How the cards landed
Bouttell’s pressure never stopped, but Hennessy’s shots were easier to see and easier to count. That distinction ensured the score. The judges read it 95-95, 97-93 and 96-94 for Hennessy. Close enough to argue.
WBC Silver titles exist to create movement, not to finally crown anything. They help with positioning and keep a network narrative tidy. They do not ignore the reality that Hennessy is still early in her development. She moves to 8-0 with one knockout.
Bouttell, now 7-1, lost her undefeated record. Push fighters who can work ten rounds remain valuable, especially in domestic title fights where pace still swings cards.
The co-function
Earlier, Gradus Kraus did exactly what he had to do. He tore down Boris Crighton with bodywork, dropped him in the first and ended it at 1:59 of the second after another takedown and a final dig down. Kraus moves to 10-0 with nine strikeouts. Crighton, stopped in three of his last four, is running out of room.
From a business standpoint, Boxxer got what it wanted. A young protagonist with a belt, rounds and a talking point. A clean stop underneath. DAZN gets continuity. The sanctioning body gets a different name in its lists.
Hennessy will be sent to another step before any title discussion in the real world. Cherneka Johnson holds the undisputed championship. Hennessy needs tighter control in exchanges and leaves more authority. Without it, pressure fighters will continue to draw her into battles she cannot fully dictate. The risk is not immediate, but it is visible.
