Healy
09-14-2007, 09:58 PM
(my first ever boxing article, please read and give comment, good or bad)
Friday night in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, an ice-rink is turned into a boxing arena and one mans dream came to a shattering end. Francis Jones from Durham in England came into this title fight as the underdog in most peoples eyes. It was in Kevin Andersons back yard and many ‘experts’ commented Jones would be lucky to see the 4th round. When I saw both fighters in the ring I thought Jones looked skinny, lacked muscle, looked weak and nervous. I sat down with low expectations of a decent contest.
Anderson is highly regarded in Scotland, likes a full on war but has very decent boxing ability. With only one solitary loss at the hands of Ali Nuumbembe and recent wins over Eamonn Magee and Young Mutley, Anderson was clear favourite with the bookies. The next step for Anderson after this fight would be to target Europe, with champion Jackson Osei Bonsu as a focal point.
In the early going, Anderson looked sharp, the quality punches were coming from his glove. His movement very slick and Jones seemed confused, maybe the ’experts’ were right. Anderson seemed to have an extra gear, throwing a few jabs, landing with relative ease and with enough regularity to disorientate Jones. After being on the receiving end of three or four big flurries it began to look ominous for Jones early on. His corner told him to ‘outbox’ Anderson, but as every round passed it became clear that Jones with all due respect was not technically gifted enough to do so. Every round came and went, Anderson winning all of the first six on my card and Jones returned to his corner, every time standing up for the whole 60 seconds, a sign of his mental attitude towards the fight and also his good conditioning.
During the middle rounds Jones kept coming forward, nobody can say he lacks guts and determination, ability is another topic as the saying ‘take a punch to land a punch’ seemed to brush off on Jones who tasted leather a lot during this fight in order to make inroads. The crowd were almost silenced in the 7th as Jones seemed hurt Anderson, it was his first glimmer of hope. Eventually, as if satisfied with his work, Jones sat down between the 7th and 8th for the first time. It was more of the same for the next few rounds, Anderson had the quality, but Jones was hassling, following Anderson around the ring, swinging wildly, looking for the KO,. It wasn’t coming, but there was no telling Jones that. On one occasion in the 9th the fighters began trading blows, for the first time in the night Jones came out the better and seemed to grow in confidence. Kevin Anderson had landed three times as many punches as his opponent, he must have being thinking ‘what else must I do to put him away’.
The major turning point was midway through the 10th, Jones had hurt Anderson and went for the kill, but lost his balance, referee Victor Loughlin ruled it a knockdown. This slip seemed to take more out of Jones than any punch Anderson could offer. It was a 10-8 round to Anderson, it should never have been, wind was taken from Jones sails. The fight ended in the 12th round with less than a minute from the final bell, Anderson backing Jones up and unleashing a combo. As Jones’s head shot back, Loughlin stepped in. It was the right call, despite commentators and also myself wishing and hoping Jones would finish the fight standing, he didn’t. On reflection im glad it was stopped, your health is your wealth.
Both fighters embraced, Anderson will hope to move on to bigger and better things, his toughness was tested and also his temperament, both standing up to the test. As for Jones, who knows where he can go from here, but one thing is for sure, despite not having what some fighters have in ability he has what many fighters don’t have, in desire and heart. He played his part in one of the best fights I have watch this year. Thank you Francis Jones and Kevin Anderson.
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Kevin Anderson
Friday night in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, an ice-rink is turned into a boxing arena and one mans dream came to a shattering end. Francis Jones from Durham in England came into this title fight as the underdog in most peoples eyes. It was in Kevin Andersons back yard and many ‘experts’ commented Jones would be lucky to see the 4th round. When I saw both fighters in the ring I thought Jones looked skinny, lacked muscle, looked weak and nervous. I sat down with low expectations of a decent contest.
Anderson is highly regarded in Scotland, likes a full on war but has very decent boxing ability. With only one solitary loss at the hands of Ali Nuumbembe and recent wins over Eamonn Magee and Young Mutley, Anderson was clear favourite with the bookies. The next step for Anderson after this fight would be to target Europe, with champion Jackson Osei Bonsu as a focal point.
In the early going, Anderson looked sharp, the quality punches were coming from his glove. His movement very slick and Jones seemed confused, maybe the ’experts’ were right. Anderson seemed to have an extra gear, throwing a few jabs, landing with relative ease and with enough regularity to disorientate Jones. After being on the receiving end of three or four big flurries it began to look ominous for Jones early on. His corner told him to ‘outbox’ Anderson, but as every round passed it became clear that Jones with all due respect was not technically gifted enough to do so. Every round came and went, Anderson winning all of the first six on my card and Jones returned to his corner, every time standing up for the whole 60 seconds, a sign of his mental attitude towards the fight and also his good conditioning.
During the middle rounds Jones kept coming forward, nobody can say he lacks guts and determination, ability is another topic as the saying ‘take a punch to land a punch’ seemed to brush off on Jones who tasted leather a lot during this fight in order to make inroads. The crowd were almost silenced in the 7th as Jones seemed hurt Anderson, it was his first glimmer of hope. Eventually, as if satisfied with his work, Jones sat down between the 7th and 8th for the first time. It was more of the same for the next few rounds, Anderson had the quality, but Jones was hassling, following Anderson around the ring, swinging wildly, looking for the KO,. It wasn’t coming, but there was no telling Jones that. On one occasion in the 9th the fighters began trading blows, for the first time in the night Jones came out the better and seemed to grow in confidence. Kevin Anderson had landed three times as many punches as his opponent, he must have being thinking ‘what else must I do to put him away’.
The major turning point was midway through the 10th, Jones had hurt Anderson and went for the kill, but lost his balance, referee Victor Loughlin ruled it a knockdown. This slip seemed to take more out of Jones than any punch Anderson could offer. It was a 10-8 round to Anderson, it should never have been, wind was taken from Jones sails. The fight ended in the 12th round with less than a minute from the final bell, Anderson backing Jones up and unleashing a combo. As Jones’s head shot back, Loughlin stepped in. It was the right call, despite commentators and also myself wishing and hoping Jones would finish the fight standing, he didn’t. On reflection im glad it was stopped, your health is your wealth.
Both fighters embraced, Anderson will hope to move on to bigger and better things, his toughness was tested and also his temperament, both standing up to the test. As for Jones, who knows where he can go from here, but one thing is for sure, despite not having what some fighters have in ability he has what many fighters don’t have, in desire and heart. He played his part in one of the best fights I have watch this year. Thank you Francis Jones and Kevin Anderson.
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Kevin Anderson