the ranks of the welterweight division, the most competitive category in contemporary boxing, when he stopped American veteran Chris Algerie with a clinical brutal end to the end of the fourth round in Liverpool on Saturday night. . It was a devastating stop, which was greeted by Nigel Bean, Connor’s father, who greeted him in ringside.

Almost impressively, the 25-year-old has been enveloped in a new maturity and calm throughout the competition. He also showed a good defense as he slid away from Algérie’s punches with so much gusto that the crowd responded with grateful applause. But from the start the competition seemed one-sided, with Ben Algerie backed against the ropes. The older fighter sticked out his tongue in the opening round as if he had nothing to fear, but at the break, his soldiers were already trying to curb the swelling around his eyes.

Jerry fell for the first time in the second round when a tethered hook on the left dropped him off balance. He stumbled hard on the canvas and rolled toward the ropes but Jerry looked more sad than hurt as he was forced to make eight standing stats.

Chris Algerie shines from Conor Bean’s winning punch. Photography: Nick Potts/PA

Ben retained his discipline over the next two rounds and, in the best performance of his career to date, claimed his 20th straight victory with power. He forced Jerry back to the ropes and, 10 seconds before the end of the fourth round, delivered a stunning knockout. A left blow down the tube followed by a perfect right hand made Algerie lean forward, in slow motion, before dropping his face first toward the canvas. It was a worrisome knockdown, but fortunately, Jerry got help a few minutes later. Ben consoled him but it was a sad end to Jerry’s career.

After Ben’s impressive improvement, this was a masterful piece of people matching. Jerry is known in America, where he is now an expert in boxing, and is still in excellent shape. He has also lost only three matches in his previous 28 matches against Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan and Errol Spence. Pacquiao and Spence are super talents and Benn has never faced a fighter of their caliber. Algerie used to be a tough pro and would have been a real test for Ben. But now he is 37 years old.

Victory over the lackluster Algerie does not mean that Ben is ready to fight the miracles of division. Jaron Ines and Virgil Ortiz are two of the most intriguing young players in boxing, and Penn promoter Eddie Hearn knows he needs to keep his fighter away from such a talented company in the near future. Spence and Terrence Crawford, the kings of the band, pose an even more serious threat. They are so good that they are in the top five sterling ratings.

Between hungry and intense, he carries real strength allied to his new composure, but he’s still far from ready for any of the premium American weights. At the very least, a decisive victory over Jerry allows him to believe he bridges the gap that separates him from the best in his hot division.

Katie Taylor is declared the winner of her world lightweight fight against Firuza Sharipova. Photography: Paul Greenwood/INFO/Shutterstock

And in the other title, Ireland’s Katie Taylor, the undisputed world lightweight champion, won a clear decision on the three scorecards against Firuza Sharipova – her staunch opponent from Kazakhstan. Taylor has gone through some tough bouts and testing in recent years while compiling her flawless 20-0 record and was hoping for an easier night.

Sharipova, who had been exuding feisty confidence all week, came out to win and was willing to resort to ruthless tactics to try to unsettle the more experienced champion. But Taylor was ready to trade, trusting her faster hands against the technically tough contender. The champ was far from her best, but early in the second round she backed Sharipova and grabbed her sharp left. In the corner after the round ice had to be applied to the swelling in Sharipova’s left eye.

But Sharipova remained full of ambition and won some rounds with her aggressive and assertive angel. She seemed undisturbed by the wound to her left eye that had hit her bloody white head. She was bent on turning their fight into a close fight and in the sixth round she was warned and deducted a point for hitting Taylor after they were told to collapse.

There were a lot of squabbles and Taylor looked a bit flat but still did the most accomplished work – despite Sharipova’s eighth finish to show she was still trying to find a way to win. But in the ninth, Taylor got Sharipova’s head back with some fine counters. The last of these cars descended upon the bell and the 27-year-old Kazakh fighter wearily smiled at the hero.

Sharipova quickly ran out of her corner in the final round and received a hail of punches from her corner. But Taylor was still in control, and amid the squabbling and squabbling, she got the last few combos in a light reprimand to her thorny opponent.

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Taylor told me a few weeks ago that she knew very little about her opponent, except that she expected Sharipova to have excellent technical skills – because most fighters educated in Kazakhstan are good technicians. Sharipova matched that expectation, with more hostility and determination, but there was little doubt that Taylor had won the decision.

The path is now clear for Taylor to fight Amanda Serrano, the great Puerto Rican, in the most lucrative competition in women’s boxing history. There are legitimate expectations that both Taylor and Cyrano will make over a million dollars when they meet in the ring next year. This is going to be a contest of huge significance, and with Christmas fast approaching and a year into the testing, the 35-year-old champion deserves a break from the ring after another agonizing decisive victory.

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