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SportsTranscript
00:00 [INAUDIBLE]
00:05 Touch gloves.
00:06 Good luck, guys.
00:08 Well, Hugh Russell Jr. giving the final instructions
00:11 there to both men.
00:13 English champion Mark Jeffers in the gold and black,
00:17 boxing out the red corner.
00:18 Darren Johnston from Scotland, the reigning Scottish Area
00:21 Champion, boxing out the blue corner in black and silver.
00:25 [BELL RINGING]
00:27 It's for the Commonwealth silver title.
00:29 An Englishman against a Scotsman in Wales.
00:37 There's probably a punchline there somewhere, Matt,
00:39 but I haven't thought of it yet.
00:41 More than anything, though, this is a good fight
00:43 between two unbeaten professionals,
00:45 two ambitious, hungry professionals
00:48 who both want a shot at the British title down the line.
00:51 Yeah, two young fighters that are still very much improving
00:54 in their careers as well.
00:55 [INAUDIBLE]
00:59 We've seen more of Mark Jeffers on the Sky Sports screens.
01:04 Boxed really well against Jermaine Brown,
01:06 boxed really well against Zach Jelley, the now British
01:10 champion.
01:12 And he's been frustrated, Jeffers,
01:14 because he accepted a challenge to box the European champion,
01:17 EBU champion Kevin "Lele" Sergio,
01:21 only for that to fall through.
01:24 Accepted it at just five days' notice.
01:27 Johnston comes in at relatively short notice for this one,
01:31 but has been in the gym preparing,
01:33 and he's fit, ready, and raring to go.
01:37 Jeffers has made the early running here,
01:39 just landed a short right hand, which was a good-looking shot.
01:42 Yeah, just before that, he landed a nice right hand
01:44 to the body, straight right hand.
01:46 Johnston is the taller of the two,
01:54 and you would think that he's going
01:56 to have to just try and use that height and reach advantage
01:58 in his long levers.
01:59 Unbeaten as a pro.
02:07 One all eight.
02:08 Jeffers more experienced.
02:10 He's won 17.
02:10 Good body shot from Jeffers.
02:19 Nice straight right hand to the body, working well for him
02:22 already.
02:23 Good left hook count as well from Jeffers.
02:25 Really nice, tight, compact, solid look about Jeffers.
02:30 Johnston was just trying to land his own right hand
02:32 to the body there as well.
02:33 It did land, but perhaps the better-looking shot
02:35 was from Jeffers, who's become a father for the first time.
02:40 It's a baby boy, Ronnie.
02:42 That's on the front of his trunks,
02:44 named after his granddad.
02:45 And Ronnie almost stole Fight Week at the press conference,
02:50 making himself heard at the back of the room.
02:52 Good body work from Jeffers.
02:53 This is by far the biggest stage that Darren Johnston has
03:05 boxed on.
03:05 He's a man of few words.
03:06 He does want to let his fists do the talking,
03:11 and they are going to have to do some talking tonight.
03:15 Jeffers is a real talent.
03:17 [CROWD CHEERING]
03:20 [BELL RINGING]
03:27 It's the first round down.
03:28 [CROWD CHEERING]
03:29 [WHOOSH]
03:30 Boxing on Sky Sports, brought to you by Voltarol.
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04:00 Bold, thrilling--
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04:03 New Nissan Duke Hybrid, defy ordinary.
04:05 [WHOOSH]
04:08 [CROWD CHEERING]
04:12 Welcome back.
04:13 That's Basley's Callum Simpson.
04:16 He'll be desperate that that graphic soon reads.
04:19 British title challenge up.
04:20 Him and Zac Chilly have gone face to face in our studio
04:25 last time out.
04:25 [BELL RINGING]
04:26 It's a fight that's on the horizon.
04:28 His managerial stable mate, both managed by Kevin Murray.
04:36 Jeffers and Simpson.
04:40 Jeffers just landed a sharp, short left hook
04:43 to start the round.
04:45 And whilst you were away, Jim Love in the blue corner
04:48 was just saying to Darren Johnson, just try and time him
04:50 on the way in.
04:52 Easier said than done, though, Matt.
04:54 Yeah, what I like about Jeffers is he doesn't really
04:57 make many mistakes.
04:58 He's patient.
05:00 He's economical with his work rate, with his movement.
05:04 Because they have real solid look about him.
05:07 Both threw simultaneously.
05:08 Johnson did land a long right hand there.
05:11 Doesn't really telegraph his shots either.
05:15 You know he's got a good jab.
05:17 Good left hook to the body from Jeffers.
05:24 As is his way, Mark Jeffers.
05:34 We've seen him previously.
05:35 He is a fast starter.
05:37 Not afraid to let his hands go.
05:40 You sense that Johnson's just going
05:41 to have to stay in the fight in these early rounds.
05:46 Full punch combination.
05:47 Left hand right at the end gets through.
05:49 Not much on it.
05:50 No, it was a big step up for Johnson too.
05:52 Jeffers has been on television shows.
05:55 He's got that win against Zach Shelly.
05:57 He's more experienced.
05:58 So yeah, Johnson's just got to try and get into the fight here.
06:03 Jeffers looking very strong here,
06:06 walking him back to the ropes, trying
06:07 to sink these body shots in.
06:09 Oh, good right hand over the top.
06:11 Yeah, good right hand from Jeffers.
06:12 Johnson takes it well for now.
06:14 But Jeffers follows up.
06:15 It's a good start from the Chorley man.
06:20 Johnson was a good amateur.
06:25 Boxed for Scotland and represented his country
06:28 around the world.
06:29 As I said, he's won the Scottish area title as well.
06:31 But this is a considerable step up
06:34 in the quality of opponents that he's faced so far
06:36 in his career.
06:37 Jeffers again looks for the long body of Johnson
06:40 with the right hand.
06:44 Sinks a left hook in there.
06:45 It's very easy on the eye, Mark Jeffers.
06:53 He's got quite a fluid style.
06:55 And he's not afraid to let his hands go
06:57 in combination punching.
06:59 [CROWD NOISE]
07:02 I think those were blocked by Jeffers.
07:11 But Johnson just trying to target
07:14 the body of Jeffers himself.
07:15 [CROWD NOISE]
07:18 [BELL RINGING]
07:28 [CROWD NOISE]
07:32 Let's just have a look at some of that Jeffers work, Matt.
07:42 Yeah, the right hand over the top of the jab.
07:45 Working well for him.
07:45 Left a couple of them.
07:47 Yeah, there's two one after the other.
07:49 His body shots are pretty good as well.
07:50 He slips outside the jab.
07:55 Fires over the top.
07:56 [CROWD NOISE]
08:00 Stay flat, pal, all right?
08:04 Just stay relaxed.
08:05 Stay flat.
08:06 You good?
08:07 I'm good, pal.
08:08 Good, pal.
08:09 [INAUDIBLE]
08:10 Yeah, yeah, yeah.
08:11 A little bit of blood to the nose with Darren Johnson.
08:14 But almost echoing what we're saying there.
08:17 He can just stay in this early part of the fight.
08:22 Jeffers got such a good engine, I have to say.
08:25 March 3rd, he ran four marathons in 24 hours.
08:29 And he actually did it in 22 hours, 104.8 miles,
08:34 raised 5,500 for St. Catherine's Hospice.
08:38 So well done to Mark.
08:52 Johnston just trying to work that long left jab.
08:56 Jeffers in the golden black.
09:02 Johnston in the black with the gray tartan.
09:06 That's a nice right hand from Jeffers.
09:08 Can't follow up.
09:09 I get the feeling with Jeffers that he probably hits a lot
09:16 harder than his record suggests.
09:18 [INAUDIBLE]
09:22 These shots sound pretty solid here.
09:24 When he lands, you can see they have an effect.
09:26 Whether it's a predetermined tactic
09:33 or whether it's something that they're looking to exploit,
09:36 he has targeted the body of Darren Johnston.
09:39 You'd say neither the biggest puncher on paper, though,
09:47 of the 17 wins for Jeffers.
09:49 Just four inside the distance.
09:51 For Johnston, just the two in the eight wins.
09:53 But they have boxed the normal, durable journeymen
09:59 that extend these young prospects to gain experience.
10:03 He seems to me, Jeffers, someone who's not overly bothered
10:06 about getting the stuff, which is quite patient.
10:09 I can say he picks his control--
10:11 he paces himself well.
10:12 He's conserving energy, picking his shots.
10:16 But you can see when he does land,
10:18 that there is a reaction from his opponents.
10:21 There is definitely some pop in those shots.
10:23 Johnston can punch a bit himself, though.
10:25 He has got those two stoppages.
10:27 And they've actually come in these last two fights
10:29 back-to-back stoppages.
10:30 And at the press conference, he said
10:32 he wasn't bothered about extending that run.
10:34 But what a statement this could be
10:39 if he could get a win over the highly touted Mark Jeffers.
10:43 [CROWD SHOUTING]
10:46 Some good body shots from Jeffers.
10:51 But Johnston had the elbows tucked in.
10:53 And they, for the large part, landed on the elbows.
10:58 Just Jeffers manhandling Johnston a little bit there
11:01 on the inside, using his physical strength
11:04 to bully him up close.
11:05 Just blood to the nose of Johnston,
11:11 which is evidence that shots were getting through.
11:14 That's a nice right hand from Johnston.
11:15 Really chopped it down as Jeffers was ducking low.
11:18 Yeah, good shot from Johnston.
11:21 Needs more of that.
11:24 Try and put the left hook to the left hook up behind it.
11:27 Well, it's a big night for local Welsh talent,
11:31 Lutelo Mohamed.
11:32 He's backstage with Rhys Edwards.
11:35 Rhys, you sold hundreds of tickets tonight.
11:37 I think half of them were just for your family.
11:39 Does that home support make all the difference
11:41 on the biggest night of your career?
11:43 Yeah, definitely.
11:44 It's going to spur me on.
11:45 It's going to give me a drive.
11:46 And I'm sure they're going to be loud.
11:48 Well, loud and proud.
11:50 What are the feels when you're fighting at home like this?
11:53 It's amazing.
11:54 Obviously, it's not bad boxing away.
11:56 But it's not feeling like home.
11:58 I know I'm boxing, but basically at home.
12:00 And I know that the atmosphere is going to be amazing.
12:02 And it's going to give me that drive.
12:04 Does it give you any extra pressure when you're fighting?
12:07 I'd like to say no, but maybe a little bit.
12:09 But I'll just turn it into an extra thing.
12:13 And yeah, I'm going to give it hell.
12:16 Good luck with the extra thing tonight.
12:18 Thank you.
12:18 Thank you very much.
12:21 You just get the sense that Rhys Edwards is living his dream.
12:24 All smiles, as he has been all week.
12:26 That's such a good fight against Thomas Patrick Ward,
12:29 who's boxed at a much higher level.
12:30 So it's a crossroads fight.
12:33 Youth against experience.
12:35 That's coming up later.
12:36 Back to this one.
12:38 Some signs of encouragement for Darren Johnston
12:40 at the end of that round.
12:41 Matt's landed a couple of right hands.
12:43 But he ate one from Jeffers there,
12:44 which was a good start to the round for the Chorley man.
12:48 Yeah, I think, again, he's going to let his hands go more.
12:51 But obviously, when he opens up, there's more chance
12:54 of him getting counted as well.
12:55 So he's got to pick his moments, pick his shots.
12:57 Got to try and disguise it.
12:59 Don't become predictable or readable.
13:01 Needs more face.
13:02 But this is-- he's under pressure here.
13:05 He's got to fight back there.
13:06 He doesn't want to give Jeffers too much momentum coming
13:10 forward.
13:11 He's got to fight back.
13:12 Yeah, that all started.
13:14 He just got caught standing a little bit tall,
13:16 which is difficult when you are as tall as Johnston.
13:19 But Jeffers fancied it.
13:20 And he just tried to put a bit of manners on Johnston there.
13:24 Credit to him.
13:25 He's taken it well.
13:26 But that was encouraging signs from Jeffers.
13:28 Yeah, just looks like he doesn't have any respect here
13:31 for what's coming back at him from Johnston.
13:33 So-- oh, good left hook there.
13:34 I think that broke him a little bit too.
13:36 He stepped on him here.
13:37 [CROWD CHEERING]
13:40 Johnston can't get off the ropes at the moment.
13:42 And that's not where he wants to be.
13:43 Good right hand from Jeffers.
13:45 Staggers down Johnston.
13:47 Jeffers turning the screw.
13:49 He's in trouble right now, Johnston.
13:50 Yeah, loads up.
13:51 Loads up with the right hand.
13:52 Blows in with the left hook.
13:54 Q Russell Jr. taking a close eye.
13:57 Looks so steady on his legs here, Johnston.
13:59 And Jeffers can get the stoppage here
14:01 if he can find the clean punches.
14:03 Still a minute and a half left in this fourth round.
14:07 It's all Jeffers.
14:08 Credit to Johnston.
14:09 He didn't go down.
14:11 Yeah, I think Jeffers has stepped off the gas here.
14:14 Doesn't want to blow a gas skip by trying to go too gung-ho
14:17 to get the stoppage, not get it, and then pay the price
14:20 later on in the fight.
14:21 So he's just eased off here now, Jeffers.
14:23 That was a torrid period for Darren Johnston.
14:26 But to his absolute credit, he's back in center ring.
14:29 But as you say, Jeffers just taking
14:30 a little bit of a breather.
14:32 [CROWD NOISE]
14:34 Oh, just misses with that counter right hand.
14:40 [CROWD NOISE]
14:43 You see good experience there from Jeffers.
14:56 A more inexperienced fighter might have got excited
14:58 with the noise of the crowd and gone all out there
15:01 trying to get the stoppage and possibly ultimately
15:04 then paying the price down the line by running out of gas.
15:08 Well, he didn't do that.
15:09 He knows what pace he can sustain and just eased off
15:12 it a little bit.
15:13 [CROWD NOISE]
15:15 Johnston just looking to the Jeffers' body with a left hook.
15:20 Both trade right hands.
15:22 [CROWD NOISE]
15:25 That was a really good first half for Jeffers.
15:28 Credit to Johnston for coming through that
15:30 because that looked like it was getting a little bit difficult.
15:33 [CROWD NOISE]
15:36 So this is where it all started, Matt,
15:38 with a big shot from Jeffers.
15:42 Yeah, beautiful left hook.
15:45 Johnston went down, left hook to the body.
15:47 Right glove came a little bit low.
15:49 And the left hook counter there, boom, undercheered.
15:53 Rocked him, and then he stepped on him,
15:55 then unloaded with both hands.
15:57 [CROWD NOISE]
16:01 Johnston still had enough of fouling, though,
16:03 to get the gloves up.
16:04 You know, got caught with another good left hook there,
16:06 but he was able to ride the storm and miss some of them,
16:09 block some of them.
16:11 This might sound like a strange question,
16:13 but what does that feel like in a fight when you get bugs like that
16:16 and someone like Jeffers is pouring it on?
16:19 Do you have your vision?
16:21 Do you have your senses about you, and you just can't deal with it?
16:23 No, it depends how badly you hurt.
16:25 I think he looked okay there. He knew where he was.
16:27 He knew the shots were coming in.
16:28 He had enough about him to get out of the way of the shots,
16:31 block, grab, and survive the moment.
16:33 Yes, he got caught with a few, but ultimately he survived the moment,
16:36 and Jeffers also realized then that the moment had gone,
16:40 and he's back off the pace.
16:43 Did really well to take that initial left hook, Darren Johnston,
16:47 because he was throwing his own shot in the race of the hooks.
16:51 It was Jeffers who got there first.
16:54 Fifth of ten.
16:55 English champion against Scottish champion for the Commonwealth silver.
17:01 Good right hand at the end of a one-two from Jeffers.
17:04 Johnston's got to let his hands go more.
17:06 He's got to throw more punches to get into the fight,
17:08 but then also he's got to be careful when he does open up.
17:11 That's when he's open for the counter,
17:12 so he's got to try and disguise his good shot.
17:15 Big right hook again from Jeffers, and a left hook.
17:18 Starting with the attack to the body, and then two right hands again from Jeffers.
17:23 Huge right hand. That's a knockout.
17:26 This fight's over.
17:27 That was a really heavy fall.
17:38 And let's just take some sting out of this.
17:44 The doctor is right there with Darren Johnston,
17:49 and Jeffers doesn't celebrate.
17:51 He looked badly hurt there.
17:59 The arm was stiff.
18:01 His eyes were open.
18:03 It was a heavy fall.
18:09 It was a heavy fall.
18:10 There's no doubt about that.
18:12 Jeffers just out of shot.
18:19 It's just in that neutral corner with Ben Shalom and the referee.
18:25 A respectful crowd here.
18:29 Just concerning times.
18:32 But as I said, the medical team were right there with Darren Johnston.
18:38 Just cutting his gloves off at the moment.
18:42 Jeffers immediately. I don't actually think he celebrated at all.
18:46 He was actually second man on the scene there.
18:49 And these are welcome celebrations.
18:55 And I think it's a good thing that he's still alive.
18:58 I think it's a good thing that he's still alive.
19:00 I think it's a good thing that he's still alive.
19:02 I think it's a good thing that he's still alive.
19:04 I think it's a good thing that he's still alive.
19:06 I think it's a good thing that he's still alive.
19:08 I think it's a good thing that he's still alive.
19:10 Welcome, encouraging signs.
19:13 Darren Johnston with the oxygen mask on.
19:15 He's just going to take a seat on the stool, but he is on his feet.
19:19 And there's no point in analysing that finish until we are sure that Darren Johnston is alright.
19:35 But it was a savage, brutal knockout. There's no denying that.
19:38 But it was a savage, brutal knockout. There's no denying that.
19:40 [unclear]
19:44 [unclear]
20:10 Very knowledgeable local crowd here in Cardiff.
20:13 Yeah, it's an Englishman against a Scotsman in Wales.
20:17 But a real respectful silence in the arena at the moment.
20:22 There is no rush with this.
20:31 The British Boxing Board of Control have their critics,
20:34 but their medical procedures are amongst the best in the world.
20:38 [unclear]
20:41 [unclear]
20:45 [unclear]
20:48 [unclear]
20:51 [unclear]
20:54 [unclear]
20:57 [unclear]
21:00 [unclear]
21:03 [unclear]
21:06 [unclear]
21:09 [unclear]
21:12 I can see that Darren Johnston is just communicating
21:16 with the doctor.
21:19 Got his trainer in there, Jim Love, just cutting the bandages off as well.
21:25 And he is just going to stand up, Darren Johnston.
21:40 And that is a relief for everybody, I think.
21:45 It's an explosive sport. It's an exciting sport.
21:48 Of course we enjoy the knockouts when they happen,
21:52 but of course fighters' safety is absolutely first and foremost a paramount.
21:58 So great to see both of them there.
22:00 I think you can see that they were gesturing about his teeth
22:04 or something inside his mouth. I think he might have bit his tongue.
22:07 Certainly some damage inside his mouth there,
22:10 but full respect between both fighters.
22:15 And the main thing is that Darren Johnston does appear to be alright,
22:19 which is a huge relief for everyone.
22:21 Referee is just bringing both fighters together in center ring.
22:25 Let's get confirmation of the round and the time from Big Mo.
22:40 Ladies and gentlemen, referee Hugh Russell calls a stop to this contest
22:44 at one minute, two seconds of round number five.
22:48 Declare your winner by knockout
22:52 and the new Commonwealth Silver Super Middleweight Champion
22:59 Mark Jeffers!
23:03 Mark Jeffers extends his unbeaten run to 18-0
23:08 with one of the knockouts of the year.
23:11 We'll be hearing from him after this short break.