The British & Commonwealth Heavyweight Championships
Live from the Liverpool Echo Arena...
Blood on the dance floor; Matt Skelton vs Jakov Gospic
Our first fight of the evening saw former heavyweight champion
Matt Skelton take on Croatian Jakov Gospic. The fight started off
slowly in round one, and while Gospic landed a few shots, Skelton
seemed comfortable and in control. It turned out this was to be the
only full round of the contest, and, into the second, a clash of
heads opened up a gash above Jakov Gospic's eye, which Matt Skelton
took to his advantage.
With impaired vision, and blood hitting the canvas, it wasn't
long before the fight was stopped and Skelton announced the winner.
While Skelton put on a good show, even he will be slightly
disappointed with the lack of time in the ring; although
understandably not as disappointed as Gospic.
Take a knee; Kevin Satchell vs Chris Edwards
The fight started quickly; with sharp punching from
Liverpudlian, Kevin Satchell in the first round. The second round
perhaps went to Edwards, despite a late flurry from Satchell who's
impressed in his first eight undefeated fights.
The following few rounds went by with decent competitive
punching, and not much to call between the two fighters, and it
started to look like we might be going the distance.
The fifth round couldn't end sooner for Edwards who, 10 seconds
before the end, looked like he was in a deal of pain following a
body shot from Satchell that caused him to take a knee. Despite
making it to the end of the round, Satchell now knew what he had to
do, and continued to attack Chris Edwards' right side in the
sixth.
It didn't take long for Edwards to go down again, pain visible
all over his face following another battering on his side, and the
fight was stopped swiftly afterwards. Liverpool celebrated a
victory for new British champion, and still undefeated in nine
bouts, Kevin Satchell!
Going the distance; Jon Lewis Dickinson vs Shane McPhilbin
Shane McPhilbin fought in the third fight against Jon Lewis
Dickinson in our second championship fight, for the British
Cruiserweight strap.
The first round started uneventfully, with not much to call
between the fighters. Into the second and Dickinson tried for
several uppercuts, with McPhilbin going for the counter - but to
this point the fight had made for a slightly messy encounter.
The third and fourth saw Dickinson landing the cleaner shots,
but still a difficult fight to call. McPhilbin's corner's
inspirational words didn't have the effect they were hoping for,
and Dickinson continued to land the better shots as we moved into
the sixth.
It wasn't until the 10th that McPhilbin looked like he won a
round, and then it was due to a point deduction against Jon Lewis
Dickinson. At this stage of the fight, despite also looking strong
in the 11th, McPhilbin was looking for a knockout or bust...
The late flurry, previously seen against the likes of Leon
Williams, didn't materialise and the fight finished after 12 rounds
in favour of Jon Lewis Dickinson. After a fairly uneventful 12
rounds, the scores read 118-110, 118-110, 117-111. Dickinson takes
the Cruiserweight championship back to County Durham.
The next big thing: David Price vs Audley Harrison
The big fight of the night, for the British and Commonwealth
titles, featured Liverpool home favourite David Price fighting
former Olympian Audley Harrison, who arrived into the ring to music
from the film Rocky.
The air in the arena was electric, and rightfully so with the
huge potential of Price up against Harrison.
The fight started tentatively with nothing landed in the first
40 seconds. But THEN! David Price opened up with a swift right jab,
and a flurry of punches to Audley Harrison's body and head, with
the power forcing him onto the ropes. It wasn't immediately clear
the Harrison was knocked out, but after the referee jumped in,
Harrison slumped to the floor, not two minutes into round one.
A fantastic fight from the champion, and living up to the high
expectations. From here, we'll all be expecting big things from
Price; with many questioning where Audley Harrison will go.
"I'm going all the way to the top" - David
Price
"We've got a future heavyweight champion of the
world" - Frank Maloney
Platinum kid with twinkle toes: Dale Miles vs Adil Anwar
Adil Anwar vs Dale Miles, both with one defeat each, followed
Price vs Harrison. Anwar the 'Platinum Kid' is starting to build a
following and showed why with a few solid right hands in the first
round.
Miles started to get into range in the second, but still Anwar
found a way through Miles guard landing several strong jabs. With
three rounds down, Miles started to look better, despite Anwar's
constant ducking and weaving. Dale Miles, while not looking hurt,
started to bleed from his nose and his eye looked a bit swollen,
which may have fuelled Anwar's confidence.
The fifth saw another round for Adil Anwar despite Miles strong
finish to round four; Anwar continuing to dance and dodge around
the ring like the Duracell bunny.
At the end of the 7th it looked like Miles might be launching a
comeback, with Anwar finally starting to look a little tired.
Miles came further back into the fight in the ninth, and still
looked strong in the 10th, although Adil Anwar landed a few
flurries in a late burst of energy. The 11th continued to be
Anwar's, and despite all of Dale's energy in a stirring 12th round,
the fight went the distance, and to the judges.
The scores, 117-111, 117-112, 119-111 all in favour of future
title contender, Adil Anwar.
Pre Fight Build Up...
Price set for BoxNation debut
The 29-year-old Price will make his debut on BoxNation on
Saturday 13th October when he takes on 2000 Olympic Champion and
former world title challenger Audley Harrison at the Liverpool Echo
Arena.
Many knowledgeable insiders within the sport claim that the
fast, heavy-handed, 6ft 8in Merseysider is a future world
champion.
Since winning Bronze at the Beijing Olympics, he has racked
up an unbeaten 13 fight run and his punch power has been undeniable
with 11 stoppages; his last seven fights have all ended
prematurely.
In January he demolished John McDermott inside one round to win
the English title and followed that up in May with a devastating
fourth round KO of Sam Sexton to claim the British and Commonwealth
titles.
"I'm happy that the public will get the opportunity to see the
next phase of my career develop on BoxNation"
Price was a BoxNation studio guest at West Ham United in July
for the high-profile David Haye-Dereck Chisora heavyweight showdown
that also revealed a natural talent beyond the ropes.
"I'm happy that the public will get the opportunity to see the
next phase of my career develop on BoxNation," said Price.
"Frank [Maloney] has sorted out the business outside of the ring
for me and I'll continue what I do best inside the ring by
continuing to win fights and titles that will culminate in the
ultimate prize - the world heavyweight crown."
"The next step is Saturday 13th October at the Liverpool Echo
Arena against Audley Harrison and I look forward to putting on a
great show for the BoxNation viewers' and fans in attendance."
"I'd like to thank BoxNation for the opportunity to keep
Price on British TV screens"
Maloney, whose own career in boxing spans over 30 years, is well
known for guiding one of Britain's greatest ever heavyweights
Lennox Lewis, is looking forward to Price fighting on
BoxNation:
"I'm looking forward to joining the new home of TV boxing
BoxNation to develop who I believe is the most exciting heavyweight
talent since Lennox Lewis,"
"I'd like to thank BoxNation for the opportunity to keep Price
on British TV screens so that the fans continue to see his fights
and the rest of the boxers in my stable,"
"It will be a battle of the Olympians when he clashes with
Harrison in his first fight for BoxNation and a fight he's looking
to make a big statement."
Price powered to a win
over Sam Sexton in May
