Boxing News 24/7 Alan Dawson – London
Well schooled boxer Bradley Skeete produced another clinic in stick-and-move tactics against Laszlo Komjathi at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Friday, February 10. Komjathi was never in the fight despite his come-forward nature as he struggled to impose himself on the constant mover. Skeete, though, was able to win a knockdown in the third, but the knockout eluded him…
Dawson’s scorecard
| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Komjathi |
9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | - | - |
- | - |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skeete |
10 | 10 | 10 |
10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | - | - | - | - |
Official verdict: Skeete wins referee’s decision.
In classic Bradley Skeete fashion, the Penge pug boxed with great finesse, great fluidity and rhythm and, when he did attack, he posed a clear threat to the fighter imported from Hungary, Laszlo Komjathi.
Having been in the ring with Giuseppi Lauri, Michael Jennings, Rafal Jackiewicz, Marcos Maidana and Andriy Kotelnik, Komjathi had been in with some elite names, building up great experience. Like he had done against the aforementioned, he came forward against Skeete, which played into the Englishman’s advantages as he picked off his man with clever two to three punch combos; the jab/right cross move working marvelously for the rangy welterweight who, by the third round, was beginning to back Komjathi up.
Right hands forced onto the jawline and unorthodox punches fired from awkward angles troubled Komjathi who touched the canvas with his glove and was forced to take a mandatory eight count during the third’s proceedings, however, Skeete was unable to force the pressure and so allowed Komjathi ample time to recover.
In rounds four and five, Komjathi was back to boxing on the front-foot while Skeete continued to amass rounds with the double-jab and the right cross, his ability to use the whole space of the ring and also his patience. While Skeete has obvious athleticism, his defensive acumen is also built up on an ability to parry, something that appeared instinctive rather than looking to maneuver out of the pocket.
During the sixth round, Skeete momentarily switched from orthodox to southpaw to back again in a highlight of his ease with Laszlo. He also incorporated the uppercut with increasing regularity into his fistic repertoire yet there was a distinct lack of bodywork as he exclusively targeted the head.
In the seventh, Skeete took heed of the advice from his corner and put his front foot forward and began striking Komjathi with enhanced power. When Skeete boxed, he was brilliant. He could pick Komjathi off with solitary jabs and two-punch flurries without getting his face dirty, he moved around the ring’s periphery with grace, yet the trouble was, he did this for always. It gets the wins – like it did over eight threes versus Komjathi – but it quietened the York Hall audience who saw Skeete could trouble, dent and put Komjathi on the deck but persisted with the box-and-move strategy.
“You saw I put him down but after I hurt my hand,” Skeete explained to BoxNation when asked if he thought he could have gotten rid of his seventh pro opponent. “He’s got the hardest head! I live clean, I only got the call Tuesday to fight so I took it. I got eight rounds in. It’s all learning. I’m not blowing them all away but it’s putting me in good stead.”
Skeete moved to 7-0-0, 2ko with the triumph.
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