Théo Ticout wins EBU Silver flyweight title amid controversy

French boxer Théo Ticout defeated Spain’s José María ‘El Gallo’ Hernández in Montauban to claim the EBU Silver flyweight title. Ticout secured the victory in the ninth round of the scheduled twelve-round bout via an uppercut that prompted the referee to intervene and end the fight.

The victory places Ticout within the top five of the EBU rankings, positioning him as a potential challenger for the European title. His trainer, Mehdi Oumiha, noted that while the fight was difficult, Ticout successfully adjusted his strategy by utilizing speed to overcome Hernández.

However, the result has been met with intense criticism from the Almería Boxing team. The Spanish camp has denounced the refereeing, alleging that Hernández was subjected to repeated illegal blows to the back of the head throughout the match without disciplinary action. They specifically pointed to the ninth-round knockdown, claiming it resulted from a strike to the neck, and argued that the lack of officiating intervention unfairly influenced the outcome of the bout.