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© Curtis McCormick / Saddo Boxing
Bantamweights Jason Booth and Matthew Edmonds appeared on Saturday’s Maloney/Wood promotion at Wigan, England’s Robin Park Centre to argue the Commonwealth Bantamweight title that the undefeated South African Tshifhiwa Munyai recently vacated.
Booth came into the bout the far more experienced campaigner, a pro since 1996 and a former British and Commonwealth Flyweight Champ as well as a previous IBO Super Fly titlist. Moreover, the 30 year old Nottingham man had only recently lost a close decision to the much improved British Bantamweight ruler, Ian Napa.
In walks Edmonds, a young Welshman making just his seventh appearance in the paid ranks since commencing his pro career just over a year ago but the sturdy Newbridge man would make a mockery of any low expectations about what kind of performance he could deliver in the face of such a differential in experience.
Booth came out in the first looking to box his novice challenger but was immediately nailed by a full on power shot by Edmonds. Edmonds has more success but Booth soon adjusts to what’s in front of him and begins to bob away from the Welshman’s big shots and slams home quality counters.
Perhaps thinking that he has the measure of the beginner, Booth began to showboat just a little and experienced instant karma as Edmonds made him pay for that bit of hubris. But Booth reaffirmed his superiority with a whistling uppercut as the initial round drew close.
Booth looks to further his advantage by backing up Edmonds in the second, finding a home for quick and hurtful combinations, but the Welsh hard man refuses to wilt under the strain. Booth heartily counters the missed replies of Edmonds and it begins to look as though the East Midlands slickster has found a way to break the composure of his fellow Commonwealth candidate. The former two weight champ has his way until Edmonds erupts with a volley of effort that surprised Booth at the end of the frame.
The third session follows a predictable pattern that sees Booth winning the boxing encounters from the outside while Edmonds rules the interior. Showing his frustration with Edmond’s refusal to go quietly, Booth spitefully throws the upstart to the canvas. Edmonds dusts himself off and goes forward, attacking the body as Booth looks to counter. The seasoned pro has some success making Edmonds miss but is also receiving a good bit of glove along the way.
Edmonds continues his surge forward in the fourth, giving Booth the opportunity to paste him with head snapping counter left hooks. Edmonds backs Booth onto the ropes and lets everything go to both head and body. Booth makes it off the ropes and keeps up the hard counter left hooks but is tiring from the constant struggle to hold off Edmonds, who finishes strong once again.
The fifth round witnesses Booth introducing a new lethality to the cat and mouse game; the counter right. Edmonds is completely unprepared for this additional component and is caught flush repeatedly. Booth masterfully mixes the hands but it doesn’t slow the Edmonds juggernaut, which proceeds to hammer Booth’s body, earning in return a clattering lead right and a sneaky left upper hook from the ex-champion, who looks to be flagging slightly.
Edmonds tries to force his viewpoint with maximum effort in the sixth but is stunned by a particularly nasty right hand from Booth; Incredibly, Edmonds quickly resumes his campaign of forward motion, eating counters along the way, but commanding Booth, who must use his superb footwork to keep out of harm’s way, to fight at this fast pace nonetheless.
In the seventh, the pair of bantams trade on equal terms as Booth is forced into the trenches. “2 Smooth” pulls clear with the familiar counters but is then caught with a big lead right hand from Edmonds. Booth knows it’s time to get on the bike and Edmonds can’t better his work. The moment passes as Booth expertly rides whatever Edmonds does get on target for the rest of the round.
Booth looks to end things in the eighth as he picks up the pace and bad intent of his sterling counter work to the misfortune of the still advancing Edmonds. It’s the right hand once again that is picking off the kid from Wales but as Booth tries to get a breather in, Edmonds begins to bowl strikes with some of his own throws. Out of nowhere, a bracing right slams into the oncoming Edmonds and the bold aspirant is definitely hurt but keeps his feet while Booth looks to gain a few breaths rather than following up immediately.
Edmonds is looking ragged but experiences divine intervention in the form of tape coming off of Booth’s glove and time is called while it is refastened. Once the action resumes, Edmonds again comes forward, but a series of rights has him looking just a bit reluctant as the round ends.
At the start of the ninth, Booth lets it all hang out and while Edmonds is taking a hammering, he steadfastly refuses to go down. As Booth winds down from the sheer expenditure of his bombardment, Edmonds comes right back into the action, somehow pasting Booth with both hands despite his gas tank appearing to be seriously empty. Booth regroups and with Edmonds wide open on the way in, puts withering single shots directly on target but still Edmonds comes forward, hitting Booth.and driving him back.
Booth gathers himself and plants a perfect, full blooded left hook counter square onto the jaw of Edmonds, who wobbles badly on his feet, prompting referee Marcus McDonnell to leap in and grab the big hearted bantamweight and bring the bout to an abrupt close.
Jason Booth reaps the vacant Commonwealth Bantam crown, returning to the top class of British boxing for the first time since losing the IBO strap to Damaen Kelly two years ago and sees his record to 28-5 (11).
For nine rounds, Matthew Edmonds, 5-2 (1), has displayed remarkable courage and toughness in the face of overwhelming odds, getting stopped only when his body was no longer under his control.
Booth comes over to his defeated foe and offers hopeful words of encouragement before slipping on the multi-colored Commonwealth belt and posing for the ringside photographers.
