Nathan Haney - Brad Pauls live online, round by round, stats and updates

Strand puts together a few nice combos to get the round started, and had he fought that way all night, then the fight might have been very different here.

McCann gets on top of Strand and pushes him to the mat, and despite the ringside announcer beginning a count, referee Steve Gray rules it a push and not a knockdown.

McCann is emboldened nonetheless and comes forward, landing some hard left hands. Strands nose is streaming blood again as he takes shot after shot to the head, backpedalling to end the round.

McCann opens up with a sharp straight left that snaps Strand's head back, and again looks to be in full control of the pace here. Strand needs to press him harder if he wants to make any mark in this fight.

Strand lands three shots, stopping McCann, but doesn't press it further. McCann immediately gets back into the driver's seat.

Strand is still trying that right hand, to his credit, but without working his jab and throwing single shots, it simply is not enough to stop McCann picking him off. On the other side of the ring, McCann's corner are screaming at him to double up his shots, with both men relying on single jabs, single back hands.

McCann gets Strand with the jab but allows his man to get away, slipping out of trouble or coming back with a right hand.

McCann starts fast, pushing forward and perhaps looking for a stoppage. Strand is on the back foot and is still struggling with that nose, and it is still bleeding. He will certainly be struggling to breathe now.

McCann is cruising here, dictating the pace, keeping Strand off his power shots, and picking off the points round by round. Strand is not doing bad work, but he is not really using his jab to keep McCann off the front foot.

I think that Strand is struggling to breathe with that nose and it is bleeding profusely now. McCann is on the attack and Strand is in some trouble here.

Strand is landing that right hand a little more regularly, but McCann is quick and manages to get out of the way of most of the power. Strand slips as the two get their feet tangled up, and the ref is right on top of it.

Strand is starting to have a little success, but the more eye-catching shots are coming from McCann. Both trade in the center of the ring and whild Strand lands some nice right hands to the midriff, it is the left hook from McCann that is catching Strand on the way in.

Strand is back on more solid legs here, moving well, landing a nice one two. McCann is straight back with that long left hand, landing it downstairs.

Strand lands a three punch combo but no real damage done.

McCann lunges forward and lands a HUGE right hook that catches Strand flush on the chin, sending him to the canvas! Strand is straight back up but has to take the count.

McCann lands another strong left and Strand tumbles to the ropes! His nose is swollen and red, possibly broken. McCann is on the attack and Strand looks to be on shaky legs!

Strand looks like he has weathered the immediate danger but that nose is definitely broken. It is shifted well over under his left eye. That will cause serious trouble. Strand survives the round but is in all kinds of trouble.

McCann comes out working from the southpaw stance with Strand working orthodox. They are both wary of the other, and try to jab and probe and find a way to get to their opponenet. Neither wants to stake out the center nor surrender it as they move forward and back, testing the defenses of the other.

Strand lands a jab as McCann comes in with a big left hand that misses.

Dennis McCann vs Brad Strand [British and Commonwealth Super Bantamweight titles]

Two down and the fights get better and better! Now we move to fight FIVE of the Magnificent Seven as Dennis McCann defends his British and Commonwealth Super Bantamweight titles against Brad Strand. The vacant WBO Intercontinental belt will also be on the line.

First round shot

Here is that first huge shot

AND THE NEW: OWEN COOPER WINS BY TKO (RTD)

Eithan James pleads with his trainer from the stool not to do it, but his corner informs the ref that they are pulling their man out of the fight!

That stings, but it is the right decision. James has been battered today. He has taken too many big shots to the head and he was virtually out in that last round. Barring a miracle, there was no way that he could win. I had him six rounds down on my card and the ringside judges' cards were similar.

Owen Cooper is now the new WBO European Welterweight and English Welterweight champion.

James comes out working nicely, moving well and landing some great jabs. Cooper is looking a little slower than he was earlier and more untidy but he is still bullish, pushing forward and charging James with every shot.

James lands a sweet left hook to the chin. Cooper comes in and whiffs with the uppercut and right hand only to eat another left on the way out. James is looking better here in this ninth round.

Cooper lands a gigantic right hand! James is virtually out on his feet but manages to hold on for the bell!

Cooper is relentless! He stays on the front foot no matter what James does. Jabs can't keep him back and when the fight moves inside, Cooper is getting the better shots away.

James continues to switch between southpaw and orthodox and is doing a better job of evading Cooper but the big right hand still gets in. A nice left hook finds James' chin at the bell as well.

James is trying to keep the fight outside, tapping away with the double and triple jab, but Cooper is determined to cut that distance down, pushing forward and bullying his way inside.

James does a good job of evading that left hook, and keeping the distance intact, but not every shot can be dodged. Cooper snaps James' head back with a left hand.

At the halfway point, I'm not sure if James has won any round in this fight. I could give him the last round, but one through four were Cooper, all the way.

Cooper lands a big right hand as James was moving away and follows it up with a great one two, but James recovers quickly. The two fighters clench on the ropes and the fight goes inside, where Cooper is getting the better of the battle.

As the ref breaks them, Cooper lands a huge right hand, and both men go toe to toe and again, Cooper lands that left hook cleanly. James moves back to distance and works forward with that jab and right, but a left from Cooper stops his shots dead in their tracks.

Cooper is on a full out assault, not just walking James down, but lunging at him. That is very dangerous. So far, he has landed his shots, but James is beginning to figure out how to contain that attack and the counter shot is a real danger in these situations.

Cooper lands a huge left hand to the chin and while James is tapping away with double and triple jabs, they are having no effect on Cooper as yet.

James looks like he may have recoverd from that big knockdown now, back to working sharp and getting out of the way of some of the shots coming at him. He still hasn't figured out how to break Cooper down though.

Cooper lands a left uppercut and a right cross that send James stumbling back to the ropes. James manages to slip a couple of shots and lands a nice left to the chin.

James is back to southpaw again and it is baffling. James has the look of being entirely out of his depth here. Cooper is sticking to bob-and-weave boxing, traditional, keeping his guard high, and sticking shot after shot on James. Another right hand snaps James' head back.

James is on the back foot, switching styles from orthodox to southpaw and walks onto a big right hand in the process. Cooper lands a one two on the chin and that left hook can't miss. James is taking it all, but my word! How much punishment can he take?

Cooper has won every round so far, and handily.

What an astonishing start! As round two gets going, James switches to the orthodox side and tries to get his feet working again. He seems confused, switching from orthodox to southpaw and most often working neither in one nor the other, keeping his feet square to his opponent. James is keeping his chin high and hands low and you have to think that it is only a matter of time before Cooper lands another big shot.

Cooper is full of confidence, moving in, throwing great jabs and landing with that left hook that simply cannot miss!

Cooper lands a thudding right hand and follows it with a left hook that lands cleanly. To his credit, James takes it, but this is all one way traffic!

James comes out working southpaw as Cooper works from the orthodox side. The pace isblazing as they both come straight forward and try to dominate the contest. As James comes forward, Cooper lands a peach of a right on James' chin! James goes down!

He manages to get up and beat the count, but he is rattled! James switches back to orthodox and manages to lose his mouthpiece as Cooper's right hand simply cannot miss! He gets a respite to put the mouthpiece back in, but when action starts up again, Cooper lands both hands and James is in real trouble! The bell saves his life here!

Eithan James vs Owen Cooper [WBO European Welterweight and (vacant) English Welterweight titles]

What an opening! Now we move to bout number SIX of our Magnificent Seven, as Eithan James faces Owen Cooper in a ten-round welterweight contest for James' WBO European Welterweight title and the vacant English Welterweight title. Both are undefeated, but someone's O has to go!

The shot

Dear me!

Top Notch finish

What a shot to end it.

Martirosyan put up a great fight and kept it close in the early going but ultimately, Pierce O'Leary was too much for him. That left hook was the danger shot and it put the Belgian down twice, eventually stopping Martirosyan dead in his tracks. Pierce O'Leary defends his WBC International Super Lightweight title.

AND STILL: O'Leary wins by KO

O'Leary lands a great straight right hand to stop Martirosyan's attack and as they trade jabs, O'Leary manages to land that left hook that he has been looking for, the same one that dropped Martirosyan in the first.

With 30 seconds left in the fight, there is a one-two that sets up a peach of a left hook! Martirosyan goes down and has no intention of getting up! He is counted out!

Martirosyan comes out quickly, landing a nice right hand and opens the cut on O'Leary's eye now. Both are taking a battering here, and both are looking for the big shot to end it all. This is such an even contest!

Both clash and exchange with both landing eye catching shots, snapping their opponent's head back.

Martirosyan lands a huge right to the body that buckled O'Leary's knees.

O'Leary lands a huge left hook that stops Martirosyan's attack dead, sending the Belgian rocking back on his heels! Martirosyan recovers quickly but that cut is open again and freely bleeding. It doesn't look to be running into his eye, but it looks like a bad cut. It might need a stitch or two.

Martirosyan goes down in a clench but the referee says that it was just a slip. O'Leary is emboldened and comes straight forward, attacking with both hands to the body. Martirosyan is looking a little shaken as the round ends.

At the halfway point, they are pretty even. Martirosyan is winning the last couple of rounds but that early knockdown is working against him.

O'Leary is trying to walk Martirosyan down, but he needs to get back to work with that jab. He is looking for the big shot, maybe the early knockdown has made him over confident, but his best work was early when he was jabbing and working the body.

O'Leary lands a huge overhand right and now Martirosyan has a cut on his left eye! This one is bigger than the one on O'Leary, it is more open and bleeding quite heavily. His corner will have their work cut out for them.

Martirosyan is now having more success with that counter, wobbling O'Leary with a stinging left hook. His punches aren't as hard as O'Leary's but they are accurate and increasing in volume. He looks like he has his timing down and O'Leary is in a bit of trouble here.

O'Leary is trying to stay compact, and moving his feet, but the free flowing style of Martirosyan and his loose hands are having effect.

O'Leary has decided that the best defense is to stay on the offense and he comes in low, throwing lefts and rights to the body. His corner has done a good job on that eye and it is not free flowing blood any more.

Martirosyan covers and takes O'Leary's shots before countering nicely with a right uppercut. Boxing off the back foot, he lands a left hook as the round ends.

Martirosyan is looking for that right hook and manages to land a nice left to set it up as O'Leary comes in. The Dubliner stays on the front foot, but it looks like O'Leary has a cut on his eye!

That seems to spur the Belgian on and he comes in and lands a heavy three punch combo, and now it is O'Leary's turn to cover and run.

Blood is really flowing from that eye now and that could be an issue if it hampers his vision.

O'Leary comes out working his jab and Martirosyan waves a big left hook that lands nicely on O'Leary. Coming back with a heavy one-two, O'Leary wobbles Martirosyan before chopping a hard right hand that sends the Belgian to the ropes. Big power out of the Irishman!

With a flavor of Ricky Hatton, O'Leary lands a double touch jab before stepping to the side and coming in with a hard left hook to the body. Great movement!

Dubliner O'Leary comes out banging and manages to drop the Belgian Martirosyan with a minute to go in the round. That seemed to wake Martirosyan and he lands some heavy right hands in the waning seconds, but what a round by O'Leary.

Pierce O’Leary vs Hovhannes Martirosyan [WBC International Super Light title]

Now the first fight of the undercard as Pierce O’Leary and Hovhannes Martirosyan will square off for the WBC International Super Light title.

Emphatic win

Great show by Ezra Taylor

Preliminary match results

Ezra Taylor wobbled Prince Oko Nartey on several occasions straight out of the box, and the barrage just got more intense in round two as there was one each way: Oko Nartey was knocked down and it was judged to be a slip, and then he slipped and was counted as a knockdown. Taylor pressed the advantage and very nearly got the stoppage. Taylor looked a bit gassed in the third and landed a low blow which gave Oko Nartey a bit of a breather but it was not enough to save him. Another knockdown followed by a total shellacking in the fourth was enough to convince the referee to call a halt to the proceedings. Ezra Taylor moved to 8-0 and takes the Commonwealth Silver Light Heavyweight title as Prince Oko Nartey slides to 11-3. Taylor is now the mandatory challenger for Joshua Buatsi’s Commonwealth belt.

Magnificent 7

The undercard is tasty

FIGHT NIGHT!

This is going to be a classic card

The Full Card

Nathan Heaney* vs Brad Pauls [British Middleweight title] 12 rounds
Liam Davies vs Erik Robles [super bantamweight] 12 rounds
Joe Joyce vs Kash Ali [heavyweight] 10 rounds
Zach Parker vs Tyron Zeuge [super middleweight] 10 rounds
Dennis McCann* vs Brad Strand [British and Commonwealth Super Bantamweight titles] 12 rounds
Eithan James vs Owen Copper [welterweight] 10 rounds
Pierce O’Leary vs Hovhannes Martirosyan [super lightweight] 10 rounds
Ezra Taylor vs Prince Oko Nartey [light heavyweight] 10 rounds

The undercard is set to get underway at 2:30 pm ET / 11:30 am PT.

Tale of the tape

Nathan Heaney

Age: 34

Stance: Orthodox

Height: 6ft 1in

Reach: 74”

Record: 18-0-0

Brad Pauls

Age: 30

Stance: Orthodox

Height: 5ft 10in

Reach: 71”

Record: 18-1-0

WELCOME!!!

Welcome to Diario AS USA’s live coverage of the British middleweight title bout between Nathan Haney and Brad Pauls from the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, England.

Nathan Heaney will make the first defense of the British middleweight title that he won in November when he upset Denzel Bentley in a razor-thin majority decision.

Brad Pauls is getting his second bite at the apple, with his first British title challenge against Tyler Denny over a year ago ending in Pauls’ only career defeat. Since then, Pauls has been on a comeback road, and is coming off an eighth round stoppage of Mitchell Frearson for the English middleweight belt in September.

Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions has provided a solid card that includes Joe Joyce, who is looking to rebuild his career after two emphatic losses to Zhilei Zhang. Prior to that fight, Joyce had shown no chink in his armor, stopping some of the biggest names in the heavyweight game: Daniel Dubois, Carlos Takam, and Joseph Parker were all to fall victim to Joyce’s hammer fist KO. In his first bout of this rebuild, Joyce has to face an experienced Kash Ali, who is making a step up in quality with this fight.

Dennis McCann will put his Commonwealth Super Bantamweight title on the line, as well as challenging for the vacant British and WBO Inter-Continental Super Bantam titles when he faces Brad Strand. Both fighters are undefeated and this should be a tasty contest at the lighter divisions.