TalkingBoxing Articles
Power uses his head to win; English title matches previewed
WED May 25, DAVE CRELLIN - It looked like it would be a corker and Martin Power and Dale Robinson didn’t disappoint in a cracking contest for the vacant British bantamweight title in London on Friday night.
The bout was fiercely contested from the off, with Robinson moving forward and Power finding some quality punching in return. The two threw and landed good shots all night but perhaps the most telling blow came in the second when, following a burst of toe-to-toe action, Power launched himself head-first at Robinson. The referee claimed not to have seen it and, to be fair to Paul Thomas, many at ringside missed it, but later television replays showed it to be an out-and-out flying headbutt.
The result was a big cut over Robinson’s left eye which, although it didn’t end the fight, was a significant injury.
Robinson soldiered on and both boxers produced a stunning effort for the full twelve rounds. The final verdict, a 116-113 decision for Power, was hard to argue with if only because so many rounds were so close you could understand them being given either way. But from my perspective the whole bout, hugely enjoyable as it was, was overshadowed by Power’s moment of brutish illegality. Boxing is a tough enough sport without its participants having to contend with headbutts: Robinson must have been hampered by the blood which coursed from the wound throughout the remainder of the contest. I don’t think anyone would complain if these two were put in with each other again.
Up in Glasgow super featherweight Willie Limond stopped Ugandan John Mackay in the fifth of eight.
Looking ahead and the main action this weekend revolves around English titles, namely the light welter and light heavy belts. The 140-pound title will be defended by Nigel Wright in County Durham on Friday night against former holder Alan Bosworth. Bosworth won the vacant title from a shop-worn Stephen Smith, who hung up the gloves after the defeat, before relinquishing the belt for a losing pop at Francie Barrett and the EEC title. Bosworth was on something of a roll of decent shows in 2003 but the Barrett defeat was his only outing last year and he has a long history of losing against anyone with class. Wright has certainly shown ability but Bosworth will be motivated for this one, even though he’s the travelling fighter. The local man, however, should take a reasonably entertaining points victory.
Down in Portsmouth, home town light heavy Tony Oakey continues the sporting part of his rehabilitation (following a ban for cocaine use) with a crack at Peter Haymer’s English belt. Oakey, who has multiple defences of the WBU 175-pound belt, has mixed in slightly better company but Haymer is no slouch. Both are boxers rather than punchers as well, so this should be another distance bout between two guys who, on paper at least, are reasonably well-matched. Oakey does have the better pedigree but Haymer certainly has the ability to make up for the gap in experience. Oakey to squeak the belt away from Haymer in a good tactical battle.
Amir Khan will make his professional debut in his home town of Bolton after the Skelton – Williams card which Khan will be supporting was uprooted to accommodate fans of the debuting teenager.
Frank Warren’s Sports Network organisation, which manages the careers of many of British boxing’s top names – including Khan – has parted company with SKY, the satellite broadcaster with whom Warren has worked for a decade. Warren appears to be taking his stable to terrestrial channel ITV, beamed free to every home in the country, while SKY are looking to focus mainly on the major cards, both domestic and foreign.
