By Adam Fillingham:
Last Weekend
The new 2011-2012 boxing season got underway last weekend and what a cracker we had to start it off. Two bantamweight warriors, British champion Stuart Hall and European/Commonwealth champion Jamie McDonnell battled it out over twelve rounds for all three belts. The bout was close, maybe only two rounds in it but there was only one winner.
Doncaster fighter McDonnell started slow and was pipped to a couple of the early rounds by Hall but once the fifth round came Jamie turned it up a gear. Hall couldn’t hit his superior foe due to his movement, agility and quick hand speed. Hall looked strong, powerful and gutsy but was no match for the more experienced McDonnell. My final card was 117-114 in favor of McDonnell and the judges scored it very similar with 115-113, 116-114 and 116-113.
In an interview after the fight McDonnell said he is hoping for a world shot in the next three fights after he gets his mandatory out of the way. I think in many other divisions McDonnell could go on to win world honors, but in a division like the bantamweights it’s going to be tough. I think there is a chance but if you take a look at the champions in this division it is unlikely.
Also on the card Tony Jefferies won a wide but uninspiring decision over Paul Morby. Fan favorite Jefferies won every round on route to victory although the Sunderland fighter was hoping for the knock out. After the bout Tony said the change of opponent hindered his performance.
This Weekend
Ireland’s Paul McCloskey will be looking to return from his poor outing against Amir Khan this weekend against the hard hitting Breidis Prescott. This could be a cracking fight between the boxer McCloskey and the slugger Prescott with a lot on the line. Both fighters are looking for rematches with WBA and IBF light welterweight champion Amir Khan although the likely hood of that happening is very slim regardless of the result.
Paul McCloskey is a decent fighter with only one defeat on his record. The Irishman picked up the IBF international, British and European belts along his path of twenty two straight victories. Unfortunately his conquest against Amir Khan was a step too far losing every round and eventually being stopped on cuts.
Prescott’s professional run has been very hit and miss. On the biggest night of his life Breidis knocked out Amir Khan in fifty four seconds but then only a few fights later Prescott was defeated by current IBF lightweight champion Miguel Vazquez and again on his return to England against Kevin Mitchell. However Prescott has now won three on the bounce.
If I were a betting man I would put my money on McCloskey as I believe Breidis Prescott is quite a limited fighter and had a lucky night against Khan. Hopefully he will prove me wrong and we can have a cracking night of boxing.
Quick News
Amir Khan’s likely opponent for his 10th December bout will most likely be IBF mandatory challenger Lamont Peterson. Peterson’s last world title outing was a unanimous decision loss to Timothy Bradley.
Although Evander Holyfield is the favourite, ex-heavyweight champion David Haye is in the frame for Alexander Povetkin’s first defence of his WBA world title.
Tyson Fury’s opponent for September 17 in Belfast has been named, and it will be 32-year-old journeyman Nicolai Firtha. The British and Commonwealth champion should make easy work of this challenger.
Matthew Macklin believes that Argentinian Sergio Martinez will defeat rival Darren Barker. The Irishman said “all going well here and if Martinez can beat Barker, which he definitely should, then he (DiBella) does not see why that (a fight with Martinez) could not happen – unless Martinez can get a fight with Mayweather”
Matthew Hatton is on a collision course with interim WBA welterweight champion Ismael El Massoudi. With that win under his belt Matthew could then push for real world honours once again.
And finally British heavyweight Audley Harrison will be taking part in this year’s strictly come dancing. I’m sure I’ll find something else to do on Saturday nights!
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