Junaid Bostan and Bilal Fawaz battled it out for the English super welterweight title on January 31, 2025, at the O2 Indigo venue in London, culminating in a dramatic split decision draw.
Bostan, known as "Starboy," entered the ring with an impressive record of 10-0, aiming to continue his winning streak and capture the vacant title. Fawaz, on the other hand, brought forward his 9-1 record, eager to claim his first significant professional title, having fought valiantly through personal struggles and legal battles to secure his UK citizenship.
The lead-up to the match was charged with tension, with both fighters exchanging heated words at their pre-fight press conference. Bostan taunted Fawaz, noting his tendency to perform for the cameras. “You’re doing this for the cameras!” Bostan exclaimed, continuing the verbal sparring. Despite the banter, both boxers expressed respect for each other’s skills and determination before stepping onto the canvas.
From the opening bell, Bostan showcased his superior footwork and technical skills. Switching from his lefty to righty stance, he established control initially, landing jabs and avoiding Fawaz’s wild swings. The younger fighter displayed agility and confidence, staying elusive through the first round.
Fawaz, undeterred by Bostan's techniques, fought back aggressively, switching tactics to throw power punches as the rounds progressed. By the second round, Fawaz had found his rhythm, landing significant rights and showcasing more offensive energy compared to the earlier exchanges.
The fourth round turned pivotal as Fawaz managed to catch Bostan with clean shots, visibly disturbing the Rotherham fighter's composure. Bostan bounced back swiftly, mixing his punches and attempting to regain the upper hand, but Fawaz’s relentless pace kept applying pressure.
Round after round, the fight oscillated between both men’s strengths—Bostan expertly maneuvering out of harm’s way and landing strategic counters, whilst Fawaz pushed forward with vigor, landing clean combinations. By the seventh round, Fawaz's confidence peaked, evidenced by his tightening guard and increased aggression, landing shots with accuracy.
Despite alternating successes, neither fighter could secure definitive dominance as the match neared its conclusion. The final rounds saw urgency from both combatants, culminating when Fawaz unleashed fierce combinations, trying to seize victory in the closing moments.
After ten grueling rounds, the judges’ scorecards revealed the fight had ended indecisively: one judge favored Fawaz 97-93, another saw it 96-94 for Bostan, and the last scored it 95-95, leading to the split decision draw conclusion.
Post-fight, emotions ran high as Fawaz immediately expressed disappointment, insisting, “Even a blind man can see he was outboxed! All we can do is our best, he’s a great fighter but I'mbetter.” Bostan, reflecting on the close encounter, commented, “It was a close fight and could’ve gone either way. No excuses, I should’ve donebetter but Bilal didn’t do anything I wasn’t expecting.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn weighed in, stating he scored the bout for Fawaz and echoed the sentiment of the audience and fighters alike by calling for an immediate rematch. Hearn elaborated, saying, “I thought Bilal edged the fight 6-4. This fight has to happen again.”
This encounter proved to be pivotal for both fighters. Bostan retains his unbeaten record but was pushed to understand the demands of higher-level competition. On the other hand, Fawaz’s performance solidified his status as formidable competition, creating buzz for potential future matchups.
Both fighters now face the crossroads of their careers—Bostan aiming to refine his skills and consolidate his position among the elite, and Fawaz, continuing his boxing dream reinforced by his recent promising showing. The boxing community anticipates their paths will intersect again soon, hopefully under the lights with more at stake than ever before.