Rule Britannia – Live Report!

Lee Selby Vs Evgeny Gradovich

Lee Selby boxed wonderfully to outclass Evgeny Gradovich in a mostly one sided affair. The Welshman used an incredible array of skill to box on the back foot and punish his Mexican counterpart, who was leaping in trying to initiate an attack. However, Selby’s lateral movement, timing and combination punching, prevented Gradovich from coming forward as the aggressor through the 8 rounds.

The start of the fight was exactly the same as the end. Gradovich, as he is noted, was the come forward fighter, hoping to pin down the challenger with aggression and pressure. Yet stamina and movement that Selby showed while boxing on the back foot was a beautiful to watch as he picked off his opponent with sharp jabs vicious uppercuts. This was added with the timing of the counter punches that staggered the champion in the 6th round and hinted to the crowd that the end was near and the gulf in class was clear. Although Gradovich was clearly hurt in the 6th round, the Welshman remained composed and systematically continued to work at the routine pace knowing that the accumulation of punches would end up planting thoughts in the referees head,

The ends came in the 8th round, when an accidental clash of heads forced the referee to take Gradovich to the doctors. The decision was made to call off the fight to prevent further damage and was hence taken to the judges scorecard. Although it was clear who won, for formalities the judges handed in their scorecards of 79-73,  80-72, 79-73 Unanimous technical decision in favor of the new IBF featherweight champion of the world. The 12th man from Wales to reach such a wonderfully acclaimed feet.

JORGE LINARES VS KEVIN MITCHELL – WBC LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE

ROUND 1: An equal opening round. Mitchell starting things off quickly. Landing 2 goof left hooks in the opening minutes. He was then placed on the back foot as Jorge Linares came on strong landing clean combinations in the latter stages.

ROUND 2: Good round for Mitchell as he is now thinking before initiating attacks. Linares quiet for the majority of the round but came back strong again with a right hand in the last 30 seconds.

ROUND 3: A real thinking mans fight. Both fighters thinking of ways to try and get in and land effective shots. Linares pawing with his jab but its Mitchell with the eye catching shots.

ROUND4: Linares taking the initiative and coming in with short burst before moving back to avoid the incoming counters. Mitchell teeing off in the last minute but Linares ended with a solid body shot,

ROUND 5: AND DOWN GOES LINARES! The champion is down with a cracking combination by Mitchell in the early stages in the round, The right hand was followed by a brutal left!

ROUND 6: Linares has recovered and Mitchell is much more aware. Not a busy round but both are again looking to find ways to land scoring punches.

ROUND 7: Efficiency is the word. Mitchell sticking to the game plan very well and forcing Linares to miss. The challenger is biding his time and waiting for his opponent to lunge in before countering.

ROUND 8: The champ is taking over. Linares with some beautifully effective jabs and combination, preventing Mitchell from coming forward. Nice fight.

ROUND 9: Both fighters having there moments in this round. Linares started off the better getting behind his jab and using his speed to counter Mitchell. Challenger with a good combination at the end.

ROUND 10: THE FIGHT HAS BEEN STOPPED! Kevin Mitchell is onto the receiving end of some brutal combination punches. Hurt and swollen, the referee had no choice but top stop the fight. A great comeback from Linares, who keeps his WBC lightweight belt.

ANTHONY JOSHUA VS KEVIN ANDERSON…I MEAN JOHNSON.

ROUND 1: WHAT A STATEMENT – Joshua floors Johnson and then obliterates him with a flurry of punches

ROUND 2: AND ITS ALL OVER! Johnson was throwing absolutely nothing in the 2nd round and was on the end of a free punching monster that is Joshua. Another simple combination of left and rights forces Ian John Lewis to stop the fight.

He doesn’t just have power. Joshua has speed, timing and best of all accuracy. His tenacity and ferociousness is something many do not have, but the way in which he dives in, is clever and tactful. He is a force to reckon with and will be incredibly difficult to beat.

KELL BROOK VS FRANKIE GAVIN – IBF WELTERWEIGHT TITLE

ROUND 1: Tentative first round, but it is clear to see that Brook wants to come forward to start attacks while Gavin waits to counter.

ROUND 2: Gavin showing good upper body movement to sway away from most of Brooks punches. He then comes back with a clinch to prevent further attacks. Brooks lands a few good straight rights

ROUND 3: Gavin reluctant to do anything other then use the jab. Meanwhile Kell Brook is finding rhythm and range with uppercuts and straight rights.

ROUND 4: Brook closing the ring incredibly well and suffocating the space from the challenger. In the latter stages, the champion had more leverage in the punches and landing at will.

ROUND 5: The gulf in class is becoming apparent. Gavin is throwing single shots rather than combinations which is making it easy for Brook. The Sheffield man cannot miss with the uppercut.

ROUND 6: AND ITS OVER! Inevitably, as we all thought, Brook was in a different class. A Right hand wobbled Gavin and the challenger turned around as if he wanted no more. After a flurry of punches from Brook, Gavin slumped to his feet and the referee called the fight off.

To conclude, tonight was a good night for British boxing. We saw the rise of a sensation in Lee Selby, who captured the IBF featherweight title. However, this was met with the heartbreak of seeing Kevin Mitchell stopped by Jorge Linares in a equally balanced and exciting fight. Anthony Joshua made an emphatic statement by stopping Kevin Johnson in the 2nd round. Although a win was expected, stopping the veteran Johnson, so early was a surprise most never saw coming. Finally, to cap the night off, Kell Brook won a sparring session like fight in completely outclassing and out powering Frankie Gavin.