SSE Arena,Wembley - Martin Bakole and Sergey Kuzmin went to war for one round before they decided they didn’t fancy that much as Bakole outboxed the Russian to secure a unanimous ten-round points decision.

After a slow first round, Kuzmin went on the front foot in the second and was met with a barrage of shots by Bakole. It seemed to quell the Russian’s ambitions as Bakole largely dominated thereafter.

There was little doubt that Bakole, from the Democratic Republic of Congo via Airdrie, was going to claim a unanimous points decision. 

Marcus McDonnell scored it 98-92, Matteo Montella had it 97-93 and Yordan Ezekiev 96-94. Bakole fell to his knees in celebration as he claimed the WBC international heavyweight belt. Steve Gray was the referee.

Bakole made the best of a slow start, landing a left hook to the body and two to the head as Kuzman plodded forward.

Kuzman gave it a go at the start of the second, but was met with a bombardment of wide hooks by Bakole, who landed repeatedly, forcing Kuzmin back behind a tight guard, although he landed some hooks of his own at the end of the round.

Things calmed down after that, as Bakole boxed behind his jab, while Kuzmin tried to get past it and land his own shots.

Kuzmin tried to put some pressure on Bakole in the eighth round, but the pair got tied up and close quarters as the ninth went past almost without incident, with Bakole unwilling to take a risk and Kuzman unable to get through.

Bakole briefly threatened in the tenth, but the fight petered out to its conclusion.