RSR Looks Back at Fight Night in England
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By Michael Angelo Serra (At Ringside)
The Date: March 26th 2010
The Location: Dagenham, Essex, England
It was a case of repeat or revenge as Anthony Small laid his British title on the line for the second time, a fight that should have happened last November, that didn’t much to the annoyance of the challenger whom had two victories over the champion in the unpaid ranks, Small’s last defense proved a stinker as Small retained his belts against Thomas Mcdonagh, in what many felt was one of the worst fights in British boxing history, I myself consider Johnny Nelson’s challenge of then WBC Cruiserweight Champion Carlos Deleon back in 1990 as the perfect cure for insomnia!
At the press conference the usual pre fight insults and threats were present, hardly any of the so called press asked any questions other than the guy your reading this report from, yeah I scored a unanimous points decision long before anyone else did associated with this show.
“In the word’s of Harrison Ford, not on my shift” Small told Webb, before threatening Webb: “I’m going to destroy you” also not only chucking insults but also a head guard kindly given to Anthony from his sponsor’s Adidas, to his challenger who duly obliged by ramming it against the wall in Small’s direction, before hurling an insult of his own “you strapping *****!” I won’t repeat the word, in case it offends, lets just say it hardly did Small’s confidence!
Anthony Small, a down to Earth type who nickname’s himself “Sugar Ray Clay Jones Junior,” however in actual fact you may remember him from some years ago in The Contender, that TV reality series of TV reality series, whoops did I just repeat myself, history seems to, doesn’t it?
British Light Middleweight Title Match
Anthony Small (Deptford) champion vs. Sam Webb (Isle of Dogs) challenger
In possibly the first of it’s kind, when the champion entered the ring in a scream mask, he retraced his steps and walked back to the dressing room, thing was the real Anthony Small was waiting by the hoax one, one wondered if Small was going to fool his fellow protagonist with such ease once the bell rang!
When the real Anthony did enter the ring, my good friend Demetrius whom had been helping Anthony with his web site had very sweaty palms indeed, as did most of the boxing fraternity, in this a fight that a true fight insider would deem a pick’em.
Small daubed in a gorgeous looking white suit, complete with Adidas stripes and matching hat naturally, was certainly trying to earn his, and more so a 2nd successful defense, Webb had other ideas.
In the opening session, both did very little to stir the emotions or the pace of the fight, as Webb looked far too apprehensive for my liking, again Small did very little himself, in what proved a feeling out session, both could have been hugging each other for the little amount of leather in 10 ounce form thrown, one ringside observer Spencer Fearon asked my good self how I had the opener, my reply “Small threw five punches, landed two and won the round!” Fearon asked me to repeat myself, so I did, as did the two protagonists in the very next session.
Small from rounds three to six seemed to be taking a rather commanding lead on my unofficial card, for what that’s worth, as he seemed to be doing what little work he was, but he was getting through, it seemed Webb needed a wake up call and he got one, when a cut over his eye began to flow in the fifth, at one stage being led to his corner in the following session where the ringside doctor inspected Sam’s laceration, luckily he was allowed to continue and this seemed to spur him on as he started to fight back, and found a way through the elusive guard of the brash champion, even back Anthony up and scoring now and again to the champ’s head as he backed the Deptford man to the ropes.
There seemed a turn of the tide as Webb (153 pounds) was beginning to get through, still Small showed the resolve and stubbornness of a champion as he fought back himself, despite the early lead Webb was pulling back on the scorecards and though the cut was leaking no more. One slashing left hook from Small caused more blood to trickle from the aforementioned cut.
If it was a fake, Small via the scream mask who entered the ring to begin with in the form of a hoax Anthony, the mask of blood on the gutsy challenger wasn’t, as it flowed continuously, corner man Mick Williamson, also seconded by a great corner team in Lennie Lee and former British and European super middle champ James Cook helped staunch the flow of blood, but more importantly so, the flow of the contest as they inspired there man to fight his way back in this a contest of few twists but many turns.
Come the latter part of the contest and though I still had Anthony up on points, Webb was gritty a challenger as Small could wish to have met, for Small’s Clay, Webb was his Joe Frazier as he kept moving in close before unloading a fusillade of leather, Small (152 pounds) seemed to be shading the last few rounds in my opinion and I had the champion a worthy winner by five rounds, but the judges saw it differently as they awarded a majority to Sam Webb, by scores of 117-113, 117-112 and one judge scored a draw 115-115, it seemed it was a case of repeat and not revenge.
Anthony left the ring despondent and was also unavailable for comment afterwards, as for the new champ whom made himself available, so it seems despite Small’s scream mask that Webb is Small’s bogeyman, or in the word’s of the screen legend that is bogey, play it again Sam.
European Welterweight title
Matthew Hatton (Manchester) vs. Gianluca Branco (Italy)
In a vacant European welterweight showdown, Matthew Hatton, younger brother of former World light welter champ Ricky, took a huge step up in class when he squared off against the much more experienced and fancied Branco of Italy.
From the opener it was more than evident that Hatton had worked out what to do against the durable Italian, as Hatton boxed nicely behind the left jab, piling up the points behind the aforementioned punch as Branco couldn’t seem to find his way past such an accurate punch.
Eating Hatton’s left through out, however in the second Branco threatened with a right that shook Hatton momentarily but soon regained his composure and control to continuously outbox the visitor, who in the third tried to bridge the gap by upping his work rate but couldn’t seem to figure out the Englishman, and kept trying to close in on Matthew.
In the seventh the Italian possibly due to frustration claimed a butt. That angered Ricky who was at ringside cheering on his brother, who instructed Matthew to “work him”.
As the contest was closing, Branco’s right eye was also by the tenth, his eye was swollen as was his opponent Hatton’s confidence, who kept on the back foot.
However in the Eleventh Matthew began mixing it, but soon realized that discretion was the better pat of valor as he reverted back to type as he blasted the Italian with sharp combinations.
In the final session, Branco came out with a vengeance as he pushed forwards, Hatton kept his foe on the end of the left hand, and towards the later part of the round dug into the trenches as if to prove he could mix it when he wanted to.
Hatton seemed to do more than enough and this was clearly reflected in the scoring of 117-111, 115-113 and 116-112 to crown the Manchester man.
Both weighed on the championship limit of 147 pounds.
Yassine El Maachi (Morrocco via Finbury Park) vs. Tomas Grublys (Lithuania via Hounslow)
Yassine El Maachi, who the day previously mouthed off at the champion Anthony Small, failed to shine in a workmanlike performance at light middle as he duly outpointed Grublys in a rather scrappy tedious affair that was devoid of any real drama, other than Tomas (157 pounds) being given a count in the fourth, El Maachi (155 pounds) darted in every now and again with his shots, as he piled up the points mostly at long range to take the win by ref Jeff Hinds card of 60-53, but didn’t do his championship credentials much good in a rather lackluster display, however El Maachi will need to improve on this if his serious about titles.
Denton Vassell (Ancoats, Lancashire) vs. Kevin Macauley (Halesowen)
Only in Janaury had Macauley been unlucky to have not been given the nod over rising prospect Wayne Alwan Arab, however luck was unkind to Kevin (157 pounds) as literally almost seconds into the round he was almost floored by the stocky powerful Denton who was trying to put a dent in both Macauley’s chin and confidence.
Macauley tried but Vassell (152 pounds) seemed too well schooled and that bit too strong for Kevin, after the second Macauley was pulled out due to damaging his left hand in a scheduled four rounder at welter.
Darryl Setterfield (Redhill) vs. Darren Hamilton (Bristol)
In a light middle, Darren Hamilton (144 pounds) came unstuck in the final session, despite winning everything in up until the untimely finish, he seemed to outbox the stocky Setterfield (149 pounds) easily finding the target with little trouble, then in the final session a big right connected against Hamilton’s chin and he fell to the canvas, eyes glazed ref Jeff Hinds waved it over at the 0:53 mark, just a constant reminder of how one punch can turn around a fight, such is the unpredictability of boxing.
Pat Mcaleese (Newmarket) vs. Lee Noble (Barnsley)
In a fairly competitive bout over six, Lee Noble surprised many with a gutsy display against Mcaleese (154 pounds).
From the off both got in close and worked away, however Mcaleese for the best part had Noble (156 pounds) backed up, and seemed that bit sharper, as Noble finished with a bloodied nose, I felt the drawn verdict of 58-58 on ref Richie Davies card a little charitable to Noble, as I had Mcaleese a close but conclusive points winner.
Tom Doran (Wales) vs. Janis Chernouskis (Latvia)
Doran (157 pounds) took the lead in a rather well paced four rounder, starting off the busier the Welshman showed good variation with his shots, though he did look a little crude at times as he backed up Chernouskis (153 pounds).
However both looked tired as they traded in close, defense’s down but punching there selves out in the later rounds, it seemed Doran deserved a well earned 40-36 points decision from Jeff Hinds.
Joey Catchpole (Dagenham) vs. Johnny Greaves (East Ham)
Dagenham’s Catchpole, caught very little as he seemed a bit too well schooled for the brave veteran Greaves, in the opener Greaves was in survival mode as Joey stalked Greaves (both weighed 140 pounds), as he scored with some nice body shots that belief that of a debutant.
This pattern continued over the remainder of the contest, as Catchpole was far the busier, even cutting Greaves on the scalp and taking it along with a comfortable 40-36 on Hinds card.
Joe Murray (Manchester) v Yuri Voronin (Ukraine)
Manchester’s Murray seemed to struggle a little for my liking in what was to be a routine eight rounds at feather.
Murray was forced to box against the pressure fighting Voronin, however after feeling out the visitor Murray was stamping his authority on the contest as he picked off his man with nice counters.
However Voronin did manage to get through now and again as he caused a swelling under Joe’s left eye, but Yuri was’nt accurate enough and was adjudged the loser on points by 80-72 by Richie Davies.
Both weighed 126 pounds.