Mikael Lawal captured the Golden Robe by winning the fourth edition of Ultimate Boxxer at the ICE Arena in Altrincham on Friday night.
It was yet another edge of the seat, value for money competition, that produced a worthy winner in the end.
The Nigerian born Londoner impressed to take home the lion’s share of the £50,000 prize pot on offer to the winner of the Cruiserweight version of the tournament.
The final saw Lawal and Damian Chambers go head to head for the prize, where someone’s unbeaten record also had to go. Lawal clinched the win with a stunning first round win. Lawal connected with an almighty left hook, which forced the referee to halt the contest mid count. Chambers simply couldn’t gain the strength to regain his footing, handing the Shepherd’s Bush based Lawal a big win.
Lawal’s semi final opponent was late notice substitute, David Jamieson, who had stepped in for Kent Kaupinnen earlier this week. Jamieson shocked Dan Cooper with a majority decision win in the quarters. Jamieson couldn’t repeat the feat in the last four, as Lawal scored yet another knockdown in the opener with a short hook. This again proved the difference as two scores of 29-27 and a third at 29-28 sealed Lawal’s place in the final.
Lawal was given a tougher than expected workout by Anthony Woolery in the quarter finals, but a knockdown with a right hook in the first round for Lawal sealed a 30-27 and 29-28 (twice) win.
Chambers reached the final in a total of four rounds, as he wiped out Matt Sen in the last eight. Sen was guilty of charging forward to apply pressure, and paid the price when Chambers caught him with a big left hook that dropped him. Sen beat the count, but a follow up attack finished the contest. Chambers overcame Rhasian Earlington in the semi final in what was fight of the night. Earlington had earlier overcame former Commonwealth Champion, Tony Conquest in the last eight, with a first round knockout.
Earlington was floored in the opener with Chambers, but roared back to nearly drop the Lancastrian several times. He came up just short in the end though, as Chambers did just enough to earn a unanimous verdict.
Lawal will hope this is a springboard for success, in what is now a packed domestic division.
