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On Friday night, in a Frank Maloney promoted fight night at the famous York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, Gary Woolcombe made his first defence of the British Middlweight Title against Ryan Rhodes.
Taller, younger, ʽHot Stuffʼ Woolcombe of Kent faced the more experienced ʽSpice Boyʼ Rhodes of Sheffield. Ironically, Rhodes won this same title – eleven years ago.
Rhodes seems to be having trouble getting a grip on the canvas as he slips two or three times in the opening minute of the first round. But despite being the ʽolderʼ guy – Rhodes looks in fantastic physical shape.
Rhodes looks sharper, quicker and more stylish than the younger Woolcombe.
Woolcombe is under pressure in the first minute of round five. And half a minute later he takes a right punch from Rhodes which makes him wobble slightly. Moments later, body punches land to Woolcombeʼs torso – itʼs a difficult round for the champion and there is damage to his right eye.
In the closing minute of round six, Woolcombe is subjected to a barrage of accurate punching from Rhodes and he drops to his knee in the corner. Jumping up again, his corner signals to him to stay down so he goes to one knee to recover as Mickey Vann administers the count.
Woolcombe takes a number of clean shots and does well to survive the round.
I donʼt know how Woolcombe gets through the next round! Taking more punches and a peach of an uppercut he looks about to drop, but miraculously keeps going to the end of the round.
Presenter Jim Watt was right when he said ʼit was too punishing a fight – to be enjoyableʼ because Woolcombe was taking too many hard punches. Gasps ring out from the crowd with each punch that Rhodes lands. But Woolcombe stands up to the Sheffield man.
In 37 seconds of the ninth round, Ryan Rhodes wins the British Light Middleweight Title again (!) having landed a big clubbing right hand to the temple area of a tired Gary Woolcombe.
Woolcombe lands heavily on the canvas and Referee Mickey Vann immediately moves him in to the recovery position as medics enter the ring. Itʼs a worrying time as Woolcombe is tended to on the canvas, but after receiving oxygen and taking several minutes to recover he gets to his feet.
Afterward, an emotional Ryan Rhodes gave credit to a ‘tough’ Gary Woolcombe.
© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing
Also at the York Hall on Friday night, John McDermott made light work of Pele Reid as they battled it out for the vacant English Heavyweight title.
Big Bad John McDermott, fighting out of Horndon, Essex, faced Birmingham ʽBangerʼ – Pele Reid originally from Sheffield in a ten-round contest.
McDermott kept calm during round one as he settled in to the fight. Round two and Reid – who leaves himself open – is under pressure from “Big John.” He throws a couple of swinging over-arm rights which miss their mark, but McDermott lands a right and Reid covers up while McDermott throws a barrage of punches including uppercuts which rock back the head of his opponent.
Desperately trying to hang on, Reid almost falls through the ropes and McDermott loses his gumshield amidst the chaos. Reid gets a much needed rest while the gumshield is retrieved, but as soon as the fight resumes – Reid is immediately caught by another right from McDermott and he again takes a number of punches and tries to hold on to his opponent in desperation.
But Referee Terry OʼConnor jumps in to stop the contest as Reid is taking too many shots and not throwing anything.
John McDermott wins by TKO round two
Afterward, Frank Maloney talked of a match-up with Danny Williams and said that McDermott ʽdeserved a shot at the British Championship after tonightsʼ performanceʼ but said that McDermott needs to ʽbelieve in himself a bit moreʼ.
