Dolan denied again as Norton clings on to British and Commonwealth titles
A dejected David Dolan stormed out of the ring in frustration after being held to a draw by Rob Norton in their rematch for the British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles at the Altrincham Leisure Centre on Friday night.
After 12 gruelling but often untidy rounds the three ringside judges were unable to split them. Judge Phil Edwards favoured Dolan by 115-114 while
In truth there was little between the pair throughout but one has to feel a degree of sympathy for Dolan. The former Commonwealth Games gold medallist’s tireless persistence and willingness to walk through whatever Norton threw back at him would have made him a more deserving winner.
In their first in encounter last February, Dolan faded down the stretch after dropping Norton twice early on and conceded a unanimous points decision. If there were doubts about the
The contest began scrappily which prompted referee Howard Foster to issue a stern rebuke to both boxers for them to tidy it up and stop holding inside. The official was kept busy throughout and was forced to issue the fighters another ticking off after they wrestled each other to the canvas in round three. Dolan was continuing to maintain a red hot pace but was also leaving himself open and was punished when southpaw Norton landed a left hand high on the temple in round four.
For all his persistence, Dolan’s work lacked quality and his mouth began to gape open as early as round five. Norton’s plan of allowing Dolan to expand considerable amounts of energy whilst coming on strong in the second half of the contest appeared to be working perfectly. To almost everyone’s surprise Dolan showed no signs of slowing up and actually looked the fresher and stronger of the two as the fight wore on.
Norton did enjoy success with the uppercut and nailed Dolan flush with this punch at the beginning of round eight. Dolan simply shrugged off the effects and continued to bulldoze forward. Finally, Dolan was getting a reward for his considerable efforts when a right hand through the middle rocked Norton which had the British and Commonwealth champion back-pedalling for the reminder of the session.
More sustained pressure from Dolan saw him dominate rounds nine and ten as Norton seemed to be the one who was struggling to cope with the intensity of the fight up close. In the tenth, Norton once again found himself pinned in a neutral corner but unlike earlier, when Dolan was being made to miss, now the
Norton received some welcome respite in the eleventh and jolted Dolan with three left hands as the challenger continued to take huge risks by leaving his chin out to dry in his desperation to mount his own offensive. Both fighters mounted one final super-human effort in the final round which could have been scored either way. Dolan outworked Norton for the main but was rocked by a huge uppercut and left hand by the champion who must have wondered how Dolan was still on his feet and able to come back with a barrage of leather.
No one likes to see a draw but perhaps this was a fair result on balance. Nearly man Dolan has failed again to win a major championship. He was beaten by Martin Rogan in the inaugural Prizefighter: The Heavyweights tournament and has twice failed to prize the British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles from Norton’s grasp. He will be praying that his handlers can secure him a third meeting with Norton but given that Dolan was made to wait 11 months for this rematch the
Much may depend on Hatton Promotions’ willingness to stage this contest again. Despite neither fighter being local to
Undercard review
The eagerly anticipated rematch between middleweights Paul Samuels and Cello Renda didn’t quite reach the heights of their incredible first encounter but still had its moments. Most notably in round two when Renda was felled by a left hook and on the verge of being stopped after taking a succession of unanswered uppercuts. Arguably referee Phil Edwards should have stopped Renda who was taking a beating and smeared in blood after sustaining damage to his nose.
Somehow the
Understandably both boxers were feeling the pace as we entered the fifth. After taking a breather Samuels outboxed Renda in round six and utilised his superior handspeed to pick Renda off with left hooks and then avoid staying in range. The normally over-eager Renda did try and box more but his jab, whilst persistent, was really no more of a range fighter and he failed to connect with his power punches off the back of it.
You would have got long odds on this fight going the distance but a combination of fatigue and being wary of each other’s power meant that the warriors entered the eighth and final round. Renda began the session well by landing a good left hook to the body but was unable to find Samuels’ chin with his big punches to turn this fight on its head as the Welshman sensibly took no chances. Samuels once again prevailed, this time on points taking a 77-74 verdict from referee Edwards. I had it for Samuels by a single point but undoubtedly the right man won.
A rousing second half finish, capped by a knockdown in the dieing seconds of the tenth and final round, proved enough for Heywood’s
Thompson made a predictably fast start but was unable to make a dent on former British champion McIntyre who frequently tied him up on the inside.
The Scot settled into a rhythm from round three by claiming the centre of the ring and drilled home a succession of southpaw lefts which bypassed Thompson’s guard. I gave McIntyre rounds three, four, five and six as the more experienced campaigner looked to be coasting to victory as Thompson seemed bereft of ideas and briefly turned southpaw in an attempt to get into the fight.
The contest turned though in a pivotal eighth round when McIntyre was deduct[]][=[ed a point by referee Dave Parris for persistent holding. It was just the spark Thompson needed who duly went on to win the session 10-8 after connecting with some cracking right hands. With the tide now having turned against him, McIntyre began to unravel as Thompson stormed forward at every opportunity. A dominant final round by Thompson saw him close the show by flooring McIntyre with a right hook to the temple inside the final ten seconds. The Scot rose gingerly at seven and was rescued by the bell. Thompson will now hope his career best victory will earn him a British title shot against Kell Brook.
Earlier in the evening, Martin Gethin became a two-time English lightweight champion when he unanimously outpointed Graeme ‘Dezzi’ Higginson, 99-92 (twice) and 98-92. In a contest which never really caught fire, Gethin’s steady if spectacular pressure was enough for him to edge many close rounds.
Higginson began brightly, his quicker footwork and handspeed made Gethin look cumbersome early on but he failed to maintain his workrate as Gethin stook resolutely to his task, cut the ring off and had enough success with his own right to justify the verdict.
Other results:
Craig Lyon wpts 8 Emiliano Salvini
Former two-time
James Barker wpts 4
After being held to a draw on his debut, lightweight Barker secures his first pro win over veteran Hanna who was taking part in his 125th contest. Steve Gray’s 39-38 scorecard looked harsh on Hanna who stunned the youngster in the third round and finished strongly. I’ve seen worst decisions but I, and most of my colleagues at ringside, thought Hanna had done more than enough to warrant a rare victory.
Joe Murray TKO 4 George Mchedlishvili
Olympian Murray once again catches the eye by impressively dismantling previously unbeaten Georgian. The
Mchedlishvill’s body blow appeared to light a fuse inside Murray who mounted a frenzied attack, culminating in a crunching left hook to the ribs which felled the outgunned Georgian for the count at the 1.16 mark. Top prospect
Stephen Foster Jr wpts 6 Kakhaber Avetisian
Super-featherweight Foster Jr returns to the ring after a 15 month lay off, flooring his Georgian opponent with a left hook to the body en route to earning a 59-56 points victory.
Matty Askin wpts 6
2008
Kieran Maher wpts 4 Johnny Greaves
In the show closer at light-welterweight, teenager Maher registers predictable 40-36 points triumph over veteran journeyman to move to 3-0.
