Clever Dick Jon-Lewis wins Prizefighter
A pro for less than two years but after a close quarter-final points victory, cruiserweight Jon-Lewis Dickinson produced two stoppages to become the latest Prizefighter winner at Bethnal Green’s York Hall last night, banking £32,000.
Dickinson struggled in his opening bout mixing good boxing skills with a few risks of fighting in close, but as the night went on he relaxed and appeared a quality and seasoned professional.
At times he reminded me of the last Prizefighter winner Prince Arron who used his height and slickness to come out on top.
The 23-year-old County Durham man looked in good spirit when smiling on entering the ring to face South Londoner Leon Williams who came into the ring sporting a t-shirt clad with ‘came in a cut up bag.’
I was relishing the prospect of this bout between two relatively inexperienced professionals with Dickinson 5-0 and Williams 4-1 evenly matched.
Dickinson was soon on the end of a solid right but found success by swiftly replying with two jabs. I soon spotted Dickinson’s style was causing Williams major problems as Leon became a little wild.
Dickinson (14st 4lbs ¾ oz) was laying a solid foundation of boxing and moving that proved unmoveable throughout the night taking the first round on my card.
Williams 13st 11 ½ lbs rose off his stool first for the second and found Dickinson unfazed when connecting with several hard right hands to his head, with Dickinson finding success with his jabs.
Finely poised going into the third and final round Dickinson begun to fight Williams fight of getting in close and found himself on the end of hurtful blows that rocked backed his head.
At this point my notes read like his corner instructions, ‘Dickinson needs to box and move’ as Williams began to push him back but at the end it was Dickinson who moved forward via a split points decision.
Judges scores read: Victor Loughlin 29-28, Richie Davies 28-27 in favour of Dickinson while Marcus McDonnell favoured Williams 29-28.
In contrast my card had it 29-29. Phil Edwards refereed.
Next up for Dickinson in the first semi-final was Mark Krence and after a quiet start the Durham man began finding his feet and Krence’s head.
The former two-time British heavyweight challenger almost slumped onto the ring support after being shaken by a right, but fell when Dickinson found the target again.
After receiving a standing eight count from referee Victor Loughlin, Krence was caught by a stiff left to the head and took another count.
At the end of the first round he almost fell over returning to his corner who rescued him by throwing in the towel.
Krence smiled and shook his head resigned to the fact that Dickinson was too good.
Dickinson still had plenty left in the tank to dismantle the dreams of reserve Nick Okoth. Both men sportingly smiled as they met for referee Richie Davies instructions.
But having already defeated Okoth (14st 2lbs) last year Dickinson had good reason to knowing he had the measure of his opponent so it was no surprise Okoth was on the floor in the first round following a right hand to the back of his head.
Game Okoth was soon back up for more and didn’t appear to be badly hurt, but by the end of the round had his mouth open with Dickinson strength the source of his discomfort.
He seemed intent on strolling back to his corner before Jim Evans hurried him on to his seat.
Okoth tried to hold on in the second but the forceful Dickinson pushed him back immediately to pop out swift combinations at long range while his promoter Frank Maloney instructed ‘Don’t get involved, box him.’
After hugging each other at the start of the third and final round Dickinson caused Maloney concern by ignoring his advice and fighting up close but two stiff shots to the head had Okoth down for the second time.
Despite rising he found himself in familiar territory again and the towel came in while referee Davies continued the count reaching ten.
MC John McDonald announced the verdict as a count out at 1.08.
Dickinson beat his chest and looked towards his small band of fans on the balcony while Frank Maloney applauded before collecting and kissing the Prizefighter trophy.
