Harlem Eubank’s world title dreams left a bloody mess after David Papot stuns him with three knockdowns

HARLEM EUBANK’S world title dreams were left a bloody mess after Frenchman David Papot stunned him with three knockdowns. The 32-year-old Brighton welterweight made a decent start but was overzealous in the second round and was whacked down to the canvas. Harlem Eubank lost to David Papot via unanimous decision Credit: Matchroom Boxing/Getty Images Eubank was knocked down three times in the bout Credit: Getty Images He got revenge in the seventh when Papot took a count and it looked like the tide was turning. But with oozing wounds over both eyes, he gambled too much in the tenth and was dropped by another brutal blow and later tumbled back down to the deck. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! The three judges ringside at the Copper Box scored the brilliant battle: 113-111, 115-110, and 115-109. The gutted fans’ favourite said: “It was a slow start, all credit to him; he’s a great champion. “I got caught with a few shots, I came back but he’s a great fighter. “I will come back stronger and now I am more experienced from that. “I kept going but I could not pull it back. “I will go back to the gym and get better, I feel I can still get to world titles but David was a better man on the night. Most read in Boxing WORLD CUP 2026 FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS This is Eubank’ second loss of his career “I would love the rematch, if he would give it to me.” The opening 90 seconds flew by without a punch thrown until the 35-year-old Frenchman stabbed a jab to the body and missed with a left hook Eubank pressured the veteran into a couple of corners but barely pulled the trigger, apart from one right hand to the visitor’s superb six pack. Eubank kicked into gear in the second, when he slipped a jab and countered with a right hand that smacked the sweat out of Papot’s silver stubble. But the Brighton hero got wildly reckless in the final minute. First he missed a couple of lunging punches and at the third fumble he was smashed on the chin and sent to the deck. Thankfully he only had to survive ten more seconds as the bell saved him. Eubank ate another brutal left hand in the third and looked in serious peril, with a gash opening up around his right eye. But he held his nerve and his feet and went on to win the round, with a rasping uppercut that connected and a lead left hook. Papot was being stalked around the ring as Eubank used clever angles to cut down the ring. But Papot was happy with his back on the ropes and Eubank marching onto his shots. Eubank took a couple more taggings in the fourth but showed an encouraging resilience. Harlem Eubank is the nephew of British boxing great Chris Eubank Sr Credit: Getty Images The Home of Boxing in 2026 There's a massive year of boxing ahead! It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring. Anthony Joshua returns to the ring in July to face Kristian Prenga ahead of a potential blockbuster bout against Tyson Fury later in the year. The Gypsy King also features in a warm-up bout the day before AJ, as he takes on Mariusz Wach in Thailand. And Moses Itauma returns for his toughest fight yet against Filip Hrgovic in August. Here’s all the big fights coming up… July Sat 18 – Harlem Eubank vs David Papot – DAZN Fri 24 – Tyson Fury vs Mariusz Wach Sat 25 – Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga – DAZN PPV Sun 26 – Errol Spence Jr vs Tim Tszyu August Sat 1 – Pierce O’Leary vs Mark Chamberlain – DAZN Sat 15 – Claressa Shields vs Kaye Scott – DAZN Sat 29 – Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic – DAZN September Sat 12 – Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia – DAZN *If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue. And Papot did touch the canvas just before the bell, but the ref deemed it a slip from a tangle and not a knockdown. Eubank’s lead left hook was finding a home by the fifth but Papot’s left back hand always looked the more damaging shot, and it kept returning. We hoped round six was a turning point when Eubank landed his first thudding right hand and a whipped left hook made Papot’s legs stiffen. But the silver fox used all his skill and experience to tie Eubank up and survive the round without further punishment. And in the seventh we were all square, after a peach of a Eubank left hook dropped Papot to the canvas and earned the Englishman a knockdown of his own and a 10-8 round. Eubank made a strong start to round eight with a right hand, but then there was a firefight in the centre of the ring and the Copper Box held its breath as the visitor seemed to land a couple of crisp shots. But Eubank’s chin was passing every test. Every time Eubank rushed in a straight line he was whacked and both eyes were marked up by round nine. But when he used quick footwork, angles, and lateral movement, he was toomuch for Papotts defencec, and his right eye was also cut before the tenth. Eubank made a great start to the tenth but then got greedy and was hit with a life-changing left hand. He collapsed to the canvas again and looked out for the count, he beat it and somehow boxed on. Then he slipped over, but the referee erroneously called it another knockdown, leaving him in a desperate situation. Papot landed a corker of a left hook in the eleventh too, leaving Eubank needing a miracle in the final three minutes. Eubank, nephew of Chris Sr, went for broke in the final seconds, his eyes a bloody mess, but Papot was smart and strong and held and hugged until the bell broke our hearts. Comment now