Jaffa the Gaffer on Peterlee undercard

Fans of Olympic bronze medallist Tony Jeffries (12st 5lbs 8oz) had to wait until the final fight of the night for their man to take on Derbyshire based Matt Hainy (12st 4oz). 'Jaffa' dominated the first from the start. Three big rights to the side of Hainy’s head (last one illegal), shoved his opponent to the canvas making the man known as 'Left Hook' look to his corner for inspiration. None came as he took the first of two eight counts in the opener.

Jeffries further assaults between the two knockdowns included an eleven shot flurry without reply, before three more big rights sent Hainy down again. His corner advised him to stay down, he bravely ignored this and got up to throw some desperate shots some of which landed to easily on Jeffries.

The second confirmed Hainy (6-1-0) had heart but was out of his depth. The contest ended with Jeffries further enhancing his big hitter reputation with a big left to the centre of Hainy stomach. Hainy crumpled obviously finished, but the towel cam in and the referee waved it over before finishing his count. Just to make sure after 2 mins 03 seconds of the second.

As with all the Olympians it’s really difficult to judge them in pro terms with this level of opponent. In all this Friday night Peterlee Leisure Centre bill had lots of vocal locals, exciting debuts, a couple of the next big things, Olympians, bad scoring, and a 30 year old Darlo roofer beating a former European champion to a British title in his ninth pro fight. Other than that, nothing to report on.

The action on this Frank Maloney promotion got underway at half past seven with two debutants to the pro ranks. As four three-minute rounds at welterweight turned into what was to be an excellent fight of the night. The vocally supported Gary Fox (10st 5lb) from Fishburn, County Durham declared war on the taller Lee Jevons (10st 6lb) from Swanwick, Derbyshire.

The first set the pattern for the fight with the game Fox marching down Jevons, launching left hooks upstairs and downstairs. His fairly low guard meant he shipped many counters. This didn’t seem to bother this pugilist as he appears to be the kind of fighter who’ll take one shot to throw four back. He continued his assault throughout the round with further vicious shots to both sides of Jevons body. He took these well but the opener was clearly Fox’s.

The second was more of the same with Fox working the body more frequently. Jevons was showing a lot of heart and sucked these up before jabbing out. These landed cleanly but seemed to lack the power to make Fox reign in his attacks. The third saw Jevons up his work rate but to little effect, and Fox getting a talking to for leading with his over enthusiastic head. Both fighters continued to land scoring shots, the referee took a brief look at Jevons but he fired back admirably. Fox efforts looking for the KO looked to be taking there toll towards the end of the round and he looked sloppy enough to probably give Jevons a share.

The final round saw both going toe to toe, before Fox took over, taking Jevons to the ropes. Remarkably, and to his credit Jevons came back and both fighters landed simultaneous rights jarring each others heads. By the end the referee give it 39-38 to Fox, and I don’t believe there was more than one call to break per round.

Jevons never really wilted throughout and should not be too disheartened by this result. The reason a few hundred north easterners will pack leisure centres on a hot Friday summer evening, is to see the odd fighter like Fox, who just loves to fight. Without wishing to go into cliché overdrive, his nickname I believe is 'The Fox'. He is not the kind that will craftily sneak in to a coop and steal one. He’s more the kind that will vault the run, and try and rip the throats out of anything that moves.

The next fight saw two former Prizefighter contenders in a heavyweight contest. Dave Ferguson (16st 9lbs) took on Doncaster's John Anthony (14st 5lbs), over six rounds. Following the opening fights youthful exuberance, this had journeymen stamped all over it. The cautious opener saw Ferguson landing some big lefts which staggered Anthony. He took these well though and spent the round trying to get under Fergusons greater reach.

The second was a scrappy affair with both fighters getting a talking to by referee Mark Curry, for not breaking quickly or cleanly. Ferguson landed most of the big shots but seemed to lack the fitness to follow up on the former cruiserweight. The next round saw Ferguson urged to get stuck in and not be lazy by female support from the sides. Unfortunately this was only in fits and starts, and it allowed Anthony who spent the start of the round holding to get a few shots off on the break, before the round finished in wrestling fashion. The fourth was pretty much the same with both fighters throwing big shots, but been unable to follow up with anything other than a hold.

The fifth saw a further chat from Mark Curry over the holding. Every time Ferguson attacked Anthony held. The sixth lasted exactly eight seconds before the referee called break. Leading to Ferguson clout the back of Anthony’s head. Ferguson went on to win 59-56 taking the Wallsend fighter to 12-2-0.

Fight number three saw lightweight George ‘Razor’ Watson (7-1-1) whose real name is John but likes to avoid confusion with other lightweight prospect John Watson also on this bill. His opponent was Manchester based Temao Dwyer (2-0-1), both weighing in at 9st 13lb 8oz in this six round contest. Dwyer was smaller but was the aggressor in the opening exchanges, a good left hook pushing the South Shields based Watson back. Dwyer landed more lefts far too easily, forcing Watson to roll along the ropes out of trouble.

Watson’s ability to roll with the punches got him out of trouble in the second as Dwyer landed more combos. The aggression by Dwyer left him open and he shipped a few in some lively exchanges. The next round saw Watson’s over reliance on head movement to stop the shots landing, rather than a high defence cost him as Dwyer landed flush on his chin. He took these well and then started to box better at range. His feigns and jabs seemed to make Dwyer question his go forward style.

By the fifth Watson had apparently taken control by boxing at range, probably leaving the fight level. Dwyer was still dangerous and continued to land good clean shots. The final round burst into life with Dwyer loading up and landing to the body and the head. This leads to a knockdown as Watson leaves his chin out just once to often, and whilst in the corner Dwyer lands a right, left hook combo that sends Watson down. He hammered the floor as he took the mandatory eight count. This had been coming all fight. Dwyer at this point felt he had done enough and most of the final minute was holding. It came to a shock to all in the hall when the referee gave the fight unjustly to Watson. This was announced as 59-56. This we where later informed by Mr Maloney was incorrectly announced and the referee had scored it (still incorrectly in my view) 57-56. This will not help Dwyer who had every right to look upset at the decision.

Next up was a (4 x3) Featherweight contest between Geordie southpaw Martin Ward (9st 3lb 2oz), and Welshman Dai Davies (9st 8lb 6oz). Davies' CV reads like a who’s who of British lower weight titlists. (Try Lindsay, Marsh, Mathews, Sykes, McDonnell, Booth, J Arthur and Munroe for size). Unfortunately his career of 6-12-1 suggests most of these will appear alongside a red L on his BoxRec record.

Ward took the opener by default of looking busier. The second was the same again as Ward appeared to be going through the paces of throwing more punches not often cleanly and Davies spent most of the round covering up. The breaks between rounds two three and four where relief for an uninspiring affair which Davies coasted 40-36.

Arguably the one to watch on the undercard was Dave Coldwells Lightweight Scouse charge John Watson (10st3lbs). It was 2004 when Watson won at the ABAs, going into this fight his professional record was 12-0-0, with a growing reputation as a skilled boxer sparring with Guzman along the way. His opponent was late replacement Ben Lawler (10st 7lb). Watson took a measured approach to the opener, as he found his range. Lawler didn’t throw much back in objection to the stiff jabs.

The second looked even more comfortable for Watson as he landed solid right jabs and combos, whilst stalking Lawler. Lawler’s lack of retaliation made this easier for Watson as he lined up shots with his left to fire his straight right. Watson stepped up the pace in the third (at least third gear by now). His lateral movement as he stalked his opponent made this look easy. When Lawler did launch a rare but brave attack he was often beaten by counter shots by Watson.

Lawler started to look tired in the fourth, as Watson continued his stalking, bullying, out boxing campaign. The shots started to look more hurtful as he sensed the finish, the referee had a good look at the end but Lawler continued to take the shots. The end was not far and 44 seconds into the fifth the referee stopped the contest following fourteen shots without reply.

For two days notice to replace Hungarian Zsolt Nagy, Lawler more than earned his purse. For Watson he made it clear he wants Murray,. On this form it’s hard to seen anyone else in the division causing him problems. This could eclipse any Manchester v Liverpool football rivalry.

Next up was another lightweight clash between Sunderland Kirk Gooding (9st 5lbs) and Leon Dean (9st 9lbs). The first saw Gooding who barely looks old enough to collect glasses, and was the smaller man set the fight pattern by landing the cleaner shots, whilst coming forward and forcing Dean to the ropes. He done enough to win the second as well, in a fight of little incident.

Dean kept his guard up and in the third caught Gooding on the counter. Gooding maintained his higher work rate but mainly landed on the gloves. He caught Dean square on the jaw on the break, and threw a good combo at the end. The fourth saw Gooding land on the counter, demonstrating good boxing skills in his fledgling career as he won the contest 40-36 to go 3-0-0.