Jamie McDonnell wins controversial decision over Ian Napa
by Scott Christ on Jan 22, 2010 6:41 PM EST
in Boxing Results and Post-Fight Analysis
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Ian Napa's chance at the European bantamweight title went up in smoke today in Brentwood, as he lost a highly controversial decision to Jamie McDonnell live on Sky Sports.
McDonnell is now the BBBofC bantamweight titlist, winning on split decision scores of 115-114, 117-112 and 114-115. The 117-112 card from judge Dave Parris for McDonnell was particularly questionable. Bad Left Hook scored the bout 115-113 for Napa, and the only thing I can say that might have been different is a round or two more in Napa's favor.
McDonnell (13-2-1, 5 KO) did everything he could to win, but it seemed pretty apparenty he'd come up just short. The feather-fisted Napa (19-8, 1 KO) dominated the middle portions of the fight with his slick, elusive style, but McDonnell poured on the pressure late. I gave McDonnell the last three rounds to make the fight close on my scorecard, but could easily have seen the 12th scored for Napa, who landed some good shots of his own. That would have made it 116-112, and I could see as high as 117-111 maybe.
They gave lip service to a rematch after the fight, but we'll see. Chances are it'll happen since neither of them are exactly about to storm the world stage, but you never know.
This does ruin Napa's scheduled March fight against Jerome Arnould for the vacant European bantamweight title, which McDonnell seems to think is now his earned right. I disagree, but I'm not a boxing promoter.
On the undercard, flyweight prospect Ashley Sexton (9-0, 5 KO) put his name with an early KO of the Year candidate over Usman Ahmed. The knockout blow came in the first round. Super middleweight prospect George Groves (8-0, 6 KO) stayed unbeaten with a third round KO of Grigor Sarohanian (2-3, 0 KO).
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can someone explain to me the british/euro belt system? i thought this whole time that the awful IBO, IBF, WBC, etc belts were for world “champs”. are the Uk/euro belts simply stepping stones, or is that it for most of the Rhodes’, McDonnells of Europe?
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Jan 22, 2010 6:43 PM EST reply actions
For
some of them,like Kell Brook and Nathan Cleverly they are almost definitely stepping stones but for guys like McDonnell and Napa,they are as far as they are likely to get.Rhodes may get a ‘world’ title shot but i can’t see him hanging on to a belt long,if he did win his shot.
It usually goes,Commonwealth,British,European,then World(if they are good enough).
Or
sometimes British,then Commonwealth,depending on how could the standard is a particular division.For instance,if a Canadian(part of the Commonwealth) is regarded as a lower standard than the top British fighters at his weight,the British fighters’ promoter will likely go for the Commonwealth belt first.
The British Belt system....
Is the only thing that makes sense in boxing.
You start fighting, and if you make a ripple you get to fight for an area title (West Midlands for example.) This would be akin to a State title (if there is such a thing) in America.
If you carry on winning, you get to fight for the English (or Scottish [and I think Gaellic]) title.
Again, carry on and you can challenge for the Lonsdale (BRITISH) title belt.
The Lonsdale is the best looking belt in boxing (the ring have ripped it off) and the oldest.
Defend it 3 times and it’s yours.
After that you can challenge for the commonwealth title – best of the commonwealth obv.
Then the European title.
- If a boxer has got that far, he’s seen enough and done enough. He’s ready to try for World Honours.
Doing things that way over here is known as doing it the “right way”, Carl Froch, Herol Graham, Junior Witter and more did it that way.
"Chris Eubank lost his recent comeback fight on points ... the main one being that he's a total git."
Yeah it is a good system
Also the Lonsdale belt does indeed look excellent. The Ring’s certainly is similar.
(Lonsdale)
(Ring)
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jan 23, 2010 9:09 AM EST up reply actions
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