Unbeaten English southpaw Ben “Big Ben” Fail and Scotland’s experienced Dean “Deadly” Sutherland bring their super welterweight clash to the scales on May 16 at Eco Power Stadium, Doncaster. Two southpaws, two contrasting trajectories — and one number in Sutherland’s record that the data demands we address.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, May 16, 2026 |
| Venue | Eco Power Stadium, Doncaster |
| Division | Super Welterweight (154lb) |
| Scheduled Rounds | 10 |
| Broadcast | DAZN (Worldwide) |
Ben Fail (11-0-0) enters this fight with his unbeaten record intact and a 56% KO rate that demands respect. The 28-year-old English southpaw stands 6’1” (186cm) — towering for a super welterweight — which gives him a significant frame advantage over virtually every opponent in the division. He turned professional in 2020, and his last two performances have underlined his finishing credentials: a UD6 of Atrokhau in November 2025, followed by a TKO7 of Cartwright in February 2026.
Six knockouts from eleven wins, at 56%, places Fail among the more dangerous punchers at 154lb. His combination of height, reach, southpaw angle, and developing power represents a genuinely awkward package for any opponent to solve.
Dean Sutherland (21-2-0, 7 KOs) is the most experienced fighter on this undercard with 23 professional fights across an eight-year career. The 27-year-old Scottish southpaw brings a wealth of domestic experience and a 30% KO rate. But the data contains one number that overshadows everything else in this matchup.
In March 2025, Sutherland was stopped in one round by Callum Walsh. One round. A KO1 loss is the most extreme durability red flag in professional boxing — and it sits in the middle of Sutherland’s record like a warning sign. To his credit, he has responded: wins over Grannum (UD6), Thain (PTS8), and Liashevych (PTS6) across late 2025 and early 2026 demonstrate he has kept busy and kept winning. But those opponents don’t answer the question Walsh asked.
| Fail | Sutherland | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 11-0-0 | 21-2-0 |
| KOs | ~6 (56%) | 7 (30%) |
| Height | 6’1” / 186cm | — |
| Age | ~28 | ~27 |
| Stance | Southpaw | Southpaw |
| Debut | 2020 | 2018 |
Ben Fail — Last 2 Fights
| Result | Opponent | Method | Rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| W | Cartwright | TKO | 7 |
| W | Atrokhau | UD | 6 |
Dean Sutherland — Last 4 Fights
| Result | Opponent | Method | Rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| W | Liashevych | PTS | 6 |
| W | Thain | PTS | 8 |
| W | Grannum | UD | 6 |
| L | Walsh | KO | 1 |
A southpaw vs southpaw fight typically becomes a right jab, right hand game — both fighters trying to establish their lead left hand and land the straight right behind it. Fail’s 6’1” frame gives him a major physical edge; at super welterweight, most fighters stand closer to 5’9”–5’10”, making Fail’s reach advantage a constant factor throughout 10 rounds.
Sutherland’s experience — 23 fights, eight years of professional boxing — gives him a genuine edge in ring craft. He knows how to pace a 10-round fight and how to box cleverly against awkward opponents. But the KO1 loss to Walsh is the wild card that changes the calculation. Fail is on a stoppage streak, is bigger, and will fancy landing a clean right hand on a chin that was put to sleep in one round.
The most intriguing tactical question: will Sutherland fight defensively, prioritising survival given his chin questions? If so, Fail’s size and southpaw angles may prove too much to navigate over 10 rounds regardless.
Ben Fail must:
Dean Sutherland must:
The KO1 loss to Walsh is the defining data point in this fight. Fail has a 56% stoppage rate, stands 6’1”, is unbeaten, and is on a finishing streak. Sutherland’s experience is a genuine asset, but a chin that was put down in one round by a flush punch represents a vulnerability that a developing power puncher will look to exploit over 10 rounds.
Prediction: Ben Fail W TKO — Fail’s size, power, and southpaw angles prove too much for a Sutherland whose chin questions remain unanswered at this level.
| Country | Broadcaster | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 UK | DAZN | From 7:00 PM BST |
| 🇺🇸 US | DAZN | From 2:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM PT |
When is Fail vs Sutherland? Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Eco Power Stadium, Doncaster, on the Allen vs Hrgovic undercard, live on DAZN.
What is Ben Fail’s record? Ben Fail is 11-0-0 with a 56% KO rate. He turned professional in 2020.
Has Dean Sutherland been stopped before? Yes — Sutherland was knocked out in round one by Callum Walsh in March 2025, raising significant questions about his durability at super welterweight level.
What is Dean Sutherland’s record? Sutherland is 21-2-0 with 7 KOs, having turned professional in 2018.
Also on the card at Eco Power Stadium: Dave Allen vs Filip Hrgovic — Main Event, Louie O’Doherty vs Ahmed Hatim — British & Commonwealth Lightweight Title, Michael Gomez Jnr vs Lee McGregor, and Maxi Hughes vs Lewis Sylvester.
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