Rob Norton vs David Dolan

Friday, January 15, 2010

Rob Norton retained his British and Commonwealth Cruiserweight titles with a controversial draw against David Dolan in their rematch at Altrincham Leisure Centre.

The first fight between the pair had five knockdowns and saw Norton eventually capture the titles with a split decision victory, and though the rematch lacked the intensity of the first, it produced an equally contentious outcome. Judge Phil Edwards favoured Sunderland’s Dolan 115-114 whilst Terry O’Connor favoured champion Norton 116-113. Judge Dave Parris couldn’t split the pair, scoring it 114-114, enough for Norton to retain his titles.

Dolan, from Sunderland, started the contest brightly using his amateur pedigree to outbox Norton but the champion came back landing many good counters of his own. During the middle rounds however, Dolan’s success began to wane as Norton took over landing more and more counter left hands. As the contest entered the closing stages, Norton began to tire and Dolan sensing that he was on the verge of victory, pushed on expending all his energy before the final bell. After the announcement of the scorecards a frustrated Dolan left the ring whilst a delighted Norton celebrated retaining the titles. Dolan may yet get another opportunity to snatch the titles away however, but you cannot write off Norton who seems to be getting better with age.

In chief support Mark Thompson defeated Kevin McIntyre on points to secure himself a crack at British Welterweight champion Kell Brook. Despite a 22-1 record entering the fight Mark Thompson has never had the opportunity to face either the English or British champion, though this should now change with his unanimous decision victory.

Thompson started quickly outworking the former British champion but was pushed back by the experienced Scotsman during the middle rounds. McIntyre seemed to be tiring though and was deducted a point for holding in the eighth. With McIntyre hanging on at the end, a right hook sent him to the canvas and although he beat the count, the bell sounded to end the contest. Had he not been deducted a point or knocked down the scorecards may have been in McIntyre’s favour, but it was Thompson who came away with a well deserved win.

In the most anticipated fight of the night Paul Samuels defeated Cello Renda for a second time, but had to settle for a 74-77 points win. When the pair first met last November it became a Youtube sensation following an extraordinary double knockdown, and although it couldn’t quite match the highs of their first battle, it is already a front-runner for fight of the year.

After a close first round, Welshman Samuels put Renda down with a left hook in the second. Covered in blood, Renda managed to regain his composure but was nearly stopped at the end of the round after repeated uppercuts left him in a dizzied state. The third featured fantastic back and forth action before Renda sent Samuels to the canvas in the fourth. The paced slowed slightly in the remaining rounds with Samuels doing just enough to prevail with the victory.

With his best performance to date, Joe Murray took his record to 6-0 with a stunning knockout victory over Georgian, George Mchedlishvili. A left hook to the body in the fourth sent his opponent down and out, although it hadn’t been plain sailing up until then. The undefeated Mchedlishvili was willing to take the fight to the young Olympian and although Murray was landing the cleaner and better punches he was caught on several occasions, most notably by two body shots in the fourth.

Martin Gethin captured the English Lightweight title with a comprehensive points victory over Dezzi Higginson. It was the first time an English title has been scored by three judges, but all saw it as a well deserved victory for Gethin, as Howard Foster and Dave Parris scored it 99-92 whilst Phil Edwards scored it 98-92.

The undefeated Craig Lyon notched up another victory, this time with a points win of Emiliano Salvini. Two months earlier Salvini had challenged Malik Bouziane for the European Bantamweight title and although it was Lyon’s hardest matchup to date, he passed with flying colours. On judge Steve Gray’s scorecard Lyon only lost the one round but was tested throughout the fight. Lyon is now 9-0 and could soon be in with a shot at the British title.

Stephen Foster Jr returned after a year long lay off and now under the new promotional guidance of Hatton Promotions. Foster showed some ring rust and was made to work hard for his 59-56 points over tough Georgian, Kakhaber Avetisian.

Cruiserweight Matty Askin managed to overcome the in form Hastings Rasani in what was a messy six round contest. Askin, from Blackpool, failed to find his rhythm against the tough veteran but earned a 59-56 points win.

Young prospect Kieran Maher won his third fight as a pro outboxing veteran Johnny Greaves in every round and earning a 40-36 decision, whilst James Barker made his pro debut narrowly outpointing Anthony Hanna 39-38.

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