Chelmsley wood's Nyall Berry was stopped in his first title fight as he contested for the IBF super bantamweight European title at the Skydome Coventry (29.6.24). The unbeaten Twenty-four-year-old was taking on another unbeaten fighter in Italian Francesco De Rosa 26). The contest over ten rounds was the co main event of the GBM promotions show ‘Into the Fire’ which was being streamed live on DAZN. Berry weighed in eight stone nine with De Rosa weighing in the same. Referee on the night was Michael Alexander and the three judges on the night were Marcus McDonnell, Mikael Hook, and Giulio Piras.
Educated boxing by both fighters in the first round with both landing sharp shots with De Rosa just edging it. Berry stepped it up in the second and pressed De Rosa landing nice shots to the head and body, De Rosa had some joy but it was Berry’s round. Calculated pressure by Berry in the third who pressed De Rosa working his head and body with some heavy shots with some excellent boxing, Berry’s round. De Rosa looked to keep Berry at bay with his jab but Berry continued his relentless pressure landing eye-catching shots to De Rosa head and body, De Rosa landed a right hand that knocked Berry off balance with him sliding over. Berry was given an eight count and was allowed to carry on, Berry didn’t seem to switch back on as De Rosa landed some heavy shots. Berry came back with a nice left hook of his own as the bell went.
Berry continued to pressure De Rosa in the fifth but the knock down had given the Italian confidence as he landed some nice jabs and backhands. Berry landed some big shots at the end of the round to nick it. Berry's right eye had started to close up in the sixth as he continued to press and land body shots, De Rosa continued to look good using his jab well just edging the round. De Rosa boxed well moving around the ring using his jab landing some nice backhands and seemed to hurt his hand with De Rosa just edging it. De Rosa did not seem worried about his hand as he came out swinging pushing Berry to the ropes landing big left and right hooks to his head with Berry going down. Berry got to his feet took an eight count and carried on, De Rosa came out swinging again and dropped Berry again. Berry took an eight count with De Rosa coming straight back out landing shots with the ref stopping the fight one minute thirty-two seconds of the eighth round.
Dexter’s Thoughts
I felt so bad for Berry at the end of this fight as there were so many positive moments in this contest for him. Berry pressured well and when he went to the body looked like the dominate force in there. Berry did waste a lot of shots head hunting but it has got to be said that he was in there with a very good boxer who used his jab and backhand well. You could see how much this meant to Berry at the end of the fight and I have no doubt he will come again. At twenty-four Berry can learn from this defeat and I honestly feel at worst this talented fighter will contest for British and European titles in the future. I look forward to seeing Berry back in the ring soon.