Chris Eubank Jr returned to winning ways with a dominant display at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, forcing Armenian challenger Wanik Awdijan to retire at the end of the fifth round in what proved to be a compelling and emotionally charged contest.

The Brighton middleweight, who had last appeared in May 2021 with a comprehensive points victory over Marcus Morrison at Manchester Arena, was making just his third appearance in nearly two years. Yet there was no ring rust evident as Eubank set about his business with the clinical authority that has long made him one of the most watchable fighters in British boxing.

The fight itself was not without its complications before a punch had even been thrown. After a series of late opponent changes — Sven Elbir withdrew through illness, and replacement Anatoli Muratov was stood down on medical grounds — it was Awdijan who ultimately stepped forward at short notice. The 26-year-old Armenian arrived with a record of 28 wins and just a single defeat, and carried genuine confidence into the bout, promising upset victory in the build-up. He was also notably vocal on social media in the days preceding the contest, prompting Eubank to vow publicly that he would deliver a sharp lesson inside the ropes.

Awdijan presented early problems. Fighting out of the southpaw stance — an adjustment Eubank’s camp had not prepared for — the Armenian moved well on fleet feet, landing his straight back-hand on several occasions in the opening exchanges. His elusive movement and awkward angles made him a slippery target, and the first round or two belonged narrowly to the visitor.

However, as the fight progressed, Eubank’s superior conditioning and tactical intelligence began to assert themselves. Working patiently behind his jab and gradually finding his range, Eubank shifted his attention to the body in the fourth round with telling effect. Thudding shots to the ribcage began to accumulate, sapping Awdijan’s movement and draining the energy from those previously busy legs. Where the challenger had once bounced confidently on his toes, he now moved with increasing desperation, looking to clinch and steal moments of recovery.

By the fifth round, Awdijan was visibly deteriorating. Eubank, trained by the legendary Roy Jones Jr, pressed his advantage with composed, measured aggression — a maturity of approach that suggested the long period of training had sharpened him considerably. The body work, relentless and precise, told its own story.

At the conclusion of the fifth, Awdijan’s corner elected not to send him out for the sixth. It subsequently emerged that their fighter had suffered a suspected broken rib — a direct consequence of Eubank’s sustained assault to the torso. Referee Michael Alexander accepted the retirement and raised Eubank’s hand in victory.

There was a personal dimension to the evening that gave it extra weight. Eubank fought with the name Sebastian stitched onto his shorts and robe — a tribute to his brother, who passed away tragically in July 2021. That he chose to honour that grief by channelling it into a controlled, professional performance spoke volumes about his character and resilience.

Chris Eubank Jr claimed his 31st professional victory whilst Wanik Awdijan, despite his spirited early showing, was ultimately undone by a combination of Eubank’s power and persistence on a memorable night in the north-east of England.

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In a thrilling clash at Caesars Palace Sports Pavilion on July 18, 1987, Mike “The Body Snatcher” McCallum delivered a stunning fifth-round knockout victory over Donald “The Lone Star Cobra” Curry. The bout, which saw McCallum successfully defend his WBA junior middleweight title, left the boxing world in awe and cemented his status as a formidable champion.

The fight, televised live on HBO, was highly anticipated, with Curry entering as favourite. Despite the odds, McCallum, Jamaica’s first world champion, proved why he was a force to be reckoned with in the 154-pound division.

The early rounds saw Curry showcasing his skills, even buckling McCallum’s knees in the second round with a powerful right hand. However, the tide began to turn in the fourth round when McCallum landed a solid right to Curry’s head, shifting the momentum in his favour.

As the fifth round unfolded, McCallum executed a brilliant strategy. After throwing a decoy right uppercut to the body, he caught Curry off guard with a devastating left hook to the jaw. The punch, which Curry never saw coming, sent him crashing to the canvas. Referee Richard Steele counted him out at the 1:14 mark, securing McCallum’s victory and retention of his title.

This knockout was later named “Knockout of the Year” by KO Magazine, highlighting its impact on the sport. The victory added to McCallum’s impressive record, which included previous title defences against notable opponents such as Luigi Minchillo, David Braxton, and Julian Jackson.

For Curry, the loss was a significant setback in his career trajectory. Having recently moved up from welterweight, where he had reigned as undisputed champion, this defeat raised questions about his future in the junior middleweight division.

This electrifying bout not only showcased McCallum’s exceptional skills but also highlighted the unpredictable nature of boxing, where a single punch can change the course of a fight and a fighter’s career. The McCallum-Curry clash will long be remembered as a defining moment in junior middleweight boxing history.

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The ghosts of greatness were exorcised at the Memorial Sports Arena on Saturday night, as Roberto “Manos de Piedra” Durán delivered a blistering reminder of why he once ruled the lightweight and welterweight divisions. In a battle of battered legends dubbed The Return of the Champions, Durán dismantled former WBA welterweight king José “Pipino” Cuevas with a fourth-round technical knockout, sending a jolt through the boxing world and putting himself squarely in line for a shot at the junior middleweight crown.

Once a dream matchup for Latin boxing supremacy, this bout arrived a few years too late but still carried high stakes. Both warriors came in with reputations on the ropes—Durán having stumbled to a shocking loss against Kirkland Laing just four months earlier, and Cuevas suffering a lengthy layoff following a defeat at the hands of Roger Stafford in one of 1981’s biggest upsets.

But despite the decline in their stock, the electricity in the air was undeniable. A raucous, predominantly Latino crowd of nearly 17,000 packed the arena, generating a $408,000 gate and shaking the rafters with chants for their respective heroes. Pride, redemption, and a crack at WBA champion Davey Moore were all on the line.

Cuevas started strong, charging forward behind his trademark left hook, but Durán absorbed the fire early, refusing to flinch. By round two, the Panamanian icon had dialled in a punishing jab and began asserting control. The tide turned decisively in round three as Durán closed the distance and unloaded vintage combinations that left Cuevas reeling.

The final chapter came fast and ferocious. In the fourth, Durán’s fists flowed like the hands of time turning back. A blistering right hand sent Cuevas crashing into a corner—kept upright only by the ropes, but ruled a knockdown by the referee. Moments later, a merciless barrage forced Cuevas to the canvas again. As the Mexican veteran struggled to rise, his corner waved the white flag of surrender.

With the win, Durán—now 75-4 with 56 knockouts—reclaims a place among boxing’s elite and sets up a title clash with Moore. For Cuevas, now 29-8, the road back looks far more uncertain.

In a night that was meant to judge whether Durán still had it or Cuevas had simply lost it, the answer rang loud and clear: The Hands of Stone still break bones.

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