Ringside Boxing Report: Scott Dann – Larry Sharpe
Commonwealth Middleweight Title Fight From Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth, UK
 Click for larger image © Matthew Voyle Saddo Boxing |
Not a lot happens In the old barracks town of Plymouth, but when British Middleweight Champion Scott Dann is in the ring everyone knows about it and “The Pride of Plymouth” has a lot of weight on his shoulders. The Pavilions, seemingly a second home to the “Dynamite Dann”, was more than happy to host the local man’s biggest fight since Scott challenged triple champion Howard Eastman a few years ago. Canadian visitor Larry “Razor” Sharpe was up for the challenge |
of his lifetime as he’d be facing Dann for the vacant Commonwealth crown. After only turning professional four years ago, Sharpe’s dream had come early. Coming from a kickboxing background, the Canadian’s resume wasn’t as fine as Dann’s but his height and style was sure to cause problems.
Chris and Jamie Sanigar, promoters of Dann through their firm West Country Boxing, put on the well run bill. In addition to the Dann – Sharpe headliner, the pair showed off some of their top local talent, with Bristol’s Lee Haskins defeating Anthony Mathias for the vacant Commonwealth Flyweight Championship.
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When it was time for the main event, the crowd, packed to the rafters, didn’t exactly give the southpaw Canadian Champion, who made his way into the ring at 11 st 5 (159lbs) a warm welcome. “The Razor” wasn’t perturbed by this however, and warmed up regardless of the harmless disrespect coming his way.
The mood soon changed as Dann, a blonde tipped figure of confidence, made his way down the aisle singing his own theme tune, absorbing the warmth and energy of the patriotic crowd. Weighing in at 11st 5 ½ lb (159.5lbs), the thirty one year old, also a southpaw, looked comfortable and in great shape
After the initial introductions, free of the sometimes long and laborious national anthems, the pair touched gloves and made their way to the respective corners. There was no bad blood, no trash talk, just two men wanting the same thing; make or break.
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The first round saw the nerves of Sharpe getting the better of him, throwing range finders and finding it difficult to get to Dann. The experience of the British Champion showed through and a powerful double left hook to the body and head shook “The Razor” early. Stern words from the referee to both fighters – Sharpe for lowering the head and Dann for hitting on the break, dominated the remainder of the round. But all in all, a good round for the patient champion.
A cagey second round with no real action, Sharpe was on an early walkabout, making it very difficult for the local entertainer to do his job. More range finders from across the pond, but it seemed that Dann was waiting for a mistake that wasn’t coming because there was no real pressure.
Larry Sharpe livened up a little more during the third, landing a solid left hook and committing himself more, but the closer he got, the more success Scott Dann was having. Pressuring Sharpe on the ropes to the head and body simply increased the British Champion’s accuracy and power.
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Another cagey round throughout the fourth with Dann working off the jab and having success when he applied the pressure. The Canadian kept busy but found it difficult to land anything of significance.
By the fifth, Sharpe’s negativity and survival mode were setting in as his lack of experience began to show. The Cannuck used the ring well, mainly by avoiding getting involved while Dann worked off the jab and stated to let his hands go with an array of bodyshots and uppercuts.
The pride of Plymouth was straight out for the sixth and immediately pressured Sharpe back to his corner. Being bullied for the first half of the round, the referee looked anxious. Some good work on the ropes from Dann had the crowd going wild. A slight lull in the local hero’s work and the Canadian tried his luck, scoring with a wild left hook and straight right that stunned Dann. The a windmill from nowhere had both contenders in toe to toe action with Sharpe having the better of the exchange.
Respect dominated the seventh, and the pace dropped whilst both recovered from the previous round. Dann tried to settle back down to his boxing and the action mirrored the earlier rounds while Sharpe seemed to have the aura of confidence building.
The eighth round saw very little in the way of excitement. Dann was not able to adapt his style to break through the cage of the very mobile Sharpe, and the Canadian was happy to stay on the back foot, avoiding any commitment and making an attempt to steal the fight. Another solid left hook from Dann towards the end of the round came after referee Richard Davies pleaded for some action.
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It looked as if we were in for more of the same through round nine, but about twenty seconds in, a precise left uppercut brought Larry Sharpe to his knees. Suddenly, the fate of the Canadian visitor was sealed as Dann adds by way of knockout, the Commonwealth Middleweight Title to join the Lonsdale Belt in his trophy cabinet. Now a double champion, Scott Dann improves his record to 24-2 (17) while Larry Sharpe, of Pine Falls, Manitoba, Canada falls to 14-3 (5).
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