Shabaz Masoud pulled off the bookies' upset over Liam Davies in Birmingham on Saturday to win the IBO super bantamweight world title. Masoud's victory makes it 3-0 in his rivalry with Davies, which dates back to the amateurs, where Masoud toppled the former IBO champion on two occasions.
In their first professional meeting, the Ben Davison-trained boxer improved to 14-0 with a split decision victory over Davies (113-115, 115-113, 116-112) in front of a raucous pro-Masoud crowd at the BP Pulse Live.
The key for the 28-year-old was the southpaw back hand, which connected cleanly on Davies' chin all night long. Davies could not find an answer for that punch and the overall sharp skills of Masoud. Masoud built up a big lead after five rounds, and it was a mountain to climb for Davies from there. He did finish the fight strong though, managing to push the pace when Masoud was tired and land combinations up close.
One judge turned in a controversial scorecard for Davies, although Masoud still came away the deserved winner. It was a matchup that pitted Eddie Hearn's Matchroom against Frank Warren's Queensberry — and another Matchroom vs. Queensberry fight sits ahead in December in the same weight class, Dennis McCann vs. Peter McGrail. Masoud could likely face the McCann vs. McGrail winner in 2025.
Saturday's undercard featured former undisputed champion Chantelle Cameron, who took a decision over Patricia Berghult, as well as former British champion Ekow Essuman, who won a majority decision over Ben Vaughan.
Catch full Davies vs. Masoud results below on Uncrowned, as well as our main card live blog.
Main Card
Super Bantamweight: Shabaz Masoud def. Liam Davies via split decision (113-115, 115-113, 116-112)
Women's Super Lightweight: Chantelle Cameron def. Patricia Berghult via unanimous decision (99-91, 100-90, 98-92)
Welterweight: Ekow Essuman def. Ben Vaughan via majority decision (95-95, 97-94, 97-93)
Light Heavyweight: Ezra Taylor def. Kristaps Bulmeistars via first-round TKO | watch video
Welterweight: Eithan James def. Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards via unanimous decision (99-92, 99-91, 97-93)
Heavyweight: Lewis Williams def. Lamah Griggs via second-round TKO | watch video
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER36 updates
Darshan Desai
Masoud BEATS Davies by split decision
Shabaz Masoud makes it 3-0 in his rivalry with Liam Davies as he takes a split decision (113-115, 115-113, 116-112) over the Telford man to win the IBO super bantamweight title in a minor upset.
The 115-113 scorecard in favour of Davies will be controversial.
Darshan Desai
Davies vs. Masoud Round 12
Davies gave it everything in that final round, it's not enough on my card though. Great fight between the pair. Both men threw from the first round to the final bell, Masoud was just sharper tonight and came in with a game plan that he executed perfectly.
10-9 Davies, 115-113 Masoud.
Darshan Desai
Davies vs. Masoud Round 11
Liam Davies is told he needs a stoppage in the corner between the 11th and 12th round. He's had more success in the second half but it's not been sustained. Davies has had flurries but Masoud has dominated long periods in rounds.
10-9 Davies, 106-103 Masoud.
Darshan Desai
Davies vs. Masoud Round 10
Davies troubled Masoud with a combination in the first minute. Masoud had a strong two minutes after that though, and might've edged the round. Davies just hasn't had an answer for Masoud's left hand all night long.
10-9 Masoud, 97-93 Masoud.
Darshan Desai
Davies vs. Masoud Round 9
Davies stunned Masoud in the second minute with a left hand, his best success in this fight. Masoud closed out the round strong though, catching Davies coming in with two-punch combinations.
10-9 Davies, 87-84 Masoud.
Darshan Desai
Davies vs. Masoud Round 8
Davies managing to close the distance more in Round 8, Masoud happy to fight Davies' fight at times though, choosing to trade with him on the inside.
10-9 Davies, 78-74 Masoud.
Darshan Desai
Davies vs. Masoud Round 7
Fantastic response from Shabaz Masoud in Round 7 after Davies had his best spell in the sixth. More flush left hands from Masoud, and Masoud is now incorporating the right hook. Left hand-right hook combination in the final 25 seconds.
10-9 Masoud, 69-64 Masoud.
Darshan Desai
Davies vs. Masoud Round 6
Best round of the fight for Liam Davies, who lands a sustained attack on Masoud in the second minute. Masoud responds in the final minute with multiple straight left hands. Close round.
10-9 Davies, 59-55 Masoud.
Darshan Desai
Davies vs. Masoud Round 5
Masoud's defense is compact when they are up close. Daives needs to switch levels, attack the head and the body and use more feints to disguise attacks. Masoud is sharper than Davies and that is proving a really difficult challenge for the Telford man to overcome.
10-9 Masoud, 50-45 Masoud.
Darshan Desai
Davies vs. Masoud Round 4
Blood is starting to flow from the right eye of Liam Davies, the side of the face that Masoud is hammering with the left hand. Davies threw a combination in the last 45 seconds and followed it up with a decent right hand to the body. He needs to get closer.
10-9 Masoud, 40-36 Masoud.
Darshan Desai
Davies vs. Masoud Round 3
Masoud's hands are too fast for Davies at this point in the fight, more power left hands connecting on Davies' face. Davies is struggling to land really clean. He needs to take his time more instead of rushing the punches.
10-9 Masoud, 30-27 Masoud.
Darshan Desai
Davies vs. Masoud Round 2
Better round for Davies, who lets a few combinations go. The clean power punches in that round again came from Masoud though. The southpaw left hand from Masoud still cannot miss. Davies warned several times now for use of the elbow.
10-9 Masoud, 20-18 Masoud.
Darshan Desai
Davies vs. Masoud Round 1
Terrific opening round for Shabaz Masoud, who finds a home on Liam Davies' chin for that left hand. Masoud landed the straight back hand flush at least half a dozen times. Big round for the challenger on the back foot, Davies attempting to apply pressure and push him back.
10-9 Masoud.
Darshan Desai
Main Event Next: Liam Davies vs. Shabaz Masoud
In a battle of unbeatens, domestic rivals Liam Davies (16-0, 8 KOs) and Shabaz Masoud (13-0, 4 KOs) clash for the IBO super bantamweight world title. Masoud holds two amateur wins over Davies. Will it be repeat or revenge in the pro game tonight?
Darshan Desai
Cameron BEATS Berghult in the co-feature
Chantelle Cameron dominates Patricia Berghult to win a wide unanimous decision (99-91, 100-90, 98-92). She will now have her eyes firmly set on the Nov. 15 Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2 winner.
Darshan Desai
Cameron vs. Berghult Rounds 9-10
Berghult had her best round of the fight in round 9, keeping Cameron away for long periods of the round with her left hand but Cameron still had her moments, probably the only round you can score for Berghult.
Cameron finishes the fight strong though in the final round with more aggression and work rate and should win a comfortable decision.
99-91 Cameron
Darshan Desai
Cameron vs. Berghult Rounds 7-8
The right hand has been the best punch for Cameron in the last few rounds. Berghult throws a wild, looping left hand and is easily countered by Cameron's right. Cameron is clearly levels above Berghult and is on her way to a shutout decision win.
80-72 Cameron
Darshan Desai
Cameron vs. Berghult Rounds 5-6
Big body attack from Cameron at the end of round 6. Berghult looks winded, the left hook to the body — which Cameron is sitting down on — is doing the damage. Two more dominant rounds for Cameron.
60-54 Cameron
Darshan Desai
Cameron vs. Berghult Rounds 3-4
One-sided for the most part. Berghult stumbled back when Cameron landed the left hand in round 3, looked more of a balance issue rather than the impact of the punch though. Cameron finding a home for the right hand in the final 30 seconds of round 4. Two more rounds in the bank for the Brit.
40-36 Cameron
Darshan Desai
Cameron vs. Berghult Rounds 1-2
Cameron starts aggressively, forcing Berghult back with a jab and then when she gets close, Cameron lets her hands go with hooks and uppercuts. The right uppercut, left hook combination landing clean several times. Cameron wins both rounds convincingly.
20-18 Cameron
Darshan Desai
Next: Chantelle Cameron vs. Patricia Berghult
The former undisputed super lightweight champion Chantelle Cameron (19-1) battles the former WBC super welterweight titleist Patricia Berghult (17-1) in the co-feature in Birmingham.
Darshan Desai
Essuman BEATS Vaughan in tremendous welterweight fight
Ekow Essuman retains his WBO European title with a majority decision (95-95, 97-94, 97-93) win over the previously unbeaten Ben Vaughan. Fantastic fight, Essuman will move into bigger challenges now, but Vaughan will be back as well.
Darshan Desai
Essuman vs. Vaughan Round 10
Vaughan piling the pressure on Essuman. It's a big finish from the yong stud in the championship rounds, Essuman tired late on and couldn't match Vaughan in the last few rounds.
Tremendous back-and-forth fight between the pair and a second British fight of the year contender for Essuman in 2024.
10-9 Vaughan, 95-95 draw
Darshan Desai
Essuman vs. Vaughan Round 9
Vaughan landing power punches on a tired Essuman and pushing him back. Great round for the undefeated fighter late in the contest. Essuman needs to stay out of trouble in the final stanza, Vaughan has more left in the tank.
10-9 Vaughan, 86-85 Essuman
Darshan Desai
Essuman vs. Vaughan Round 8
Action has slowed again in the 8th. Both men are very tired and understandably so considering the pace this fight has been fought. Difficult round to score, nothing really significant landing; Vaughan was the aggressor.
10-9 Vaughan, 77-75 Essuman
Darshan Desai
Essuman vs. Vaughan Round 7
Good first two minutes of the round for Essuman but Vaughan finishes the round strong. Vaughan needs to be able to carry the momentum on to the next round and produce a big finish to this fight, Essuman seems to be in front now, big cut over Vaughan's right eye, which surely is impacting his vision.
10-9 Essuman, 68-65 Essuman
Darshan Desai
Essuman vs. Vaughan Round 6
Vaughan has perhaps slowed down a little as we enter the second half of this contest. Essuman throwing sharp, straight punches and keeping the fight at long range, which is obviously not Vaughan's forte. Good right hook from Vaughan though in the final 15 seconds.
10-9 Essuman, 58-56 Essuman
Darshan Desai
Essuman vs. Vaughan Round 5
The tide has turned in round 5. Essuman catches Vaughan with a straight right hand and follows it up with a right uppercut. Vaughan stumbled there. Much needed breakthrough for Essuman just when Vaughan looked like he was taking over. Great action!
10-9 Essuman, 48-47 Essuman
Darshan Desai
Essuman vs. Vaughan Round 4
Big round four for Ben Vaughan. He had Essuman hurt to the body in the final minute with a southpaw left hand. Vaughan is relentless and is outhrowing and outlanding Essuman. Essuman has to get back to moving and countering.
10-9 Vaughan, 38-38
Darshan Desai
Essuman vs. Vaughan Round 3
Better round for Ben Vaughan, Essuman is just holding his feet more and allowing Vaughan to get off his attacks. If it's a battle of volume, Vaughan will come on top every time.
10-9 Vaughan, 29-28 Essuman
Darshan Desai
Essuman vs. Vaughan Round 2
Blood all over the face of Vaughan as a result of a head clash. Essuman is sharper than Vaughan and outboxing him off the back foot. Vaughan needs to be able to disguise his attacks better and quicken up the feet or Essuman will beat him to the punch every time. Vaughan hurt in the final minute but not discouraged by it and he keeps firing.
10-9 Essuman, 20-18 Essuman
Darshan Desai
Essuman vs. Vaughan Round 1
Fast start from both men. Vaughan is a bit reckless defensively early and is leaning over his front foot when he punches, Essuman is capitilizing on that mistake by countering with the straight right hand. Vaughan is putting on a lot of pressure though, he's not fazed at all by the big jump in levels.
10-9 Essuman
Darshan Desai
Next up: Ekow Essuman vs. Ben Vaughan
Ekow Essuman (20-1) defends his WBO European welterweight title against the unbeaten Ben Vaughan (10-0) over ten rounds.
Darshan Desai
Taylor STOPS Bulmeistars inside 30 seconds
Ezra Taylor drops Kristaps Bulmeistars with the first significant punch of the fight, a right hand over the top of Bulmeistars's jab. Bulmeistars stumbles up at the count of 7 but the referee decides that he is not fit to continue. Offical time of the stoppage: 24 seconds in round 1.
Light Heavyweight prospect Ezra Taylor (9-0) faces Latvia's Kristaps Bulmeistars (12-2) over ten rounds in the third main card fight.
Darshan Desai
Eithan James BEATS Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards
Eithan James outboxes the previously unbeaten Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards to win a comfortable unanimous decision (99-92, 99-91, 97-93) in their ten round welterweight bout.