Harlem Eubank wins scrappy bout against Nurali Erdogan, maintains unbeaten streak

Harlem Eubank extended his undefeated record with a hard-fought eight-round decision against Nurali Erdogan in a messy, physical contest. The fight, held at the Walker Activity Dome in Newcastle, featured multiple clinches, point deductions, and a lot of chaos. Despite the rough nature of the match, Eubank (now 20-0, 8 KOs) secured the win and maintained his unbeaten streak.

Eubank Shows Resilience After a Year Out of the Ring

After more than a year out of the ring, Harlem Eubank returned to a new weight class, moving up to 147 pounds after years at junior welterweight. Eubank came out aggressive, using his jab and landing some solid body combinations. However, Erdogan, known for his toughness, made the bout messy with constant clinching. The referee repeatedly warned both fighters about holding, hitting, and their rough tactics. Both boxers even tumbled to the canvas multiple times during the early rounds, further frustrating the crowd and officials.

Despite the chaotic start, Eubank managed to maintain control with his superior boxing skills, even though the action remained untidy. The referee, Ron Kearney, warned the fighters multiple times about their excessive clinching, hinting that both could face disqualification if they didn’t clean up their act.

Erdogan’s Toughness and Eubank’s Frustration in the Ring

Although Eubank started strong, Erdogan showed his durability and found moments of success, especially in the sixth round, when he landed a left hook to Eubank’s chin that clearly stunned the undefeated fighter. However, Erdogan was penalized with a point deduction for pushing with the palm of his glove. Despite this setback, the Frenchman remained aggressive and continued to press forward, making it difficult for Eubank to settle into a rhythm.

The match became even more chaotic as they continued to clinch and tumble to the canvas. In the seventh round, Eubank suffered a cut above his left eye from a head clash, visibly frustrating him but not shaking his resolve. The fight continued with frequent warnings, and both fighters struggled to land clean punches amidst the rough style of the bout.

Eubank Overcomes Chaos, Secures Victory

By the eighth and final round, both fighters were exhausted, and the fight was marred by constant interruptions from the referee. However, Eubank remained focused and, despite the cut and multiple point deductions, managed to earn the win. The final scorecards were 77-73, 79-70, and 77-72 in favor of Eubank.

Reflecting on his performance, Eubank admitted that the fight was frustrating but felt confident in his ability to adapt. “It was tricky style tonight, but I went in there and got the job done. I’m happy,” he said. Despite the roughness of the fight, Eubank’s composure under pressure was evident, and he was able to walk away with a victory in a challenging matchup.

Notable Performances on the Undercard

The undercard featured several promising prospects. Dan Toward, a junior middleweight from Tyne and Wear, scored an impressive eight-round stoppage against Johan Nova of Colombia, improving his record to 5-0 (4 KOs). Cyrus Pattinson, from Newcastle, dominated Andrei Antonov, winning by 60-55 after a hard-fought bout.

In other matches, Sophie Alisch, a German junior lightweight, remained undefeated with a 60-54 victory over Marina Sakharov. Meanwhile, Ben Marksby of Darlington improved to 11-0 after securing a second-round win over Levi Kinsiona.

Though Eubank’s victory over Erdogan wasn’t the cleanest, it showcased his resilience and ability to adapt in difficult circumstances. The win solidifies his unbeaten record and prepares him for bigger challenges ahead in his boxing career.