by Dave Crellin
11/11 - Last time Aldo Rios was over in the UK he grimly stuck to the task of getting beaten up by Ricky Hatton. This time he showed what he can do offensively as Jason Cook was stopped in three against the supposed non-punching Argentine.

After an even-ish first round, Rios took advantage of the holes in Cook’s guard to land some damaging shots in the second. Cook fought back but was looking raw and open to the right hands which in the third clubbed him to the floor. He got up at seven but was all over the place. Referee Davies was forced to jump in shortly afterwards as Rios poured forward and was landing right hands at will.

Quite what caused such a reverse is questionable, but it should be pointed out that Cook has had trouble making lightweight in the past and maybe a move up should be considered. Either way, Cook has some rebuilding to do after this one. He looked as raggedly aggressive as ever but Rios showed what can happen against a sharper boxer.

The chief supporting bout produced a rough call for visiting John Simpson who was challenging adopted local Dazzo Williams for Williams’ British featherweight title. Williams won the first two for me but from then on struggled to cope with the application, smart boxing and hard shots of Simpson. The crowd also seemed to be playing a role – baying for Williams only made the champion want to forget his boxing and give his supporters a knockout, which is not his game.

It’s the best weekend of British boxing for a while coming up. There’s a cheeky warm-up for the Ulstermen with a Belfast card headed by a WBF light heavyweight title bid from local man Darren Corbett, who qualifies for the chance after having been stopped in six unspectacular rounds last time out. His opponent is yet to be confirmed. Ah well, they can’t all be good cards.

However, the two Friday night cards are really quite appealing. The Halifax show is headed by a potentially great tussle between David Barnes and James Hare for the Barnes’ welterweight Lonsdale belt. It’s Barnes’ third defence since squeaking the title against Jimmy Vincent but the intervening opponents have not been of Hare’s calibre. Barnes has plenty of skill but seems to drift occasionally and leave himself open. He relies on his opponent’s mistakes but against Hare these openings will be fewer and briefer.

Hare, though, is on something of a comeback trail since the worrying stoppage against fringe world level Cosme Rivera. He’s looked tidy since and many have put the Rivera showing down to Hare being tired (it was his fifth scheduled 12-rounder in 10 months). Hare should have a little bit too much class here, although maybe not the pop to put away Barnes. Should be a worthwhile fight for a worthwhile belt between two worthwhile combatants, though, and that’s always an enticing prospect.

Supporting, Andrew Facey represents the Ingle camp against Frank Warren’s Thomas McDonagh for the English light-middleweight title. McDonagh is the man who’s record stands out but Facey, while less experienced, has been in with some decent fighters and there’s a strong chance he’ll walk away with the points verdict. McDonagh is the promoter’s man, though.

Two former Facey victims square off beneath that, with Matt Macklin likely to have just a bit too much energy for the decent but limited Darren Rhodes. Rhodes ended the career of West Ham warhorse Steve Roberts a year ago but with only the one outing since then will fall victim to Macklin’s better speed, accuracy and higher workrate. Rhodes is the more local of the two though and it should be a good match between comparable boxers.

For the early attendees, former amateur standout Martin Concepcion should make short work of his debutant opponent and Matthew Hatton faces recent victim Rob Burton for what should be a repeat points win.

Rather bizarrely considering the competing card is being held in Yorkshire, the big London card is headed by one of the two big names in Brendan Ingle’s camp as Junior Witter tackles Poland’s Krzysztof Bienias. Bienas is not in Witter’s class but at least ‘The Hitter’ gets a run-out. The challenger (Witter’s EBU 140-pound title is on the line) is young at 23 and dropped a wide decision to Oktay Urkal a year ago. However, Witter should finish him off in the first three or four.

Some decent undercard action sees Matt Thirlwall try to kick-start a comeback following a narrow loss to journeyman Jason Collins on September’s Froch-Hague card. It’s unlikely that Thirlwall will ever rise much above domestic level but opponent Michael Monaghan should give some indication of how high in these rankings he can go – Monaghan has an average record with nearly as many losses as wins but is always a difficult customer who asks questions of every opponent. Thirlwall has to beat him, though, and this should carry him through.

Stocky Fenland light-heavy Steve Spartacus challenges for his former English 175-pound title which he never lost in the ring. He faces Peter Haymer in the chief support bout. Haymer’s a boxer with a decent jab but Spartacus (né Smith) will tough out a win here. Steve is rarely in a dull fight and acknowledges refreshingly that he won’t ever be a major champion but that he can entertain people.

Lionised Irishman Francis Barrett also steps out defending his EEC 140-pound title against perennial tryer Alan Bosworth. Another bout in which both will look to box but in which neither will have the power to do the other serious damage. Look for Barrett to take the decision in a decent scrap.

RETURN TO TOP