Sexton draws Shinny close in another British title scoring controversy
While Frank Maloney didn’t come out on top in his election campaign for Barking, he returned to his count hall at Dagenham’s Goresbrook Leisure Centre for a quality night of British boxing headlined by a mouthwatering British flyweight tile fight between the champion Shinny Bayaar and unbeaten challenger Ashley Sexton.
At this same venue a week ago, Frank was standing on the stage while they counted his votes but on Friday night fight fans were counting on some knockouts. And who can blame them after seeing Sexton throw what could turn out to be the punch of the year when dismantling Usman Ahmed in one round to claim the English flyweight crown in January.
In a recent interview, Sexton said he wanted to fight reigning Commonwealth champion Chris Edwards but because of boxing politics it proved difficult, so hence Ashley challenged Shinny instead. Interestingly, Sexton admitted beforehand that his manager Mickey Helliet wasn’t keen on this bout as they wanted him to have a few more rounds under his belt first due to him having never fought past six rounds. Undeterred, Sexton instructed Helliet to bring on the seasoned Bayaar however his manager’s concerns proved to be well founded.
Shinny (15-4-1) came in as the British champion with good form having only one defeat in his last 14 fights but without the punch power reputation of the less experienced Sexton (9-0). So would Shinny take Sexton to school or could Ashley make it three early nights in a row?
The early rounds saw Shinny taking the fight to Sexton and by the end of the opener the challenger’s nose was bleeding. Sexton was an easy target yet happy to prove his chin was solid. Shinny’s southpaw style was a major factor in taming Sexton and I gave the Oldham-based Mongolian the opening four rounds as he fought in close having the edge in speed and generally schooling his 22 year-old opponent. Bayaar returned to his corner at the end of the third pleased and showboating.
After a difficult start, Ashley began to improve and he enjoyed his best period in the fifth when landing two good lefts and a right hand that backed Shinny up. However, in the sixth Shinny again enjoyed success up close producing solid rights and lefts to Sexton’s head which was rocked back several times over the 12 rounds.
Just when the fight appeared to be running away from Sexton, a clash of heads opened a cut over Bayaar’s eye in the ninth and suddenly Ashley smelt victory. The fight turned a little nasty when Sexton’s mouthpiece came out and Bayaar kicked it into the crowd. As the fighters entered the home straight, Sexton looked the stronger as Bayaar endured some rocky moments.
At the end both men were still standing and headed towards their respective corners to climb aloft as an excited crowd awaited the verdict. Judges Dave Parris and Howard Foster both scored it 116-112, Parris controversially in favour of Sexton while Foster preferred Bayaar’s work. The casting vote went to Ian John-Lewis but the Gillingham official’s scorecard tallied 114-114, leaving Bayaar to retain his British title on a draw.
I scored the contest in favour of Shinny at 115-113 despite having Sexton taking the last four rounds. A rematch looms but the confident Sexton, who was brought down a peg or two here, will have to improve on this display.
As Shinny finished his post-fight television interview, he shouted to his fans, “I’m sorry, next time I will put him down.” Sexton now knows not everyone goes down easily.
Heavyweight hopefuls impress on Dagenham undercard
In the chief support, Hackney heavyweight prospect Larry Olubamiwo took on Colin Kenna in a 10 rounder for the vacant Southern Area title. Olubamiwo (7-1) came into this contest on the back of three consecutive wins while Kenna (16-10-2) could only boast one victory in his last nine contests so you would have been a brave man to put any silver on Dublin born Kenna.
Added to that equation was the figure of Olubamiwo’s six stoppages so you need not be a math’s expert to work out that an early stoppage was a high probability. In fairness to Kenna, now in his ninth year as a professional, he has shared the ring with the likes of Commonwealth champion Sam Sexton, Michael Sprott and former British champion Julius Francis. And in 2008 the Irishman went 10 rounds with Albert Sosnowski who will challenge Vitali Klitschko for his WBC heavyweight title on May 29.
Enough of the records, inside the ring ‘War Machine’ Larry weighing a huge 18st 7lbs dispatched Kenna 17st 5lbs in an emphatic manner at 2.24 of the opening round when Kenna failed to beat the count after going down a second time. ‘Big Larry’ was in the mood to destroy his opponent having success with several heavy right hands and an uppercut.
This provoked him to move in for the kill but he himself was caught with three rights to the head. It looked as though this contest could turn into a war but a right to Kenna’s head saw him hit the canvas. He rose at eight but another right soon after convinced him to stay down for the full ten.
A delighted Larry roared before being presented with his newly acclaimed Southern Area title. While Larry walked away with the belt Kenna’s bloody nose was wiped by his corner. The big-hitting Hackney man moves to 8-1 while Kenna drops to 16-11-2. It’s obvious Larry needs a sterner test and he won’t have to look any further than Tom Dallas or David Price who also appeared on this bill.
Chatham based Tom Dallas (16st 1lb) was quicker than Larry when he took just 1.54 of the opening round to put away the seasoned Lee Swaby (15st 12lbs). Undefeated Dallas landed a solid overhand right to Swaby’s head. The Lincoln man went down heavily, and attempted to rise but instead shook his head as he stayed on his knees to be counted out.
The impressive Dallas, now 10-0, dispatched Swaby quicker than his domestic rivals Tyson Fury and Derek Chisora and may just be the quiet underdog of the current British heavyweight scene.
Former amateur standout David Price couldn’t make it three quick wins but had to go the six round distance against the durable Danill Peretatko, the man who ended Olubamiwo’s unbeaten record last year. Price (17st 6lbs) could be seen weighing in while dressed in trainers and tracksuit a couple of hours before his fight.
Peretatko (17st 1lbs) didn’t look in good shape and shipped some solid Price jabs and right hands. Price boxed off his jab for most of the one-paced contest and referee Ken Curtis gave him a clean sweep 60-54 at the end of this six-rounder.
Promoter Frank Maloney said he has high hopes for both Price and Dallas after watching them spar together recently. “It has convinced me that David and Tom are the best two young heavyweight hopes in Britain and I am looking at ways of developing them further,” he said.
