Big-hitting Jeamie 'TKV' Tshikeva Shocks Clarke to Win British Crown

Boxing match action

Underdog TKV damaged Frazer Clarke in the eleventh round before winning the British heavyweight title on points

TKV beat Frazer Clarke by divided verdict to win the UK heavyweight championship on a important night for the boxing, as professional boxing action came back to BBC linear television for the first time in twenty years

It was far from a display of technical skill at Derby Vaillant Live arena, with regular clinch work and holding, but the fight exploded when Jeamie Tshikeva hurt Frazer Clarke with a heavy hook in the 11th stanza

A shocked Frazer Clarke somehow stayed upright and weaved back to his corner

With his corner ready to throw in the towel if he didn't respond, Frazer Clarke insisted he could continue and valiantly survived the last round

The judges scored it 115-113 and one fifteen to one twelve for Jeamie Tshikeva, while the final judge saw it 115-112 for Olympic bronze medallist Clarke

"It feels amazing I dominated my opponent in his hometown," London native Jeamie Tshikeva, who was lost a point for a body shot below the belt, declared

"I was aware he was going to hold on, but he began tiring within the opening half-minute This isn't the Olympics anymore"

TKV Dominates Late to Stun Frazer Clarke

Boxing match action

Frazer Clarke had early success at the start but Jeamie Tshikeva - who was repeatedly warned for low blows - finished strong in the later rounds

Approximately 3,500 vocal fans crowded the compact venue, jeering Jeamie Tshikeva on his walk to the ring

Frazer Clarke, from nearby Burton, received a loud cheer in reply

To the fans' delight, he established dominance in the opening round, snapping a jab to the midsection before throwing stinging uppercuts that definitely hurt TKV

But the fighter from Tottenham - whose family boasts a fascinating history, with both his father and grandad working in the military forces of Zaire - demonstrated his fighting spirit and adapted to the bout

The bout had originally been set for October before a rib injury forced Jeamie Tshikeva to pull out

The postponement stirred up bad blood, damaging a previously respectful competition

Clarke's corner constantly complained about illegal shots from TKV, some drifting in on the blindside of the referee, who issued a admonishment in the third

Shortly after, another debatable blow resulted in Jeamie Tshikeva the point deduction

Jabbing were rare; instead, the fight turned into clinches from Frazer Clarke and heavy leaning from Jeamie Tshikeva, with lunging, obvious blows punctuating the contest

Jeamie Tshikeva was effective with his hook, and Frazer Clarke with his upward blow, but both men absorbed the blows as if they were hitting a wall

Right when the bout seemed to be petering out, Jeamie Tshikeva - his eye heavily swollen - threw a left hand that made Clarke staggering in the eleventh stanza

Clarke stayed upright only by clinging to TKV, seeming disoriented as the official stepped in for a inspection

His coach, Angel Fernandez, looked set on throwing in the towel, but Frazer Clarke demanded to carry on

He left the boxing ring without conducting a post-match comments, still looking stunned

'Billion Dollar Baby' Performs Well in Dominant Victory

In the chief-support bout, British fighter Francesca 'Billion Dollar Baby' Hennessy increased her perfect record to 7-0 with a commanding points win over ex lower weight class world champion Fabiana Bytyqi

Following an eye-catching walk to the ring including a dance routine alongside a group of dancers, Francesca Hennessy, 21, demonstrated precise movement, crisp choice of punches and smooth punch combinations

She found huge success by targeting the midsection of the 29-year-old European boxer - who previously held a world championship at a lower weight class - as all three judges gave the entire fight to Hennessey

"BDB on the television, let's do this, everyone," the fighter from Kent stated, before calling out former bantamweight world champion her potential next opponent

Frazer Clarke, TKV and Francesca Hennessy each contributed in what could be an important evening for UK boxing

Although there was no a world-title fight or a household name on the bill, but broadcast availability can connect with new fans, draw teenagers into gyms and expand the boxing in approaches subscription boxing may have trouble to manage

The future will show what the real effect will be, but if even a few more children enter their neighborhood gym on the following day, the event will have had an impact

Erica Neal
Erica Neal

A technology strategist with over a decade of experience in digital transformation and global systems analysis.