LEE CUTLER survived a horror cut to be crowned English super-welterweight champion.
In front of his home Bournemouth crowd, the flatmate and training partner of WBO cruiserweight champ and defending headliner Chris Billam-Smith beat Kingsley Egbunike on points.
Lee Cutler = ENGLISH CHAMPION
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) December 10, 2023#CutlerEgbunike x #BillamSmithMasternak pic.twitter.com/qOcJBwYqz6
The thrilling fight seesawed throughout, with Cutler the relentless aggressor but the West Londoner had a spear of a jab and clever counters.
Right at the last knockings, a precise Egbunike shot slashed a gruesome gash into Cutler’s left eyelid.
Thankfully there were only a few seconds of the fight remaining and the local legend secured fair cards of 96-95, 97-93 and 97-93.
Cutler and his BIC crowd roared with joy before he slipped out to celebrate and have stitches in the oozing wound.
Victory rewards the 27-year-old’s decision to move away from the coast to London under a new team.
Cutler swapped former trainer Kev Thorniley for Josh Pritchard at Shane McGuigan’s gym.
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Pritchard, as well as Shane and Barry McGuigan, cheered him on against a resilient Egbunike.
But Cutler’s injury was such that he had to call off a post-fight interview so he could get stitched up.
His professional record now stands at 14-1, compared to 8-3-1for Egbunike.
Cutler had earned his successful shot at the title by defeating Stanley Stannard at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium in May
