CAMACHO KEEPS CROWN
Lopes pipped in gruelling Southern Area cruiserweight title battle
SOUTHPAW Wadi Camacho survived cuts to both eyes and punched out a gruelling 10-round points win to retain his Southern Area cruiserweight title against Stratford’s Jose Lopes at York Hall.
Referee Lee Cook scored it 96-95, favouring Camacho’s aggression over Lopes’ counter-punching. Lopes looked disappointed, and I felt he had a case – but it was a fine, all-action bout.
Camacho (Canning Town) hit harder, and Lopes was frequently backed up against the ropes – but covered up, held when he needed to, and hit back.
The champion was cut in the corner of the left eye in the third, and in the corner of the right in the sixth – and both injuries continued to bleed. But Camacho never relaxed the pressure, and ultimately came through.
The 10-round chief support on this Goodwin Boxing promotion saw Jordan
Joseph (Hemel Hempstead) prevail when Witham’s Darrell Church was retired at the start of the ninth of an official Southern Area light-heavyweight title eliminator.
The bell rang for the ninth and Church’s corner called referee Kieran Mccann over, indicating their man couldn’t see out of his left eye. After a doctor’s inspection, Mr Mccann waved it off.
For the first four rounds it was tactical, with a lot of missing. But in the fifth a right to the head had Church grabbing for safety – and another right dropped him heavily. He got up at ‘eight’, and stormed into the attack – but Joseph stayed cool, and Church was taking stick on the ropes at the bell.
Church was under more pressure in the sixth – and although he tried to grab the initiative in the next two, Joseph covered up well and countered effectively.
Pick of the undercard was the fourround war between Ilford first-timer
Prince Brady and Sweden-born Eduard Bjorklund – Brady taking the 38-37 verdict, to Bjorklund’s disgust.
Both got stuck in immediately, and a combination to the head had Brady over in the first. He was up at once, and they joined battle again. Both were under pressure on the ropes, and when Bjorklund landed two big rights Brady hit back.
From the second Brady showed a bit more guile, switching stances and countering as Bjorklund pressed forward. But Brady was frequently forced to stand and trade – and I did feel Bjorklund was unlucky to lose. Triallist referee Mark Bates officiated, with Mr Cook scoring.
Jez Smith (Harrow) halted Sheffield’s
Nathan Hardy in the third of a scheduled six.
Hardy was dropped twice in the second, from combinations to the head. He came out aggressively in the third but was caught by two rights – the towel came in, and referee Bates waved it off after 47 seconds.
Marcus Eaton (Shoreham) stopped Bulgarian southpaw Radoslav Mitev in the fourth of a six.
Mitev played his part, but a right in the fourth had him holding on and suddenly under pressure on the ropes. A burst to the head convinced referee Mccann to call it off after 2-01. Mitev sustained swellings to both eyes, Eaton to the left.
Hammersmith’s Dana Zaxo made a dream debut, opponent Justin Johnson (Clacton) lasting just 44 seconds of a scheduled four.
Johnson was shaken by a left and Zaxo quickly followed up, the accumulation finally sending Johnson down on all fours to be counted out by Mr Bates.
Another debutant won in style, as Bedford’s Conroy Downer dropped Croatian Toni Bilic twice in the fourth and last round, from head-punches, and took referee Mccann’s 40-34 verdict.
Southern Area lightweight champ
Jumanne Camero (Mitcham) outscored Plymouth’s Chris Adaway over four, referee Cook scoring 40-36.
A right to the head left Adaway stretched along the third rope in the first, and in the second he collapsed theatrically after taking a low left. He was given time to recover, and used his experience to last the distance.
Kingsteignton’s Jamie Speight dropped a four-round verdict to Londoner Ryan Walker, referee Cook scoring 40-36.
In fours handled by Mr Bates, Mr Mccann awarded 40-36 wins to Belgian Jack Mulowayi over Croatian Igor Mihaljevic, and newcomer Brandon Ball over same-day substitute Jules Phillips (Islington).
Other fours saw debutant Yaser Al Ghena (Ghana) beat Stourbridge’s
Kevin Mccauley by 40-37 (Cook);
Ricky Heavens (Hayes) defeat Poland’s
Sylwester Walczak by 39-38 (Mccann); and Lewis Syrett (Tonbridge) overcome Southwark’s Victor Edagha by 39-37 (Cook).
THE VERDICT Good-value Southern Area title bout could go on again.