[Thomas Hearns]

Kingsway Leisure Centre, United Kingdom, 2000-07-07

WBC MW CHAMPIONSHIP
Stanley Ketchel 11-1-0 (9) KO6 Nigel Benn 16-4-0 (9)
On a violent affaire Stanley Ketchel won the WBC Middleweight Title from Nigel Benn
that was doing his first title defense.
The fight statrted with fast pace with both fighters exchanging blows and with Ketchel hurting Benn several times but with Benn also putting Ketchel on trouble with his right hook.
On the second round the champion Benn took the control hurting Ketchel specially with his right hook. Ketchel finished the round with a big cut on his nose.
The third round was an even one and the pace of the fight slowed a bit.
The fourth round had back and forth action with Benn having the best part for most of the round but with Ketchel connecting the best punch of the round a hard uppercut that stopped Benn cold seconds before the bell rang.
The fifth round had again great action with Benn controlling the first half of the round and with Ketchel rallying on the second part and almost dropping Benn with a violent left right combination followed by a big right uppercut near the end of the round.
On the sixth round Ketchel came out aggressive and had the total control of the fight for the first time on the fight, he battered Benn for near two minutes unltil landing a right uppercut followed by a hook that sent Benn to the canvas for the ten count.
At the time of the stoppage the scorecards were 48-47 and 50-46 for Benn and 48-48.

Also on the undercard:

HW: Sam McVey 18-2-0 (9) TKO9 Oliver McCall 6-4-2 (1)
MW: James Toney 9-7-0 (4) UD12 Tony Licata 3-10-0 (0)
LHW: Jeff Harding 7-8-0 (3) UD12 John Conteh 9-3-1 (3)
WW: Gustav Eder 7-4-1 (2) TKO6 Vernon Forrest 6-4-2 (2)
CW: Marco Huck 9-5-0 (7) TKO9 Pat Lawlor 2-14-0 (2)
FW: Julio Pablo Chacon 1-10-0 (0) MD12 Vuyani Bungu 6-10-0 (2)
SMW: Mikkel Kessler 11-4-1 (9) MD12 Darrin Van Horn 4-7-1 (1)