Prizefighter: A winning night
Once again the Prizefighter format has done someone a huge favour. Eventual winner Jon-Lewis Dickinson came into this latest series with a mere 5-0 on his record and was installed by the bookmakers as third favourite behind Herbie Hide and Mark Krence.
Despite being crowned as an ABA cruiserweight champion in 2007, the appearance of former two time WBO heavyweight champion Hide was enough to convince most observers that no newcomer would be walking away with the trophy and cheque for £32,000.
But as we now know things didn’t quite go according to plan. Durham based Dickinson opened up slowly with a close points decision over Leon Williams but shone brightly when turning Mark Krence’s lights out in the nights first semi final.
Meanwhile Herbie looked as though he would quickly finish young Welshman Wayne Brooks .Hide floored him early on in the first and continued hurting him often throughout the round.
I was surprised Brooks even got past the first round, so as the second started I was thinking ‘It’s just a matter of time before the clock stops ticking for him.’ Like the form guide I too was wrong when a clash of heads opened up a nasty gash over Hide’s right eye.
Herbie’s face resembled one of ‘why me’ fearing the worst as he walked to the corner for a doctors inspection. Allowed to carry on Brooks sensed a shock upset as Hide became unsettled, but great credit goes to Martin Bowers who worked wonders on the damage in between the round.
Hide went on to secure a landslide points victory and I was relishing seeing Darren Corbett tackle the Nigerian puncher who has stopped 43 of his opponents.
But that prospect was soon beaten when an excited Sky camera man informed me that Herbie had decided to pull out.
I quickly recorded my feelings noting down ‘Herbie’s pulled out, oh no!’
With my little exclusive in mind and mouth I was keen to break this to the other ringside reporters and on doing so I encountered a look of disbelief from several, while a freelancer for the nationals gave me the thumbs up and rubbed his hands with glee.
All that remained now was for the official announcement which came when MC John McDonald took the microphone in his hand and explained to a surprised audience that Herbie was now part of Prizefighter history and it wasn’t the in the way he had hoped.
‘For the first time in Prizefighter history we have a withdrawal. Due to an injury sustained above his eye Herbie Hide has decided to withdraw.’
Well done to that Sky camera man for his great wit in suggesting the headline that would be wrote. ‘Herbie saves his Hide.’
Officially the doctor said Hide could fight on but you can’t blame Herbie for ‘protecting’ his WBC number three ranking. Admittedly I and most of the 1,000 in attendance wanted to see Hide fight on but why should he risk another blemish on his record and lose a chance of world glory once more?
With Herbie concealing himself to get stitched up Nick Okoth revealed himself and stepped up.
McDonald informed us that he too is a Prizefighter history maker as he was the first reserve to be used in two years of Matchroom’s boxing baby.
The Battersea fireman was given a warm reception from the York Hall punters and in a close contest he got the nod over Corbett. Okoth deserves applause as only several hours earlier he was working a shift and while not quite dominating the Irishman Okoth certainly dampened his flames.
Okoth couldn’t repeat his heroics in the final finding Dickinson too hot to handle.
As Dickinson completed his TV interviews I caught him en route to his dressing room and he warmly invited me and two other reporters inside.
Dickinson rapidly dried the excess sweat off his head and body and was ready for questions as his promoter Frank Maloney sat on a chair looking at his bright young pupil.
I started off by asking how he had spent the day as Jon took it all in his stride smiling and ready for questions.
“I had a walk down London and checked out the scenery like, just walked around keeping relaxed.”
A solid performance in battle tonight but what is he like away from the ring?
“Basically when your’e a boxer you have got to train haven’t you. I like spending time with my family, I have a couple of kids. I like taking them places.”
Going into tonight he had already faced and beaten two of the competitors in Jon Anthony and Okoth so was that an advantage?
“Everyone changes don’t they? I have changed since I boxed Okoth (almost a year ago to the day) he could change do you know what I mean? It’s a different thing out there tonight as well, shorter distance and a lot of money (£32,000) at stake, glory at the end so it gives you an extra push to go for it.”
At this point Frank Maloney was keen to inform us that Dickinson was his first fighter to be entered, and added he thought Jon’s style was perfect for this format and that by ‘following instructions to a t tonight’ was able to prove his worth.’
Frank if Herbie was in the final instead would the result have been any different?
“I think he would have beaten Herbie Hide. We were looking for the Herbie Hide fight that was a great scalp to get.”
Frank sure has picked a winner in teaming up with Dickinson and explained how they got together.
“We met at the Ricky Hatton show in Manchester (May 2008) and he came along and had a chat with me. I looked at his amateur record and was impressed with it.
“ If a guy tells me he wants to be a British champion I am not interested in signing him, but if a guy like Dickinson is looking to go beyond that and become a household name I like that and that is what Jon sold me he sold me himself.”
Frank is confident that Dickinson can go all the way.
With his stylish performances in the ring and his warm, laid back personality outside he won’t be too far away.
And here in again lies the beauty of prizefighter. It gives all participants a high speed ticket to ride.
Dickinson like many of his winning predecessors isn’t looking for anything less.
He turned 24 yesterday. I wonder if the party is still going on!
