The much loved “Doncaster De la Hoya” David Allen dropped former WBA Heavyweight Champion, Lucas Browne with a sweetly timed left hand body shot to end matters inside three rounds in their meeting at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday night.
Browne did make a bright start, letting his hands go, but Allen did show a sign of things to come, landing a left hand to the body in the first round. The second saw the Aussie land with a solid uppercut, piercing Allen’s guard.
In round three, Browne continued his success, catching the Conisbrough man again, but when Allen connected with an uppercut of his own, that bloodied Browne’s nose, it signalled a very quick beginning of the end. A peach of a left hand to the body on the counter folded the man from down under, and never looked likely to beat the count or recover, and he was counted out on his knees.
This could well signal the end, especially on UK shores for “Big Daddy” Browne, while Allen enhances his profile even further. A meeting with David Price could be a good fit for both, but Allen again grasped his big chance on the big stage with both hands.
Dereck Chisora was involved in a rare snoozer, as he easily overcame the limited European, Senad Gashi, over ten largely dull rounds.
The Finchley Heavyweight, now under the tutelage of Dave Caldwell in Rotherham, was always the fighter forcing the action, but it was difficult for him to impress against an opponent intent on survival from the opening bell. Gashi did take the best Chisora had to offer, a powerful right in particular in round four catching the eye. Gashi also did well whilst trapped in the corner in the fifth, managing to mostly evade Chisora’s attacks. “Del Boy” looked to have a lot more in the tank than usual, and was in good shape, giving him the stamina he needed to bank round after round. He coasted through the second half of the fight, with a late burst in the final round the only real action of note.
Scores of 100-90, 100-91, and 99-91 saw Chisora correctly adjudged a comfortable victor. Former WBO Champion, Joseph Parker has been mooted as Chisora’s next opponent, which could end up on the Sky Sports Box Office, Dillian Whyte v Oscar Rivas bill, which was announced for the 20th July at the O2.
Josh Kelly retained his WBA International Welterweight Title, winning every round of ten to ease past Przemyslaw Runowski.
The previously unbeaten Pole was dropped three times in all, once each in rounds two, nine and ten, as Kelly again showcased his huge talent in a big arena. Kelly was never troubled, and, despite suffering a hand injury halfway through, “PBK” again demonstrated why he is fast running out of suitable opponents to suit his rapid progression.
A two fisted assault caused the first knockdown, with Runowski unable to get out of the way of a Kelly onslaught. A rapid fire left hand to the body and then to the head dropped Runowski again in the penultimate round, and the Sunderland man repeated the trick in the final round, finishing with a jolting left hook.
The result was of course never in doubt, with Kelly taking the win by scores of two scores of 100-88, and a third at 100-89 to reflect his superiority.
Classy Welshman, Joe Cordina, added the vacant British Lightweight Title to his Commonwealth belt, with another impressive display in stopping the game, but ultimately outgunned, Andy Townend. It was one way traffic pretty much throughout, with “The Welsh Wizard” simply a step above the Yorkshireman. Cordina made it nine wins on the bounce, with Townend succumbing in the sixth round after being dropped a hat trick of times. Cordina was darting in and out, and working well of a solid jab, which was gradually frustrating Townend.
The end came at halfway, when halfway through the sixth, Joe winged in lefts and rights, particularly powerfully to the body, to finally fell the brave Townend. He bravely survived the count, and gamely returned fire upon the resumption, before being dropped again with an accumulation of punches. Townend again showed immense heart and bravery to battle on, but another ruthless right to the body floored the man from Barnsley for a third time, and this time referee, Victor Laughlin had wisely seen enough.
Conor Benn opened the TV portion of the card in a Welterweight eight rounder against Josef Zahradnik.
The Czech import came to fight, and had his successes in the opener, with Benn preferring to measure his man and use patience. Benn dictated behind an impressive jab, and stepped up the tempo from the fourth round onwards in particular. Zahradnik was brave though, and landed with an eye catching shot of his own in the fifth, a solid right hand connecting flush on Benn’s chin. This was as good as it got though, as Benn dominated the sixth and then dropped Zahradnik with a body shot in the penultimate round. Josef was brave in defeat though, as he survived the round, and a volley of attacks from Benn in the final round to see out the fight. The result was academic, and referee Ian John Lewis scored the Ilford man an 80-71 victor.
