Liverpool, England: Kevin Mitchell captures WBO Intercontinental title after TKO victory over John Murray, and Nicky Cook suffers the same fate after 93 seconds against Super Featherweight champion Ricky Burns, in slightly more controversial circumstances
In an astonishing and controversial night here at Liverpool’s Echo Arena, Kevin Mitchell, fighting out of Dagenham, East London finished the proceedings of a stacked card (12 fights) with a TKO victory of the European lightweight Champion John Murray after only 8 rounds. The fight was a British classic, showcasing two of the countries premier fighters, but only did we get to view this bout after witnessing one of the worst fights to grace these shores this year, soundly rounded off with one of the most shocking endings to a world title fight you will ever witness.
The supporting fight, was suprisingly Ricky Burns making the 3rd defence of his WBO Super Featherweight strap he won, back in 2010 against the highly rated Roman Martinez. His opponent Nicky Cook, fighting out of Stepney, East London, was a previously unbeaten EBU Featherweight champion had won the above title back in 2008, defeating Alex Arthur in Manchester, as the supporting act to Amir Khans infamous bout with Breidis Prescott. Cook possessed good credentials on paper coming into this fight, but his best days were behind him. A sound beating at the hands of Roman Martinez, followed by a dismal 6 round point victory over Youssef Al Hamidi who had acquired 33 losses at the time of them fighting, followed his controversial points win over Arthur.
Only hours before the fight, UK bookmakers had ceased all activity on the Londoner being KO’ed in round 3. Apparently, there was a suspicious amount of bets being placed on the early rounds in and around East London, home of the challenger. It did not even get to reach the third, as Burns improved his record to 32(9)-2, only throwing 1 meaningful punch in the process. Burns swung a right hook which did clearly land at the 6 second mark, but Cook collapsed to the floor grimacing as he held his back. Cook managed to stand again, but did hit the deck again without any punches being landed. Burns did knock the London man down again on the minute mark, at which point the towel was thrown in, and the fight stopped at 1 minute 33 seconds. Nicky Cook left the ring in a stretcher, and Ricky Burns left with yet another frustrating ‘W’ on his record. One cannot blame the Scot for the insane way in which the bout ended here tonight in Liverpool, but serious questions do need to be asked as to why the challenger was allowed to even fight?
The dust had hardly settled since David Haye’s disastrous attempt at Heavyweight glory two weeks again, when yet again another high profile domestic fight ended in a highly controversial manner. At least Khan v Mcloskey went 6 rounds, this fight seemed to have been won outside of the ring. Robert Smith, general secretary for the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC), was interviewed post fight by SKY TV. “The lad was in a wonderful condition before the fight, and there was no sign of injury, it looks to be a freak injury, and we are really disappointed for the lad.” Asked if there would be an enquiry into the outcome of the fight, Smith replied, “We will have to look at the fight again, we will wait and see.” As for the betting being suspended just before the fight, one can make their own assumptions, but quite clearly, something drastically went wrong last night. If Cook’s team knew about the injury, and let him fight in that condition then they should be suspended, and if somehow the details were leaked by his team to family and friends, who proceeded to bet on their man being KO’ed early, they too should be suspended, and they should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. That was genuine pain on the face of Cook, not a broken toe, but a genuine spinal condition that he should not of been actively fighting with. Once again, paying UK fight fans were treated to a non-event, and were left with one final bout of the evening to bring some much needed excitement.
Luckily, the main bout of the evening lived up to, and exceeded expectations. Kevin Mitchell, the returning Londoner, who had been KO’ed in front of 20, 000 fans at his beloved Upton park stadium in 2010, was challenging the best lightweight in Europe, Manchester brawler John Murray. The fight was moved up to the Liverpool bill from last weeks planned show at the EXCEL arena amid poor ticket sales down in London, although the official reason was Mitchell had contracted a bad viral infection a wekk before the fight. It is just a well it ended up on tonight’s bill, as without this great scrap, the whole card would have been a dire event. Tony Bellew fought a lackluster points win against Orville Mckenzie, in a Light Heavyweight rematch from May which saw the Liverpool man knocked down twice in the opening 3 rounds. We did not have such a luxury this evening as even the home fans starting booing the loud and over confident British and Commonwealth champion, as he jabbed his way to a landslide points victory. Newly crowned WBO king Nathan Cleverly was ringside, but will not of been troubled by what he saw.
There was a great atmosphere in the Echo Arena as the fighters made their way to ring for the main event. Mitchell, the skilled technician, out to prove a point after his emphatic defeat to Michael Katsidis, wearing blue, Union Jack trimmed trunks appeared confident and was hoping to make the headlines for his boxing skills, not for the personal problems which have plagued the Dagenham man of late. He allegedly spent £200, 000 on alcohol binges after his TKO defeat against the world class Australian. Murray, wearing black with white trim trunks, started the proceedings well, his constant pressuring style not allowing Mitchell to use his jab. One minute in and Mitchell found some rhythm, trading well on the inside, and picking his shots well when the space was available. Although Mitchell is the technically more gifted fighter of the two, he would need to prove that he can mix it rough, as Murray would not be giving any leeway with regards to space and finding his range. Mitchell definitely won the first round, purely based on the crisper punches being landed, and the fact he looked the sharper fighter, better speed and accuracy, and the punches he landed looked very dangerous.
The second round started at a higher pace, with Murray applying his shots well, mixing to the body and throwing some good left hooks. 1.43 of the round saw a huge right stagger Mitchell badly, although he managed to retaliate with some clean punches whilst trying to avoid being stuck on the ropes. With 43 seconds left, Murray again landed a great right, but Mitchell rebounded well with a superb uppercut, and managed to regain the centre of the ring, with some nice combinations, and an eye catching flurry, although that would not be enough to win the round. 10/9 Murray, but Mitchell showed the better footwork and speed.
The 3rd round was an absolute peach, both fighters exercising their power, and taking some heavy shots in the process. Mitchell adapted very well, commanding the ring well and not allowing Murray to engage on the ropes, although at 1.14 Mitchell was rocked by a solid right. The east London man was now mixing his punches better, starting to work the body, and definitely letting Murray know that he was fighting as a proper lightweight. The round was incredibly hard to score, as Murray was naturally the aggressor, throwing more punches, but hardly any cleanly landing in this session. The round ended with Murray being badly rocked himself after a great right from Mitchell. Too close to call, 10/10, and the fight was practically all even going into the 4th.
Round 4 pretty much went to Murray, as again his output was superior, but clearly he was not the technician in this fight. Mitchell landed on the minute mark with 2 great uppercuts and a very nice combination. Murray did look to have won this round easily, purely based on punch output, but when Mitchell was on the ropes he did not appear hurt, and reeled off some nice shots in return, Murray 10/9.
One third of the way in to the fight, and statistically, it was suprisingly even with Murray throwing 209 shots, of which 64 landed; Mitchell throwing 211 and landing 54. The 5th probably went to Murray again, as he threw the cleaner punches, although again, Mitchell landed another stinging uppercut, it was his best tool in the box, by far. Mitchell ended the round bruised, but Murray’s right eye seemed badly swollen, and seemed very tried and disorientated when returning to his corner.
Round 6 saw the fight explode, as Mitchell started finding his range, letting the right go, with some great combinations surely catching the judges eyes. Murray looked incredibly fatigued mid round and was relying on holding and rough inside fighting, though Mitchell appeared very strong and not bothered with the Hatton like mauling he was encountering. Great round, which Mitchell won, Murray was taking far too many shots for my liking. Joe Gallagher was imploring Murray to work the body as they entered the 7th; only 15 bodyshots were thrown from each fighter up until this round. The 7th saw an astonishing comeback from Mitchell as he sensed his opponent was losing heart, and proceeded to start putting together some very very decent combinations, including some devastating left hooks which staggered Murray badly, as well the signature uppercut which had performed well all night long for Mitchell. Murray was in a very bad way as the bell signaled the end of the seventh round, and was very lucky to hang on as Mitchell looked very dangerous and relaxed, and knew he had his man in serious danger of being knocked out.
Mitchell exuded confidence as the eight started, reeling off 4,5 great left hooks, but Murray was not going down without a fight, and he landed some of the best punches of the fight, two perfectly timed uppercuts followed by a left hook which rocked Mitchell. Murray looked shattered and was sent to the canvas at 1 minute 33 seconds after taking a heavy left from Mitchell, teed up beautifully from a straight right. Mitchell did not lose eye contact with his opponent as he was counted to 10, blood streaming from his nose, and both eyes badly swollen. Murray did not even raise his guard, and looked ready to drop again, as Mitchell landed 3 huge left hands, at which point the referee rightly ended the contest just before the end of round 8.
Delirious scenes followed for Kevin Mitchell and his team, as he proved his critics wrong, with a stunning TKO victory over one of the best lightweights in the world. Murray cut a sad figure, and looked tearful, and badly bloodied after this epic war, a truly great fight with a stunning ending. I had the fight even until this round, but Murray, now dropping to 31(18)-1, had exhausted all supplies, and had quite clearly been matched against a far better fighter on the night. Though there is no shame in this defeat, he too can still reach the world level again, it was just Mitchell had too much in the box for him on the night.
Do not forget, the Dagenham fighter was fighting for a world strap himself only last year. As the result was read out to the crowd, a rather poignant scene emerged, Mitchell, the referee Richard Davies, and Murray hugging, both in respect of each other, and knowing they had just been in a great war. A great end to a mixed card, which would of been an absolute disaster, should this have been staged last week in London as planned. Murray can re-group, and should be pushing for a world title shot very soon, Mitchell on the other hand has just come off a 14 month layoff, and the manner of this victory over his rival tonight, showed a great deal of character, professionalism and a lot of heart. Mitchell, improving to 32(24)-1, is a very talented boxer/technician who may end up fighting Katsidis again very soon, although a huge fight against Brandon Rios would appeal, and would sell both sides of the Atlantic. The lightweight division is packed with talent at present, and with John Murray being ranked number 4 in ‘the Rings’ rankings as of last night, big matches will now await the rejuvenated Mitchell and his trainer Jimmy Tibbs. Superb fight.
