British Lionhearts prevail over France at York Hall
FRENCH super-heavyweight
Jonathan Nacto was taken to hospital on Saturday (May 20) after he collapsed in the ring following his points win over Patrick
Mailatta in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) quarter-final second leg between the British Lionhearts and France Fighting Roosters.
A joint statement by GB Boxing and the British Lionhearts said: “Our thoughts, best wishes and hopes for recovery go to Jonathan, his family and friends and all of the French team. We are also offering support to all of the British Lionhearts team, coaches and staff that were involved in the match and may have been affected by these events.”
After he had been taken to hospital on a stretcher, it was announced that Nacto had won the fight on a split decision, and the crowd at York Hall in Bethnal Green gave him a standing ovation.
His win, in what was scheduled to be the final bout of the evening, made the aggregate score between the two sides 5-5, prompting a tiebreak fight.
That saw Lionhearts superheavyweight Solomons Dacres – in his WSB debut - go up against
Marin Mindoljevic, of Croatia. Dacres started fast and responded well to Mindoljevic’s weighty attacks, outworking him down the stretch to earn a points win and seal his side’s place in the semi-finals.
WSB debutant Will Cawley