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Vyacheslav Senchenko dashes Ricky Hatton’s comeback dreams, knocks The Hitman out with a body punch

24 Nov

Alan Dawson – London

Photo credit: Mark Robinson/Showtime

On May 2, 2009, Manny Pacquiao defeated Ricky Hatton with a stunning left hook knockout in the second round of a Las Vegas showdown. By the Mancunian’s own admission, Pacquiao beat him into retirement, depression, a battle against alcohol and drugs and even became suicidal having also lost contact with his parents. His comeback to the ring, Hatton said this week, was an attempt to exorcise personal demons but, against Vyacheslav Senchenko on November 24, The Hitman failed to relive his glory days as he suffered a gut-wrenching knockout defeat due to a ninth round shot to the body.

Direct link to article.

Hatton physically fit, but unfortunately not fighting fit…

Dawson’s scorecard

Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Senchenko
 9 9 9 9 10 10 10 10 10 -
 - -
Hatton
 10 10 10
 10 9 9 9 9 8 - - -

Official verdict: Senchenko by 9th Rd KO.

Manchester City fan Hatton (45-3-0, 32ko) may have lost 70-80lbs in order to gain his welterweight physique but the affable former two-weight world champion kept every single one of his fans as 20,000 supporters at the Manchester Arena erupted into a raucous hysteria when the melody and lyrics of “Blue Moon” filled the ground. Senchenko (33-1-0, 22ko) did himself well in playing up to the role of visiting villain as the once-defeated 147lber wore a Manchester United strip to the ring.

While Senchenko demonstrated an understanding and appreciation of a: the jab and b: the counter right, the main motif of the opening round was Hatton’s trademark focus to the body both with the jab, but mainly the left mitt to the gut. Hatton continued to pressure Vyacheslav in the second round, however, when it came to timing, the Englishman’s three-year absence from the professional circuit became apparent. He also walked into punches but his sheer activity… his bulldogged attitude, forthright behaviour and his relentlessness overcame Senchenko’s work.

In the third and fourth rounds, Senchenko began play-acting and taunted Hatton whenever Ricky landed. Any smirk, though, was wiped off of his face when Hatton punched hard to the midsection. Hatton’s frenetic pace slowed somewhat in the fourth and, because he kept his jabbing mitt so wayward, he was vulnerable to an overhand right. Senchenko, however, at this point in the fight was not the fighter who would capitalise on this and embark on a calculated offensive. Hatton, meanwhile, came into his own toward the end of the fourth, stealing the round in the process.

While Senchenko may have lost the fourth, he certainly won the fifth as the visiting pugilist took advantage of Hatton’s refusal to move his head by jabbing accurately. Hatton was also coming off second best when it came to the tactical battle and, by the bout’s midway point, Senchenko – who was bleeding from the cheek/eye – had found range and rhythm. That success was largely because the fast pace Hatton fought with at the start of the fight had depleted considerably, but not to the point where he was in danger. Hatton, 34, still felt he was a few punches away from closing the show and lunged with left hands.

Hatton, like Senchenko, was looking the part of a man in a fight. He was marked but not cut like Vyacheslav was. Senchenko, though, was having his say from a number of angles and regardless of whether the fight was boxed on the inside, or from distance. Senchenko came into his own as Hatton tired… perhaps a well constructed pre-fight gameplan. By the eighth round, Senchenko was boxing with authority and punishing Ricky with left hook/right straight combination punches.

While Hatton struck Senchenko with a couple notable shots in the ninth, Hatton’s comeback ended in distressing fashion as Senchenko powered a punch into Hatton’s body and The Hitman crumpled to his knees, unable to make the count, only rising to his feet one minute later, shedding tears in disappointment.

Ever popular, Hatton left the ring as he entered it. A hero in the minds of his fans who, despite defeat, continued to chant “There’s only one Ricky Hatton… one Ricky Hatton… walking along, singing along, walking in a Hatton wonderland”.

Following the official announcement of his defeat, Hatton told Primetime of his ‘heartbreak’: “I thought I was winning the fight, four rounds up. I caught him a couple of times. I put my body through hell [by] losing four and a half stone. I’m really heart-broken.

“I get my life back together but it’s just one shot. I’m heart-broken. He nailed me with a few early on. I think I was doing alright… he only lost his unbeaten record last time out but I’m just gutted. I wanted to fight for world titles and had to fight someone like that to get to world titles. I was enjoying it but I was finding it heavy weather. I’m a champion and I’m a fighter.”

Hatton, with severe purple bruising over his cheek, concluded by ambiguously commenting on his immediate future: “I’m going to have a proper think about things as that’s not the way my career should end.”

Hatton’s loyal legion

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Martin Murray coasts to TKO victory, wants Sergio Martinez test; Scott Quigg KO’s Rendall Munroe

24 Nov

Alan Dawson – London

Martin Murray picked up the “interim” WBA middleweight world title on Saturday, November 24 and punctuated his status as a world-level operator with a dominant performance over unheralded opponent Jorge Navarro at the Manchester Arena. Having tied with Felix Sturm in Germany, Murray now wants to sign a contract to challenge Sergio Martinez in Argentina for the lineal championship.

Direct link to article.

Dawson’s scorecard

Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Navarro
 8 9 9 9 9 8 - - - -
 - -
Murray
 10 10 10
 10 10 10 - - - - - -

Official verdict: Murray by way of 6th Rd TKO.

For the first minute in the opening round, Murray (25-0-1, 11ko) tentatively boxed on the back-foot, however, after an initial assessment of his largely unknown opponent, Murray began to fight with confidence, with aggression and also with power. The Englishman, frustrated by an inability to be matched with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in June due to Visa issues, took anger out on Venezuelan power puncher Navarro (12-0-1, 10ko) and caught the unbeaten Bolivar bruiser with a straight right, jellying his knees and winning a knockdown.

Murray had ten seconds left on the ring clock in the first stanza and flurried relentlessly in a bid to win an early finish and an early bath, but Navarro survived the onslaught, recuperated during the minute break but was unable to box his way back into the fight in the second round. Murray patiently probed. The second chapter lacked the drama of the first, but Murray stuck to a disciplined approach and sought to take the wind out of his man’s sails before puncturing the hull with holes and drowning the vessel. His one-two was thrown well – and he landed numerous short-range right hands to the body before targeting the chin.

Despite carrying an impressive knockout ratio, Navarro’s attack was far too predictable and one-dimensional. He telegraphed too many of his shots and Murray was able to envision the shots the 27-year-old was ready to throw. Murray won all the rounds… he coasted through the third, cut Navarro’s skin open in the fourth and bamboozled his opponent with jabs, right crosses and fast combinations in the fifth. In truth, Murray could have had Navarro on his back with the fight finished earlier in the contest but was likely advised by his corner to ease off the accelerator and gain some rounds having been away from a professional prize ring since June.

Navarro was on his knees and receiving another eight count in the sixth round. Navarro appeared loathe to beat the count, looking over to his corner for assistance but was allowed to box on… just not for long. Murray preserved his undefeated streak, enhanced his global ranking and secured his technical knockout victory mere moments later when he ransacked the South American with body-bound flurrying, forcing Navarro’s corner to throw in the white towel.

“We knew he could punch… our plan was to ease our way in, get inside, break his heart,” said Murray to Primetime before commenting on whom he wants to challenge next. “I want to be in big world title fights. We’ve got some big fights to look forward to. As we showed in Germany, we’d fight anybody. I’d love to fight [Sergio Martinez] and I’d go to Argentina to beat him.”

On the undercard, rising bantamweight prospect Scott Quigg (25-0-1, 18ko) obtained contender status with his stoppage victory over Rendall Munroe. Quigg forced his counterpart to his on two occasions in the sixth round. The first, was a result of a left hook crack to the left side of Munroe’s ribs. The former world title challenger beat the count, but was felled moments later and, in obvious pain, was counted out by referee Terry O’Connor. With the victory, Quigg claimed the “interim” version of the WBA’s super bantamweight world title.

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Adrien Broner outguns Antonio DeMarco, TKOs the 135lb champ in 8th Rd

18 Nov

Alan Dawson – London

Flashy entertainer Adrien Broner defeated Antonio DeMarco in a near one-sided manner on Saturday, November 17 at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. In his debut title fight at lightweight, Broner dethroned DeMarco and claimed his WBC belt by beating the proud Mexican at his own game – slugging, however, while Antonio’s brawling style was wild, Broner’s was calculated… cerebral even, and the former champion’s face was cut up, bruised and bloodied as a result.

Direct link to article.

Dawson’s scorecard

Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
DeMarco
 9 9 10 9 8 9 9 8 - -
 - -
Broner
 10 10 9
 10 10 10 10 10 - - - -

Official verdict: Broner by 8th Rd TKO.

The first chapter in Broner (25-0-0, 21ko) and DeMarco’s bout was not characterised by any real notable fisticuffs, but more the body language and chat each boxer had. Whenever one would land a probing punch on the other, the recipient would smile, laugh, tap their chin and goad the other on but, by the round’s end, it was Broner whose power was the more telling as DeMarco returned to his stool wearing a mouse to the side of his eye.

In round two, there was a marked difference in speed between the two combatants with Adrien’s speed of fist proving a problem for Antonio with Broner landing the straight right – a southpaw’s nemesis shot – with exceptional force. In the third, a frustrated DeMarco (28-3-1, 21ko) began to increasingly target the body. When in the centre of the ring, he’d attempt a straight left and, with Broner with his back to the ropes, he’d tuck a right hook into the ribs. Broner, though, was controlling the fight largely with the jab yet DeMarco won the third based on his activity.

Gaining self-belief from his success in the third round, DeMarco fought in an aggressive tone that belied a man bleeding from a cut sustained to the side of the eye. An inside brawl erupted midway through the stanza and the Atlantic City marveled shots that were dispatched. Broner landed uppercuts. DeMarco sent in left crosses. Broner threw right hands over the top. DeMarco recklessly brawled and Broner refused to back down, opting to stand his ground and fight behind a peek-a-boo when mid-ruckus as opposed to his trademark cross guard.

Broner picked DeMarco apart in the fifth round. Putting his punches together, Broner began asserting a confident swagger through his ability to land hard combination punches on the inside, bloodying the face of the tough Mexican and rocking his head back with a majority of his quick, powerful overhand shots. DeMarco, for all his bluster waving Broner on to him, was receiving one hell of a beatdown and returned to the stool marked, cut and had to have vaseline smeared over his brow and the enswell pressed into his swellings.

Broner boxed ferociously on the front-foot in the sixth and even though he was completely out-landing DeMarco, because of his motion, he also walked into short-range straight lefts. In the Cincinnati man’s first championship encounter in the lightweight division, it was he who was ruling the belt-holder with a fast, powerful and unforgivingly relentless fist.

The physical abuse ended in the eighth, with DeMarco down on his knees, his corner waving the white towel and the referee awarding the stoppage win to the challenger. Broner lay gloves on DeMarco from all angles… he dug punches into the body, scattered a beating all over his adversary’s face and, when celebrating his victory with his father, looked like he barely had a scratch or sweat on his face.

“If I had a choice between being a fighter and a boxer, I’d be a playboy,” exclaimed Broner post-fight to HBO‘s Larry Merchant. “When I got a game-plan and see something, I go after it. Shake ‘em, bake ‘em, cook ‘em and eat ‘em – no homo. I knew he was coming to fight. He’s a world class fighter. I knew he didn’t have the skills to beat me. I wanted to make a statement.”

That statement is clear… Broner wiped out arguably the number one guy at 135lbs and didn’t even hit top gear. Broner looked majestic, but what may be concerning for his rivals at lightweight and even junior welterweight, is that we may have not yet seen his best.

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Carl Froch pulverises Yusaf Mack’s ribs, wins emphatically in 3rd round

17 Nov

Alan Dawson – London

Carl Froch‘s first defence of his IBF super middleweight world title was as swift as it was brutal as he knocked American challenger Yusaf Mack out with an acute body punch in the third round of their confrontation at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham on Saturday, November 17. Froch’s promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sports, wants only the elite for Froch in 2013 and spoke of potential rematches with Lucian Bute, Mikkel Kessler and Andre Ward.

Direct link to article.

Dawson’s scorecard

Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Mack
 8 9 8 - - - - - - -
 - -
Froch
 10 10 10
 - - - - - - - - -

Official verdict: Froch by 3rd Rd TKO.

Boxing with the Stars and Stripes on his trunks and adopting his trademark slick style with his left mitt low, Mack (31-5-2, 17ko) appeared unfazed at the rowdy reception provided by the partisan English crowd. However, like Lucian Bute in May, Mack had no answer when he was bum-rushed by Froch (30-2-0, 22ko) and suffered a flash knockdown in the first round before looking unsteady and ready to fall a second time mere moments from the bell.

Upon replay, though, the knockdown may have been aided by leg entanglement, but Mack’s body language when on his stool between rounds was that of a man who was shocked at the effectiveness of the bombardment he was forced to endure in the opening three minutes.

In the second round, Froch, 35, varied his jabbing to the mouth and to the gut. Midway through the stanza, he threw combinations to the sides of the Philadelphian’s body and, when Mack had his back to the ropes, there was a fan-friendly kerfuffle as both men swapped heavy leather, explosive bombs and egotistical smiles. While Froch got the better of each argument, Mack was no slouch when it came to retaliation and enjoyed most of his success with his left cross.

Froch worked behind his under-rated jab in the third round and his focus was mostly upstairs as Mack’s adapted Philly-Shell guard prevented access to the body. When Mack let his hands go, though, he left his body unprotected and this became his undoing as he was felled for a second time with a tortuous blow just above the belt-line. The decisive flurry included a right to the rib cage, a left to the body and a left to the skull before Mack submitted to his knees and required paramedic attention – perhaps due to broken, or at least severely battered and bruised, ribs.

“I get my body in A-level condition,” said the ageless Froch to Sky Sports 1 following the official announcement of his win. “If anyone comes in below par – that is what happens to them. Physically I feel at my best, I’m smashing my personal bests in training. Mentally, I’m dealing with these opponents. He didn’t come out sharp, I found my range early and them body shots would have hurt.”

Promoter Hearn spoke of Froch’s future: “[Bute and his management have] got to decide whether they want the fight. We’re contractually obliged to go over there [but] I don’t think there is one super middleweight out there – Andre Ward included – who can beat Carl Froch in Nottingham. Bute, [Mikkel] Kessler and Ward. That’s who we want in 2013 and the more fights in Nottingham the better.”

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Tony Bellew overcomes ghastly cut to shut-out Roberto Bolonti

17 Nov

Alan Dawson – London

Tony Bellew outpointed Roberto Bolonti on all three of the judges’ scorecards despite suffering a problematic cut in the third round of a light heavyweight tussle at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham on Saturday, November 17. The cut changed the complexion of the fight, from a gutsy encounter that could have finished early, to a cerebral hit-and-not-get-hit affair. Bellew’s promoter Eddie Hearn, of Matchroom Sports, will now push for a final WBC eliminator in March.

Direct link to article.

Dawson’s scorecard

Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Bolonti
 8 9 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
 9 9
Bellew
 10 10 10
 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

Official verdict: Bellew via unanimous decision.

“I felt like I could have got rid of him in the first three rounds,” said Bellew (19-1-0, 12ko), who picked up the WBC silver title at 175lbs with his victory. “He was tough, good chin. I just didn’t get the knockout.”

Pre-fight hostilities that involved Bolonti (30-2-0, 19ko) making throat-slashing gestures at the weigh-in on Friday were a mere appetiser for what ensued on the co-main event for the True Brit bill in the Midlands as both fighters landed with aplomb as early as the first round.

Bellew, who has boxed with a more risk averse method since suffering knockdowns at the fists of Ovill McKenzie in 2010, abandoned that strategy against his Argentine opponent as he fought on the front-foot and had his man on his knees, receiving a referee’s count, prior to the opening chapter’s conclusion. That decision was to Bolonti’s chagrin, who vehemently protested the count as he claimed the resultant punch was to the back of the head – a valid argument when watching the replay.

Bolonti was on his seat for the second time in the third round after getting caught with a hooking left early in the stanza. Even though he was losing rounds, the 33-year-old from Buenos Aires was no slouch in attack and was adept at landing his left, a shot that eventually slashed open Bellew’s brow and had claret waterfalling down the middle of his Chevy Chase.

Bellew, cheered on at ringside by Everton football stars Sylvain Distin and Tim Howard, did not his tactics in the fourth despite the cut. In the fifth, though, Bellew boxed Bolonti. The Bomber’s bleeding had ceased – largely thanks to the calm work of cutman Mick Williamson – and he bobbed and weaved away from Roberto’s swinging fists and fought with caution. Bellew had become more methodical in his approach and focused his attention to Bolonti’s midsection, particularly with his left mitt as he wisely kept his right at head-level in order to protect the gash.

Bellew picked his shots well in the sixth stanza and kept Bolonti at jabbing range. Boxing for the first time outside of Argentina, Bolonti did attempt to target the open trench on Bellew’s mush but his hooks and one-two combinations were largely thrown in vain as the popular Liverpudlian prizefighter’s athleticism and intuitive defensive movement ensured he was able to keep himself out of harm’s way.

In the ninth, Bellew backed Bolonti against the ropes but just when the attack could have proven troublesome for the visitor, he slipped out of the danger zone and back to the centre of the ring. The next round, Bolonti was hurt and on spaghetti legs following a body-bound combo and an uppercut. However, the South American’s recovery rate was sterling and he steadily walked to the red corner after hearing the bell.

Bellew popped a mustard one-two at the beginning of the 11th and there was not a moment that passed that wasn’t controlled by the Englishman. The fight’s finish was not climactic… considering the simmering heat during the weigh-in and the initial duelling this evening, the bout lost it’s fizzle sharpish, largely due to the cut suffered by Bellew.

Tony did well to adapt and shut out his opponent, but Bolonti and his corner would need to be asked why they didn’t force a stoppage on the cut. Even if he stuck his jab out and used his orthodox shots with more regularity he could have angered what was a large laceration, but, if anything, Bolonti boxed in a more timid fashion than he had in the first three rounds.

Credit for Bellew’s win must be placed with his corner, as well as himself. The change in tactics was on point but the work done by Willamson in calming the cut was nothing short of heroic.

“We’re in the pain business… we gotta go through it [but] I’ve got the best cutman in the game in Mick Williamson,” concluded Bellew.

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Kal Yafai trounces Nettuno in 52 seconds with badass body punch

17 Nov

Alan Dawson – London

Khalid ‘Kal’ Yafai, 23, continued to attract accolades with a hellacious first round knockout against overmatched Italian opponent Pio Antonio Nettuno at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham. The fight-ending blow was a well-rehearsed left hook to the ribcage which left Nettuno – who had a durable reputation – wincing in agony on the canvas within 52 seconds of the first round of their duel on Saturday, November 17.

Direct link to article.

Dawson’s scorecard

Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Nettuno
 8 - - - - - - - - -
 - -
Yafai
 10 - -
 - - - - - - - - -

Official verdict: First round KO.

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Wladimir Klitschko shuts Marius Wach out by issuing a relentless pummeling

10 Nov

Alan Dawson – London

On Saturday, November 10 at the 02 World Arena in Hamburg, Germany, Wladimir Klitschko gave Mariusz Wach a beating so sadistically consistent that the latter struggled to even register one point during their duel for the IBF, IBO, WBO, WBA and The Ring Magazine world titles. Klitschko repeatedly landed one-two combinations and had the far greater skillset but, if there is one thing Wach can take credit for, it’s possessing a stone granite chin.

Direct link to article.

Dawson’s scorecard

Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Klitschko
 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
 10 10
Wach
 9 9 9
 9 9 9 9 8 9 9 9 9

Official verdict: Wladimir Klitschko wins via unanimous decision.

The noticeable absence of legendary trainer, the late Emanuel Steward, would require something big to offset. Indeed, it was at the forefront of Wladimir Klitschko’s mind… the Ukrainian powerhouse said pre-fight that he feels the spirit of Steward and was relieved he had a fight lined up so he could compete on a stage that he and Emanuel relished for a decade together – world championship boxing. Introduced by Michael Buffer, the motivational nous of Sylvester Stallone and Red Hot Chilli Peppers’s ‘Can’t Stop’ anthem, Wlad’s focus was as intimidating as ever.

Relinquishing the advantages of height, weight and reach to Wach, Klitschko, for the first time in his career, was punching upward. In the first round, however, Wlad showed no signs of discomfort as he rapid-fired his trademark jab into Wach’s mouth and, whenever the Pole dropped his guard, Klitschko was able to power a straight right hand through on target.

With a build-up marred with bad blood, Klitschko had alluded to a desire to punish his adversary… to show no mercy and, as early as round one, it was the defending unified champion who was forcing the action, taking the forward steps, landing accurate and powerful shots.

In round two, Wach rolled the dice and took a gamble. The challenger increased his work-rate at the beginning of round two and during one of his first barrages, he turned Klitschko, landed punches but threw one to the back of the head. By the middle of the stanza, Wlad had started to beat the momentum out of Wach, who continued to struggle to defend himself against the long-reigning heavyweight king’s right hand.

Maintaining his composure, Wladimir beat the sweat off Mariusz’s brow in the third chapter. In the middle rounds, Klitschko’s punch perfect domination over a lesser-skilled fighter continued. Wlad’s footwork was elite, his desire to throw never wavered and while his head movement was subtle, it was damn effective. In comparison, Wach walked with a heavy plod to his step, he did not have fast hands and he did not keep them chin high which allowed Klitschko to pop one, one-two and one-two-three combinations before backing away and keeping his chin out of trouble.

That was, until, the fifth round when Wach caught Wlad and had the Kyiv collosus covering up as he sought to provide a block to the incoming shellacking. During the sixth, though, the Pole couldn’t capitalise on his limited success in the previous stanza and returned the advantage to Klitscko, much like he had done earlier. After half the fight had been contested, Wach’s eyes were considerably reddened and the 6’7.5 contender was breathing heavily.

In the seventh, Klitschko’s range was on point and he beat Wach up with successions of eight punches. One after the other… pushing his chin into his skull, pounding his lips around his mouth as if they were putty, ricocheting rocket-launched right hands off his cheek bones and worsening his eyes with every jab.

The longer the bout wore on, the worse Wach boxed. His defence was weak and leaky at the start of battle but by the eighth it was sieve-like and when Wladimir turned up the heat, Wach was forced to weather a brutal beatdown. The referee, Eddie Cotton could have called the bout off – such was the one-sided nature of Wladimir’s dominance and the timidness of Wach’s attack.

Amazingly, Wach’s corner allowed their ward to get back into the ring for the ninth, yet Mariusz had shown all he could do versus Wladimir and he was yet to win a round (on this author’s card, at least), so there was a clear argument that to spare the challenger further punishment, pulling him out of the bout would have been wise.

Despite his inferior skills, Wach did possess things that Klitschko detractors claim Wladimir lacks – a sturdy chin and durability. Wach survived the tenth, the 11th and in the 12th, ate numerous straight right leads. The Viking took a massive beating… but he did manage to hear the final bell.

The result – one never in doubt – was a unanimous decision in favour of Klitschko, who made a successful 14th straight defence of his current belt collection (WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO).

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Marco Huck defeats Firat Arslan via ‘scam’; Lucian Bute beats Denis Grachev on points

4 Nov

Alan Dawson – London

Marco Huck may have made a tenth successful defence of his WBO cruiserweight world title by obtaining an official win over challenger and fellow German, Firat Arslan, on Saturday, November 3 in Halle, but the champion failed to win over the crowd who booed the decision. On the same night, Lucian Bute got back to winning ways by outpointing Denis Grachev in Montreal, Quebec.

Direct link to article.

Huck warms up pre-fight. Credit: Gerry Weber World

At the Gerry Weber Stadium stadium in the Nordrhein-Westfalen state in Germany, Huck (35-2-1, 25ko) seemingly had no answer for Arslan’s left uppercut, which he continually landed with aplomb for the majority of the early and middle rounds. In retaliation, Huck’s cannonry mostly cushioned off of Firat’s guard.

It was only until the latter stages in the argument where defending champ Huck – 15 years younger than his adversary – had his say and may have edged rounds ten to 12 on sheer activity alone.

But, when the scorecards were revealed – 115-113, 115-113 and, astonishingly, 117-111 – Arslan’s trainer Dieter Witmann failed to hide his anger, branding it “the biggest scam I have ever seen” and a “disgrace”.

Arslan (32-6-2, 21ko) agreed: “I’ve never experienced anything like this decision. I’ve seldom landed so many clean punches and he only scuffed me,” the veteran southpaw and former 200lb titlist was quoted to have said by Eurosport. “How can such a thing happen? This kind of thing is ruining boxing.

“I landed so many punches. I think the whole crowd believes I’m the winner. I’ve been robbed of my win. I would have been the new world champion today, I would have written history.”

Huck, showing defiance in defeat, said: “I think I landed more punches.”

*

In Canada four hours later, former IBF super middleweight ruler Bute (31-1-0, 24ko) boxed his way to a unanimous decision victory over previously undefeated Grachev (12-1-1, 8ko) and, in so doing, kept his case for a contractual rematch with his only conqueror – Carl Froch – in tact for the new year.

While Grachev was an unbeaten fast-rising contender with a good-looking win over Ismayl Sillakh on his resume, he remained a 9-1 underdog heading into fisticuffs with hometown favourite Bute. However, when leather was traded on fight night, a more competitive bout than anticipated ensued. Bute controlled the fight when the southpaw fought from distance and scored well with his jab and uppercut, however, he showed a vulnerability when Grachev backed him up onto the ropes during the contest’s midway point.

The 118-110 score granted to Bute appeared generous, with the two scores of 116-112 and 115-113 more on point but, regardless of winning margin, Lucian was buoyant in victory. “I’m very happy with my performance against a very tough opponent,” he said, as reported by The Montreal Gazette. “I took some shots, but he was very aggressive. It was a good experience for me.”

The defeated party was aggrieved post-fight and claimed the judging to be “unfair”. Grachev said: “Maybe I lost three or four rounds.”

With the win, Bute added the NABF light heavyweight belt to his honours roll. He will now wait on the result of Froch’s fight with Yusaf Mack on November 17 to find out whether his shot at redemption will go ahead as planned.

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Prizefighter: Two fight novice Larry Ekundayo claims trophy with late stoppage win over Terry Carruthers

3 Nov

Alan Dawson – London

Larry Ekundayo, 30, went from unheralded two-fight novice to Prizefighter: Light Middleweight III champion in just one evening by decisioning pre-tournament favourite Craig McEwan, out-pointing Kris Carslaw and teekayoing Terry Carruthers in the competition’s climax on Saturday, November 3 at York Hall in Bethnal Green, East London. Ekundayo claims the Prizefighter trophy, a £32,000 winner’s cheque and a £2,000 KO bonus for his efforts.

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Prizefighter final – Dawson’s scorecard

Round 1 2 3
Carruthers
 9 9 8
Ekundayo 10 10 10

Judges verdict – Ekundayo by 3rd Rd TKO.

“It feels good, really good,” said Larry ‘The Natural’ to Sky Sports One following the official announcement of his three victories and tournament win. He continued: “Winning the Prizefighter means a lot. I thank Spencer Fearon, my whole team, Eddie Hearn and everyone who has supported me. My style is natural. I can adapt. I can switch. I [wasn't] gonna fight [him], I [just] boxed him. I didn’t get involved.”

Landing jabs, popping out one-two combinations and keeping Carruthers honest with uppercuts, Ekundayo (5-0-0, 2ko) boxed like he had done throughout the Prizefighter tournament – neatly and in an effective box-and-move style. Carruthers struggled to cut the ring off and the high activity that was synonymous with his quarter/semifinal fights was limited against Ekundayo.

Like reckless non-stop thumping dominated Carruthers’ style, the timing that typified Ekundayo’s was again on show in the competition’s concluding stage as Carruthers left his jaw unprotected long enough for Larry to sneak in hook punches. In the second round, Ekundayo even began showboating, much to his raucous supporters delight, who were jubilant in the last stanza as Carruthers’ legs looked shot the more Ekundayo controlled the pace, power and distance of the duel.

Ekundayo’s crowning moment occurred 30 seconds prior to the final bell as he secured an early finish, stopping Carruthers on his feet following a bombardment that had the latter momentarily shellacked. Carruthers disputed the call while Ekundayo was hoisted atop his cornerman’s shoulders and celebrated a Rocky style tournament win – and knockout win bonus – going 3-0-0, 1ko for his night’s work.

Manager Spencer Fearon said of his charge that Ekundayo will likely drop down to 147lbs after making a name for himself in the British light middleweight division: “I’ve been harrassing Eddie Hearn for ages! We’re gonna drop down to welterweight [now], but watch out!”

Tournament winner Ekundayo (third from right). Credit: Lawrence Lustig

Semifinal results

While Kris Carslaw was the more experienced pro boxer it was Ekundayo who had all the ring nous in the first semifinal of the night. Having only three bouts on his resume (including the Craig McEwan win earlier in the evening), Ekundayo found it easy timing his left hands into Carslaw’s mouth.The result was never in doubt as the Stoke Newington-based Nigerian booked his place in the tournament final with a points triumph by boxing in such an aesthetically-pleasing fashion that it belied his novice status.

Navid Mansouri made Carruthers look wild, reckless and desperate as early as the opening round of semifinal number two. With intuitive head movement, elusive body movement and his strong shots to the body, it was blatant that a monumental gap in technical skills between the two was evident. Navid’s accuracy alone was not enough to deter Carruthers, however, who remained game and, in the second round, threw shots in Mansouri’s vicinity; most of which clobbered his guard. The longer the fight went on, though, the more it suited Carruthers, whose determined approach won over the crowd, and the judges, as he swaggered into the Prizefighter final with a split decision.

Quarterfinal results

Crowd-favourite Ekundayo split decisioned McEwan in a competitive and energy-sapping quarterfinal that saw McEwan cut in the opening round, Ekyndayo beaten through the ropes in the second and Scotsman Craig almost doubling Larry’s output over the nine rounds of pugilism.

There was little to separate Carslaw from Ryan Toms in the second quarterfinal as both boxers were evenly matched on the punch statistics yet the judges favoured Carslaw’s work with two point tallies of 29-28 overturning one of 28-29 to Toms.

Carruthers and Peter Vaughan slugged it out in the third fight of the night with bad intentions from the off. Each shot was dispatched with the hope it knocked the other’s block back and the York Hall fans broke into song and chants within seconds. Surprisingly, the barnburner of a club-fight went the distance but the judges regarded Carruthers to be the greater of the bruisers and awarded him a unanimous score.

The crude brawling nature of Curtis Valentine was matched with the combination-punching ability of Mansouri in the fourth and final quarterfinal and, like Carruthers v Vaughan, both combatants relentlessly pursued the £2,000 KO bonus. Mansouri’s shots to the body were particularly noteworthy and was deserving of more than his narrow split decision victory.

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Frankie Gavin claims British welter crown with decision trumping of Junior Witter

1 Nov

Alan Dawson – London

Undefeated welterweight prospect Frankie Gavin won his third professional title – the British welterweight belt – with a convincing points victory over former world champion Junior Witter at York Hall in London on Thursday, November 1. Gavin looked out of his depth in the first three to four rounds but came from behind as Witter’s engine began to run out of steam.

Direct link to article.

Dawson’s scorecard

Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Witter
 10 10 10 10 9 9 9 9 9 8
 9 10
Gavin
 9 9 9
 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 9

Official verdict: Gavin by unanimous decision (119-109, 117-112, 117-110).

“This means everything,” said Gavin, who added the coveted Lonsdale title to his WBO Inter-Continental title and Irish light welterweight title. Claiming a sought-after domestic honour is a far cry from Gavin’s questionable status as a pro last year as he pulled out of a fight and had well-documented issues outside of the ring. He continued: “I’ve had problems with my family with my mum having cancer. I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I’m back.

“Witter is still a force,” the 14-0-0, 10ko fighter added. “He’s someone I look up to and to share the ring with him is an honour.”

Walking to the ring with a varied collection of belts including the Lonsdale, EBU and WBC title, the difference in experience between 38-year-old Witter (41-6-2, 22ko) and 27-year-old Gavin was vast. What Gavin lacked in professional pedigree he made up for in amateur background as he remains Britain’s only World Amateur Champion yet, when the chime of the ring bell began the first round, it was Witter who asserted himself as ring general by taking control of the centre of the squared circle.

Witter’s unorthodox and awkward style was fortified by his switch-hitting and within the opening 90 seconds, the defending British titlist at welterweight adopted the southpaw stance. What few exchanges there were in the first chapter, Witter got the better of, with Gavin’s nose marking up slightly and Witter punching his way out of Gavin’s clinches.

Witter’s boxing style has long been one based on reactions, rather than action, but his accuracy against Gavin was telling as Funtime Frankie’s face contained bruising on the cheek and a cut on the bridge of the nose. Witter, frustratingly for the challenger, was an elusive target and, while not a crowd-pleasing style, it was a true hit-and-not-get-hit start to Witter’s first defence of his Lonsdale title.

A more strategic encounter ensued in the third stanza as both fighters maintained a portside posture. With the action at a lull, that favoured only one man – Witter, who relished the slow, methodical pace of the jousting. That slow pace, though, almost ground to a complete halt in the fourth as neither fighter put themselves into a position that was worthy of winning the round.

Gavin’s corner, cheer-led by Dean Powell, implored the Birmingham boxer to “let his hands go” as he was trying to be “too punch perfect”. This worked to a degree in the fifth round, but Witter landed the punch of the round midway through the stanza. Building on his success in the fifth, Gavin took control of the sixth with a higher work-rate as the elder Witter slowed and struggled to match the pace that the challenger forced.

Witter showed frustrations with Gavin’s rabbit-punching, something that the referee warned the younger man about in the seventh. Late out of his stool at the beginning of the eighth, Witter’s body language was polar opposite to Gavin, who had grown in confidence throughout the argument. Witter’s accuracy was not as on point as it was in the first quarter of battle and his reflexes had also suffered which factored into Gavin’s ability to get in, land single or two punch moves, then get out again unscathed.

Schooled at the famed Wincobank gym in Sheffield (alumni include Prince Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson and current undefeated British pair Kell Brook and Kid Galahad), Witter had infuriated head coach Dominic Ingle who stormed at the veteran boxer in between rounds. Witter, who had been told he had thrown rounds away by dancing around the ring, failed to listen to his trainer and was duly warned by the referee for his inactivity and holding his left arm behind his back.

Gavin, as one might expect, capitalised on Junior’s stamina issues and steadily racked up the rounds. In the penultimate stanza, Gavin took even more wind out of Witter’s lungs by tormenting him with acute body shots. And, in the final round, while Witter danced a jig and switched from southpaw to orthodox to back again, Gavin quietly went about his jabbing and one-two business.

“I heard what Anthony Farnell said about me… that (Ronnie) Heffron could take me [but] no disrespect to them, I trained with Farnell and he always said I was better than Heffron so I don’t know why’s he saying that,” Gavin said post-fight on what challenge could be next for him. “But listen, if he wants the fight, I’ll do the defence. There’s a fight to be made, I’m not calling him out but if he wants to do it [we can].”

On his sixth professional defeat, Witter lamented: “I was nowhere near my best. Training camp went really well, I just couldn’t get my hands going. At my best, I could have beat him but today I wasn’t at my best.”

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