Friday Fight Night RBR - Munroe / Napa - Euro and British Titles

British RBR Euro and British Titles – Munroe / Napa


Ok guys, now that Calzaghe has put the swash back in my buckle, and with the dignity of Welsh boxing back, I think I can happily swing into this week's RBR, with a parrot on my shoulder and a cheeky “Garrrrr”.


Well, now that my nautical qppetite has been sated, we can get to business, which tonight sees Rendall Munroe make the first defence of his European title he claimed after beating Kiko Martinez , and Ian Napa looking to keep up his winning streak and defend his British bantamweight title.


First up we have the new, and surprising European champion Rendall Munroe (14-1, 6KOs) who did well to stay away from the anvil-fisted Spaniard Martinez in March, and box smartly to take the European belt, from a man who had catapulted into the world rankings demolishing Bernard Dunne. Munroe is a tidy boxer, and has enough zip in his shots to discourage those who would swarm lesser punchers, and seemed to be good at Super Bantamweight. His sole defeat came against Andy Morris a weight up, and Munroe will be a big favourite tonight.


His opponent, Salem Bouaita (19-12, 6KOs) must be counting his lucky stars that he is getting a chance to fight for the European title, having spent much of his career as a journeyman, but managed to win the EU bauble after his last defeat in March 06 against none other than Kiko Martinez. Apart from being a 33-year old Frenchman, Bouaita is a complete unknown to me, but we can expect a canny boxer who doesn't have a big punch, and some continental intro music.

Diminutive Ian Napa (16-6, 1KO) will be making the third defence of his British bantamweight title since he claimed the belt in July last year, and the shortest professional boxer in Britain is on probably the most succesful run of his career, and won't want it to end. Fighting from his counter-attacking stance, Napa will never be a KO artist, but is an artful boxer, and is hard to catch and pin down. In Colin Moffett, it appears Napa has an easier challenge than his last outing in November against Martin Power, but time will tell.


Colin Moffett (8-11-4, 3KOs is coming off a KO win over Eugene Heaney in December, but will need to rise significantly above his journeyman pedigree if he is to claim the title. After going 5 years without a win between 1999-2004, Moffett has improved, but seems little more than a keep-busy opponent for Napa as he looks for greater challenges ahead.

tough night ahead for rendall, bouaita has a decent record on him.

If he is prepared for just as tough a night that he had against martinez he should have enough to take a unanimous decision or even force a late stoppage.

hopefully bring bernard dunne over after this, that`ll see whether rendall is the real deal or not!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by superheavyrhun

Diminutive Ian Napa (16-6, 1KO) will be making the third defence of his British bantamweight title since he claimed the belt in July last year, and the shortest professional boxer in Britain is on probably the most succesful run of his career, and won't want it to end. Fighting from his counter-attacking stance, Napa will never be a KO artist, but is an artful boxer, and is hard to catch and pin down. In Colin Moffett, it appears Napa has an easier challenge than his last outing in November against Martin Power, but time will tell.


Colin Moffett (8-11-4, 3KOs is coming off a KO win over Eugene Heaney in December, but will need to rise significantly above his journeyman pedigree if he is to claim the title. After going 5 years without a win between 1999-2004, Moffett has improved, but seems little more than a keep-busy opponent for Napa as he looks for greater challenges ahead.

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Cheers for the heads up love Nappa so gutsy and a tryer;D

RHUN RULES!!! RHUN RULES!!!

SHEEP'S DRINking at work yeah!!!

bring on the fights..............

OK guys, the show and previews are starting now, so we're expecting the first fight in around 5 minutes or so, and first up is Ian 'Dappa' Napa, before we move to the Euro title fight.

For those of you with sky, they're also previewing the Oscar v Forbes fight later on.

Moffett getting a silent reception as he starts his ringwalk, with some rubbish dance music with a bit of the Lloyds classical music in there. Rubbish song, and Moffett looking focussed as he bounces around the ring.

Ian Napa gets a better reception, but no doubt that this is just an appetiser and most of the Nottingham crowd are there for local boy Rendall Munroe. Napa donning his usual sunglasses, and singing along with his soundtrack, some sort of music I wouldn't even be able to place in a genre. 'World' maybe?

Giving away five inches Napa will be used to fighting the bigger man, and next up the action begins.

Moffett shares the rugged looks of Martin Rogan....another Belfast boxer in the headlines recently in the same stable. It must be a hard upbringing over there in Ulster. Napa gets a few cheers as he's announced, stripping his T-shirt off at the last minute.

Round 1:

Napa lands a jab, and is already lookinto come forward. Moffett coming forward with body shots, and they're leaning in with shoulders, and trading body shots early on. Neither look to be big punchers early on. Napa hiding behind the left shoulder, and lands a few rights over the top. They're standing there and trading so far, with Moffett working the body, but Napa cathching him with some decent short hooks, and a right upercut. Moffett with a flurry but finding gloves. Left hook from Napa, and an uppercut, and the quality coming from the wee man so far. Nice right from Moffett, and a body shot, and it's Napa getting the best early on, finishing with three loopy hooks.

10-9 Napa.

Round 2:

Good start for Napa, and Moffett can't win if it stays like this, with both men covering up, then exchanging blows, barely moving around the ring. Moffett shooting from a little further away now, with jabs, then they go back to trading body shots. They move more in the first 30 seconds here than in the first fround. Back to the same pattern though, with Napa the more accurate, and the more likely to land hooks upstairs. Three good left hooks from Napa, but a right hand from Moffett knocks Napa backward catching him off guard. Uppercut and body shots from Napa. Left hook from Moffett, but Napa landing some nice hooks once again, and an uppercut. Right hook from Napa, and they're back to standing in front of each other and trading. Good body shot and big right hook from BNapa. Right hooks, and Moffett already taking punishment.

Napa's at a canter.
20-18

Round 3:

Moffett's corner calling for more head movement. Damn right. Uppercut from Napa, then another. Body shot and another from Moffett, but Napa with a body shot and a hard left up top. Good right hook again from Napa, and his punches seem the more damaging. Left to the body from Moffett, but two right hooks take him flush in the face. Body shots from Napa, then a sharp straight right. Left hook, two body shots andanother left hook from Napa. Moffett lands a left hook, but he's taking a lot of shots already. First clinch of the bout. Napa unloading body shots.

Napa again, and Moffett is one dimensional.
30-27

Round 4:

More of the same? Colour me unsurprised. Napa moving and jabbing early on in this round. Landing four or five, before Moffett closes the distance with a body shot, but Napa with a hook upstairs, then another body shot. Apparently Moffett is in the best shape of his career. Well, its to be expected for a British title fight (with the exception of Danny Williams. They're back to standing and trading, and although Moffett has more success to the body, Napa is doing more work with better accuracy. Left hook from Napa, then a counter uppercut. They swap left hooks, then Moffett dodges a few shots. Good uppercut and a right hook catch Moffett flush. Right over the top from Moffett, but left hooks from Napa are landing every time.

40-36 Napa.

nice one mate my dish is playing up so this is just the ticket ;)

Round 5:

Napa out of the corner early. Good overhand right from Napa, but Moffett comes in with a few shots, but eventually it goes back to the same pattern of Napa leaning on the ropes and countering well, mixing body shots and hooks up top, which look good but don't seem to shift Moffett much. Moffett with a body shot, but takes a couple of hooks upstairs. The action moves to the centre ring, as Moffett starts giving ground, and a few hooks up top make Moffett clinch. Two right hooks up top, but Napa backs off to the ropes again. Right hooks are going in time and again,and Napa can't seem to miss. Left hook from Moffett, but two body shots take the wind from Moffett.

Napa 50-45

Round 6:

Quick beer change and I'm back on the couch. Napa moving and countering, with a good overhand right, but Moffett forces him back into the corner, and works hard to the body, then lands a decent left hook, but is taking some still, even in this, the best period of the fight for him. Body shot and left hook. Napa misses a right, but gets two to the body, then a good right hook. Body shot from Napa, then a good right, left hook, and Moffett stumbles back a little. Good hooks, and a body shot bands Moffett over a little. Moffett lands a left hook, but Napa didn't blink, sending a left hook back of his own with a bit more venom. Short right hooks are doing the business for Napa, and anohter, before Moffett lands a gentle left.

60-54 Napa, no way anyone has itany other way.

Round 7:

McCrory generously gives Moffett a share of the last one. Not in my book. Napa circling and jabbing, but as usual goes back to the ropes. Overhand right from Napa is blocked, and they trade landing right hooks. Body shot and a left hook from Moffett, but again takes a right from Napa, who jabs twice then slides to the left. Napa showboating a little more now, but takes a body shot as Moffett walks him down. Left hook from Moffett, but Napa puts in a body shot. Two hard uppercuts to the sternum from Napa, and moves away to jab some more, before dodging and countering a lovely right hook. Uppercuts in close from Napa, and although he takes a left, lands a showy right. Napa tries to move, but Moffett holds him in the corner, not that its helping him much.

Napa 70-63

Round 8:

Apparently Nicky Booth is thinking of a comeback. Anyhoo....Nappa's back to the jab and move..the Dappa man groove. But once again after a few seconds retreats to his corner and his defensive guard, and trades with Moffett, landing better accurate hooks and body shots than the tireless Belfast boy can. Uppercuts from Napa, and a good right hook. Napa backing off and looking to load up. Well, as much as a man with 1 KO can load up. Moffett is walking forward. Two good body shots from Napa, and Moffett sags, before throwing back a decent left hook of his own. Upperctu to the body from Napa, and a left hook as he's missing from Naap throws Moffett off balance and stumbles a little. Left from Moffett to the body, but takes a right up top.

Napa. 80-72. If Moffett gets a share of anything on the cards so far I'll be surprised.

Round 9:

Moffett's first time beyond the 8th round, and it's hard to imagine it'll have a pleasant outcome for him. Moffett pushing forward and digging to the body, but is taking more hooks upstairs, and Napa is just standing there, letting Moffett swing, and countering with better harder shots. Crowd starting to get a little restless. Napa with a fine right hand, and Moffett clinches. They walk each other around the ring, but Napa then digs twice really well to the body. Moffett with a fair left, but takes a right, then a body shot, then left and right hooks up top. Napa to the body once more, and the ref will surely start thinking about whether Moffett's taking too much now. Body shot then right up top from Napa. One way traffic.

90-81

Round 10:

Napa circling as he usually has for each of the rounds, jabbing, before getting shoved back into a corner by Moffett. Moffett digs to the body, then takes a shot before and overhand right. Napa is moving more this round, and two more body shots land on Napa. Moffett ducks forward with two more, and it ain't pretty, but Napa isn't throwing half as much.Jab, right hook, and a right to the body from Moffett, but Napa moves and throws a few jabs. Left hook from Moffett, who wrestles napa to the corner, and digs three more to the Napa ribs. Napa is countering, but not as much and Moffett's shots to the body have it for him. Right hook up top from Moffett.

Moffett's ROUND! Yeah, it don't matter, but still, credit to the guy
99-91

Round 11:

Eamon Magee tells Moffett to stay on top of him. Napa with some good jabs, and is evading a bit more now.Body shots from Moffett, then a left up top. Napa blocking some, but not all. Right uppercut and left hook from Napa, but Moffett wrestles him towards another corner. Napa to the body then a left hook.Napa jabbning, but Moffett shoves Napa to the ropes and digs twice to the ribs. Napa with a hard right hand, before Moffett ploughs forward with two more body shots. Napa clinches, and Moffett doesn't like it. Body shots from Napa, and a couple of good hooks. Body shot and an overhand right from Moffett. Napa jabbing and some short punches and a right catches Moffett as he's slipping. Count, but not at all hurt. Right from Napa.

109-99 for Napa.

Round 12:

Between rounds, the crowd start chanting Mickey Vann's name, and after the recent announcement that he would be retiring, a nice touch for a great man in British boxing. Moffett pushes Napa back and goes to the body, but he's tried it for 11 rounds and it hasn't worked....so maybe time for Plan B? Napa jabbing and catching Moffett. Body shots from Moffett, but Napa with a body shot to return a right and a left hook. Napa with a right hand. Body shots from Moffett, and he deserves to go 12. Napa slips on some water. Big right from Moffett misses, he knows what the score is. Moffett still trying to the body, and a left hook. Napa with two body shots, but takes two left hooks upstairs. They swap hooks again, and Moffett goes to the body again. Dodges a hook, and lands a body shot on the bell, but it's Napa's title.

118-109 with Moffett getting the last, but Napa is really growing into a good British bantamweight titleholder. And his fourth fight means he takes the Lonsdale belt home for keeps.

The scores on the doors after that, a decent fight but only an appetiser really. 119-109, 117-111 (way too close) and 119-108 all for Ian Napa.

We've got a preview with Munroe as he's out with the bin truck and doing his work, hauling bins and loading the rubbish truck. Munroe's still working, and shows he's not throwing everything into the boxing basket just yet.

Munroe looks in good shape at the weigh in, whilst Boualita looks less built, although unintimidated.

oh god i know Napa aint got any power but i thought he would have stopped this guy... this has to be my worst season at predictions :mad:

Bouaita's already in the ring and wearing a french bathrobe. Munroe is playing up his boxing binman image, coming into the ring in flourescent vest, and his whole team are too, as are at least 50 of his fans, maybe even more. Bouaita 6 years the elder, though with a slightly shorter reach. Sounds like there's a great atmosphere there, and Munroe came in to "We Jammin", best intro music of the night in my humble opinion.

Bouaita grinning and winks at the camera, whilst Munroe looks mean. Next up, we got the main event.

Bouaita gets a fine round of boos as he's announced, whilst Munroe gets a great ovation. Bouaita can't stop smiling, and Munroe can't smile.

Round 1:

Bouaita falls short with a jab, but is coming forward, and takes a hook on the way in. Bouaita landto the body twice, and takes another body shot. Bouaita moving well. Munroe gets in a jab and a hook. Bouaita lands to the body, but takes a jab. Two big left hooks from Munroe, abnd Bouaita clinches.They swap left hooks, and Munroe lands another left. Bouaita has a Froch-like guard. Bouaita slugs wide and to the guard, andtakes another left hook from Munroe. Three hard body shots from Munroe, then two hard hooks upstairs. Munroe taking the shots to land his own bigger blows. Munroe grins.

Munroe takes the opener.
10-9

Round 2:

At the end, the ref stopped things to pull up Bouaita's shorts. Nice. Bouaita starts with a flurry, but not one getting past the guard. They trade hard hooks to the body on the ropes. Left hook from Munroe. Right looping hook from Bouaita lands, but Munroe digs in with his square on hooks. Munroe catching the head with the right hook almost every shot. Straight right gets through.Munroe missing a fair few, but a left hook lands nicely. Jabs from Munroe, and Bouaita smiles as Munroe falls shorts with a few hooks. Baouaita with long looping shotsto the body,and he's a hard man to pin down. Ref is slow to split up the clinch. Body shot from Munroe, and a left hook on the bell.

Munroe is doing well, though Bouaita is a tough cookie it seems.
20-18

Round 3:

Bouaita still having trouble with his shorts. Munroe working the jab at the start of the third, and Bouaita made to miss badly. Jab and a left hook, scrappy, but land. Bouaita's hooks tend to see the forearm stricke the side of the hed. Decent short left from Bouaita as Munroe comes in. Bouaita backing off, then looking for long shots. Bit of a wrestle. Bouaita having more success this round, and this has the look of an awkward fight, not exactly a showpiece. Straight right from Munroe, and a good counter left as Bouaita comes in. Another clinch. Jab from Bouaita and a body shot, but takes a shot to his own ribs. Bouaita lands to the body again.

Bouaita takes a share of that one for me.
30-28

Round 4:

Ref warns Munroe for hitting behind the head. Jab and body shot, then a clipping left hook rom Munroe. Body shot from Munroe. Bouaita hanging on and tying up more now. Good sign. Bouaita with two body shots, but takes a hook. Bouaita hanging on to Munroe's arm as he digs in shots. On the other side of the ref...clever boy. Three fine hooks from Munroe. Bouaita takes a left hook, and misses again. Bouaita fights from a low stance and throws long hots. Munroe lands another couple of hooks, and a fine right hand lands. Left hook rom Munroe, as the binman is putting a few in the can.

Good round for the Englishman.
40-37

Round 5:

Jab from Munroe. Body shots and short hooks from Munroe. Even though Bouaita has him in a headlock....Munroe is warned? WTF>?>!>!!>? Ref finally warns the frenchman. Jabs and hooks from Munroe, and he has Bouaita in the corner. Good left and right hooks from Munroe, switches up and down when Bouaita is pinned in the corner, and Munroe has bouaita in bother. Great hooks, left and right, and Bouaita looks stunned. Arms down reeling about the ring, is he playing possum or really taking a beating. The second option for me. Uppercut from Bouaita, but a left hook and a jab. Munroe clippin him. Bouaita hitting the back of the head. Blatant from the dirty frenchman. I know it's a cliche, but it's true.

Munroe is battering him.
50-46

Round 6:

Ref blocks Munroe from punching after the bell. It's the frenchie's own fault for messing with his shorts again when the round's begun, silly bugger. Body shot from Munroe, and Bouaita's running like a girl. He's not exactly Mayweather, but he's not geting pinned down. Jab and a few hooks from Munroe, but Bouaita's running this round. Body shots from Munroe. Bouaita wrestles and doesn't throw anything. Uppercut from Munroe, and a couple of hooks. Does Bouaita know he can't score if he doesn't throw? Right from Bouaita misses, and a short hook from Munroe. Good right, Bouaita stumbles, body shot and a straight right from Munroe. Left hook and a jab.

60-55 Munroe.

Round 7:

Good right and left hook from Munroe, as Bouaita still looks to flee. Good right, as Bouaita keeps on running, then clinches.Jab from Munroe. Good hook, and Bouaita isn;t throwing. Good right left hook, and another left, and Bouaita seems to be reeling. Bouaitais grabbing the arms constantly. This is a bizarre challenge for an European title. Left hook. Bouaita with a body shot and an uppercut, but takes a few hooks. Huge left hook, and a right, and Bouaita clinches again. Bouaita clinches again.

Is this guy even a boxer?

70-64 to Munroe.

Salem Bouaita's corner have pulled him out at the end of the round, and Munroe's work has paid dividends, and Bouaita was never in the same class as the hard punching Monroe.

8 weeks after Munroe's title victory over Martinez, he makes a successful first defence.

There were some bizarre machinations in the french corner there, with Bouaita laughing at his corner during rounds, and arguing between the rounds. something was amiss, and the official explanation is that Bouaita had an injured arm.

Yeah right.

Great win for rendall.

Comments:

Rendall Munroe said of the mandatory fight: "It was tough. He came here for the payday really, he kept holding all the time. My coach told me to keep pushing forward, and that's what i did. I've shown I can box in different styles now too. I had to keep my head on the game and do what I do. In the last three rounds he didn't throw a punch."

Frank Maloney also criticised the European boxing authorities for giving Bouaita a shot, saying: "It's an absolute disgrace that he's an European mandatory challenger, he just kept holding, and the ref should have thrown him out of there for that. The authorities should have a look at their rankings if he's the number one challenger for the European Super Bantamweight title. Rendall's doing well and he can go on from here."

Great work as always SHR ;)

Thanks Rhun!!

great performance from rendall

frenchmen really came hard early on in the fight but was only ever really able to throw wild hooks in the hope that he would catch munroe with something big early on.

by round 4 onwards rendall was in complete control of a scrappy contest, bouaitia completely dropped his gloves through 6 and 7 almost appearing as though he had no desire to be in their with a man in a different class to him.

PS: Superheavy - what did you think of the napa fight?? bloody sky+ cut out and i only got to see the final 3 rounds!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hattonthehammer

great performance from rendall

frenchmen really came hard early on in the fight but was only ever really able to throw wild hooks in the hope that he would catch munroe with something big early on.

by round 4 onwards rendall was in complete control of a scrappy contest, bouaitia completely dropped his gloves through 6 and 7 almost appearing as though he had no desire to be in their with a man in a different class to him.

PS: Superheavy - what did you think of the napa fight?? bloody sky+ cut out and i only got to see the final 3 rounds!!

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The Napa fight was fairly decent, but it wasn't a great fight, because there wasn't much movement for most of the fight, with each man content to lean on each other and throw shots and look to dodge, so it was a bit one paced. However, both men landed with short hooks which looked like they could be hurting each other, but their KO records showed that the smart money would always be a points result.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by superheavyrhun

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hattonthehammer

great performance from rendall

frenchmen really came hard early on in the fight but was only ever really able to throw wild hooks in the hope that he would catch munroe with something big early on.

by round 4 onwards rendall was in complete control of a scrappy contest, bouaitia completely dropped his gloves through 6 and 7 almost appearing as though he had no desire to be in their with a man in a different class to him.

PS: Superheavy - what did you think of the napa fight?? bloody sky+ cut out and i only got to see the final 3 rounds!!

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The Napa fight was fairly decent, but it wasn't a great fight, because there wasn't much movement for most of the fight, with each man content to lean on each other and throw shots and look to dodge, so it was a bit one paced. However, both men landed with short hooks which looked like they could be hurting each other, but their KO records showed that the smart money would always be a points result.

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fairly convincing for napa as well wasnt it, 2 of the judges scored it 119-109 which suggests all but a shut out.

For a guy who is barely 5 foot he certainly is holding his own in that division!!

Another decent weekend's boxing done from the British side at least...I'll wash the stickiness off of this one and let ODLH and Forbesy take the attention. After all, that's what Golden Boy dreams of is the attention after all.