News – Fury Wants Bout With McDermott; Jennings vs. Thompson On Friday

By Boxing News - 05/14/2009 - Comments

By William Mackay: Undefeated knockout artist Tyson Fury (5-0, 5 KOs) is eyeing a heavyweight clash with big John McDermott after Fury completes his next fight on May 23rd against a still to be determined opponent. Fury, 6’8”, and still only 20-years-old, would be taking a significant step up in class in facing the powerful and tough McDermott. Fury, however, isn’t all the impressed with McDermott’s last fight, a 12-round split decision loss to Danny Williams, saying “It was like watching two women fighting in the street with all the slapping and hugging.”

Indeed, the McDermott-Williams fight was one of the least interesting bouts of the year compared to the talent that was involved in the fight. The two had met previously in a much more exciting clash which Williams also won by decision.

However, in the rematch both Williams and McDermott looked exhausted by the 4th round and only sporadically exchanged big punches for the rest of the way. Fury doesn’t see McDermott in his class, but it looks like that’s not going to keep him from still trying to fight him.

As of yet, Fury still hasn’t faced anyone good enough to test how good he is. It was thought that Lee Swaby, who holds a knockout victory over Enzo Maccarinelli, would be a decent test for Fury. However, Swaby couldn’t take the big punches and relentless pressure from Fury and folded in the 4th round.

Next, journeyman Matthew Ellis was lined up against Fury in April, but Ellis was quickly demolished by Fury in a 1st round TKO. Fury dropped Ellis in the opening seconds of the fright with right hands. And after Ellis got up, Fury speedily finished him off with a barrage of punches.

Ellis looked like he wasn’t really into the fight even as he was walking into the ring, however. At this point, Fury looks good but it remains to be seen whether he has the stamina to fight hard for six rounds. Thus far, Fury hasn’t had to because he’s knocked out all five of his prior opponents by the 4th round.

Fury didn’t show signs of tiring against Swaby, so hopefully Fury is able to fight hard beyond the 4th. Most of his fights have been one-sided with Fury doing all the punching.

Jennings to Face Thompson on Friday Night

Former British welterweight champion Michael Jennings (34-2, 16 KOs) will be stepping back in the ring on Friday night against Willie Thompson (6-0-1,) in a scheduled six-round bout on the undercard of the heavyweight Commonwealth clash between champion Martin Rogan and challenger Sam Sexton at the Odyssey Arena, in Belfast, Ireland.

Jennings, 31, will be making his first appearance since being destroyed against Miguel Cotto in a 5th round stoppage for the Vacant World Boxing Organization welterweight title on February 21st. Jennings was knocked down three times in the fight, going down twice in the 4th and a final time in the 5th round.

It was expected that Jennings would be overmatched against the powerful Cotto, but it was thought that Jennings would at least be able to have some success on the outside with his jab and movement. Jennings moved like a rabbit early and did at least seem to partially give Cotto some problems in the first two rounds.

However, Jennings was mostly running for his life and not landing effective punches in those rounds. After the 2nd round, Cotto began to find Jennings with left hooks to the body and rights to the head. Jennings got out of the 3rd with a bloody nose and looked confused as he went back to his corner.

In the 4th round, Cotto knocked Jennings down twice with left hands to the body. The fight should have been stopped at this point because Jennings was beaten, tired and out of his element. However, the bout continued into the 5th, Cotto staggered Jennings late and then knocked him down with a chopping right hand as Jennings hunkered down in the corner.

The fight was then stopped. Jennings vowed to continue fighting on the local level after the fight. However, Jennings may have his hands full if he ever mixes it up with young talents Kell Brook and Jamie Cox, as both of them appear to be a level above Jennings in talent.



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