Boxing News Boxing News
Towering Manchester area heavyweight Tyson Fury went into Odyssey Arena in opponent Martin Rogan’s hometown of Belfast on Saturday night and came away as the new owner of the Irish title.
Fury remained undefeated at 18-0 (13), after starting out slowly behind a previously unseen southpaw stance.
Rather than hinder Rogan, Fury’s surprise tactic allowed the 40 year old Belfast cab driver to drive the 6’9 tall Englishman back as the local hero took the first two rounds, much to the delight of the fiercely partisan audience.
But Rogan’s success was short lived as soon as Fury began to employ his heavy artillery, belting Rogan to the canvas with a left hook in the third. Rogan beat the count and by the fourth was even mounting a resurgence.
Fury used body blows to put a stop to Rogan’s ambitions, landing rib-crunching shots that put the Irishman back on the floor in the fifth. Although the big-hearted Rogan beat the count, his corner threw in the towel at 3:00 of the fifth frame.
Rogan drops to 14-3 (7), having lost three of his last five after a bruising Commonwealth title win over Matt Skelton in in 2009.
Fury has now climbed to the top of the heap among British heavyweights, assuming David Haye remains retired for the time being, but must face fellow giant David Price, who defeated Fury in the amateurs, if he is to truly rule the domestic roost.
There were several interesting contests on the undercard.
Local light middles Joe Hillerby, 7-0 (2), and Willie Thompson, 6-5-1 (0), tangled for the vacant Northern Ireland Area title with Hillery capuring the belt with a 98-93 points verdict.
Ex-Commonwealth welterweight titlist John O’Donnell, 25-2 (11), fought for the first time in over a year, defeating Martin Welsh, 10-3 (1), by a score of 78-74 after eight rounds at light middle.
Middleweight Chris Eubank Jr, 3-0 (2), stopped previously undefeated Paul Allison, 5-1-1 (1), in the fourth of a scheduled six rounder.
