On Saturday night three different cards in three very different places saw British action. Hull, Liverpool and Monte Carlo were the backdrops in what was a night packed with boxing. Here is a round-up of what happened on each card.
Hull, UK: Tommy Coyle and Luke Campbell set up domestic rivalry
As Tommy Coyle uncorked a counter left hook on the right side of Michael Katsidis’ face, memories of his own downfall must have replayed. Just over one year ago, the very same shot saw Coyle fall heavily to the canvas on his back, the lights flickering but not fully on, as he lost sensationally to Derry Mathews. His career back on track, though, and it must have felt sweet for Coyle as he earned a 2nd round stoppage over a well known former world level fighter. Katsidis may be past his best, but it was still a test for Coyle, and one he passed with ease.
His victory came on the same night that another man from the local area, Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell, shined against Daniel Brizuela. Brizuela gave Coyle fits earlier this year, dropping him several times and severely hurting him to the body, before succumbing in the final round. And so it was with surprising ease that Campbell marched through the Argentine, forcing a stoppage in the fifth round with Brizuela in trouble on the ropes.
The wins for both Coyle and Campbell, both from Hull, on the same night and in the same arena, was no coincidence. Instead, it was all part of Eddie Hearn’s plan to have the pair fight in what would amount to a local grudge match down the line. That fight could happen next year, though both Coyle and Campbell will have to work on the ‘grudge’ part. So far it seems they are good friends. They will have to put that to one side if they are to entertain thoughts of fighting one another.
On the same card, Gavin McDonnell scored an upset win over the vastly more experienced Vusi Malinga. McDonnell had Malinga down in the 8th, but had to continue fighting hard as the South African kept coming forward. The win pushes McDonnell towards the top of Britain’s super bantamweight class.
Monte Carlo, Monaco: Stuey Hall fails in world title bid
Monte Carlo was a surprising stage for Stuey Hall’s latest alphabet title tilt. The Darlington man lost his belt to Paul Butler, but the very same belt was up for grabs at the weekend, with Butler having moved back down in weight following his win over Hall. And so Hall fought American Randy Caballero for the vacant title.
The fight began at a fast pace suggestive of an inside-the-distance finish. Indeed, the first three rounds saw both men trade on the inside, unwilling to take a step back. Caballero showed faster hands, but Hall landed straight through the middle against the younger, unbeaten man. After the third, Caballero perhaps realized there was an easier way to fight Hall; on the backfoot. From then on he controlled the fight, though Hall made it uncomfortable all the way.
Hall relentlessly pursued Caballero at all times in a steadfast refusal to accept the very notion of defeat. It is an attitude that has served him well in the past, but Caballero showed durability and toughness yet seen in his career to stave off Hall’s advances and win a unanimous decision victory.
On the undercard another Brit, Martin Murray, had different fortunes as he set up a tilt at Gennady Golovkin’s alphabet belt with an untidy win over Domenico Spada. Spada made life difficult for Murray all the way through the fight, leading with his head and practically running at the Englishman. Murray could have utilized a stronger jab and better footwork to keep the Italian off him, but instead ended up in a horribly scrappy fight.
Nonetheless there was no doubt he was the better man, with cleaner work seeing him the winner of a technical decision after the fight was prematurely stopped due to an accidental head clash that saw blood streaming down Spada’s face.
Liverpool, UK: Paul Butler and Kevin Satchell win
Liverpool’s Echo Arena was the scene for Paul Butler and Kevin Satchell’s wins, which were of varying significance. Butler outpointed the overmatched Miguel Garnica through ten rounds, but Satchell’s majority decision win over Valery Yanchy was far more important.
Satchell earned the European title with the win, making him the first Liverpudlian since Paul Hodkinson to hold the title. His win was also far more difficult to earn than Butler’s, who outboxed Garnica on both the back and front foot.
On the undercard, Jack Catterall upset Thomas Stalker, the former Great Britain amateur captain, inside eight rounds. Having dropped Stalker once in each of the opening two rounds, Catterall bided his time before strafing Stalker with another southpaw straight left in the 8th, before capitalizing and forcing the finish. Chris Eubank Jr marked time until his shot at Billy Joe Saunders later in the year with more showmanship en route to a 2nd round stoppage against the overmatched Omar Siala.
