MERSEY BEAT
Merseysiders Dodd and Jonas are emphatically defeated by Cordina and Obenauf respectively
CORDINA ENJOYED SUCCESS WHEN HE KEPT THINGS AT RANGE
IT was a disastrous night for Merseyside at Ice Arena Wales with “Masher” and “Tasha” each on the wrong end of onesided beatings. For Sean “Masher” Dodd, it was perhaps no surprise that he was outboxed by local hero Joe Cordina, whose clear-cut triumph saw him collect the vacant Commonwealth lightweight title. But few forecast that 2012 Olympian
Natasha Jonas would be floored three times and stopped by Viviane Obenauf, a Brazil-born Swiss who had lost to Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron on previous visits to these shores.
Cordina lived up to expectations. Dodd, whose band of followers from Birkenhead never wavered in their support, kept coming forward and, in flurries, made things difficult for the Welshman. But once Joe had established his jab, “Masher” was up against it. Cordina, a 2016 Olympian, was at times happy to stay on the ropes, ward off Sean’s assaults and respond with crisp shots of his own, but generally enjoyed more success when he kept things at range.
Dodd’s hopes that Joe would fade were misplaced: Cordina was still on the balls of his feet as the visitor – a former holder of the Commonwealth belt – tried desperately to find a game-changing blow in the final round.
Judges John Keane (120-109) and Howard Foster (119-109) were slightly harsh on the non-stop Dodd, though Michael Alexander’s 117-112 went a little too far the other way. Robert Williams refereed.
Similarly emphatic was the victory of the vivacious Obenauf, whose unsubtle style – she simply marches forward, hurling alternate lefts and rights – befuddled Liverpool southpaw Jonas, who was looking apprehensive even before the visitor’s power began to tell.
A roundhouse right felled “Tasha” in the third of the scheduled 10-twos, and she was still on wobbly legs when a left sent her down again. The bell came to Jonas’ rescue, but she was dropped once more in the fourth and was sagging on the ropes when trainer Joe Gallagher tossed in the towel and Mr Alexander ended matters at 1-42 of the round.
The bout of the night saw two unbeaten bantamweights mix technical excellence with a willingness to trade. Dubliner Dylan Mcdonagh, who took
the job at four days’ notice, brought the best out of Newport’s Sean Mcgoldrick in a sparkling eight-rounder – the first time either had travelled that far.
Commonwealth Games 2010 gold medallist Mcgoldrick – ironically, he was the one with the Irish flag on his shorts, a nod to his Donegal forebears – has an understated ability to avoid punches while staying within range, enabling him to counter promptly.
Mcdonagh demonstrated a neat left lead, whereas Sean’s work to the body caught the eye. The pair maintained a fast pace, but the Welshman was always that step ahead, earning Reece Carter’s nod by 78-76.
Chatteris featherweight Jordan
Gill, booked to challenge Commonwealth ruler Ryan Doyle in October, needed just 1-52 of a planned eight to dispose of Hungarian David Berna, a Michael Conlan victim in March. Right hands floored him twice, bringing referee Chris Jones’ intervention.
Two ex-amateur stars continued their education in the pro game. Olympic 2016 gold medallist Daniyar
Yeleussinov, supported by a chanting group of fellow Kazakhs, had to go the full six rounds for the second time. The Brooklyn-based southpaw took a 60-54 verdict from Mr Carter against survivalminded Hungarian Gabor Gorbics, who was returning to the city where he was halted by Liam Williams in November 2016. There were occasional flashes of brilliance from Yeleussinov, but he was understandably frustrated afterwards. He is still a work in progress and would benefit from more ambitious opposition. American Anthony Sims Jnr, thrust straight into action after signing with Matchroom earlier in the week, mixed languid, loose-limbed movement with some sharp and accurate punching before dispatching Czech Stanislav Eschner in the fourth of another six. Sims, from Indiana, arrived with an impressive 14-0 pro slate, 13 inside the distance, but only one of his victims had a winning record. Eschner did, too – just – yet he was a reasonable foe given that “The Magician” had not boxed for 18 months. Anthony, after putting his man over in the second, showed patience until a right to the temple in the fourth had Stanislav doing a little dance. The Prague fighter held on, but a solid right jolted his head back and referee Martin Williams leapt between them at 1-37 of the session.
Two former champions rebounding from defeat had predictably straightforward six-rounders. Scott
Cardle, from Lytham St Annes, strolled to a 60-54 decision from Mr Williams over Worcester’s Michael Mooney, but Brummie Gamal Yafai, on his 27th birthday, flattened Barcelona-nicaraguan
José Aguilar with a body shot, Mr Jones abandoning the count at 2-23 of the third.
There were also wins for three local undercard fighters, although Welsh light-heavy king Nathan Thorley had to survive a second-round knockdown by Stourbridge-based Cameroonianswiss Emmanuel Moussinga – himself decked in the first – to come through 38-36 for Mr Carter. Meanwhile, Newport’s Daniel Barton dropped Manchester-portuguese Yailton Neves en route to a 40-36 success, Mr Carter scoring for triallist referee Jones.
Former GB amateur heavyweight champion Kody Davies, a southpaw from Pontllanfraith, was a career-lightest 170lbs in his victory over Westbury’s dangerous Anthony Fox, who shared two of the six rounds on Mr Williams’ 60-56 card.
THE VERDICT Cordina is the first Welshman to win the Commonwealth lightweight crown since the legendary Freddie Welsh in 1912.