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Ringside Report: Lyndon Arthur Edges Out Liam Cameron In Bolton Barnstormer

Written by Tom Eaton on 21st June 2024.

After a valiant effort against WBA world champion Dmitry Bivol under the spotlight of boxing’s newfound home in Riyadh, Lyndon Arthur returned back to the Toughsheet Community Stadium in Bolton – where he had appeared in three of his previous five outings. Here, he faced a resurgent former Commonwealth champion in Liam Cameron, who had recently returned from a four-year ban from the sport and had a point to prove.

Undercard

After comfortable points wins for both Robert Lloyd-Taylor Jr. (7-0) and Niall Fielding (3-0) in six and four-rounders respectively, Denmark’s Oliver Zaren (12-0) caught the eye with a fourth career knockout against Thomas Lacroix (4-2), securing back-to-back stoppages for the first time since his first two professional contests as relentless hooks overpowered the rather inexperienced Frenchman in the away corner.

Joe Gallagher prodigy Clarke Smith (5-0) would then extend his record to 6-0 against a game Jensen Irving (4-11), who landed clean work of his own at times but nothing consequential, and did well to survive an onslaught from the Mancunian in the fifth-round.

24-year-old heavyweight prospect ‘Magic’ Matty Harris (6-1) continued his comeback since a shock defeat to Kostiantyn Dovishchenko (9-13-1) last year as he landed a straight right-hand onto the chin of the usually durable Yury Bykhautsou (10-30-3) in the second-round, sending the Belorussian’s arms flailing before he dropped to his knees. From that moment onwards it was clear that Bykhautsou’s legs were not beneath him and soon after he crashed onto the canvas again and this time the referee came to the conclusion that he had seen enough.

In his sixth consecutive bout in the United Kingdom since signing with Wasserman Boxing, WBA super=featherweight world #5 Sultan Zaurbek (17-0) ran through Argentina’s Roman Ruben Reynoso (22-4-2) with ease. ‘The Kazakh King’ scored a knockdown with the first power shot that he landed – a clean left-uppercut to the body. Seconds later, same punch, same result. Finally, after a third knockdown, an overmatched Reynoso laid flat in his stomach and submitted to defeat.

Stockport-born Niall Brown (11-0) is one of just three men to stop tough journeyman Jordan Grannum (11-139-5), and with Pat Barrett in his corner, it was clear to see why. The well-supported middleweight offered a sharp jab in the early exchanges to establish his range and dictate the fight against Jonathan Bouillot (8-8), before reigning in with heavy blows. Despite his even record, Bouillot was on a four-fight winning streak and had never been stopped going into the bout, but found his guard split on multiple occasions by the uppercut of Brown, who then used that success to then feint the shot and instead score with hooks to the body.

Although Brown was unable to cap off a superb performance with the stoppage that he was visibly looking for, there was a sense that the 26-year-old may have got Bouillot out of there if this was more than a six-round affair – settling for a 60-55 decision.

Next to the stage was three-time national amateur champion, ‘Atomic’ Tom Welland (4-0), who was tasked with Alejandro Farias (3-2), fighting outside of Argentina for the first time. Unfortunately for the visitor, the talented super-bantamweight prospect proved why he was on the cusps of the Team GB squad, getting the better of Farias from range but also showing a willingness to get up close and personal and exchange, dealing a flashing left-hook to the temple of the South American in the second-round that resulted in a heavy knockdown.

Farias came out firing in the fourth and found a home for solid shots of his own but ultimately it was 19-year-old Welland who continued to land the cleaner work and was worth every bit of his 40-35 decision.

Main Event

Famous for his snapping jab, Lyndon Arthur (23-2) returned to Bolton hoping to thrust his name back into the title mix once again or alternatively tee-up a an all-British showdown against one of many thriving British 175lbers in a booming Bdomestic division, although the fact that he missed weight for this contest is sure to raise eyebrows. Meanwhile, Liam Cameron (23-5) had impressed since returning to the ring, winning both of his outings during 2024 via first-round knockout.

Surprisingly, it was underdog Cameron who started the better of the two in a high-octant battle, with a point deduction for Arthur adding to the drama when the former IBO world champion punched after the bell to signal the end of round two. However, the tide began to turn in the fifth-round, as Arthur showed signs that he was growing into the fight and landed a stern right-hand that forced Cameron to cover up on the ropes. Still, the fast hands of Cameron continued to cause issues for Arthur, undeterred by the bloodied nose that was ever-present throughout the clash, but it was Arthur who did the more obvious damage when landing clean.

In the sixth, it was Cameron’s turn to be punished with a point deduction – his coming as a result of punches onto the back of Arthur’s head, yet the game plan to close the distance and restrict Arthur’s ability to use that fabled jab made for an enthralling encounter. By winning these close quarters shoot-outs, the question seemed to be whether Cameron could keep up the tempo – having fought in just eight rounds since April 2018, and possibly edge the scrap due to his front-footed pressure.

During the last couple of rounds, a talkative Cameron adopted for a back-footed approach, boxing and moving whilst possibly believing to be up on the cards but running into trouble on a couple of occasions and arguably allowing Arthur to bank rounds nine and ten. Before the judges’ scorecards were announced, apprehension filled the air with neither man knowing if they had truly done enough. Eventually, it was confirmed that those late moments did prove costly for Cameron, as Arthur claimed a split-decision win (93-95, 95-93, 97-91) that could have gone either way.

Full Card Results

  • Robert Lloyd-Taylor Jr. (7-0) vs. Owen Durnan (2-2) – Welterweight – Lloyd-Taylor Jr. PTS
  • Niall Fielding (3-0) vs. Jake Osgood (1-49) – Super-Lightweight – Fielding PTS
  • Oliver Zaren (12-0) vs. Thomas Lacroix (4-2) – Super-Middleweight – Zaren RD2 TKO
  • Clark Smith (5-0) vs. Jensen Irving (4-11) – Super-Welterweight – Smith PTS
  • Matty Harris (6-1) vs. Yury Bykhautsou (10-30-3) – Heavyweight – Harris RD2 TKO
  • Sultan Zaurbek (17-0) vs. Roman Ruben Reynoso (22-4-2) – WBA Continental Super-Featherweight Title – Zaurbek RD1 TKO
  • Niall Brown (11-0) vs. Jonathan Bouillot (8-8) – Middleweight – Brown PTS
  • Tom Welland (4-0) vs. Alejandro Farias (3-2) – Super-Bantamweight – Welland PTS
  • Lyndon Arthur (23-2) vs. Liam Cameron (23-5) – WBA Intercontinental Light-Heavyweight Title – Arthur SD
  • Khaleel Majid (12-0) vs. Alin Florin Ciorceri (17-4) – Super-Lightweight – Majid UD

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