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Following the huge success of his ‘A Night Of The Rising Stars’ event at York Hall back in April promoter Steve Goodwin recently announced that his “Summer Fight Night Explosion” at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, on Saturday 19th June, will be bigger, better and even more explosive!
A tall order, as “A Night Of The Rising Stars” received justifiable rave reviews, but true to his word Goodwin has pulled out all the stops to bring a top notch 12 bout event to the Capital’s world famous boxing venue.
OK, so we’ve got the bigger, and it seems that Goodwin’s got the better and more explosive covered as well with the return of two of the most exciting and heavy hitting war lords on the domestic scene today, Yassine El Maachi, who on the 19th June will battle with Dee Mitchell, and Mark ‘The Flash’ Alexander, who will lock horns with Sid Razak.
Back in April El Maachi declared war on French hard man Bertrand Aloa for the vacant International Masters Light Middleweight title. The cheering legion of fans at York Hall that evening were treated to nine scintillating, action packed, yet very close, rounds before a clear and indisputable winner could be called.
When that moment came, just seconds from the bell to end round nine, El Maachi clinically let rip with a magnificent hook to the head that sent Aloa crashing to the canvas. Aloa quickly got to his feet to survive the last few seconds of the round.
The final round was all El Maachi, his movement was fluid and his punches telling. Mid way through the final round the Frenchman was sent sprawling face down on to the deck, although not by a clean shot but due to his unsteadiness and a little helping push by El Maachi.
Aloa again jumped up quickly and as if the second trip to the canvas acted as a wake up call, came back at the London based Iranian, albeit too late to win the final round and close the deficit. When the scorecards were read out they declared, by a 96-93 margin,Yassine El Maachi the new International Masters Light Middleweight Champion.
Alexander’s Lightweight contest against Michael Devine was equally, if not more, sensational. Devine was the clear favourite, being unbeaten and having stopped all his previous opponents, but like all good thrillers there would be a twist in the tale.
Within a minute of the start of the first round Devine found himself crashing to the canvas following a beautiful one two combination to the head and body by the ever so slick Alexander. As soon as the referee finished the standing count Alexander was all over the clearly shaken Devine like a rash. It seemed that Alexander could land clean punches and move out of harms way in a flash, each time leaving Devine punching at fresh air.
Alexander’s movement and power was telling on Devine, who seemed to throw his fight plan out of the window as he tried to pursue the phantom that was his opponent. Within a minute of his first trip to the canvas he was back there again courtesy of a vicious left to the body followed by a lightning quick hook. Again, after the standing count, Alexander went on the attack and rocked Devine on numerous occasions before the end of the round.
Devine didn’t fare much better in the second round as the elusive Alexander came on the inside, playing Devine’s ribs like a xylophone before ducking and swaying out of harm’s way. Around the middle of the round Devine rushed at Alexander and managed to bundle him onto the ropes, but before he could land a decent shot ‘The Flash’ had already moved causing Devine to turn into a looping right which sent him crashing to the canvas for the third time.
Alexander stepped it up another level and just plain out boxed, and out moved, the hapless Devine, who could see his perfect record disappearing like a rat up the drainpipe. Everyone, but everyone, was on their feet as it seemed the fight would surely be over before the end of the round. Devine is made of sterner stuff and, although he was being given a boxing master class by Alexander, managed to make it to the bell.
Devine’s corner must have really fired him up for the third round as he came out with both barrels blazing. Again he managed to rush and bundle Alexander into a corner, this time even managing to land a punch or two, albeit on the gloves of ‘The Flash’.
Alexander seemed content to just play with his opponent like a cat plays with a mouse, at times his magnificent movement sending Devine off balance as he let rip with yet another huge air shot.
It was inevitable that ‘The Flash’ would stop playing with his prey but no one, not Devine or any one at ringside, saw the lightning quick punch that sent Devine to the deck for the fourth, and final, time. Devine did make it to his feet but the referee decided enough was enough stopping the fight at two minutes and eleven seconds of the third round.
El Maachi and Alexander are not the only exciting crowd pleasers on the show. Alexander’s Ultrachem TKO Gym mate, Light Welterweight sensation Daryl Setterfield, who will be facing Ricky Boulter on the 19th June, will be looking to build on his stunning knockout victory over the highly rated Darren Hamilton back in March this year.
Coming into that fight Setterfield was undoubtedly the underdog as Hamilton had been rightly touted as a future star of the division. However, no one took into account that Setterfield, anything but an easy opponent at the best of times, always comes to win.
Hamilton was intent on imposing himself with heavy handed attacks. Setterfield wasn’t content to just roll over and take it, responding with vicious salvos of his own. The climax to the exciting battle was nothing short of spectacular.
Setterfield let rip with the most vicious overhand right to the head, which literally stopped the previously unbeaten fighter in his tracks, then followed up with a lightning fast combination that sent Hamilton crashing to the canvas so hard the paramedics were immediately called for.
The stars keep on coming. Also on the card are Olympic Bronze Medallist Boris Georgiev (Bobby George), who will be looking to build on his excellent pro-debut win, and former English Super Featherweight Champion Ryan Barrett.
Barrett, an exciting, classy southpaw, has been in with the best of the best – Amir Khan, John Simpson, Willie Lamond etc. – secured the English Super Featherweight title with a third round knockout of Femi Fehintola in October 2008. The Thamesmead based fighter also held the British Masters Featherweight title, and challenged, unsuccessfully, for both the British Featherweight Crown and the WBU World Lightweight Title.
That’s not all, rising stars Tony Owen, Joe St John, Bradley Evans and Michael Norgrove will all be looking to increase their unbeaten records. Whilst Welterweights John Brennan (opponent TBA) and Adam Battle, who will face Danny Dontchev, will be looking to impress on their pro-debuts.
Last but not least, Ultrachem TKO Gym trained, World Fireman’s Games Champion and former Royal Marine, Matt Jack will battle it out with Marco Stevenson in what promises to be an exciting all action Light Heavyweight contest.
Steve Goodwin is clearly a man of his word and “Summer Fight Night Explosion” has the potential to be the York Hall’s greatest show this year and is without doubt a don’t miss event, so don’t miss it!
Oh and as there are so many fights on the card the action starts at 5.30pm so get there early.
Tickets for the Goodwin Promotion’s “Summer Fight Night Explosion” at the York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, on Saturday 19th June 2010 are £35 (Unreserved) & £60 (VIP).
For tickets call 07960 850645 or buy on-line at www.tickets.justlisten2this.com
