Tommy Owens Promotions held there first show of 2020 ‘Ring Wars 2’ at the Holte suite Villa park (8,2,20). There where 7 cracking fights on the card with 5 being over 4 three minute rounds, one being over 4 two minute rounds and topping the bill we had a six rounder to look forward to. In the home corner for 4 two minute round fights was Harry Fiaz, this was over two minute rounds due to his opponent taking it on very short notice. Doing the three minute 4 rounders’ you had Umar Anjum making his debut, the talented Ashlee Eales having his second fight and Shaun Cooper with his new coach Martin Gethin. Also doing 4 rounders’ you had two of the Bbcolumn’s ‘Boxers to Watch' in Lewis Coley having his third fight and Tommy ‘Gun' Collins having his second bout of boxing. Headlining the show we had Coventry’s ‘Tommy Hearns’ the unbeaten River Wilson-Bent who was having fight number 7 of his professional career. Refereeing tonight you had Shaun Messer comparing was David Nikolich and the ring girls tonight where the stunning Lauren and Katie from CP Agency.
Fight 1
Umar Anjum v Andy Bishop
4x3
Super Middleweight
Steady start to the first round by Anjum who controlled the centre of the ring and banged out some cracking body shots. The second was another round controlled by Anjum who banged in shots at will, Bishop fought back but it was Anjum's round. Anjum controlled the third round with some heavy combinations, Bishop came back hard at the end but it was still Anjum's round. In the final round Bishop showed some balls putting it on Anjum but Anjum was in total control winning the round and the fight.
Result
Dexter – 40 – 36
Ref – 40 – 36
Anjum wins on points
Fight 2
Ashlee Eales v Jordan Grannum
4x3
Middleweight
Quality first round by Eales with some fast hands and good movement, Grannum had a go back but it was Eales round all day long. The second was another good round for Eales who got some nice combinations off from his southpaw stance. Grannum put some good pressure on Eales in the third, but Eales still got off some good shots to edge the round. Hard fought final round with Grannum really putting it on Eales, Eales came back with big shots of his own to get a share of the round.
Result
Dexter – 40 – 37
Ref – 40 – 37
Eales wins on points.
Fight 3
Shaun Cooper v Jamie Quinn
4x3
Welterweight
Very good first round by Cooper as he put together some cracking combinations with some heavy body shots. Cooper picked his shots well in the second and controlled the centre of the ring with quality shots. Quinn turned up the pressure in the third and got some good shots off, Cooper replied with good shots of his own winning the round. In the final round Cooper stuck to his boxing with some great combinations and body shots, Quinn kept it interesting battling back but Cooper had this round and the fight.
Result
Dexter – 40 – 36
Ref 40 - 36
Cooper wins on points.
Fight 4
Harry Fiaz v Jevgenijs Andrejevs
4x2
Cruiserweight
Fiaz hit Andrejevs with a sweet upper cut at the start of the first round which you could see shook Andrejevs. Andrejevs tried to stay away and then was caught with a low blow with ref Shaun Messer warning Fiaz, some how Andrejevs saw the round out. In the second Fiaz was in control with Andrejevs just looking to survive, easy round for Fiaz. In the third Fiaz just took his time as he picked his shots well and looked like he could stop Andrejevs at will. Fiaz banged in some heavy shots from the bell, but in the final round, Andrejevs just covered up and ran and again managed to see the final bell.
Result
Dexter - 40-36
Ref 40-36
Fiaz wins on points
Fight 5
Lewis Coley v Edward Bjorkland
4x3
Super Featherweight
Slow start to the first round with Coley having to chase Bjorkland around the ring as he did not seem to want to engage in a fight. Coley got the odd shot off but Bjorkland was looking like he was out to spoil the fight. Coley had more joy in the second letting his hands go a bit more and cutting the ring down, Bjorkland continued to run and hardly threw a punch. Bjorkland continued to run as Coley picked his shots well as he cut the ring down, you could see Coley's frustration at Bjorkland’s spoiling tactics. In the final round Coley again controlled the centre of the ring, cutting it down to try and catch Bjorkland who was not even looking to fight, Ref Shaun Messer had a word with Bjorkland but he continued to run with Coley winning the round and the fight with ease.
Result
Dexter - 40-36
Ref - 40-36
Coley wins on points.
Fight 6
Tommy Collins v MJ Hall
4x3
Light Welterweight
Collins got to work straight away with lots of jabs and straight right hands, Hall moved well and got the odd shot off but it was Collins round. Collins continued his good work in the second working well going to the head and body of Hall who covered up and battled back when he could. Hall stepped up the pace in the third and Collins matched him with great combinations and movement as Hall started to ask questions. Great movement and shot picking won Collins the final round and the fight, Hall kept the pressure on as Collins battled hard and showed his skills right until the final bell.
Result
Dexter - 40-36
Ref 40-36
Collins wins on points.
Fight 7
River Wilson-Bent v AlistacWarren
6x3
Super Middleweight
Cracking first round with Wilson-Bent looking like he might stop Warren in the first minute with some cracking shots and flurry. Warren then came back strong making Wilson-Bent work hard for the rest of the round. Warren battled hard in the second but Wilson-Bent returned fire and seemed to catch Warren and then push him over. Ref Shaun Messer started the count with Warren getting up before the count of eight. When the fight continued Wilson-Bent poured on the pressure and had Warren down again with ref Shaun Messer deeming it a slip, Warren managed to see the round out as Wilson-Bent pouring on the pressure. In the third Wilson-Bent continued to press with his corner screaming at him to keep it long, Wilson-Bent looked like he was going to stop with Warren who had cuts above both eyes managed to see the round out.
The forth was Wilson-Bent’s best round as he kept it long with everything coming off the jab, Warren looked broken in this round and I don’t know how he saw the bell. In the fifth Wilson-Bent was picking his shots well and just looking for the stoppage. The end came with 1 minute 22 seconds of the round gone with Wilson-Bent hitting Warren with a double jab then a viscous right hook to the body which put him down. Warren took the count and as he rose to his feet the ref stopped the fight.
Result
Wilson-Bent wins 5th round TKO 1 minute 22 seconds
Dexter’s Thoughts
Great start to 2020 with a great show down Villa park, Umar Anjum put on a great performance on his debut with good shot picking and power. I look forward too seeing the D&A fighter again soon.
Ashlee Eales also put on a great performance showing great movement, fast hands and great boxing skills. I saw him on his debut on the ‘We are Wolves' show last year and was impress and I got to say he impressed me even more with some great boxing.
Great to see Shaun Cooper back in the ring, he looked really good and showed some different skills now he is under the tutelage of Martin Gethin. I can see Cooper back in title contention very soon.
Harry Fiaz showed power, movement and boxing abilities in a very one side contest, from when Fiaz caught his opponent with a uppercut in the first few seconds of the first round you could see his opponent did not want to know. Fiaz used the fight to show off his skills and looked like he could stop his opponent at anytime, good performance but defiantly needs bigger challenges in the future.
Lewis Coley had a frustrating fight as his opponent did not even want to engage in any kind of scrap. Bjorkland ran the whole fight but not in any positive way where he was trying to counter or ‘hit and don’t get hit' mentality as I could not remember him throwing a punch. Coley kept his composure and won with ease and this will be a learning curve for Coley as I can see big things for this young fighter.
Tommy Collins put on an outstanding performance against a very good opponent in MJ Hall. Collins boxed well against a really tough southpaw who always asks questions and did in this contest. Hall asked them and Collins answered them with great boxing in the first two rounds and the great battling in the third and fourth. His movement was fantastic and he did everything his corner asked of him, I look forward to seeing him out at the end of the month.
River Wilson-Bent made this fight a lot harder than is should have been, he banged in some big shots in the first round and looked like he could have stopped his opponent. River then had him down in the second and then when he got back up seemed to go into warrior mode as he looked for the knockout with big hooks. His corner where screaming at him to keep it long and when he did keep it long in the 4th he looked great putting his opponent down. It was a great stoppage in the 5th with the double jab and a cracking body shot. Wilson-Bent is back out at the end of the month on the Pitters v Richards undercard and if he wins there is the potential for him to challenge for the Midlands area title on the Villa Park pitch in May on the Tommy Owens Promotions stadium show. That would be great for a fighter who has only been a pro for just over a year.
The Birmingham Boxing Column thanks Tommy Owens Promotions for having us at there show.
Next TOP Boxing Show
