Boxing News Boxing News
© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing
Friday night from the characterful York Hall in Bethnall Green, London, it was second-time-around for Champion Tony Oakey and Peter Haymer as they faced each other for the British Ligh -Heavyweight Title in a Frank Maloney fight night billed as ‘The Return’.
The two met in 2005, when Haymer defeated Oakey in a controversial points win for the English title. Now Oakey is looking for a good win over Haymer to ‘put the card right’.
Tony “Oakey Cokey” entered the ring, smiling as the crowd joined in to the fun sounds of ‘the Oakey Cokey’. There was big support from the London crowd.
It was a busy first round for both men with each boxer throwing some sharp punches, and Oakey throwing a couple of significant left hooks. Frank Maloney watches intently as he leans on the canvas. It’s a close contest in the early rounds.
There’s a bit of holding on from Haymer in round three, but of the two men – ‘The Daddy’ looks the tidier boxer. Both men have sustained a couple of marks on their faces already.
Round four and Haymer continues to work on the jab and unleashes a great uppercut which lands bang on target. In the last 45 seconds of the round, Oakey throws a clean right hand which rocks Haymer’s head back momentarily. It’s a fast, exciting fight and some of the crowd jump up to their feet to spur on the men. It’s a better round for Oakey.
Both fighters touch gloves at the end of the round, they’ve done this throughout the contest and clearly have a lot of respect for each other.
Haymer takes a few more shots in round six and is starting to look a bit sloppier’compared to Oakey, who seems to have increased the work-rate.
Midway through round seven and Oakey’s nose is bleeding. Referee Mickey Vann warns Oakey for hitting low. “Dig deep, Peter”, Haymer’s corner urges him in between rounds.
In the last 40 seconds of round eight, Haymer, looking tired, is caught by a swinging right from Oakey but is then hit hard on the back of the head. Referee Vann, calls time while he warns Oakey. The crowd jeer their disapproval and Haymer gets precious seconds to recover.
With 1 minute and 8 seconds to go of round nine, Haymer is sent crashing to the canvas from a right hook – head and shoulders propped uncomfortably against the ropes. Managing to sit upright, he looks at his corner and shakes his head. Mickey Vann counts him out and Oakey celebrates.
Afterwards, promoter Frank Maloney mentioned Commonwealth Champion Dean Francis and former Olympian Courtney Fry, who earlier on the same card stopped previously undefeated prosepct Tony Salem, as possible future fights for Oakey.
Oakey improves to 25-2-1 (7) while Haymer has now dropped three straight and falls to 17-5-1 (5).
Promising super feather Akaash Bhatia put in another impressive display of boxing skills by sharply outpointing Bulgarian journeyman Wladimir Borov over eight rounds.
It was the first time that Bhatia has been scheduled to go eight and he confidently swept the series, winning the referee’s card 80-73 and improving to 10-0 (2), while wide ranging European traveler Borov slumps to 16-43-1 (6), having suffered his 17th consecutive loss.
Another Maloney prospect, light heavyweight Tony Salem, wasn’t so lucky as he had the misfortune to run into motivated ex-Olympian Courtney Fry, who knocked out the native Nigerian in the sixth frame.
Salem did well during the bout at times but his low hands southpaw defense proved to be a big mistake as Fry homed in a ripping combination that canvassed the younger man for much longer than it took the referee to count him out.
32 year old Fry improves to 11-1 (5), while 24 year old Salem loses for the first time and falls to 7-1 (3).
Manchester based welter Mark Thompson, 14-1 (8), hammered late replacement Darren Gethin, 8-12-5 (2), for two rounds before Gethin’s corner decided not to let their fighter out for the third round.
Super feather Henry Castle, 16-4 (8), handily outpointed seasoned Frenchman Frederic Gosset, 11-42-2 (3), over six rounds, 60-54.
Former British Heavyweight title challenger John McDermott, 24-3 (15), kept his title hopes alive with a six round points victory over Daniel Peret, 10-11 (3).
Welterweight Scott Woolford, 6-1 (0), is still looking for his first stoppage win after defeating Terry Adams, 6-10-1 (2), over four.
Another welter, Jamie Radford, 3-0 (1), beat hapless Johnny Greaves, 0-9 (0), over four.
Women’s boxing standout Laura Saperstein, 2-0 (0), won her second pro bout by outpointing the Ukraine’s Olga Varchenko, 0-1 (0), 40-36.
