DOLAN MAKES HISTORY
David Wainwright watches the first female Commonwealth super-flyweight champ crowned
NEWARK’S Emma Dolan made history by becoming the first ever female Commonwealth super-flyweight champion with a unanimous points win over Tanzanian Halima Vunjabei at a packed Newark Showground.
In a thrilling contest, both fighters started at a fast pace as both sought to gain the edge in a cagey first round. Dolan was dominating the second but was stunned by a big left hand from Vunjabei towards the end of the round, where she appeared to rest her head briefly on the Tanzanian’s shoulder.
Fully recovered for the third, Dolan carried on catching her opponent with some heavy left hands but Vunjabei kept coming forward during the middle rounds and was always a threat.
There was concern from the Tanzanian’s corner when Dolan started to catch her with some hurtful combinations which resulted in Vunjabei’s right eye starting to swell up from round eight. Dolan didn’t have it all her own way, however.
The final round saw both fighters go toe-totoe as they both looked for the KO. Vunjabei just about managed to hear the final bell.
Dolan, who moved from her hometown of Norwich last year so she could be trained by Carl Greaves, promoting his 150th show, will feel vindicated by scorecards of 98-92, 97-93 and 97-94 by Kevin Parker, Kevin Mcintyre and Phil Edwards respectively.
Scunthorpe’s James Richardson didn’t have it all his own way against 121-fight veteran
Jordan Grannum, as he prevailed 60-55 on referee Kevin Parker’s scorecard.
Newark’s Connor Meanwell returned to winning ways with a tight 39-38 win over Dale
Arrowsmith on Mr Mcintyre’s scorecard. There were also shut-out victories for Newark’s Tom Cowling, Boston’s Tom Pogson and Lincoln’s Jamie Behan over Rotherham’s
Martin Shaw, Middleton’s Darryl Sharp and Rochdale’s Richard Helm, respectively.