British Fireworks! Boxing\’s Esham Pickering and Michael Hunter Go To War

It was British boxing at it’s finest last night when European and Commonwealth Champion Esham Pickering and British Champion Michael Hunter collided on a superb Matchroom Promotions card televised by Sky TV. The clash took place in Hartlepool, England’s Borough Hall in front of a packed house of Hunter’s rabid hometown fans. It was an action packed fight with Pickering surprisingly going on the attack instantly in round one. “Brown Sugar” dropped Hunter with a great left hook midway in the first, but the British Champion beat the count and made it through the round. Hunter was down again in the second from the very same left hook from the European Champion. Despite the knockdowns, Hunter was still fighting back and landing some great shots of his own but the difference was that he couldn’t hurt Pickering.

The next few rounds saw Hunter throwing single shots that were consistently blocked and countered. The tide began to change in the fifth when Hunter showed the heart of a champion and started throwing his punches in bunches. It was a tactic that caused Pickering some problems due to the pace and velocity of the attack. Pickering spent the rest of the fight trying to change his own tactics from boxing to attacking but a very game Hunter was still winning the rounds to take the fight to the very end of round twelve. The ringside judges scored this very close and hard fought contest 112-115, 113-114, 113-113 in Hunter’s favour. Michael Hunter remains undefeated at 23-0-1 (9) and becomes the new European, Commonwealth and British Super Bantamweight Champion.

After the bout, both fighter were interviewed by Sky TV. Hunter was ecstatic in victory but not without respect for his fellow combatant. “Pickering is a world class fighter and caught me with some great shots in the first few rounds, he didn’t hurt me but I’ve got a great heart and can beat anyone,” said Hunter.

Pickering was obviously more subdued but remained confident and fully prepared for another chance to face the new triple champion.”I thought I won the fight and would like a rematch, I’d have given him one after that,” remarked the dethroned Newark man.

The main undercard attraction was a smart domestic tear up at light welter between veteran Oscar Hall and the less experienced Lenny Daws.

It turned out to be a great little scrap with both fighters giving a good account of themselves. The previously unbeaten Daws suffered a deep laceration from a head clash in the second and this caused the cut fighter to panic box. After a few rounds, Daws realised that he wasn’t going to get stopped and started outworking Hall in a very game fight from both men. But by round seven, Hall seemed to just run out of stamina and by the end of the frame, his corner had seen enough, causing them to pull a very tired Hall out of the fight on his stool.

Lenny Daws wins via seventh round stoppage.

Look out for Matthew Moore’s full ringside report with photos coming soon