On Saturday evening from The New Echo Arena in Liverpool in the headliner on “The Mersey Beat down” two local guys Tony Quigley 13-1(6) & Tony Dodson 24-5-1(12) battled it out for the vacant British Super Middleweight title. Quigley behind on two of the three cards and even on the other came on strong to score a dramatic stoppage in the twelfth round.
Both guys come out to big cheers from there fans Quigley came out first out and got the crowd pumped with “You’ll never walk alone” (A big favourite amongst people from Liverpool) playing in the background. Whilst Dodson entered flanked by David Haye to Tina Turner’s classic “Simply the best”. With both guys clearly pumped and the pattern was set early for these two duelling warriors as they happily engaged each other from the start going toe to toe. In the second Dodson was cut over his left eye whilst the right side of his face started to become marked up. Worse still followed when he also touched down. At that point it looked like Quigley may be heading for an early evening. Dodson a former British Champ back in 2006 showed tremendous heart to not only see out the second but comeback in the third to outbox Quigley. By the fifth the action was still frenetic though Dodson looked the worse for wear with his facial swellings. During the sixth Dodson lands a huge right that Quigley some how took, though he is shaken up. Quigley to his credit covered up and looked to regroup. Dodson manages to catch Quigley with a short chopping left that dips his knees. During the seventh referee Victor Loughlin took Dodson to see the doctor who allowed the action to continue. Dodson again responds well boxing impressively as the action ebbed one way then the other. As the rounds ticked by it became ever increasingly like it would go to the cards. Even though Dodson again rocked Quigley in the ninth with another big left hook. Finally the fight took one final turn late in the eleventh when Quigley rocked Dodson back into his corner. The minute rest wasn’t enough and Quigley poured on the pressure and dropped Dodson three times before the action was called off and an jubilant Quigley celebrated a stirring win.
This win could be the making of former amateur sensation Quigley who’s only 24. A rematch would seem a viable option though after such a taxing fight both guys should be allowed plenty of time to recover.
Olympic hero David Price make his debut in front of his home fans. Price who is 6’8 tall weighed in a trim 248. David Ingleby 6-25-1(4) looked durable foe and a solid opponent. Price had the fight under control with his movement and solid jabs through out. The Big guy even mixed in some body shots. The end came suddenly in the third when Price landed a huge shot that dropped Ingleby who bravely attempted to get up but fell into the ropes before being rescued by the referee.
In chief support was a British Lightweight eliminator between John Watson 10-0(4) & Martin Gethin 15-2-1(7). It was a close fight that Watson eked out despite being out on his feet in the last round.
Former two time ABA champion George Groves moved to 3-0(2) when he impressively stopped former British title challenger Paul Samuels 19-6-2(11) in the first. Having earlier dropped Samuels the referee seemed to jump in a little prematurely.
In Light Middleweight action Joe McNally 7-0(3) forced Graham Delehedy 9-5-1(7) to retire in the third.
Former Featherweight hope Derry Matthews 21-3(11) looked to rebound against Harry Ramogoadi 20-10-2(6) and though he was out boxing Ramogoadi he was stopped midway though the fourth.
Lee Jennings 3-1(1) outpointed veteran Karl Taylor 16-120-7(4) over four.