Hatton Promotions star Denton Vassell retained his Commonwealth
welterweight title with a deserved unanimous decision over tricky
challenger Samuel Colomban at the Oldham Sports Centre.
The boxing banker, 27, set a high work rate throughout and was
rewarded with judges' scores of 117 - 112 and 116 - 112
(twice).
Vassell got straight down to business, making it an in-close
affair and digging away to the ribs of the Australian-based
Cameroonian.
However, his desire to get inside got the better of him twice in
the opener when firstly he slipped face-first and a minute or so
later was warned by referee Howard Foster when one of his blows
drifted way south of the border.
Vassell, from Manchester's Miles Platting estate, continued to set
a high pace in the second and landed more weighty blows to the
torso after bravely ploughing straight through Colomban's
jab.
But a session later Vassell had a point chalked off when another
shot landed below the visitor's belt line.
This, though, did not mean the champion became more cautious. He
continued to his bobbing head movement to get close and switch his
attacks between the head and the body.
Colomban was tricky foe who liked to move around the ring but
Vassell's pressure told in almost every session and his 19th
professional win was an enjoyable and deserved win.
Matty Askin sent out a statement to British cruiserweight champion
Leon Williams by blitzing tough Czech Roman Kracik inside three
rounds.
22-year-old Askin has been talking about facing the domestic
titleholder since the Londoner nabbed the belt in lacklustre 12
rounder with Rob Norton a few weeks ago.
And he sent out the perfect message of intent by softening up the
eastern European with strings of punches before a pair of fearsome
right hands at 2.11 of the third stanza ended it.
Hattersley's Kieran Maher was another boxer who took care of
business in quick time. The flame-haired welterweight prospect took
just 1 minute and 58 seconds to halt Luton's Gavin Putney.
Maher, another boxer from Bob Shannon's impressive stable, whipped
in a solid right cross in the opening seconds and that set the tone
for what would be a relatively straight forward victory.
Another hefty blow to the jaw sent Putney reeling and when
followed up with series of punches, referee John Latham stepped
in.
Paul Truscott brushed off the disappointment of the cancellation
of his shot at British champion Gary Buckland by seeing over
Blackburn's Graeme "Dezzie" Higginson.
Middlesbrough's Truscott, a former Commonwealth champion at
featherweight, was simply too slick for Higginson. He got off fast
combinations upstairs and down before moving out of the danger zone
before his foe could counter.
And at the end of the fifth session, Higginson's corner decided to
retire their man on his stool.
Liverpool's James "Jazza" Dickens looks like a hot prospect. The
20-year-old former ABA champion turned a trick most boxers are
unable to by halting tough Leeds-based Scotsman James Ancliff
Fast left hands put Ancliff on the ring apron twice in the opening
round before more clean punching in the second forced the
Scotsman's trainer, Derek Roche, to call things off when he fighter
returned to the corner.
Dicken's record is now 6 - 0 (2 KOs) and he seems set to make
major inroads towards title contention in 2012.
Ricky Hatton's return to action in the ring was joyous one.
Now working as a trainer, the Hitman watched with pride as his
charge Adam Little boxed beautifully in a four rounder against
hardened Worcester veteran Billy Smith.
Little, 20, dominated every second of every round by getting in
close and showing good variety between shots to the head and the
body. Predictably the scoreline was 40 -36
Little is now 4 - 0 (1 KO) and yet to concede a single session to
an opponent.
Heywood livewire Kieran Farrell took his unbeaten tally to 11 by
defeating Dewsbury's always awkward Youssef Al Hamidi over
six-threes.
Farrell, nicknamed "Vicious" came straight out with his trademark
aggressive style and connected with a pair of hooks but for the
most part spent his time pursuing Al Hamidi around the ring.
Indeed, the Syrian-born journeyman back-peddled so many laps
around the perimeter of the ring that promoter Ricky Hatton leaped
from his seat and shouted for trainer Chris Aston to tell his man
to stand and fight.
Despite this, Al Hamidi continued to be negative and credit must
be given to Farrell for not getting frustrated. The Lancastrian
stuck to his task, closed the space on his opponent and landed
single blows.
Alvin Finch refereed while John Latham posted a score of 60 - 54
from ringside.
13/11/2011 15:31:21