Surprise opportunity for Vassell and Purdy amidst Commonwealth chaos
Denton Vassell will contest the vacant Commonwealth welterweight title against Lee Purdy at the Robin Park Arena in Wigan on 16 April. While this has the makings of an entertaining scrap between two closely matched prospects, it’s sad to see a traditional and once prestigious title being lobbed around like a frisby in a playground.
John O’Donnell recently vacated his Commonwealth welterweight crown without making a single defence since claiming the title last April with a points win over Craig Watson. The likelihood is that O’Donnell would have been stripped anyway for failing to defend against mandatory contender Philip Kotey.
Heywood slugger Mark Thompson was subsequently matched against English champion Adnan Amar for the vacant Commonwealth strap only for first Amar, then Thompson, to subsequently withdraw in what became British Boxing’s equivalent of musical chairs.
Hopefully, there will be no such dithering from Vassell and Purdy (seen on the right of this picture going head to head with Peter McDonagh) who can probably scarcely believe their luck. At best, this fight should be for a stepping stone belt such as the English championship or a British title eliminator.
The unbeaten Vassell, (14-0), has been brought along quietly and has yet to travel beyond six rounds. The Manchester man did snap the unbeaten records of fellow hopefuls Eddie Corcoran and Jamal Morrison though and also holds a four-round points win over the useful Yassine El Maachi earlier in his career.
Purdy, 13-1, suffered his only defeat against the experienced Peter McDonagh on points in an enthralling battle down at light-welter for the Southern Area title. The entertaining Colchester fighter exacted his revenge over McDonagh nine months later for the same title, this time up at welterweight, by edging another hard-fought ten-rounder.
The co-headline on this Hatton Promotions show will see Thomas McDonagh dispute the also vacant Commonwealth light-middleweight crown against former British champion Gary Woolcombe. McDonagh has “earned” his chance after losing his last two fights. The Manchester maverick was decisioned by Anthony Small when challenging for the British and Commonwealth titles in November in a dreadful clash of styles and was also narrowly outpointed by recent Small conqueror, and new British champion, Sam Webb.
Woolcombe won the British light middleweight title in 2007, stopping Marcus Portman after eight rounds. However, the 27-year-old was stopped in his first defence against Ryan Rhodes.
“It’s now or never for Thomas. He’s got to win and look good doing it because he might not get another chance and the television people could decide not to show him again,” was the frank assessment of McDonagh’s trainer, Brian Hughes.
The talented yet frustrating fighter dubbed ‘Storm Boy’ wasted his first title opportunity against Wayne Alexander in 2006 by sleepwalking through the second half of their contest for the WBU strap and his career has been blighted by lapses in concentration.
“Thomas is too laid back for his own good at times and doesn’t take himself seriously. He knows though that he’s got to produce this time and I’ve definitely seen a change in attitude from him during the last three weeks and I’m not just saying this – I think the penny’s dropped this time. Woolcombe is a winnable fight for him and he’s got the skills and talent, including a great left hand, to become a champion,” Hughes told me.
