A year ago, Natasha Jonas’ two most recent fights were a pair of failed attempts to win world titles. 12 months on, ‘Miss GB’ clinched her third world belt in as many fights, claiming a hard-fought unanimous decision over IBF super welterweight champion Marie-Eve Dicaire. Jonas, the WBC and WBO champion going in, brought the Manchester Arena crowd to its feet with a scintillating display to rubber-stamp her Fighter of the Year credentials.
Two crisp straight rights in the opening round set the tone for the fight, as Jonas started fast. Dicaire, whose only previous defeat came at the hands of Claressa Shields, responded by mauling in the second round. But still Jonas’ work was too slick, frustrating the Canadiah with jab-left combos from the southpaw stance.
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Dicaire pressured in the middle rounds, but was stopped in her tracks by the 38-year-old from Liverpool. A biting combination in the fourth had the crowd roaring while a short right in the eighth made a mess of Dicaire’s nose. With blood streaming and hope fading, she continued the rough stuff on the inside with little warning from the official.
The best exchange of the fight opened the seventh, as both boxers unleashed shots that simply couldn’t miss. But the final round rivaled it, as Jonas diced with destiny by fighting fire with fire rather than getting on her bike. Dicaire fought bravely but her British foe had far too much in every department. Scores of 100-90, 98-92 and 97-93 heralded a third world title for a fighter who, even at her lowest point, never gave up.
Dalton Smith’s British super lightweight title defence against Birmingham’s Kaisee Benjamin was always likely to be a nip and tuck affair. So it proved as Smith had to battle his way through the first full 12 rounds of his unbeaten career. The Sheffield star usually gets them out of there with the thunderous power that justifies his borrowing of Arturo Gatti’s famous nickname.
The bout had periods of messy exchanges, with the referee warning both for use of the head. It also featured moments of pure quality from both. The double jab-right cross combinations of Smith. The slick upper body movement and fast flurries along the ropes from Benjamin. Smith’s work was the more hurtful, but Benjamin made him work for every success. The scores read 115-114, 116-113 and a too-wide 117-112.
No British heavyweight’s record is truly complete without the name of Kamil Sokolowski. Olympic bronze medalist Frazer Clarke can now include the Pole, who has tested Dillian Whyte, Nathan Gorman, Solomon Dacres and David Adeleye among many others, on his list of victims. ‘Big Fraze’ got the usual rigorous workout from Sokolowski, learning more from these six rounds than in any of his three early wins. Clarke felt the point of Kamil’s head on occasion, and the knuckle of a few solid left hooks too. But the Commonwealth Games gold medalist maintained his composure, keeping his opponent honest with thudding combinations to win this six-rounder 60-54.
Tyler Denny retained his English middleweight championship with an absorbing decision win over previously-unbeaten Bradley Rea. The challenger, from nearby Stretford, had the lion’s share of the support and started well. Using his rangy jab to keep Denny at bay, the champion looked to be in for a long night. But as the West Midlander closed the distance he found success with a series of ripping uppercuts and thudding straights. The ninth round presented Rea with a way back in as he hurt Denny with a straight right and had him on the verge of a stoppage. But Denny roared back in the last to take the nod by scores of 95-94 twice and 97-92.
YouTube star Viddal Riley continued to be the example of how to transition from the screen to the ring. While his peers fight anyone but a professional boxer, the cruiserweight power-puncher knocked out 3-0 Ross McGuigan in three rounds. Played to the ring by grime star JME in a concession to his celebrity status, Riley nonetheless went about his work like a pro. A series of thudding overhand rights were too much for McGuigan, who saw the contest waved off while on the canvas in the third.
There was a major shock on the pre-show as BOXXER series winner Dylan Cheema fell to 13-44-3 journeyman Jordan Ellison. What was envisioned as a learning four rounds ended up slipping away from the Coventry lightweight, who appeared incredulous at the result. The victory was Ellison’s first win in twelve fights.
Jack Kilgannon moved to 12-1 via a 58-56 judge’s decision over the experienced Meshack Mwankemwa . The Oldham middleweight didn’t have things his own way, eating some crisp left hooks in the middle rounds. But Kilgannon re-established his distance with an educated jab and saw out the last two rounds to take the referee’s nod.
Hometown boy Clark Smith came through a gimme against the wonderfully monikered Dale ‘The Choir Boy’ Arrowsmith. The popular Manchester welterweight warmed to the task after a tentative first, walking down his journeyman foe. Smith mixed body shots into his attack late on, taking a 40-36 referee's decision over 4x3s.
Pictures courtesy of BOXXER/Lawrence Lustig
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