The undercard at London's O2 Arena produced mixed fortunes for fighters whose names will register with local sports followers. Moses Jolly was awarded a 76-76 draw against Italian contender Guido Vianello, while “The Moldovan Monster” Constantin Ursu retained his British and Commonwealth welterweight titles after Northampton’s gritty Ben Vaughan was withdrawn in the eighth round.
Jolly and Vianello fight to draw
After eight physical rounds, referee and lone scorer Amy Pu returned a 76-76 verdict in the Jolly–Vianello contest on the undercard ahead of the vacant IBF heavyweight title fight between Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic. The decision left Jolly smiling despite clear signs that both men had endured a bruising contest.
Jolly, who hails from Swansea, carried a record of 12-0-1 (8 KOs) into the bout. Vianello entered with a record of 14-3-2 (12 KOs). Early in the first round Vianello landed occasional chopping rights while Jolly found his way to the body as his corner urged him to “use his physicality.” As the fight progressed Jolly found a home for his right hand and retained an upbeat demeanour between rounds.
The middle rounds became scrappy. Both fighters showed swelling around the right eye and Jolly suffered a bleeding nose. The third round saw increased clinching and in the fourth Jolly received a verbal warning for bundling Vianello to the canvas. Vianello’s left eye began to close as Jolly consistently targeted the body with right hands.
The fifth round was delayed after the ringside doctor inspected a cut on Vianello’s left ear. As the latter rounds unfolded, neither fighter displayed a decisive finishing blow and the final round failed to change the complexion of the close contest. Jolly’s corner believed he had done enough to win, and the fighter celebrated in the ring even as the draw was announced.
Ursu advances after Vaughan withdrawal
On the same card, Constantin Ursu came through a bloody, all-southpaw clash when Ben Vaughan was withdrawn in the eighth round. Ursu, defending his British and Commonwealth welterweight titles, improved his record to 16-0 (7 KOs). The outcome left Northampton’s Vaughan without a victory on the night after being forced out of the contest in round eight.
- Venue: O2 Arena, London
- Jolly vs. Vianello: Split-action, eight rounds, scored 76-76 by Amy Pu
- Records: Jolly 12-0-1 (8 KOs); Vianello 14-3-2 (12 KOs); Ursu 16-0 (7 KOs)
| Fighter | Result | Record after fight |
|---|---|---|
| Moses Jolly | Draw (76-76) | 12-0-1 (8 KOs) |
| Guido Vianello | Draw (76-76) | 14-3-2 (12 KOs) |
| Constantin Ursu | Win (opponent withdrawn, R8) | 16-0 (7 KOs) |
| Ben Vaughan | Withdrawn (R8) | Record not stated in source |
“He seemed to have the time of his life,” the report said of Jolly’s demeanour after the decision.
The card’s physicality underlined how quickly momentum can swing in close heavyweight and welterweight contests. Jolly’s draw keeps an unbeaten run intact but leaves unanswered questions about whether his work on the night was sufficient to persuade judges in future high-stakes showdowns. Ursu’s retention of his titles continues his undefeated run and cements his standing in the welterweight division.
For fight fans tracking emerging names and the next tier of title contenders, the outcomes at the O2 Arena provided both intrigue and debate. Jolly’s entertaining performance and Ursu’s hard-fought victory — albeit via withdrawal — will be fodder for discussion among boxing followers who parse records and ringcraft as closely as they do final scores.
