Tommy Langford (18-1, 6 KOs) fought on even terms through four rounds with the much avoided top ten middleweight, but ultimately a single big left hook at the beginning the fifth round ended his night. He beat the count, but he was on terrible legs and the fight was rightfully stopped. Khurtsidze (33-2-2, 22 KOs) now should be in line for a shot at Billy Joe Saunders’ WBO middleweight title.
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The 37 year old fun sized Georgian pressure fighter had an excellent opening round, but Langford seemed to adjust well in the second. The second through fourth were still competitive, but Langford did better at staying off the ropes. Khurtsidze was so casual in his defense, often truly not defending at all, that Langford was largely able to pepper him at will whenever he was on the outside. As he often does, Avtandil lunged in with giant bombs from the outside that most often found nothing. That is they found nothing until one suddenly did, a flush left hook on the chin that ripped Langford’s head to the side and finished the fight. Langford was cut in the fourth on an accidental headbutt, but it did not end up mattering.
In the co-main event Tyrone Nurse (34-2-2, 7 KOs) narrowly held on to his British lightweight belt in a close draw against Joe Hughes (15-2-1, 6 KOs). It was not a great performance for the champion and he doesn’t look like he can progress much past British level.
