Ringside Boxing Report: Kevin Anderson – Young Muttley

It was a noisy crowd that packed the Aston Villa Leisure Centre in Birmingham, England on Thursday night for the British and Commonwealth Welterweight Championship between Kevin Anderson and Young Muttley (Lee Woodley). With Sky Sports broadcasting live across the UK, all eyes were focused on the two combatants, as it was hoped that this pairing would determine the identity of the top welterweight in Britain today.

But before the main event could take place, several undercard bouts were contested. First, Matthew Macklin entered the ring with trainers Billy Graham and Kerry Kayes in tow. Normally seen around the Manchester area, Matt was fighting for the first time as a pro out of his home town of Birmingham to face Polish boxer Marcin Piatkowski in an 8 round light middleweight contest.

Macklin looked in great shape as they came out for the first round, Piatkowski playing it cautiously but getting caught with a number of shots resulting in a marked face by the end of Round one. Piatkowski was on the receiving end of some painful body blows from Macklin during the early rounds and looked to be suffering by the fourth.

In the last minute of the round, Macklin caught Piatkowski with a big left hook to the body and the Polish fighter dropped to his knees to take the referee’s count. At the end of the count, Piatkowski, still wincing, didn’t look keen to carry on. Referee Terry O’Connor stopped the fight at 2:14 of round four with Piatkowski in no condition to continue. Matthew Macklin climbs to 17-1 (13) while Marcin Piatkowski drops to 18-7-2 (5).

Next up it was Paul Appleby of South Queensferry, Scotland facing last minute replacement Graeme Higginson of Blackburn in a four round featherweight contest. In round two, the young, impressive Appleby landed a long right hand, causing Higginson to fall back against the ropes. The referee stopped the contest at 1:58 of the second round with Higginson in no condition to continue. Appleby moves to 4-0 (4) as Higginson goes to 1-5-1 (1)

Now it was time for the main event. Young Muttley was coming off a shock defeat of British Welterweight Champion Michael Jennings in January. Tonight, fighting in front of his home crowd, the West Bromwich 30 year old looked confident as he entered the ring in patriotic George Flag shorts and hoody.

The younger Scot, Commonwealth Champion Kevin Anderson, came to the ring in green and white shorts, appreciative of the support from Scottish fans who had made the trip down to Birmingham. Clad in tartan hats and waving Scottish flags, the crowd cheered and sang, goaded by the rival West Bromwich supporters!

Both fighters were fired up as they came out for the opening round. The first two rounds were competitive until with 44 seconds remaining of the second, Muttley lands a couple of left hooks and Anderson goes down. He recovers and seconds later Muttley is on the canvas after Anderson throws a left hook resulting in a “messy” scramble and the fall is not counted as a knockdown.

Round four sees a bad cut form above Anderson’s right eye and by the end of the fourth, he looks wobbled by another left hook from Muttley. The corner works hard on his cut eye between the rounds.

By the end of round six it seems certain that Muttley is winning the fight, but round seven is a better one for Anderson and despite taking a lot of good solid punches throughout the first half of the contest, he is still coming forward.

Round eight and Anderson digs in while Muttley looks a little less sharp. In the ninth, Anderson seems to have renewed vigor, driving himself forward. Muttley at this stage is starting to look despondent, he’s given everything he’s got yet Anderson keeps coming back! The Scottish fans are spurring their man on and the Muttley fans chant England! England!

In the tenth Muttley’s workrate has slowed slightly and Anderson is a little lighter on his feet. With nearly a minute of the round to go, Anderson lands a left hook then another and Muttley is stunned, his legs turn to jelly and he looked dazed. Anderson launches a barrage of punches and Muttley struggles to keep up on the ropes. He stumbles across the canvas and Anderson throws several more punches as a very dazed champion slumps against the ropes.

The referee stops the contest in the last 42 seconds of round 10 with Young Muttley unable to continue. Kevin Anderson of Buckhaven, Scotland, annexes the British Welterweight title to add to his Commonwealth crown and improves to 17-0 (11). Young Muttley falls to 20-2 (11).

Sadly, rival fans began to fight and the Aston Villa Leisure Centre became host to a war between Scottish and English fans. The M.C. called for calm as supporters panicked amidst scenes of rioting fans.

Other fights on the bill included:

Jon Jo Finnegan winning a four round points decision over Mark Phillips at middleweight.

Martin Gethin defeating Baz Carey on points over four rounds at lightweight.

Welterweight Craig Dickson losing to Darren Gethin on points over six rounds.