Ringside Boxing Report: Undercard Of Prize Fighter Series From York Hall
© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing
The Prizefighter Series was a fantastic occasion on Friday night at the York Hall, Bethnal Green, London England. The Matchroom Sports promoted event consisted of seven boxing contests to find the winner of the first Prizefighter Trophy and a cheque for £25,000.
Waiting backstage should one of the scheduled participants get an injury were boxers Derek Chisora and Dave Ingleby, hoping that they would get a ‘wild-card’ chance to compete as replacements.
The first quarter-final of the night was between big guy Dave Ferguson of North Shields and the more-experienced Billy Bessey of Portsmouth.
Both fighters go all out for it, right from the bell, but Bessey goes down from a big right punch after just 20 seconds of the opening round. He takes the count and continues boxing, but a body shot sends him slightly off-balance in the closing seconds.
The crowd appreciate the efforts of the two men and if the action in just this first round is anything to go by – this proves to be a really entertaining night of boxing! Promoter Barry Hearn looks to be enjoying the occasion as he grins from his ringside position!
In the first minute of round two, Bessey is caught again but moments later throws a haymaker and both men slug-it-out. They start to tire already during round two but this is fast paced action for two heavyweights!
Punches fly at the start of the third and final round, but big-hearted Bessey has done well to keep up the pace and Ferguson, particularly, looks exhausted.
Everyone is on their feet at the end of the first quarter-final, which Ferguson wins by unanimous decision 29-28, 29-27 and 28-27.
The second quarter-final was between Martin Rogan and Alex Ibbs in which Rogan won on points.
Paul Butlin of Melton Mowbray faced Colin Kenna of Southampton for the third quarter-final.
Tattooed Butlin is the more experienced of the bunch, having faced some high-profile boxers and he takes control early on. Butlin looks to need a bit of time to settle in – but he canʼt afford to take his time in this style of competition. Midway through the round, the crowd cheers as he throws a combination of punches at Kenna, who covers up well. A good start for Colin Kenna.
Round two and Kenna continues to look the busier – but with half a minute of the round to go, Butlin lands a big right punch to the head of Kenna and Colin goes down to the canvas. Getting to his feet – he signals heʼs ok to the referee but he walks unsteadily. Butlin immediately launches a barrage of punches and the referee stops the contest with just 15 seconds of the second round remaining.
Butlin goes through to the semi-final.
The last of the quarter-finals sees bookie’s favourite David Dolan of Sunderland against Welsh-boy Darren Morgan of Swansea.
Morgan ʽThe Beast of Bonymaenʼ looked mean as he waited in the ring while by contrast, Dolan looked relaxed.
But Morgan is down on the canvas after just 14 seconds of the first frame (!) athough itʼs not sure whether he took a punch or not. Morgan continues and Dolan lands a couple of good right hands on Morgan. Dolan looks half the size of the Welsh-man!
In the last half minute of round two, Morgan throws a huge left and Dolan looks ‘shook to his boots’. Under pressure from Morgan, he is forced back on the ropes and is literally saved by the bell.
Dolan is in trouble again in the opening seconds of the third and final round as a clubbing left punch lands on the Sunderland man. More shots from Morgan and Dolan does well to keep going.
After a minute, a straight left from Dolan rocks back the head of the bigger man, indicating that perhaps Dolanʼs head is starting to clear. Midway through the round and Morgan is starting to look tired against the fitter, faster Dolan.
Dolan wins by unanimous decision 30-26, 30-27 and 30-27
Martin Rogan defeated Dave Ferguson in his semi-final to win the first place in the final.
The second semi-final was between David Dolan and Paul Butlin.
Dolan looks the sharper of the two men and seems to be more focussed for this contest. A good first round – Dolan looking the polished fighter.
Round two and Dolan is almost wrestled over in the corner midway through the frame and then puts together flurries of punches to the head of Butlin, who covers up well.
Round three of this second semi-final and Butlinʼs nose is bloody. Butlin gets a telling off for hitting back of head in the second half of the round. In the last 30 seconds, Dolan does a bit of show-boating – winding up for a punch – but Butlin looks unphased.
Dolan wins by unanimous decision 30-27 on all three scorecards and faced Belfast man Martin Rogan in the final.