Coventry’s River Wilson-Bent took on one of the hidden secrets of the Middleweight division in the unbeaten Shakiel Thompson. Southpaw Thompson (27) from Sheffield came into this contest with an unbeaten record of eleven wins and was looking to make a statement against the talented Coventry fighter. Wilson-Bent (30) came into this fight which was the main event of a GBM promotions show being aired live on DAZN from Park Community arena Sheffield with a record of seventeen wins, two draws out of Twenty-three fights and had won his last two contests. Both fighters came into the fight which was for the IBF international and the WBO Global middleweight titles weighing eleven stone five with Michael Alexander reffing.
A cagey start to the first round with both fighters getting good shots off, Thompson
Landed a sweet lead right hook which seemed to rock Wilson-Bent and won him a close round. Thompson came out with intent in the second and landed some heavy shots Wilson-Bent moved well and covered up but was dropped with a cracking left hook, Wilson-Bent managed to get up as the bell went to end the second round, Wilson-Bent took an eight-count and walked back to his corner shaken.
Wilson-Bent still looked shaky as he came out to the third round with Thompson jumping on him landing some big shots. Wilson-Bent was put down for the second time with a cracking lead right hook, somehow Wilson-Bent got to his feet and was allowed to carry on. Thompson moved in looking for the stoppage but Wilson-Bent showed great heart and fought back hard but was put down again, Wilson-Bent got to his feet and took an eight count, and was allowed to continue. Wilson-Bent continued to fight back hard but Thompson picked big shots and put Wilson-Bent down again, the ref Michael Alexander counted as Wilson-Bent got to his feet, and the ref waved the fight off two minutes fifty-eight seconds of the third round.
Dexter’s Thoughts
Well, the secrets out, Shakiel Thompson is no longer the biggest kept secret in the Middleweight division after a dominant performance against River Wilson-Bent. Wilson-Bent fought hard and showed loads of heart in this fight but Thompson was looking to make a statement which he did stopping Wilson-Bent. This is the third time River has been stopped but it has always been against high-level prospects and always in title fights. I still consider Wilson-Bent a great boxer but I really think he has to look deep into himself to see if he wants to give it another run at contesting for titles. I still think River has a lot to give boxing and I can still see him winning the bigger title than the Midlands area he claimed in 2020. I think River needs to regroup with his team have a few warm-up fights get some wins then go again at a bigger title.
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