TalkingBoxing's British Update
Magee back with intent; Calzaghe shambles does no-one any favours
by
Dave Crellin
3/24 - Eamonn Magee is one of the last people you’d cast as Cinderella but his fairytale comeback was certainly helped by Alan Vester’s convincing imitation of a pumpkin last Friday night in Belfast.
Magee was headlining the Kings Hall show following the abandonment of the Joe Calzaghe-Brian Magee bill-topper (more on that below). The Belfast southpaw retained his WBU welterweight belt against perennial contender Vester and, whilst the Dane never showed much inclination to cause an upset, Magee’s dispatching of the challenger inside three rounds was nonetheless impressive.
The opening two rounds saw Magee getting back into the swing of things but having to do more of the chasing that he’s used to – Magee at his best is a sharp counter-puncher who famously decked Ricky Hatton in the opening round of their match. Vester was on the back foot from the start but only by the third was he being caught with worthwhile shots. But when they came, they did their job.
In fact, though, it was a clash of heads which did the most visible early damage in the third, opening up a thick gash over his right eye. Vester had been put down and was looking groggy - and there was still over two minutes left in the round. Magee bided his time but soon had Vester trapped in the corner. A flurry (with a few effective punches) brought a slump to the canvas and a visible wilting of Vester’s desire.
A third knockdown shortly after following continued Magee pressure saw the Dane spit out his gumshield and, although he just beat referee Mickey Vann’s count, the contest was rightly waved off.
Good stuff for Magee, who gets a solid comeback win against a semi-decent opponent. Vester, though, is no benchmark for the division – Magee will have to face much tougher challenges if he’s serious about becoming a title contender again. But after coming through the last year, who would bet against him?
On the undercard there was a surprise technical loss for local man Neil Sinclair, the former WBO welterweight challenger, who was stopped inside a round against novice Taz Jones following a really nasty cut near his hairline. The cut was well away from his eyes but immediately started pouring blood, leaving Sinclair looking like an extra from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Given much of the rest of the card was made up of (albeit decent )debutants, this was a real disappointment.
All quiet on the Western Front this weekend as Easter sees everyone off to visit their mothers and gorge themselves on cheap chocolate. Joe Calzaghe, of course, won’t be eating much as he continues to boil himself down to 168 for the clash with Mario Veit that forced the cancellation of the Brain Magee match in Belfast – Calzaghe isn’t allowed to fight within 60 days of a mandatory defence. Having to scrap the Belfast bout was a shambolic situation that must have been known about before the announcement was made. This doesn’t say much about the organisation of the various parties involved, with each blaming each other and ultimately German TV copping the collective flak, but Calzaghe has only recently brought in a nutritionist implying that the Magee contest was not uppermost in his mind.
Whatever the situation, Calzaghe can’t afford to try the patience of the British (and world) fight-watching public – the Belfast debacle only puts more pressure on the Veit match.
Happy Easter.
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