Pattinson Wins A Belter In Newcastle
Cyrus Pattinson’s first headline show was capped off with a clinical stoppage after nine rounds of captivating action.
It was a battle between two men at contrasting stages of their careers which, in many a fight, ends up playing out a pretty simple narrative - new kid smashes up old-timer.
But at 34-years-old, Chris Jenkins was not coming to Newcastle to lie down. For nine rounds he called on every inch of his experience - assembled from a tough 33 fight career - in order to keep up with Pattinson’s vigorous tempo.
It was an eager start from both, as they threw in volume within the first minute of the fight. Both men seemed keen to chip away at each other’s body and were forced to eat several shots up the ribcage.
Pattinson began to have greater success through rounds three and four, with Jenkins feeling the wrath of some huge left hooks. Both men were managing to maintain a high pace as the fight approached halfway.
But that soon changed.
A tricky southpaw stance, the exuberance of youth and an unerringly accurate left-hand - it was all a bit much for Jenkins who was slowly withering. He began to throw with a lot more caution, perhaps with half an eye on seeing the final bell.
But it wasn’t to be, as he was unravelled by a huge left hand from Pattinson in the ninth. The hometown boy then wasted no time following up his success, leaving trainer Gary Lockett little choice but to throw in the towel.
It bought to an end a superb nine rounds which will be invaluable in the progress of Pattinson as he moves forward. There are big hopes pinned on this talent, and on Saturday night he put a big tick in the entertainer box.
Pat McCormack and Mark Dickinson also picked up wins on home turf. For McCormack, a final round stoppage after a dominant eight rounds against tough Italian Dario Socci. Dickinson went the distance too, as he swept aside Ben Ridings 80-73.
Sol Dacres bowled over Robert Ismay in two to pick up the English title. It was a satisfying conclusion for Dacres, who took more verbal punches during fight week than he did punches in the ring.
Despite an endeavoured opening round for Ismay, he was not much more than a sitting duck for Dacres who peppered him until stoppage.
What’s that Jamie Vardy saying again?
There was a win for Hopey Price too, who outpointed Thomas Masson over 10 rounds. It was hardly an edge-of-your-seat type fight, but it keeps things moving in an important year for one of our best prospects.
Over in Dubai, there was 560lbs of heavyweight in the ring as Jarrell Miller and Lucas Browne slugged it out.
It wasn’t pretty, but what it lacked in aesthetic it more than made up for in action. Browne was competitive early, but was ultimately overwhelmed by Miller who dropped and stopped the veteran Aussie.
Sometimes it is better to watch something to understand, so I suggest you do so HERE.
And no, that video wasn’t in slow-motion.
All jokes aside, we know it isn’t a result that has any of the top dogs trembling. Miller himself will know that. However, there is no doubt that he is a name that holds weight, and 333lbs of it.
But whatever he does, it is evident that he will not be able to shrug off the doping scandal from 2019. Boxing is an unforgivable sphere, and perhaps in this instance correctly.
Finally to California, where a brand new main event replaced what was set to be a cracker between Zurdo Ramirez and Gabe Rosado. During Friday’s weigh-in, Zurdo came in 7.6lbs over the light-heavyweight limit.
No sauna, binbag or tinfoil was scraping that weight off, and the fight was scrapped under a shadow of ultra unprofessionalism. Step forward Jojo Diaz and Mercito Gesta.
And step forward Gesta did, as he battled his way to a split decision win over the former world champion. This was a win Jojo needed most, to vindicate his belonging at the top after two consecutive defeats.
But Gesta bought fire and fury and outworked Diaz, which took to the liking of two judges who scored it widely to the Filipino. It was a classic case of ‘what style you prefer’, with the other judge scoring wide to Diaz.
But two beats one, and Gesta beat Diaz to turn around what had been a frustrating 2023 after he was denied the Ryan Garcia fight in January. Maybe that’s one for next time.
Oscar Bevis
