David Papot wins a spectacular 12-round bout in London by unanimous decision against Harlem Eubank.
David Papot provided one of the biggest surprises of the evening on Saturday in England. The Frenchman defeated Harlem Eubank by unanimous decision at the Copper Box Arena in London, thereby securing the vacant IBF International welterweight title.
Eubank (22-2, 9 KOs) and Papot (31-1, 5 KOs) faced off in the English capital in a bout that proved to be a strong contender for Fight of the Year.
In the grueling 12-round bout, both boxers went down. Eubank, however, took the first knockdown as early as the second round, when a straight left hand caught him on the chin. Although the Brit got back on his feet quickly, he appeared stiff with only a few seconds left before the round-ending bell.
Eubank evened the score in the seventh round when he sent Papot to the canvas with a glancing left hook. The Frenchman got back to his feet immediately and shook his head to signal to his corner that he wasn’t seriously shaken.
In the tenth round, Eubank was sent to the canvas again after a powerful left jab to the head. He fell hard on his back and, although he got back to his feet, was visibly shaken. As expected, Papot then turned up the pressure and knocked Eubank down again shortly afterward, though one could certainly argue that the two boxers’ feet got tangled up in the process.
Although Eubank managed to last the full distance, it was Papot’s big night. The judges scored the fight unanimously in favor of the Frenchman , 115-110, 113-111, and 115-109.