Fawaz’s Narrow Rematch Victory Finally Settled the English
Bilal Fawaz defeated Junaid Bostan by majority decision on October 11, 2025, at Sheffield Arena. The ten-round rematch settled the vacant English super welterweight championship, with two judges favoring Fawaz 96–94 and 96–95 while the third scored the contest 95–95.
The first meeting had left the championship vacant
Fawaz and Bostan had fought to a split draw in January, so their return meeting offered another opportunity to resolve the same title contest. Bostan entered the rematch without a professional defeat.
The Sheffield assignment paired the younger prospect with a thirty-seven-year-old opponent bringing experience and persistence. Another close fight followed rather than an easy route to the championship for either boxer.
Counters and body work supported Fawaz’s case
Fawaz mixed counterpunching with attacks downstairs and found useful openings during a tactical contest. Bostan remained competitive enough that the outcome depended on how the judges evaluated closely fought rounds.
The scorecards reflected that difficulty. Two narrow advantages for Fawaz were enough to produce a majority decision, with the even card preventing a unanimous verdict.
A confused reaction preceded the title celebration
Fawaz initially appeared to misunderstand the announcement and applauded before realizing that he had won. The championship belt confirmed the result as his corner helped clarify the moment.
The victory gave Bostan his first professional loss and brought Fawaz the English title that their previous draw had left unresolved. It was a measured points triumph, completed over the scheduled distance on the undercard of Dave Allen’s heavyweight meeting with Arslanbek Makhmudov.
Sources
- World Boxing News: scorecards, tactics and reaction
- Matchroom: Sheffield event date
- PhilBoxing: previous draw and rematch result
