David Papot Claims IBF Welterweight Title Over Eubank

French contender David Papot scored a decisive victory over previously surging British welterweight Harlem Eubank on Saturday night, July 18, 2026, capturing the vacant IBF International title by unanimous decision at the Copper Box Arena in London. Papot, who was knocked down once himself, floored Eubank three times over twelve rounds to secure the win with judges' scores of 115-109, 115-110, and 113-111.

The fight was a dramatic, back-and-forth affair that delivered significant action. Papot established control early, using sharp movement and precise counterpunching from his southpaw stance. He scored his first knockdown in the second round with a straight left hand that sent Eubank heavily to the canvas. Eubank survived and gradually found momentum in the middle rounds, finally answering with a knockdown of his own in the seventh round with a left hook that briefly shifted the fight's dynamic and energized the London crowd.

Any hopes of a sustained comeback for Eubank were extinguished in the tenth round. Papot landed his trademark straight left twice more, dropping Eubank on two separate occasions and re-establishing a commanding lead. Eubank showed determination to survive...