Concepcion halts Hainy in classic to become Midlands boss

Martin Concepcion and Matt Hainy served up a real treat on Sunday afternoon at Clifton Mitchell’s six fight ‘Graduation day’ card in Coalville.

Hainy’s Midlands Area middleweight belt was on the line in a ten round contest that never looked like going the distance after the first two rounds of toe to toe action.

Concepcion (11st 5lbs) was crowned champion after Hainy (11st 4lbs) was stopped in the ninth round. The result was called a “technical count out” after Hainy’s legs had finally given way and then the towel came in from his corner.

Hainy had started the contest well on the front foot pawing out the jab and connecting more often than not. Early signs indicated Hainy had the superior strength as well looking the bigger of the two fighters. The first two rounds were edged by Hainy who was landing the more eye-catching shots and forcing Concepcion to hold after a hard right hand to the jaw in the second.

The third round started on the same note with Hainy pressing the action until he landed a right of his own and was then got caught on the counter and momentarily stunned. This seemed to change the tide of the fight and Conception landed a straight right on Hainy as he retreated against the ropes and Hainys legs buckled but he managed to stay vertical until Concepcion saw he was hurt and landed another clean head shot and Hainy was down for an eight count.

The fourth was another action packed round with both guys having success but Concepcion did seem to be gaining momentum and now looking the stronger of the two and his punches were now making more of an impact than the first two rounds.

Hainy started the fifth round working behind his jab pushing the challenger back until Concepcion found three unanswered rights to the head then a combination to the head and Hainy was down again for another eight count.

It may be starting to sound like the fight was a one sided affair in favour of Concepcion but even after Hainy being knocked down again in the sixth round this was certainly not the case. Hainy was still in the fight and he was still drawing screams of encouragement from his army of fans in attendance. He had a really good eighth round where he hunted down Concepcion and looked like he could even go onto win the fight himself.

Then the end came in the ninth round with Hainy cut on both eyes but still giving 100% was forced to eat another flurry of punches and tried to answer back with punches of his own and his legs gave up forcing him to take a knee.

By now the referee and Hainy’s corner had both seen enough and the fight was called off. The extra quality in Concepcion’s punches and his solid chin were the deciding factors in a bout that could have gone either way.

Credit must be given to both fighters in what really was a scrap to remember.

Images courtesy Stuart Ellis