Twenty-nine-year-old heavyweight Solomon Dacres notched up his seventh victory in a convincing win over twenty-eight-year-old South African Chris Thompson. The contest was on the undercard of the Next Gen show which was streamed live on DAZN and was promoted by Matchroom at the Utilita Arena Birmingham. Thompson who is a southpaw came into the fight with a positive record of twelve wins and one draw out of seventeen contests. Dacres was crowned English Heavyweight Champ in his last fight stopping Robert Ismay in the second round in March of this year. Dacres weighed in seventeen stone, one with Thompson coming in seventeen stone bang on with Howard Foster reffing.
Good steady round by Dacres as he got his jab going and landed some good back hands off. The second was a round controlled by Dacres with his jab, not much else went on in this round with Solomon winning it with ease. The third was another cagey round with not much going on Dacres won the round with his jab. The fight picked up in the fourth with both fighters letting there hands go with Dacres winning the round. Dacres came to life in the fifth and let some nice combinations go winning the round with ease.
Dacres continued to up the tempo in the sixth with Thompson sustaining a cut high on his head from a head clash, Dacres won the round. Thompson came to life in the seventh and got some nice jabs and combinations together, Dacres hand some moments with Thompson nicked the round finishing stronger. The pace slowed in the eighth with Dacres using his jab well and getting some good back hands off. Another scrappy round in the ninth as Dacres kept it simple letting sharp one, twos go when they weren’t holding. Dacres continued to control the final round with his jab winning the final round with ease.
Judges Michael Alexander and Kevin Parker scored it 99 to 91 Dacres John Latham had it 98 to 92 Dacres, I had it 99 to 81 Dacres.
Dexter’s Thoughts
Steady performance by the English heavyweight champ who was up against a tricky southpaw. Dacres showed bits of his talents but didn’t really have to raise his game to beat the South Africa convincingly. His jab looked sharp and hurtful and won him the contest with ease but I think it is time for the Matchroom Hot prospect to be stepped up to the next level and maybe contest for the British or European. Dacres is a talent without a doubt and all talents need to be tested I look forward to seeing what Matchroom has for him next.