Bevan Eyes Hometown Headline Fight After Eighth Consecutive Knockout Victory

Taylor Bevan continued his perfect professional record with devastating effect on Saturday night, delivering another knockout victory that has prompted promoter Eddie Hearn to promise the Southampton super-middleweight will headline a show in his hometown before the year concludes.

The 25-year-old Commonwealth Games silver medallist extended his unblemished record to 8-0 by stopping Argentine opponent Martin Ezequiel Bulacio in the second round at the Copperbox Arena, marking his eighth consecutive knockout victory since turning professional less than two years ago.

Bevan required just two rounds to dispatch Bulacio with a sickening body punch that triggered a delayed reaction, sending the Argentine crashing to the canvas where he failed to beat the referee count. The devastating finish capped another impressive performance from the rising Welsh prospect.

Following a cautious opening round, Bevan found his rhythm in the second frame and increased the tempo before delivering the fight-ending blow. The victory was particularly satisfying for Bevan, who labeled it his most rewarding triumph to date despite having stopped all eight of his professional opponents.

"Im over the moon and that was not what I expected to be honest," Bevan reflected after the victory. "Hes a very tough opponent and hes given some top fighters lots of rounds so that is what I was expecting. I feel Im getting better as the fights go on."

Hearn was equally impressed by Bevans performance, especially considering Bulacio recent form against high-level opposition. "We thought we were going to get rounds tonight because that guy went 10 hard rounds with the double Olympic gold medallist Arlen Lopez but we only got two," the promoter explained.

What particularly struck Hearn was the unwavering support from Bevans faithful followers, with approximately 200 fans making the journey from Southampton to London to back their local hero. This dedicated fanbase has traveled consistently to support Bevan regardless of fight location or billing position.

"No matter the time that Taylors on, those fans travel up from Southampton and its the same numbers all the time," Hearn told BBC Sport. "Its about 200-odd coming up on a bus or a train and I think thats unbelievable to support him like that."

This loyalty has convinced Hearn that Bevan deserves recognition in his hometown, where the promoter believes the dedicated traveling support could multiply significantly. "We will be in Southampton and he will headline this year, and those 250-odd fans will be a few thousand," Hearn promised.

The promoters commitment to bringing boxing to Southampton reflects his appreciation for the grassroots support that has followed Bevan throughout his early career. In a gesture of gratitude on Saturday night, Hearn offered to buy drinks for the traveling supporters to encourage them to stay for the remainder of the card.

"It cost me nearly a grand, it seemed like a good idea at the time," Hearn joked about the impromptu hospitality gesture that drew cheers from the appreciative fans.

Looking ahead, Hearn outlined his strategic plan for Bevans development, emphasizing gradual progression rather than rushing into championship-level fights. "When he headlines, it wont be a British title fight yet and itll only be a few thousand fans to start but thats how you build someone," he explained.

Bevan himself expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of fighting closer to home, having previously enjoyed boxing on the south coast in Bournemouth. "A show down in Southampton would be nice, theres some exciting shows in the pipeline this year and it would be amazing to be a part of them, I just want to stay as active as I can," he stated.

With 23 rounds boxed from a possible 54 across his eight professional contests, Bevan has yet to be extended the full distance, demonstrating consistent finishing ability that has impressed both fans and promoters alike.