Zak Miller Crowned New English Featherweight Champion
On Saturday night at the Oldham Leisure Centre, Zak Miller emerged victorious in a hard-fought battle to become the new English featherweight champion. The 27-year-old outpointed the previously undefeated Lewis Frimpong over 10 grueling rounds to claim the vacant title.
Miller, boasting a 14-1 (3 KOs) record, had previously pushed British and Commonwealth champion Nathaniel Collins to the brink in a close majority decision loss last November. Undeterred, he patiently waited for another title opportunity, training diligently at The Finest Gym in Ancoats and even sharing rounds with teenage sensation Curmel Moton at the Mayweather Gym in Las Vegas.
The occasion certainly didn’t faze Miller, who displayed impressive stamina to overcome the determined Southern Area champion, Frimpong (8-1). The stocky Londoner came out aggressively, timing his attacks as Miller looked to establish his range and footwork. But over the course of the fight, the taller, faster Miller began to assert his style, using lateral movement to create openings and land cleaner shots.
While the fight was closely contested in the early going, Miller started to pull away in the second half, his superior fitness and ring generalship allowing him to dictate the pace. Despite a clash of heads in the final round leaving him with a cut over his left eye, Miller’s performance was deserving of the unanimous decision victory, with scores of 96-95, 97-93 and 98-92.
A Shot at the British Title
The win sets Miller up for a second shot at the British title, as he looks to build on this success and establish himself as a force in the competitive featherweight division.
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