Pitters Taken To 'Deep Waters' in Fight Of The Year Contender

Birmingham’s Shakan Pitters was Taken to ‘Deep Waters’ in a potential fight of the year contender on the GBM promotions called 'Deep Water's' at the Connexion Live in Hull (28.6.25). The thirty-five-year-old former WBC International, English and British Light-Heavyweight champ was taking on Stetford's Bradley Rea for the vacant EBU European Light-Heavyweight title which was being streamed live on DAZN. Pitters came into the contest with a record of twenty wins in twenty-two contest, Rea (27) also has an impressive record winning twenty fights out of twenty-one. Pitters weighed in 12 stone 6 with Rea coming in 12 stone 5 with A-Star ref Kevin Parker refereeing.

Pitters started the first round well using his jab to control the distance, Rea returned fire with some nice body shots and was switching stance from orthodox to southpaw forcing Pitters back at the end of the round to edge it. Rea started the second well landing some good shots to the head and body, Pitters returned fire landing a nice hand. A back and forth round with both fighters landing good shots with Rea landing the heavier shots to win the round. Pitters looked to keep Rea on the end of his jab in the third but Rea pressed forward continuing to switch stances closing the distance and making Pitters fight his fight, Rea's round. Pitters continued to keep the distance with his jab in the fourth but Rea who was looking confident landing good combinations to the head and body. Pitters returned fire landing a nice back hand but Rea’s shots seemed harder winning him the round.

The fifth was Pitters best round with the Brummie boy landing some heavy shots, Rea returned fire with some great combinations close rounds but Pitters nicked the round. Pitters moved well in the sixth using a sharp stiff jab and going to work on Rea’s body. Rea seemed to be slowing as the pace heated up, Pitters won this round. Pitters to go to work in the seventh using his size and experience banging in heavy shots to the head and body, Rea fought back hard but Pitters continued to chip away with some heavy body shots winning the round. The eighth was a cracking round with Rea’s gum shield being knocked out at the start of the round and remaining there for the rest of it. Pitters went to work banging in shots to the head and body with blood coming from Rea’s nose. Rea fought back hard and landed some great combinations of his own but would have to give this round to Pitters.

Great jabs at the start of the ninth by Pitters but it soon turned into a toe-to-toe battle with both fighters landing great shots. Another close round but would have to say Rea edged this with the cleaner shots. Another battling round as Rea seemed to have found another gear in the tenth as he banged in some great combinations together, Pitters returned fire with great combinations of his own but Rea got this round. Pitters stepped it up in the eleventh and continued to go toe to toe with Rea, both fighters landed great combinations and the fight could have been fought in a phone box with Pitters winning the round. Rea landed two good shots at the start of the final round with Pitters taking a step back and landed some heavy shots, Rea then came back with big shots of his own rocking Pitters who stood strong and returned fire, great final round could not split them.

Rea wins by unanimous Decision  

Judge Mark Bates scored it 113 to 115 Rea, Victor Loughlin scored it 114 to 115 Rea and Mark Lyson scored it 114 to 115 Rea. I had it 114 to 115 Rea

Bradley Rea the New  European Light-Heavyweight Champion

Dexter’s Thoughts

First thing I would like to say, what a great fight this was and both fighters showed great heart and fighting spirit. As much as this was a great fight to watch, as someone who has followed Shakan’s career from the his very first pro fight it seemed to me that Pitters was either forced or fought the wrong fight. Pitters is a talk slick boxer who has a great jab and controls a fight from distance but in this contest, Pitters seemed to fight Rea’s fight and go toe to toe with him. This made the contest a fantastic watch and every round was competitive and close. I think that Rea who is a very good boxer drew Pitters into this kind of fight which suited him more that the Brummie boy. Please don’t get me wrong Pitters answered all of Rea’s questions and had no problem going toe to toe with the Manchester fighter in a very, very close fight. At the age of thirty-five and after winning a WBC International the English and British Light-Heavyweight titles Pitters could just hang up the gloves after a great career, but Pitters has only lost to top level opponents and still looked more than capable of contesting for titles. I would love to see a rematch between Rea and Pitters as it was that close and with a few tweaks I could see Pitters adding the EBU title to his collection.