Ringside Boxing Report: David Barnes vs. Ted Bami

ByJane Warburton

**With Slideshow**

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

It was a lively crowd last night at the GH Carnall Centre in Davyhulme, Manchester, England as David Barnes faced Ted Bami for the vacant British Light Welterweight title in a Matchroom Sports presented fightnight.

Dangerous Ted Bami of Brixton, London entered the ring to the sounds of a reggae melody with lyrics of “I am Dangerous.” A nervous David Barnes of Manchester entered the ring alongside trainer Bob Shannon and Andy Morris Jr.

It was a pretty close first round as both men suss each other out. An accidental clash of heads at the start of round two causes a cut under the left brow of Barnes, which sends a stream of blood down his cheek.

Southpaw Barnes uses the jab to keep Bami at bay. His defence is tight as Bami goes in with some bodyshots. Round four is a bit scrappy with some grappling between the two men and in the closing seconds, Referee Howard Foster calls them together to get them to ‘tidy it up a bit’.

And again, in round five – Foster warns Bami for rubbing his head into Barnes’s forehead. A good left from Barnes lands right on target but Bami takes it well. Barnes confidently strides back to his corner at the end of the fifth.

In the last half minute of round six, Bami gets a firmer caution from Foster for using the head. And as the two boxers walk back to their corners, Bami in the wrong direction for a second time, there’s almost a tussle as the two stop to eyeball each other and Foster quickly separates them.

Round seven and another good left from Barnes rocks Bami. It’s been a sloppy fight but Barnes he has kept focussed. Bami has missed a lot of shots, whereas Barnes has had a good success rate. The only really dangerous thing about Ted Bami last night was his head!

The last four rounds are particularly messy and Howard Foster warns both fighters a number of times. “Barnesy, Barnesy.”, the crowd chant.

It wasn’t a great fight – but it was a more confident, focussed David Barnes who won by unanimous decision; 119-110 and 117-111 twice.

Afterward, a tearful Barnes, 23-1-1 (11), admitted he suffered a ‘bit of ring-rust…it wasn’t the best of Barnes,’ he said. But trainer Bob Shannon gave him credit saying he’d done everything he was told and kept calm in the corner.

Ted Bami falls to 23-3 (11).

Former British Welter champion Young Muttley (Lee Woodley) of West Bromwich had huge support from the fans who’d travelled to support him as he faced Southpaw Kevin Placide of Trinidad and Tobago in an eight round welterweight contest. “We love you Muttley – we do…” the Midlands fans sing. Placide looks calm, Muttley looking serious and determined.

With half a minute of round three to go, a solid right from Muttley causes Placide to wobble backwards, he continues but doesn’t look steady on his feet. In the last 20 seconds of round four, Placide falls to the canvas following a left hook from Muttley. He fell heavily but gets up at the very end of the count. Referee Phil Edwards calls a halt to the contest.
Muttley wins by TKO in round four.

Afterward, the West Bromwich man admitted his confidence hadn’t been great but he was getting it back slowly. “My aim is to be a British and Commonwealth Champion this year”.

Muttley improves to 24-3 (13) while Placide drops to 9-4-1 (5).

Other undercard fights included:

Johnny “Rocco” Hussey, 10-1 (1), of Bolton faced late replacement opponent Chris Brophy, 3-20-2 (0), of Wales at welterweight. Hussey’s left jab was relentless throughout. Brophy was stopped by the referee in the sixth and final round having sustained two cuts.

Nathan Brough, 4-0 (1), of Liverpool squared off with Leonard Lothian, 6-6-2 (0), of Northampton at light welter. A messy fight with a lot of holding and grappling – Liverpudlian Brough won on points over Lothian of Ingle’s gym.

John Donnelly, 6-0 (1), of Liverpool met Tony McQuade, 2-5-2 (0), of Peterborough at super bantamweight and Donnelly wins on points 59-56.

Justin Jones, 1-0 (1), of Rhyl went up against Tony Stones, 0-4-2 (0), of Wakefield at super middle and Jones wins on points

Scott Quigg, 6-0 (2), of Bury faced Gheorgie Ghiompirica of Romania at super bantam and won on points.