
Click the Image for more Rod Smith Vs Liam Cameron Photos
At Ice Sheffield, England, last night, Rod Smith of Dronfield, Yorkshire, won the vacant International Masters Middleweight Title by a marginal points decision (96-95) over Liam Cameron of Sheffield.
Smith started the fight strongly and was further motivated when Cameron was given a count in round three. From my ringside position I thought he’d stumbled but it was deemed a knockdown by Referee John Latham. Smith took his foot off the pedal in the second half of the contest allowing Cameron to get the upper hand using his long-reaching left. Urged by his corner to ‘Take the fight to him!’ – ‘Canonball’ Cameron had Smith on the back-foot. Both men were tired in the ninth round but gave a last effort in the tenth and final frame.
A closely fought and exciting battle between these two men – but at the end it was ‘Razor’ Smith who claimed the belt and notched up his fifth successive win of five.
Also on the Coldwell Boxing Promotions fight-night entitled ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’, Lithuanian Imantas Davidaitis caused a shock when he felled Sheffield Heavyweight David Howe in the second round of their scheduled six round (by two minutes) contest.
Davidaitis looked even taller than Howe and was three stones lighter than the Ingle Boxer, but he wasn’t letting that bother him. He landed a right to the head which stunned the six foot eight inch giant who then turned to face the audience while against the ropes. Howe looked shell-shocked but had no time to recover as the Lithuanian reacted by following it up with two lefts to the head while Howe gazed across the venue. Referee Michael Alexander jumped in to wave it off – as Howe dropped to the canvas. He sat (supported) on the canvas then on a stool for a couple of minutes (without the aid of ringside medics).
Definitely an unlucky Friday 13th for Howe, but Davidaitis – fighting for the first time in the UK – will probably want a return visit (!)
Curtis Woodhouse of Driffield, Yorkshire, notched up his second points win over six rounds (60-54), since suffering defeat to Liverpool’s Derry Mathews in September. This time out, Woodhouse faced Polish Boxer – Arek Malek. After a comfortable victory, Woodhouse will be looking ahead to his BBBofC British Light-Welterweight Title challenge against Darren Hamilton of Bristol, in February.
The other surprise of the night was Jamie ‘Ginger Rocket’ Robinson’s defeat to Michael Stupart on points. Popular Robinson of Bolsover, Derbyshire, had a tough contest against experienced Stupey of Dunfermline, Scotland, to lose out on points 39-38.
Afterwards, a clearly unhappy Robinson ‘flounced off’ – declining to be interviewed.
Other Results at Ice Sheffield:
Maxi Hughes (Rossington) v Andy Harris (Gloucester)
6 x 3 Lightweight Contest
Harris sustained a nasty cut to the left eye in round 5 following a clash of heads. The fight was stopped and resulted in a Technical Draw.
Tommy Langford (Birmingham) v Harry Matthews (York)
6 x 3 Middleweight Contest
Langford wins on points 60-54
Leigh Wood (Gedling, Notts.) v Simas Volosinas (Lithuania)
4 x 3 Super Bantamweight Contest
‘Leigh-thal’ Wood gets the points win 40-36
Ryan Fields (Belper) v Disney Huni (Smethwick)
4 x 3 Welterweight Contest
Fields wins by Round 1 TKO
Jerome Wilson (Sheffield) v Billy Campbell (New Cummock, Scotland)
4 x 3 Welterweight Contest
Wilson gets a 39-38 points win after an 18 month break from boxing.
Joe Rodgers (Sheffield) v Pavels Senkovs (Mansfield via Latvia)
4 x 3 Lightweight Contest
Rodgers wins on points 40-36