Boxing News Boxing News
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Mark Thompson of Manchester faced Vincent “The Rock” Vuma of South Africa in a scheduled 12 round contest for the WBC International Light Middleweight title on the undercard of the Ian Napa – Jason Booth British title rematch last night in Wigan, England.
Thompson took the fight at short notice when stablemate, Jamie Moore was forced to drop-out with an injury.
The Manchester man started off with a great first round against Vuma and looked confident as he “susses-out” the counter-punching South African in round two.
By round three, Vuma is still cautiously waiting for Thompson’s action, in fact, there are some lengthy periods when no punches are thrown as the South African waits tentatively.
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But Thompson is looking focused and throws a combination of punches. Then, with 30 seconds of the round to go, Thompson is caught by a left which rocks his head back, then another followed by a number of shots and Thompson hangs on to Vuma for a moment while his head clears.
Seconds later and Vuma stumbles slightly as Thompson’s left glove skims the temple of Vuma and in retaliation, Vuma almost knocks Thompson over when he grabs round the back of his head. Referee Daniel Vanderweile gestures that it’s not a knockdown and the fight continues.
Round four and Thompson doesn’t look quite as confident after the incident in the third. And though it’s a close round, he is caught by a left punch from Vuma which sends him flying to the canvas with just 15 seconds of the frame to go. He is a bit unsteady as he walks back to his corner at the end of the round.
Vuma lets go a number of punches at the opening of round five and the referee looks closely at Thompson. He’s on the backfoot but midway through the round he comes back and now Vuma is backed up to the ropes as Thompson throws an uppercut which rocks the South African’s head back.
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With just 11 seconds of the round to go, a painful body shot followed by a left sent Vuma stumbling back onto the canvas. It’s an exciting fight and the crowd are on their feet!
In the last 40 seconds of round six, Vuma lands a left followed by a right and a left and Thompson’s head is snapped back as he falls back against the ropes. Thompson looks glazed but somehow manages to stay upright and bravely stands up to Vuma but the South African is relentless and he lands more right hands and uppercuts.
Only the bell saves Thompson as it signals the end of a tough round six. Round seven and Thompson looks tired but he’s still in the fight as he backs Vuma up on the ropes.
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Midway through round eight, Thompson sinks to the canvas after a bodyshot from Vuma. Seconds later, a right hand followed by a left snaps Thompson’s head back, more punches follow until Referee Daniel Vanderweiler (who’d been watching closely) finally stepped in to stop the contest.
Vincent Vuma wins by eighth round stoppage and takes the vacant WBC Light Middle title.
Light welter Craig Watson, 9-1 (2), of Manchester defeated Michael Lomax, 10-1-1 (2), of Chingford on points in an eight round contest, giving the London area prospect his first loss.
Commonwealth Light Welter Champion Ali Nuumbembe, 18-2-1 (6), of Glossop defeated Ukrainian journeyman Vladimir Borovski, 19-25-1 (9), on points in a six round non-title affair.
Heavyweight Scott Mitchell, 1-1 (0), of Bolton narrowly defeated Moorcombe’s David Ingleby, 3-17 (1), on points, 39-38, in a competitive four rounder.
Former British Super Middle Champion Tony Dodson, 21-4-1 (12), of Liverpool, overcame a bad cut above the eye to take a tough four round decision over Battersea based Nick Okoth, 4-14-4 (1), by a score of 39-37 at light heavyweight.
Light middle Alex Matvienko, 7-0-2 (2), of Manchester lost a point in the third for a low blow and drew with Sunderland’s Martin Marshall, 8-9-3 (0), over four rounds 38-38. There was much disapproval from Team Matvienko over the draw.
Birkenhead southpaw light middle Brett Flourney, 5-0 (2), stopped Yassine El-Maachi, 3-2 (1), of The Netherlands in the last round of a fourth round contest.
Burnley super bantam Stuart McFadyen, 6-0 (1), dropped Bradford’s Tasif Khan, 2-1-1 (1), in the first and then had to climb off the canvas himself in the third enroute to posting a very close 38-37 win after four rounds.
Underdercard Action Photos…
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