Homecoming Review
HOMECOMING SHOW
THE BARCLAYCARD ARENA
13/05/17
Fight 1
4 x 3 mins
Super-Welterweight contest
JORDAN CLAYTON v NICK GOLUBS
Good start to the night with a close match where Clayton nearly got stoped in the second but nicked a close fight.
Result
Dexter - 39-38
Ref - 39-38
Fight 2
4 x 3 mins
Middleweight contest
KIERON CONWAY v JAN BALLOGG
Conway looked good from the start of the first putting Ballogg for a 8 count with a nice straight right. The second was scrappy at the start but Conway started to control the round with his jab. The third saw Conway control the round again with Ballogg looked flustrated, the forth saw Conway really put it on Ballogg who looked a beaten man.
Result
Dexter - 40-35
Ref - 40-35
Conway wins on points
Fight 3
4 x 3 mins
Super-Lightweight
AARON LOVELL v LIAM RICHARDS
Lovell controlled the first round moving well and using his jab, the second show good shot selection with Richards trying to keep is distance and stay out of trouble. The third showed Lovell open up with some real eye catching shots putting his combinations together well. Lovell continued his unbeaten record with another last performance.
Result
Dexter - 40-36
Ref - 40-36
Lovell wins on points
Fight 4
4 x 3 mins
Lightweight contest
CHARLIE WILLIAMS v JOSH THORNE
Williams started the round well and was controlling the round, Thorne caught him with a cracking straight right which put Williams down for a 8 count, he got up and looked ok and saw the round out. Williams moved around the ring well but Thorne controlled the centre of the ring, both fighters had their moments in this round. The third was a scrappy round with the ref having to talk to both fighters about holding and wrestling. Williams showed his class In the forth getting off some cracking shots, Thorne tried to drag Williams back into a scrap but Williams boxed clever.
Result
Dexter - 38-39
Ref - 38-38
Draw
Fight 5
4 x 3 mins
Super-Lightweight contest
CORI GIBBS v AHMED IBRAHIM
Gibbs moved around the ring well in the first and caught the unbeaten Ibrahim with some eye catching shots. Ibrahim came out strong in the second but Gibbs the unbeaten southpaw came back with some fast cracking shots. The third saw Ibrahim chase shadows as Gibbs moved round the ring and picked him off, in the forth Gibbs showed great shot selection and movement with Ibrahim having no answer to Gibb's skill.
Result
Dexter - 40-36
Ref 40-36
Gibbs wins on points
Fight 6
SKY SPORTS FACEBOOK LIVE
10 x 3 mins Midland
Area Middleweight Title
RYAN KELLY v ADAM HARPER
A very hard fought fight for the Midlands area Middleweight title, enjoy the full fight below.
Result
Dexter - 95-98
Ref - 95-97
Harper wins on points
Dexter's Thoughts
Great fight for the vacant Midlands area title with both fighters giving it there all. Harper walked the very talented Kelly down and showed some good ring craft. Kelly took to long to get started and for the majority of the fight was drawn into a scrap which suited Harper. Harper was a very well deserved winner against an unbeaten fighter everyone including myself expected to win, I congratulate Harper and his trainer Malcolm Malvin for their title win.
As for Kelly Im sure he will watch this fight and learn from this defeat and come back a even better boxer.
Fight 7
Live On Sky Sports 2
6 x 3 mins
Welterweight contest
JOSH KELLY v JONY VINA
The former Olympian Kelly look quick and slick against a Vina stopping him in the forth. Whole fight below.
Result
Kelly wins 1.27 mins 4th round
Fight 8
8 x 3 mins
Super-Welterweight contest
FRANKIE GAVIN v RENALD GARRIDO
Fun time Frankie got back to winning ways against Garrido in a solid performance.
Full fighting below
Result
Dexter 78-75
Ref 77-75
Gavin wins points
Dexter's Thoughts
Gavin put in a solid performance against Garrido who hadn't just came to make up the numbers. Gavin moved well and slip and got some cracking shots off, it will be interesting to see where he goes from here.
Fight 9
12 x 3 mins
WBC International Super-Bantamweight Championship
SEAN DAVIS v GAMAL YAFAI
Two local lads putting their unbeaten records on the line for Sean Davis's WBC International Super Bantamweight title.
Full fight below
Result
Yafai wins 7th round stoppage
Dexter's Thoughts
Gamel Yafai was just to strong for the very brave Davis who was put down 6 times by some brutal body shots. Davis showed the heart of a lion to keep getting up, Yafai showed he was the real deal with his body shots and his patients and I'm sure will be now be looking to move up the ladder quickly to may emulate his brother Kal.
I am a very big fan of Sean Davis and know he will regroup with his team and get back to winning way, I look forward to seeing what both fighters do next.
Fight 10
12 x 3 mins
European Welterweight Championship
CEFERINO RODRIGUEZ v SAM EGGINGTON
One of the main events of the night with Eggington going for European glory and looking to move a step closer to a world title shot.
Full fight below
Result
Eggington wins 10th round stoppage
Dexter's Thoughts
What a great fight this was, Eggington has proved he is up there with the best in the division with this stoppage and what a stoppage It was putting the champ clean out of the ring with a devastating combo that could be knockout of the year. At only 23 Eggington is destined for the world stage and to fight for world honours, and the column will follow his progress with great interest.
Fight 12
12 x 3 mins
WBA Super-Flyweight World Championship
KAL YAFAI v SUGURU MURANAKA
The main event of the night saw the newly crowned world champ Kal Yafai defended his title again a very durable Muranaka.
Full fight below
Result
Dexter - 119-107
Judges
119-108
119-107
119-107
Kal Yafai wins points
Dexter's Thoughts
Great first defence by Yafai against a very durable opponent, I did think Yafai was going to make short work of Muranaka after putting him down in the second but his very plucky opponent absorbed everything Yafai threw at him to see out the 12 rounds. It is also noted that at the press conference after the fight Kal informed the media that he had hurt both him hands in the second but still continued to bang in quality shots. As long as Yafai's hands can be maintained I think Birmingham's world champ will rain and maybe even unify the super- Flyweight division.
Fight 12
8 x 3 mins
Light-Heavyweight contest
LENNOX CLARKE v KAREL HOREJSEK
Tough first round for both fighters with Clarke winning it on work rate, by the second Clarke had a slight cut over his left eye but worked hard to win the round. Horejseks turned up the pressure in the third round and Clarke matched him all the way, In the forthClarke settled down and controlled the centre of the ring well using his jab. Clarke really took control In the 5th with some cracking shots and great slipping, the sixth saw Horejsek pick up the pace again with Clarke having to go to war to match him. The seventh saw another hard round which Clarke won with the better shots, in the eighth and final round Clarke stepped up the pace and boxed well to end the fight.
Result
Dexter- 80-74
Ref- 76-76
Draw
Dexter's Thoughts
I can't believe the ref gave a draw in this fight, as you can see I had Clarke a clear winner. I'm sure the ref has called it as he saw it and as a ref myself you see a lot more of the fight than anyone outside the ring. Clarke is still unbeaten and can move on to his next fight and keep his unbeaten record going.
Dexter' Thoughts
On the Show
Matchroom have done It again with a great night of boxing in Birmingham showcasing some of the best boxing talent the city has to offer. There were great wins for Harper, Gamal Yafai, Eggington, Gavin and a great defence of his world title by Kal Yafai on the live shows.
Also to note was o e of the Birmingham boxing column's boxers to watch Cori Gibbs putting on a clinical display against an unbeaten fight, also Aaron Lovell, Kieron Conway and Jordan Clayton.
TheBirmingham boxing column looks forward to Matchroom's next big show in Birmingham.