Ringside Boxing Report: Ian Napa vs Lee Haskins

Friday night at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, Frank Maloney Promotions put on a great show headlined by British Bantamweight Champion Ian Napa's title defense against ex-Commonwealth and English Flyweight Champion Lee Haskins.

In round one, southpaw Haskins took centre ring and found his range between taunting Napa and backing him up, Napa was getting caught on the way in every time and a solid left uppercut from Haskins ended the round.

In the second, Haskins started to switch hit and had his hands dangerously low, but landed good lunging hooks. Napa knew that he needed to get inside but good jabbing from Haskins picks Napa off at will but the effort is taking it's toll as the challenger looked worryingly tired towards the end of the round.

Good start in the third from Haskins, but again his hands are way too low and Napa seems to be starting to get success on the inside. It was a messy round, but Haskins banged out two wicked jabs to close an untidy round.

The fourth sees a thumping overhand right from Napa, but the champion still can't get through the jab of Haskins. The fight suddenly turned as Haskins engaged Napa up close and the champion hurt Haskins with a cracking uppercut; it's now a fight in East London!

Napa's fans went wild as the Londoner backed up a tired looking Haskins with two, three and then four vicious uppercuts.

In the fifth, Napa appeared razor sharp and caught an exhausted Haskins with a good jab and looked the guvnor now. A good body shot from Napa as Haskins is blowing hard from his high energy expenditure in the early going.

Napa started to wear Haskins down in the middle of the round as he banged away at the body; shots that were sure to take effect sooner or later and Haskins was made to look very one dimensional at this point.

The sixth saw a good start by the fresher looking Napa as Haskins took hard shots to the body. Haskins looked to his corner and something is definitely up with him.

Haskins clearly has a damaged hand here as Napa grinded away again to the body while Haskins barely used his right hand in that round. The doctor is called into the ring to examine Haskins' arm.

The fight is allowed to go on as the seventh round starts; Napa should press unload on the challenger, but Haskins coped well given the circumstances. Good uppercut from Napa as crowd trouble spills out at the back of the York Hall. Haskins was seriously tired as the bell sounds to end the seventh.

The eighth never starts as the corner of Haskins pulled him out and Napa, 15-6 (1), gets the stoppage win and his first KO victory to date!

It was a sad ending to what would have been a real classic, but a great fight nonetheless.

Fair play to Lee Haskins, 16-2 (9), who wanted to carry on though.

Simon Shaw - djsishaw69@yahoo.co.uk