Fight Night Review 13th December 2017

On Wednesday night the York Hall Bethel Green played host to a packed night of action. Here’s my fight night review of all the action.

Katie Taylor V Jessica McCaskill

Katie Taylor completes her first year as a professional with a wide unanimous decision win to retain her world title.

In the 1st round both women looked to get straight down to work. It looks like Taylor is trying to out box McCaskill. In the 2nd round it looks like McCaskill was trying to up the pace but Taylor was still landing quality shots. McCaskill can’t deal with the hand speed of Taylor. In the 3rd Taylor started landing some nice combinations but she is smothering her work a bit. However to be fair to McCaskill she is having some success of her own just not enough to win the rounds. In the 4th when Taylor keeps the fight at distance she can out class McCaskill, but when she gets in close she’s getting caught with shots.

Going into the second half of the fight I had Taylor 3 up. In the 5th Taylor was able to pick McCaskill off. McCaskill can’t cope with the overall speed of Taylor. In the 6th Taylor went looking for the finish but she got rocked herself, however Taylor still won the round with the better quality shots. Although the fight is starting to get scrappy at times, in the 7th McCaskill went for it I think she knows that the only way she can win is by knockout. Midd way through the round Taylor had a point taken off for holding but it looked harsh. In the 8th it looked like McCaskill was starting to grow in confidence and Taylor needs to get back to her boxing. In the 9th it looked like Taylor was trying to go back to her boxing and it’s working really well.

Going into the final round I had Taylor 2 up because of the point off. The 10th was a good one you could see Taylor wanted the knockout but you have to give McCaskill credit for staying in there.

Martin J Ward V Juli Giner

Martin J Ward completed a great year by winning the European title with a stunning 6th round knockout.

In the 1st round Ward was working well off the jab then he looks to throw the right hand to the body. Giner is just looking to tie up and slow Ward down. In the 2nd Ward continued to work well off the jab then he started landing some power shots. I know it’s early but it looks already like Giner can’t cope with the hand speed of Ward. In the 3rd round it looked like Giner is trying to up the pace, but Ward continued to land good shots. However Giner is starting to back Ward up. In the 4th Giner is looking to get on the front foot and walk Ward down. Ward is still landing some good shots but they seem to be having no effect on Giner. In the 5th Giner continued to walk Ward down looking at the way Giner is fighting I can see him coming on strong in the second half of the fight. Toward the end of the round Giner started landing shots to the body.

Going into the second half of the fight I had Ward 2 up, but I can see Giner coming on strong. At the start of the 6th Ward landed a hard head shot which sent Giner to the canvas he beat the count but he looks hurt, and Ward is going looking for the finish. Seconds later Ward landed another hard head shot and this time it’s all over.

Josh Kelly V Jean Michel Hamilcaro

Josh Kelly finishes the year on a high with a 6th round knockout.

In the 1st round both men were moving well and looking to let their hands go, Kelly was landing nice combinations to the head and body. In the 2nd Kelly continued to move well and continued to land big combinations. Hamilcaro seems to have nothing that can hurt Kelly. In the 3rd round Kelly just picked up where he left off. Kelly landed a number of big body shots then finish them off with the uppercut. In the 4th Kelly continued to land big uppercuts and then body shots. I think Kelly should step on the gas and get him out of there and make a statement.

Going into the second half of the fight Kelly has won every round. In the 5th Kelly was still landing big punches, but it looks like he is getting a bit frustrated that he can’t get Hamilcaro out of there. If I had one criticism of Kelly tonight it’s that he looks a bit one dimensional. In the 6th Hamilcaro came out looking to give it a go, then Kelly landed a good jab and a body shot and Hamilcaro hits the canvas Hamilcaro beat the count quickly. Kelly goes back to the body and Hamilcaro hit the canvas again, he beats the count again but it’s starting to look like he’s had enough. Kelly landed one more big attack and the referee stepped in and stopped the fight,

Conor Benn V Cedrick Peynaud

Conor Benn comes off the floor twice to win on points but I would love to see a rematch of this one.

In the 1st round both men were willing to let their hands go and with a minute gone in the fight Benn hits the canvas for the first time as a professional, he beat the count but his legs still look wobbly. Peynaud looks for the finish. Benn is doing the wrong thing he’s trying to fight fire with fire and he gets put down again but it looked more like a slip to me. Benn looks like he’s ready to go but he made it through the round. In the 2nd round both men were letting the punches fly, with the better punches coming from Peynaud. Benn needs to go back to his boxing and use the jab, but he’s walking into shots. In the 3rd round Benn is still looking to throw power shots he needs to box his way in then throw the power shot. This round has been better for Benn but he’s still doing everything wrong. If Benn keeps fighting like this he’s going to be knocked out.

Going into the second half of the fight the only way Benn can win would be by knockout. In the 4th Peynaud is landing painful looking shots. Then Benn landed a big body shot, then he landed a nice combination. The 5th started slower but then Benn rocked Peynaud with a body shot and he hit the canvas, he beats the count but Is the comeback on now for Benn. Benn continued to land big shots, but then Peynaud landed a big shot of his own. Going into the final round Benn still needs a knockout to win. In the 6th Benn went looking for the finish but every time Peynaud lands he hurts Benn. Then Benn lands a big right hand which puts Peynaud on the canvas, again he beats the count Benn has to go for it now if he wants to win. Benn continued to go to the body, Benn rocked Peynaud at the end of the round but will it be enough.

Jake Ball V Mile Shinkwin

Jake Ball puts in a punch perfect performance to win a wide unanimous decision.

The 1st round was very much a feeling out round both men just trying to find their range it was a close round with not much to split them but I think Shinkwin might have just edged it. In the 2nd Shinkwin was trying to go to the body but Ball was doing a good job of keeping him off with the jab. It was another close round but Ball edged it, and he seems to be settling into the fight. In the 3rd more work was coming from Shinkwin but the better quality shots are coming from Ball. It looks like Ball is looking to out box Shinkwin. In the 4th Ball was doing a very good job a keeping the fight at distance, if Shinkwin wants to have success in this fight he needs to close the distance.

Going into the second half of the fight I had Ball 3 up and I’m struggling to see a way back for Shinkwin. At the start of the 5th Ball started landing nice combinations. Every time Shinkwin try’s to launch an attack Ball is able to make him miss. In the 6th Ball was working well off the jab. Shinkwin did have some success but not enough Ball is just boxing well. In the 7th Shinkwin was trying to close the distance but then Ball was just picking him off. In the 8th Shinkwin was still trying to close the distance he did land a nice shot to Balls chin, however Ball was just able to pick him off. The 9th was much the same as the rest of the fight however Ball was able to land more power shots.

Going into the final round the only way Shinkwin could win would be by knockout and I just can’t see that happening. In the final round Ball just kept to his game plan. At the final bell I had Ball 9 rounds up

Joe Cordina V Lee Connelly

Joe Cordina puts in a punch perfect performance to score a 4th round stoppage. To move to 6-0

In the 1st round Cordina was moving well and landing nice shots to the head and body. In the whole round I don’t think Connelly landed a punch. In the 2nd round Cordina continued to move well and he was starting to load up on his body shots. He was using his boxing skills working well off the jab. This fight is looking more like a sparring session then a fight. In the 3rd round Cordina looked like he was looking for the finish as he’s planting his feet more and getting more power into his punches with nothing coming back from Connelly. In the 4th Cordina just continued to do what he wants when he wants. Cordina was just teeing off and finally the referee stopped the fight

Lawrence Okolie V Antonio Sousa

Lawrence Okolie moves to 7-0 with a 2nd round knockout.

In the 1st round Okolie came out letting his hands go, and he was working well off the jab. Midd way through the round Sousa was rocked and he hit the canvas off a nice right hand, he beat the count but it only looks like a matter of time before Okolie gets him out of there. Seconds later Sousa goes down again off another right hand. Again he beat the count and makes it to the end of the round. From the start of the 2nd Okolie continued to land power shots, and once again Sousa goes down and the referee waves it off.

Ted Cheeseman V Tony Dixon

Ted Cheeseman moves to 12-0 with a dominant points win.

The 1st round was a bit of a feeling out round.both men trying to find their range. By the midd way point in the round Cheeseman was starting to look for his power shots. In the 2nd both men were working well off the jab but Cheeseman was having the better of the exchanges. Halfway through the round Cheeseman rocked Dixon and went looking for the finish, but Dixon came back well. Cheeseman needs to move his head more because he’s walking back in straight lines and getting caught with silly shots which he won’t get away with as he moves up. This was probably Dixon’s best round but then Cheeseman came back and started going to the body, and Dixon looks really to go but he makes it to the bell

Going into the second half of the fight Cheeseman has won every round I can see him going for the finish. In the 4th Cheeseman continued to go to the head if he was to go to the body the fight would be over. However Dixon is not boxing badly he’s just having to work so hard. The 5th started a bit slower Cheeseman is having success with the uppercut but Dixon just won’t give up. In the 6th Cheeseman continued to pick his shots well but he’s throwing to many head shots he should work the body more. Toward the end of the round Dixon was rocked again and nothing was coming back. I think Dixon’s corner should think about pulling him out. In the 7th Dixon tried to comeback but Cheeseman has just got too much for him. Going into the final round Cheeseman has won every round the only thing missing is the knockout. In the 8th Cheeseman just continued to pick Dixon off looking for the finish, but Dixon bravely made it to the final bell.