Travis Dickinson wins Prizefighter at Olympia

Travis Dickinson and his brother Jon-Lewis have become the first siblings to be crowned Prizefighter champions when the former stopped fellow finalist and wildcard Sam Couzens in the second round of Matchroom’s latest instalment at London’s Olympia on Saturday night.

The sixteenth Prizefighter, and second in the light-heavyweight category, had everything that a fight night can possibly deliver. Not even a splattering of well-handled crowd trouble could overshadow a monumental night of gruesome cuts, thrilling stoppages, controversial scoring, unexpected injuries and come-from-behind turnarounds.

In the first quarter-final, Margate’s Jack Morris appeared fortunate to earn a split decision over Romford’s Billy “Boy” Slate. The first was a close session, with Morris looking the more vulnerable defensively and slate catching Jack with a useful lead right hand. The second and third rounds were more clear cut on my card and on those around me in the press section. Slate was consistently the more assertive and solid-looking as he connected with the cleaner shots. Morris was out of position and frequently inaccurate with his efforts. In the third, Morris’ footwork was deserting him and he was becoming desperate. His work rate dipped and his punches started to stray beneath the borderline. Slate was in control and even had the confidence to drop his hands. Shockingly, only judge Phil Edwards’ card matched my own (30-27 for Slate) as Howard Foster and Mark Green both scored 29-28 for Morris.

The victor was forced to withdraw from the competition with a broken hand and Rhyl’s unbeaten Justin Jones won the toss to take his place in the first semi-final.

Unbeaten Llewellyn Davis entered the Prizefighter saying that he hoped to win the tournament and then drop down to 12st and call out James DeGale. He left it by losing the second quarter-final to eventual winner Travis Dickinson by a country mile and a half. Southpaw Davis, 7-0 (3) going in and trained by Oliver Harrison, looked a lot smaller than Dickinson before the first bell. When the action commenced, Llewellyn appeared apprehensive and open when forced immediately on the back foot. The camouflaged and Mohican-headed Dickinson had no trouble at all in marching forward behind a tight guard and catching the former Welsh ABA finalist with straight shots throughout the first. Davis was concerned, wide-eyed and desperate in missing with big right speculators. He was floored seconds before the bell by a long right at the close of the session. Dickinson followed up well and clearly won the second and third stanzas on my card. Davis hung in there and tried to find his way into the fight, but was consistently beaten by educated pressure, straight punches off the jab and a solid defence. At the final bell, two judges’ cards scored a shut out for Dickinson while Terry O’Connor scored it by 29-28 for Travis.

The third quarter final pitted former British super-middle champion Tony Dodson against the in-form and experienced Michael Banbula. The Staines-based Pole has hit a fantastic run of form of late. He was unbeaten in his previous five, having captured the Southern area and British Maters straps. He also earned a draw against massive prospect Tony Jefferies. For his part Dodson was coming in off the back of two failed attempts at regaining his 12stone Londsdale belt, his only two contests in two years. Both fighters started strongly. However, the focus of the fight shifted and both were soon having to overcome extremely bad cuts indeed. Banbula was first to suffer his injury, a slash on the left eye. Shortly afterwards, Dodson’s right eye was spouting crimson abundantly and as the session closed Jim Evans and Oliver Harrison had 60 seconds to stem their respective flows. In the second, Dodson’s boxing both came through and consequently Michael’s cuts continued to deteriorate. The Liverpudilian really started to show his title pedigree as he scored with jab-right hand sequences and then occasionally came back with the left hook. Banbula was still solid and dangerous, but the state that both fighters were in after the second made you wonder if either would be able to continue to the semis after the contest. In the last, Banbula held and fought gamely through his cut eye and nose. He received a sound pasting from Dodson, who connected with right hands and some big left hooks. All three judges scored for Tony. Howard Foster scored it a shut out, while Mark Green and Terry O’Connor tallied 29-28.

The last quarter final saw St.Albans’ Joe “Big Stuff” Smyth disappoint his supporters in throwing away a very strong start in getting stopped by the lanky and unconventional Menay Edwards at 1:47 of the second round. Joe really looked the full package in the opener. He was quick, showed some good head-movement and great shot selection. Menay was forced back to the ropes and really struggled to get a foothold in the contest in the first three minutes. Edwards was caught by a massive right hand and appeared on the verge of being stopped in the second. Smyth was over-eager and allowed Menay some rest-bite after throwing him. Sensationally, as Joe was getting reckless looking for the finisher, Menay leant back and winged in a two fisted barrage towards his opponent. Although it left him comically open, Joe was hurt and stranded in punching range. Menay seized his opportunity and sustained his attack. Referee Nick White was left with no option but to stop the fight as Smyth wasn’t answering back with his own shots. Mark Rowe, in Edwards’ corner, gestured in celebration to the Smyth fans. A crown was placed on Menay’s head and not long after the trouble surfaced.

Travis Dickinson overcame wildcard Justin Jones in the first semi-final. Jones appeared much smaller than Dickinson and lost every session on my card and those of the three scoring judges at ringside. Travis was solid and methodical. He worked the body well at the start and never appeared in the slightest trouble from Jones’ efforts in return. The action was slightly marred by holding in the last, but the script was the same; Jones just didn’t have the artillery to make any sort of impact on Dickinson at all.

Despite his eye opening open in the first, Tony Dodson won the second semi-final convincingly in stopping Menay Edwards after eighteen seconds of the second round. Edwards was down in the opener from a left right combination and Dodson landed prolifically with the left hook throughout the session. The end came quickly in the second after Edwards was floored heavily by a right hand and a double left hook. Edwards beat the count but was stopped on his feet while walking to the neutral corner. Perhaps he could have gone on, but there was no point as he had been outclassed and floored twice.

After the luckless Dodson was ruled out of the final due to further cuts to his eye, Sam Couzens was drafted in for the final against Dickinson. Couzens, 6-3 (0) pre-fight, was guaranteed to earn £16k and looked like upsetting the joint pre-tournament favourite in the opener. It started as a tear up, but Couzens took control by scoring well with hard right hands and left hooks. Obviously, he was the far fresher man and it appeared to be paying dividends. After a positive start in the second, Edwards was caught with a massive left hook and suffered a heavy delayed action knockdown. Although he bravely beat the count, he appeared unsteady on his legs and took a split second too long to respond to Phil Edwards’ instruction to walk forward. The time was 1:54.