Southpaw Tyson Fury stops Martin Rogan in five

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor

Irish title dream fulfilled in Belfast

Tyson Fury recovered from his usual slow start to stop Martin Rogan in five rounds at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast to become the Irish heavyweight champion and fulfil a lifelong ambition.

The 23 year-old initially surprised all by opening the fight in the southpaw stance and seemed to struggle to adjust in the first round as Rogan piled in with some wild punches to take the opening round.

Rogan, 40, then continued his good work into the second round as Fury chatted in his ear for most of the session until a left hand got through from the home fighter and Fury was caught clean for the first time in the fight.

The third round represented a shift in the contest as Fury seemed to get to grips with his switch and began pound his right hand jab into Rogan’s face with more damaging effect. A swinging left at the end of the round then put Rogan down, although the former Prizefighter champion seemed unhurt as he went back to his corner.

Former British and Commonwealth champion Fury then took total control of the fight and used some good body work to take the fourth round as the aging Rogan began to tire from his fierce start to the fight.

The fifth saw more of the same from Fury and a crunching left to the body on the back of a head combination put a wincing Rogan down and at that point he looked like he’d had enough of what were some sickening blows.

The Irishman did make it to his feet and looked willing to continue, but by that time his trainer Bernardo Checa had already asked the referee to stop the contest and Fury was crowned the new Irish belt holder.

Fury now moves a step closer to a world title fight with his 18th professional victory and his 13th knockout.

On his new southpaw stance, Fury stated after the fight: “I am just practicing a few things there you know. I found it a bit comfortable to go left handed. I am a world-class heavyweight and I am going to try different things.”

WBN Remembers: "Gypsy Boy" Ernie Smith

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor (picure by boxrec.com) After almost a year and a half without one of boxing’s great journeymen, World Boxing News is looking back at the 161-fight career of Worcestershire warrior Ernie Smith, concentrating on his contribution in the ring, rather than the tragic way his life ended out of it. Smith turned professional at super-featherweight in 1998 at the Park Hall Hotel in Wolverhampton, losing a six rounder against Welshman Woody Greenaway. One month later, Ernie was thrown in with an unknown prospect by the name of Gavin Rees (former world champion and current British Lightweight Champion) who he also took the distance over four rounds. The “Gypsy Boy” then managed to string together a four fight unbeaten run together in early 1999 and ended the year winning five out of his twelve contests, but by this time had already delved into the journeyman pool of boxers with a record of 5-8-1. After settling at the welterweight limit, Ernie gained a su

BBC make Luke Campbell mum and sister death gaffe

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Picture from the BBC Gabby Logan announces wrong family tragedy The BBC made a major mistake on the final showing of their Olympics Tonight show as host Gabby Logan sparked an anxious quizzing by boxer Luke Campbell’s fans as they announced the ‘loss’ of his mother and sister at a young age. Campbell, 24, took the gold medal in the men’s bantamweight final earlier in the day and was then congratulated by Logan, who announced his victory as a triumph over adversity after the Hull fighter suffered the tragedy six years ago. Unbeknown to presenter Logan, it was Welshman Freddie Evans, who also boxes in an Olympic final tomorrow, who suffered the tragedy as he lost his mother Tracy and sister Scarlett in a car accident in 2006. Fans of Olympic champion Campbell and boxing in general, immediately began handing out sympathy to the boxer after believing what was announced to be true. Logan, after an outcry on social networking website Twitte

Soccer star Tim Cahill’s cousin Jai Opetaia, 16, spars Danny Green

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor (Picture from The Brisbane Times) Youngster shares ring with IBO champ Jai Opetaia, cousin of Everton Football Club’s star soccer player Tim Cahill, is a sixteen year-old amateur fighter who is deep in preparations for the forthcoming world youth championships. Recently the youngster was given the opportunity to spar with Australia’s IBO world light-heavyweight champion Danny Green as he prepares to take on Antonio Tarver and gain valuable experience before his trip to Europe. Opetaia, who hails from Watanobbi, has already taken former world champion Anthony Mundine a few rounds in sparring and has added another world renowned boxer to the list in 38 year-old Green. The Australian amateur team departs for the championships in Kazakhstan this Tuesday and Opetaia thinks the gym time with the Aussie boxing starts will stand him in good stead as he looks to claim gold at the under 80kg category. “It feels pretty special,” Opetaia told the Central Coas

World Boxing News 2010-2013

Search This Blog