On Saturday Night Newcastle hosted a packed night of quality boxing, here’s my fight night review of all the action.
Lewis Ritson V Francisco Patera
After a great fight Francisco Patera shocked Newcastle as he wins a split decision.
In the 1st round Ritson looked to get straight down to work, working off the jab then looking to follow it up with the right hand. He’s doing a good job of mixing his shots up to the head and body. Patera made a bright start to the 2nd but Ritson just kept walking forward throwing his own shots it looks already like Patera’s nose has gone, and Ritson just keeps landing shots. In the 3rd Ritson just picked up were he left off working off the jab then landing the power shot and even when he’s not throwing he’s keeping the pressure on Patera, how much more can Patera take. In the 4th Ritson just kept hunting Patera down but Patera was having success of his own he just hasn’t got the power to hurt Ritson. At the start of the 5th Patera made a good start landing shots to the head and body, Patera is slowly starting to come into this fight as he rocked Ritson slightly.
Going into the second half of the fight I had Ritson 4 up but Ritson needs to be careful as it looks like Patera is coming into the fight. In the 6th Ritson wasn’t taking a backward step but the better quality combinations where coming from Patera. Toward the end of the round Ritson rocked Patera but he came straight back. In the 7th Patera started well this is becoming a very close fight Ritson needs to start landing combinations, however it does look like Patera is feeling the pace but then out of nowhere he rocked Ritson and he looked ready to go. At the start of the 8th it looked like Patera was going looking for the finish with next to nothing coming back from Ritson. Once again at the end of the round Ritson was rocked and he needed the bell.
Going into the championship rounds I had Patera 2 rounds up and Ritson looked like he’s got nothing left in the tank. In the 9th Ritson has completely stopped throwing combinations he’s just throwing single shots. In the 10th Ritson was starting to look a bit one dimensional and Patera knows what’s coming and he’s just able to block it. Then Patera lands another hard combination which rocks Ritson yet again and he had to hold. He looks ready to go he needs the bell, somehow he makes it to the bell, but if Patera has another round like that the fight could be over. In the 11th Patera is light on his feet and Ritson looks out of gas and like he doesn’t know what to do. Midway through the round Ritson is able to land power shots but it still not enough for him to win the round.
Going into the final round Ritson needs a knockout on my card. In the 12th Patera was able to go toe to toe with Ritson. Ritson was getting into the pocket but he’s not landing anything. So to the judges we go I had it to Patera by 1, but whatever happens I would love to see a rematch of this one.
Robbie Davis Jr V Glenn Foot
Robbie Davis Jr wins a wide unanimous decision to win the British and Commonwealth titles.
In the 1st round both men where trying to find their range and distance working off the jab. The game plan for both of them was clear Foot wants to be on the front foot and Davis wants to keep it at range. It was a close round but I think Davis just edged it. At the start of the 2nd round Foot landed some good shots but it was another close round this is shaping up to be a good fight. In the 3rd Foot was staying on the front foot but he wasn’t landing anything clean. Midway through the round Foot rocked Davis and his face is a bloody mess, at this point in the fight Foot is getting the better of the exchanges. At the start of the 4th Davis rocked Foot but back came Foot with shots to the body. This is a very scrappy fight with the clash of styles. In the 5th it was a another scrappy round but a close round but I think the better work came from Davis
Going into the second half of the fight I had Davis 2 up but it’s a very close fight. At the start of the 6th it looked like Foot was trying to up the pace but he was just hitting fresh air, but by the midway point in the round Foot did land some good body shots but still the better quality was coming from Davis. The 7th was much the same as the rest of the fight with Davis trying to box and Foot trying to get on the inside and make it scrappy. Toward the end of the round it looked like Davis lost his shape and it looked like he was feeling the pace. In the 8th the fight was still very scrappy but now it looks like Foot is having the better of it. However Davis is doing a better job of keeping the fight at range which means he’s able to land the quality punches. Davis made a bright start to the 9th Foot is been aggressive on the front foot but he’s not landing anything, and now it looks like Foot is feeling the pace.
So into the championship rounds we go and I’ve got Davis 5 rounds up. In the 10th Foot looked like he’s got nothing left and Davis is able to just land his shots. At this point in the fight surely the only way Foot can win would be by knockout and I just can’t see that happening. In the 11th it looked like Foot knew he was behind but he just couldn’t do anything about it. Davis has now taken control of the fight.
Going into the final round I had it very wide to Davis and it looked like there’s nothing Foot can do about it. The final round was the same as the second half of the fight Foot coming forward but doing nothing with it and Davis was just able to pick him off.
For a fight that I’ve really been looking forward to it hasn’t been a classic there won’t be a rematch of this one.
Joshua Buatsi V Tony Averlant
Joshua Buatsi continued his perfect start to his career with an opening round stoppage.
In the opening round Buatsi was working off the jab then going down stairs to the body with less than a minute gone in the fight Averlant hit the canvas off 1 of those body shots, he beats the count and Buatsi is going looking for the finish. Buatsi continued to go to the body then move up to the head it looks like Averlant has no answer. Then with 20 seconds to go in the round he goes down again and this time it looks like he doesn’t want to get up, he tried to beat the count but as he got up he went down again and the referee waved it off.
David Allen V Samir Nebo
David Allen scores a knockout in the first minute of the opening round
From the opening bell Allen went straight to the body then with over 2 minutes to go in the round Nebo hit the canvas off a huge body shot and the referee waved it off.
Simon Vallily V Craig Glover
Craig Glover out classed Simon Vallily to score an 8th round stoppage.
The 1st round started slowly with Glover trying to work his way in off the jab, in the early going both men where landing good shots to the body. Then Glover timed a perfect left hook which put Vallily on the canvas he beat the count but he looks very unsteady on his legs. Now Glover is going looking for the finish but Vallily made it to the bell. At the start of the 2nd Glover was landing power shots to the body rocking Vallily more than once it looked like Glover could land at will. However Glover had to be careful because Vallily is a hard puncher. In the 3rd Glover continued to work off the jab and Vallily is just looking for 1 good shot. Glover continued to work the body and Vallily doesn’t look like his minds on the fight. At the start of the 4th Glover continued to box really well landing shots to the head and body as well as some real nice combinations. Glover kept landing heavy shots it looks like it’s only a matter of time before he gets the stoppage.
Going into the second half of the fight Glover has won every round and is boxing really well. In the 5th Glover kept landing big left hands, then things went from bad to worst for Vallily as he had a point deducted for a deliberate head butt. Throughout the whole fight Vallily just looks disinterested and like he doesn’t want to be there. In the 6th Glover stuck to his boxing landing shots to the head and body. Then he landed another big combination I think Vallily’s corner should think about pulling him out. In the 7th it was much the same with Glover doing everything right landing some nice shots. In the 8th Glover was going for the finish landing 3 or 4 big shots giving the referee no choice but to stop the fight.
Also on the bill:
John Docherty: Won his professional debut in just 18 seconds.
Anthony Fowler: Continued his perfect start to his professional career with a 5th round knockout.
Joe Laws: move to 3-0 with a 4th round stoppage.
Hope you enjoyed the fights comment below and let me know your thoughts.