Overview

• Essex beat Portuguese influencer Numeiro (Joao Barbosa) over four rounds at Manchester’s AO Arena on August 30, with the event broadcast on DAZN pay-per-view for about £19.99.
• The judges scored it 37-37, 38-36 and 39-37 for a majority decision after a chaotic contest in which both men received standing counts.
• Clips of the bout went viral as reactions split between praise for entertainment value and sharp criticism of the fight’s quality and safety.
• Essex prepared with renowned trainer Tony Sims and embraced family friend Conor Benn at ringside following the result.
• Coverage conflicted over Numeiro’s prior record, with some outlets listing a loss to Kalin Simeonov and others describing his lone previous bout as a win, and Essex collapsed in tears when his victory was announced.