Issue 6: Smith VS Maxwell Review
Issue 6: Smith VS Maxwell Review
On before the bell ,the action started off with Cory O’Regan taking on journeyman Jordan Ellison the lightweight bout was an entertaining one which O’Regan won 60-54 on points. A good quality performance from O’Regan plus 6 rounds of great experience, moving to a record of 10-0. Then it was the turn of Nico Leivars to step into the ring, a more competitive fight with Nico taking on an undefeated opponent in Alberto Motos. A solid performance from Nico led to Michael Alexander’s 59-55 scorecard. The boxer from Steel City Gym moved to 4-0-1, and is certainly someone to look out for in the domestic ranks of the Super Bantamweight division. Next it was Beatriz Ferreira who would put on a dominating performance over Karla Ramos Zamora, Mr Alexander would score every round to Ferreira, and for Zamora it was just a case of staying in the fight. Ferreira got a great experience making her UK debut and giving the fans a great fight, the Olympic Silver medalist is a face to look out for in the Super Featherweight division.
Then onto the main card which started off with a thriller, however it was the ‘Thrill from Gipsyville’ Lewis Sylvester who would get a controvesial decision win over Hartlepool’s Adam Cope. It was Cope who landed the more powerful and accurate punches. Sylvester had the more defensive style of jab and move. Which the judges saw as the better performance, much to the disappointment of the travelling Hartlepool fans. Sylvester moves to 12-0 and with that comes the English Lightweight Title.
Next on the card was Junaid Bostan who boxed well against Nottingham’s Ryan Amos. Bostan started off well, and looked even better in the second round a mix of boxing and showboating to please the crowd, however Amos did land a good shot at the end of the second. Junaid used his strength and sharp boxing skills to take the third. However Amos started the forth well and landed some good shots Junaid took the second half of the round, Amos finished strong and looked to be getting into the fight. By the fifth the showboating had stopped, Junaid got back to his boxing and took the fifth and sixth. Amos looked frustrated in the 7th, which lead to him giving everything he had in the 8th but the slim movement of Bostan meant that Amos did little damage in the final round. Overall it was a solid performance from Bostan and he can now move on to bigger and better things.
Hopey Price put on a boxing clinic against James Beech Jnr. Hopey utilised his reach and jab to win every round of his fight against Beech Jnr. The fighter from Leeds looked comfortable in the ring and never looked to be in any trouble at any point in the fight. There wasn’t many big shots or power punches in the fight but it was the superior boxing ability of Price which lead to a cut appearing over Beech Jnr’s eye in the sixth. After the seventh Beech Jnr’s corner had seen enough and pulled him out of the fight a good decision which means their man will fight another day.
In the co-main event it was Olympian Pat McCormack who came out ferociously in the first round against Welshman Tony Dixon. The legs of Dixon were shaky after a big shot from Pat McCormack. Dixon recovered well in the second round. The big shots continued from Pat in the third and then a huge right hand floored Dixon , he was saved by the bell but the corner didn’t let him come out for the forth. Pat looked very good and with the right guidance he can get to world level, along with the big fan base he carries Pat has the potential to be a headline fighter in the North East in the near future.
They always say save the best till last, and this was certainly the case for the main event. A cagey first round between Smith and Maxwell with Maxwell using his jab well and Dalton rushing his work slightly, there was very little in the first round. In the second Smith looked better and landed some heavy shots, Maxwell looked dazed at times. The third was a very even round with Maxwell getting back to the jab and both men landing good shots, a strong end to the round from Maxwell. The forth was a better round from Smith and probably his best round of the fight up to that point. Moving into the fifth a cut appeared above the right eye of Dalton Smith, this must of spurred Maxwell on as he had a great fifth round targeting the cut of Dalton Smith. In the sixth another cut appeared this time above the left eye of Smith, both cuts had been caused by head clashes and now that the fight was past the forth if the doctor was to call the fight off due to Smiths cut the bout would go to the judges scorecards.
However this wouldn’t be needed as in the seventh round a huge right hand landed ,and just like that Sheffield arena erupted as Maxwell was lying unconscious on the canvas. Smith very respectfully toned down his celebration to check on Maxwell who was getting medical attention. Smith can put his British Super Lightweight title on his mantelpiece. Smith can now add the Commonwealth title to his collection, and it will surely be European honours next for Smith as he edges one step closer to World titles.