Boxing News Boxing News
By Jane Warburton and Rhun Leeding
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A Sky Sports televised Wednesday night bill from the characterful York Hall in Bethnal Green, London saw two title bouts which could easily have graced a Friday night show, with plenty of action and talent on display on a Hennessy Sports fightnight.
It was an atmospheric night as Darren Barker of Barnet, England comprehensively outboxed the willing, but one-dimensional Ben Crampton from Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia, showing tremendous accuracy and tenacity to cover the 12 round distance for the first time in his career, and withstand a late rush from the Australian desperately seeking a knockout.
Both men came in to the fight undefeated and ‘Dazzling’ Darren Barker entered the ring in shiny silver attire to huge support from the home-crowd. Barker has only had one fight in 12 months as his younger brother Gary died last year in a car accident.
Ben ‘Bazooka’ Crampton entered the ring the more experienced fighter but the younger Barker has the reach advantage.
It’s not a tight defence from Barker as he comes out for round one with hands a bit low, but it’s a great start from him as he throws a variety of punches while Crampton looks unsettled.
Barker continues to dominate rounds two and three with Crampton spending much of his time covering up and throwing very few punches. Despite the defence, he is still getting hit.
Early on, Barker has been accurate in his shots, frequently piercing the Crampton guard with hard jabs and straight shots, and working the body to open Crampton up.
In the opening minute of round for, Barker lands a left hook to the body of Crampton, followed by a right to the face and Crampton’s knees dip as he looks like he is going to drop to the canvas, but he keeps upright.
Barker piles on the pressure while Crampton is backed up on the ropes. The Australian digs-in to retain his composure but Barker continues his attack – switching between head and body shots and Crampton is slow to react. The man from Down Under drew on his determination, and survived the round, although it seemed inevitable that Barker had the power and accuracy to finish Crampton off.
It’s an impressive performance by Barker so far.
But as the rounds passed, Crampton found new resolve, and with a tighter guard, deflected more of Barker’s jabs and straight shots. The Englishman flurried frequently, only to find his shots meeting the guard each time.
In the last half-minute of round five, there is a flurry of shots from Crampton; it’s the only notable advance from the Australian up to now.
“Keep your jab going, Darren!” shouts his corner as he eases off the pressure slightly in round six. There’s a lot of holding-on in round seven, but in round eight, Crampton lands some body-shots and looks to be trying a bit harder this round.
Round nine and Crampton puts Barker under pressure in the last half-minute and Barkers gum-shield flies out to the canvas. Back in his corner during the intermission, Barker looks calm and un-phased as he listens intently to his trainer.
In the last three rounds Crampton finally came out of his shell and caught Barker with some solid left hooks to the body, and some hooks upstairs as well.
As the men come out for the twelfth and final round – Crampton knew he had to knock Barker out if he was to win the fight. “There’s only one Darren Barker….” the crowd sing in support of the local man.
Barker knows that Crampton is going to try and knock him out this round but in reality – Crampton does little more in the final round to worry’Barker and it’s of no surprise when it is announced that Barker has won by unanimous decision, 120-108 on two cards while the generous Dave Parris gave the score of 119-110.
Barker’s first six rounds were a delight to watch. In the latter stages his inexperience over the distance was overcome by his will to win and a good workrate and he always outboxed Crampton, 20-1-1 (9), in the latter stages.
Barker improves to 16-0 (10), and afterward, an emotional Darren told Sky Sports’ Ed Robinson, “Everything I do in boxing from now on is for Gary ”.
Also at the York Hall last night, was second-time around for Nigel Wright and former British Champion Lenny Daws as they slugged it out in a 10 round fight for Wright’s English Light Welterweight Title.
Southpaw Nigel Wright of County Durham had a great first round, being the busier of the two men and landing some good right jabs. Daws looked a bit sloppy and Wright continued to dominate the second round.
Wright sustains a cut above the left brow mid-way through round three and there’s some holding and grappling during the frame. Lenny ‘The Mawler’ Daws seemed to have settled in better by round four, but has sustained a cut under the left eye.
Wright had the best of the early stages of the fight, but Daws picked his game up in the middle to late rounds, landing some decent shots and seeming to rattle Wright.
It looked a fairly close contest, although a bit sloppy at times. Wright goes all out for the 10th and final round and did enough to claim the draw and hang on to his title
At the end of the bout, referee Phill Edwards raises the arms of both men to signify a draw, 95-95.
Wright heads to 18-2-1 (9), and retains the English Light Welter crown while Daws sees his record to 15-1-1 (6)
Now they need the third fight to take place on a Friday night where it’ll get due attention.
