Night of Champions Tommy Owens Promotions 28/3/19
Tommy Owens Promotions held there last show of March at The Holte suite Villa Park, the show was called the “Night of Champions” and had 8 fights on its card. The main event was the highly anticipated Midlands area welterweight title match between Champion Kaisee Benjamin and the challenger Danny Ball over 10 three minute rounds. There was a great line up on the undercard, in the home corner you had Leo D'erlanger starting the show off with a six rounder, you the then had Smoking Joe’s Heavyweight Shaun Duffy doing 4 two minute rounds. Doing 4 three minute rounds you had Ishmael Ellis, Shaun Copper, Anthony Manning and Les Byfield. You also had Mr Golden Robe The ultimate boxer 2 champion Shakan Pitters showcasing his talents over six three minute rounds. With David Nikolich comparing, Kevin Parker and Chris Deen refereeing the show and of course the stunning ring girls Lauren Ritchie and Louise from CP Agency the stage was set for a championship night of boxing.
Fight 1 Leo D'erlanger v Andrew Harris 9.7. 6x2. 9.10 Super – Featherweight
Nice controlled first round by D’erlanger nice tidy boxing. In the second D'erlanger had a good work rate and again boxed tidy. D'erlanger again controlled the third round with some good shots selection. Harris started to have a go in the forth but D'erlanger dealt with it and took control winning the round. Harris was really trying hard in the fifth but D'erlanger kept up a good work rate to win the round. The final round was a hard fought one Harris caught D'erlanger with some lovely rights and lefts. D'erlanger took them well and fought back but Harris win the round.
Result Dexter – 59-55 Ref 59-55 D'erlanger wins on points
Fight 2 Shaun Duffy v Colin Goldhawk 16.7. 4x2. 18.6 Heavyweight
Lovely jabbing by Duffy to start the first round very well controlled and fought his height winning the round. When Duffy used his jab he was in control, Goldhawk was just looking for a big over hand right, Duffy got some lovely body shots in as well. Great jabbing in the third by Duffy, he controlled the fight with it as Goldhawk had no answer to it. Goldhawk contiuned to press which let Duffy get some good combinations off. Duffy got some nice one, twos off in the final round as Goldhawk contiuned to come forward, Duffy boxed really well and kept his concentration to win the round and the fight.
Result Dexter – 40-36 Ref 49-36 Duffy wins on points
Fight 3 Ishmael Ellis v Ivar Riyaz 9.13. 4x3. 10.5 Welterweight
Ellis controlled the first round against the unpredictable Riyaz with nice movement and neat boxing. Ellis picked his shots well in the second and got some nice combinations off, Riyaz contiuned to press but it was Ellis's round. Ellis came out with some lovely combinations at the start of the third, Riyaz kept coming forward but was just getting caught with nice tidy shots. Ellis seemed to start enjoying himself in the final round putting some nice shots together with some great movement, Riyaz kept coming forward but Ellis cruised to victory.
Result Dexter – 40-36 Ref 39-37 Ellis wins on points
Anthony Manning v Antoli Lyubenov 11.2. 4x3. 11 Middleweight
Manning banged in some heavy shots from the start of the first round, Manning moved well and picking his shots well, impressive round. Manning picked his shots well again in the second, Lyubenov was pressing and having a go back but Manning was in control and looked he could stop him if he stepped it up. In the third Manning continued to control the fight and let some good combinations off, Iyubenov took the shots well and came back with shots of his own but Manning won the round. In the final round Manning picked his shots well and banging in some hurtful shots, Manning caught Lyubenov with a heavy combination near the end of the round, Lyubenov took a eight count and Manning jumped straight back on him putting him down with a lovely straight right with Ref Kevin Parker stopping the fight.
Result
Manning wins 4th round stoppage 2 minutes 33 seconds
Fight 5 Les Byfield v Izzy Ahmed 9.12. 4x3. 9.6 Lightweight
Good even start to the first round with both fighters getting good shots off, Byfield got some good shots off but so did Ahmed. The second was another close round, both fighters got good shots off, could not split them. Very close fight with the third being the same Ahmed just edged this round. The final round was again another close one Byfield got this round with the cleaner shots.
Result Dexter 39-39 Ref 38-38 Draw
Fight 6 Shakan Pitters v Norbert Szekeres
12.10. 6x3. 13 Cruiserweight
Pitters picked his shots well banging in nice combinations just waiting for the right opportunity, Pitters put Szekeres down with a lovely right body shot which he some how managed to get up from. Szekeres contiuned but the writing was on the wall with Shakan stopping him with a quality right uppercut with ref Chris Deen stopping the fight 2 minutes and 30 seconds into the first round.
Result Pitters wins first round KO 2 minutes 30
Fight 7 Shaun Cooper v Simas Volosonas 9.13. 4x3 9.13 Super lightweight
Cooper picked his shots well in the first and controlled the round with nice sharp boxing. In the second Cooper banged in some hurtful body shots all coming from sweet combinations. The third was a hard round for Volosonas as he took some real heavy shots, Cooper continued his good work banging in combination after combination. Volosonas had a go back at Cooper in the final round, Cooper moved well and controlled the round with good jabs.
Result Dexter – 40-36 Ref - 40-36 Cooper wins on points
Main Event Midlands welterweight area title Kaisee Benjamin v Danny Ball 10.6. 10x3. 10.7 Welterweight
Steady start by both fighters as they sized each other up, Benjamin took the round with the better work in the second part of the round. Close start to the second with Ball starting to bang in some good shots in, Benjamin continued to box we’ll and again won the round finishing the stronger. Ball did better in the third but Benjamin continued to box well but Ball nicked this round with the better work rate.
Benjamin seem to be breaking Ball down with his heavy shots, Ball came back in the middle part of the round with some eye catching shots. Benjamin then came back strong in the final part of the round to win it. The fifth was a too and throw round with both fighters having there moments, Benjamin won the round with the cleaner shots and better work rate. In the sixth Ball stepped it up and got some good shots off Benjamin continued to box we’ll but Ball won the round.
Benjamin caught Ball with some really hurtful right hands on several occasions in the seventh and some how Ball took them and came back with Benjamin won the round. Benjamin controlled the eighth picking his shots well, Ball had his moments getting good shots off and finished strong but it was Benjamin's round. Benjamin seemed to take around off as he moved around the ring well switch hitting, Ball worked really hard getting good shots off nicking the round. Great final round with both fighters leaving it all in the ring, Ball got this round with but there was not much in it.
Results
Dexter -96-94
Ref - 95-95
Draw Benjamin retains title
Dexter's Thoughts
What a great show, with a great main event. Benjamin and Ball fought it out over 10 rounds with the ref giving a draw, myself I had Benjamin winning by 2 rounds but a lot of the rounds were close so its how you saw it really. After the first few rounds I did think Benjamin was just going to break down Ball with his heavy shots but Ball proved me wrong. Ball took some cracking shots and fought back hard getting some nice combinations off. Benjamin seemed to switch off every now and then in the fight but when he was on it he looked fantastic making good shots selection and some eye catching heavy shots. This was a great fight and because it was a draw I’m sure we will be seeing Benjamin v Ball fight again. Shaun Cooper looked impressive as always, great work rate and combinations he is now 8 undefeated and should be now looking for a title shot.
Shakan Pitters kept his unbeaten record with a impressive first round stoppage. Pitters picked his shots well and the uppercut that ended the fight would look great on any highlight real. He is now 11 without defeat and he has got to get a title shot this year, myself I’m thinking of at least a English or even a crack at the British that is how highly I rate him.
Byfield had a tough one against Ahmed, this was a very even fight and the kind of cancelled each other out, a draw was the best result and both fighters can learn from this one.
It was great to Ishmael Ellis back in the ring, he showed great movement and shot selection in his four round fight. If rumours are to be believed he could be moving up a weight and taking on “No Beef” Jack O'Keefe for the super lightweight Midlands area title if this is true it will be a great fight.
Anthony Manning continues his impressive progress under the Eastside team, his shot selection and heavy hands have brought him 5 wins in a row and he has came a long way from his first fight. Great right hand to stop his opponent tonight to get his first stoppage.
It was great to see Shaun Duffy get his first professional win tonight, the Smoking Joe’s fight was stopped in his first fight and had a lot of demons to fight as he stepped into the same ring at Villa park. Thankfully he slayed all of them as he boxed really well fighting his height, using his hurtful jab well and not getting involved in a scrap. There are still a few things for him to work on but this will be a great boost for him getting his first win.
Leo D’erlanger looked really impressive with some nice tidy boxing, this was the first time I had seen him box and look forward to see him again.
The Birmingham Boxing Column thanks Tommy Owens Promotions for having the Column at there show and look forward to the next one on the 4th May.