Ringside Boxing Report: Tony Quigley vs. Tony Dodson
© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing
Hayemaker Boxing put on a great ‘all-action’ bill last night at the smart Echo Arena in Liverpool, England.
Billed as ‘Mersey Beatdown’ – the fight night was headlined by the vacant British Super Middleweight title clash between Liverpudlians Tony Quigley and Tony Dodson.
Dodson was scheduled to fight Brian Magee, who had to pull out with a back injury although he was ringside for the fight.
Quigley entered the ring to the sounds of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ as the Liverpool fans stood with arms held high – swaying and singing to the song made famous by Liverpool’s own Gerry and the Pacemaker’.
Tony Dodson entered the ring to Tina Turners‘ ‘You’re Simply the Best!’ – the ring walk music made famous by Chris Eubank. Alongside him was promoter and heavyweight David Haye along with trainer Adam Booth.
It’s a steady first round with both men sussing each other out, but Quigley lands a sweet uppercut which sends Dodson off-balance mid-way through the round. Dodson has already sustained a nick to the bridge of the nose.
Quigley has a low defence – with arms almost dropped by his sides at times. Dodson goes down to the canvas from what is deemed a ‘shove’, mid-way through the second frame but as he gets up, his left eye is flowing blood from a bad cut.
Dodson is ‘wrestled’ down to the canvas and Quigley is warned by referee Victor Loughlin. They resume fighting but immediately Dodson is back on the canvas – this time from a right punch to the side of the head and he is given the standing eight count.
Quigley lands a barrage of shots – continuously throwing punches right through to the end of the round. Dodson tries to hold on, but his face is a bloodied mess.
Dodson comes out for the third round – his right eye badly swollen underneath and his right eye daubed with Vaseline to protect a gaping cut under the brow. Sensing the urgency – Dodson ups the work-rate and its better round for him.
It’s a fast-action fight, with Dodson landing a barrage of shots on Quigley, who was pinned to the ropes in the closing twenty seconds of the fifth. In the opening minute of round six, Dodson lands a big right to the face of Quigley, who holds on to his opponent.
Dodson continues with uppercuts as Quigley hangs on, then tucks in with a tighter defence as Dodson lands a left hook. Covering up – Quigley takes Dodson’s onslaught – seeing it out to the end of the round. The crowd cheer and clap their appreciation of what is a fantastic ‘war’ of a fight!
With forty seconds of round seven remaining, referee Loughlin calls time while he asks the ringside doctor to look at Dodson’s cut. Given the ‘all-clear’ – Dodson continues.
Trainer Booth urges Dodson to ‘move the head’ as he comes out for the eighth round. Dodson piles on the pressure as he forces Quigley back against the ropes and moments later tussles him over on to the canvas.
Quigley lands a good straight left to the face of Dodson in the opening minute of round nine, but as the bell ends the round – Dodson lands a great left hook to the head of Quigley – almost forcing him back in to his own corner.
Another exciting round from these two ‘warriors’ and the crowds are clearly thrilled at the constant action.
Dodson lands a big right hand to the face of Quigley in the opening seconds of the tenth frame and Quigley holds on. Both men are looking tired now.
With a minute of the eleventh remaining – Quigley lands a right hook which wobbles Dodson.
Following it up with a big left – Quigley lands a barrage of shots and Dodson is in trouble on the ropes. Quigley keeps up the pressure while a tired Dodson holds on. The bell doesn’t come soon enough for a bloodied Dodson.
The twelfth and final round sees Quigley land a big right hook that causes Dodson’s knees to dip – touching the canvas briefly, he stands up as Quigley goes after him, but referee Loughlin gives the count.
Dodson gets up but Quigley immediately lands another left hook and Dodson goes down again. Taking the count, he continues but is back on the canvas again – this time from a push down. There’s just two minutes of the fight left when Quigley lands a right hook followed by a right uppercut and referee Loughlin jumps in to stop the contest.
An emotional Quigley and his team celebrate the win and everyone in the Echo Arena is on their feet in recognition of a fantastic fight.
Tony Quigley is the new British Super Middleweight champion by twelfth round stoppage. Brian Magee said it had been a fantastic fight.
There was also some fantastic undercard action.
There’s big support for local man John Watson of Liverpool as he faced Martin Gethin of Walsall in a English Lightweight title eliminator.
Gethin gets off to a good start – scoring with the left hook in round one, but Watson picks it up in the last minute of round two – landing left and right hooks to the face of Gethin, who’s nose begins to bleed.
Gethin seems distracted by the nose injury. Watson holds-on to his opponent as Gethin lands a left-right combination mid-way through the third round. Trainer Dave Coldwell screams instruction to his charge Watson.
In the closing seconds of the fourth – Gethin taunts his opponent as if to say ‘that was nothing’ after an exchange of shots. Watson has settled in now and is the busier of the two men. Watson is warned for ‘holding’ mid-way through the sixth, then just seconds later lands a big right uppercut which rocks back the head of the Walsall man. Gethin works through it, but it’s been a good round for Watson.
“Work, Mart! Don‘t wait!†Gethin’s corner shouts as they start the seventh frame. Watson lands a left hook but Gethin takes it well and stands tauntingly in front of his opponent. “He doesn’t like the angles,†Coldwell shouts to Watson.
Watson starts to ‘showboat’ – winding up some shots and lands another good right uppercut in the closing seconds of the seventh. Watson lands a big left to the face of Gethin in the opening seconds of round nine, but tough Gethin takes it well. It’s a better round for the Walsall man.
In the closing half minute of the tenth and final round – Gethin lands a good left to the face of Watson as he pins him to the ropes. Breaking free – both men gambol over to the canvas – Gethin laughs as he ‘springs’ to his feet.
Watson is hurt and Gethin’s corner implores their charge to get straight to work – with only 22 seconds of the final round remaining. Watson is caught again by the straight left and holds on to Gethin, but it was too little, too late as
Watson gets the points win, 96-95.
Olympic Bronze Medallist David Price of Liverpool made his pro debut against Dave ‘Dingle’ Ingleby of Morecombe, in a six round heavyweight contest.
Price gets off to a good start against his shorter opponent – landing a variety of head punches and some solid body-punches, which sees Ingleby tuck up tight. Despite the high guard – Ingleby is already marked-up by the end of the first round.
In the first half-minute of round two, a left jab to the face of Price sees his gum-shield drop to the canvas. Once retrieved, Price gets back to work with the long jab. Again he lands a body-shot followed by left and right shots to the head and an uppercut.
Ingleby drives forward with a swinging left to the face of his giant of an opponent. But Ingleby looks deflated as he sits in his corner – his face bloodied and swollen.
From my ringside position – round three was uncomfortable to watch as Ingleby takes more punishing shots to the face. But Ingleby still tries with some round-house punches to the head of the bigger man.
Mid-way through the round and Price’s gumshield flew out again, but as referee Howard Foster calls ‘stop boxing’, Ingleby throws another punch which lands!
Price looks stunned for a second as he goes to his corner to retrieve the gumshield. Ingleby has renewed confidence and throws a few more punches in the hope of catching the Olympian again.
But Price lands a big right punch which sends Ingleby thudding heavily to the canvas. Trying to get up, Ingleby’s legs give way and looking dazed – he is helped on to a stool. Ringside medics tend to Ingleby, who does get back to his feet to congratulate Price.
The ‘Big Un’, David Price, wins by TKO round three. Former cruiserweight champion and current world rated heavyweight contender David Haye jumps in to the ring to congratulate Price.
George Groves (London) v Paul Samuels (Newport)
6 round super middleweight contest
A masked Samuels stepped confidently into the ring but was soon stepping back out again! The Welshman suffering a first round TKO from the ‘Hammerer of Hammersmith’, Groves.
Groves landed a good left in the opening seconds of the first, which wobbled Samuels. Seconds later, a right hook landed to the face of the Newport man. Groves dominates – landing some big shots to head and body mid-way through the frame.
Groves lands a big right shot to the head of Samuels, who falls back on to the ropes. Samuels takes the count, but heavy shots land from Groves and with half a minute of the first round remaining, referee Alexander stops the contest and Samuels shoves the referee off with his gloved hand, protesting the stoppage.
An impressive heavy-hitting George ‘The Saint’ Groves improves to 3-0.
Derry Mathews (Liverpool) v Harry Rampaged (Rugby/South Africa)
6 round super featherweight contest
It looked to be a tough contest for ‘Golden Boy’ Mathews, who was clearly annoyed by the early stoppage. Ramagoadi wins by TKO round four, improving his record to 20-10-2 (6).
Joe McNally (Liverpool) v Graham Delehedy (Liverpool)
6 round light middleweight contest
McNally won when Delehedy was retired by his corner in the third frame. McNally’s record now stands at 7-0 (3).
Lee Jennings (Liverpool) v Karl Taylor (Birmingham)
4 round welterweight contest
Jennings won on points over tough-veteran Taylor, improving to 3-1 (1).
Undercard Action…