Jess Causby & Josh Kerr.
On Sunday 21st February the University of York saw 18 brave contenders take on The Fighter York. Held at the Roger Kirk Centre, the crowd gathered around the ring in anticipation of York students going head to head in 3 rounds of fighting.
Prior to the event, the fighters had been put through a 10 week training programme in order to learn new skills, techniques and gain the fitness needed to beat their opponent.
Here is a summary of various fights which took place that evening.
Edwards vs. Whittaker
THE FIGHTER was an evening of the sublime and the ridiculous, this fight fell in to the former category. James Whittaker and James Edwards both performed admirably in what was the closest and most technical fight of the evening. In contrast to a number of the other fights, both competitors were quite compact allowing for a neat style. Whittaker displayed very quick feet and Edwards’s powerful swings were equally as impressive. There was nothing to split the two at the end of the first. Whittaker looking clear in his game plan, as was Edwards. Edwards was often searching for a connection over the guard of Whittaker and finding it as regularly as Whittaker was landing hits.
The second round was another close one but may have been the one that made the difference in the referee’s mind. Edwards was looking again to use his power and on connecting it was to good effect, but Whittaker was launching useful counter attacks and frequently evading Edwards with tremendous ducks, dives and dodges.
With it all to play for in the final round, the crowd watched on and were split in their support, with large sections supporting either fighter. After another round, it was as close as the first, with neither fighter acting decisively. As the round ended, and with it the fight, the crowd were unanimous in their appreciation for what was the best display of boxing from all nine matches that took place. Just left was the matter of the decision, which neither fighter was claiming before it was called. When it was called it was Whittaker announced as triumphant, the referee appreciating Whittaker’s use of his good boxing brain to avoid what would have been damaging punches from Edwards.
EDWARDS: “I was surprised how tiring it was even after the first round. In the training it’s different because you’re not constantly getting hit, it was still hard but being hit takes a little more out of you.”
Osho vs. Rickard
IT WAS clear there was going to be an edge to this fight even before it had begun. Both fighters, Richard Osho and Matt Rickard, strolled towards the ring with a strong arrogance. In their conference with the referee, they exchanged heated words and did not touch gloves with one another. Whatever they had to settle, they were going to. What followed was the most entertaining but also most ridiculous display of boxing I have witnessed.
On the sounding of the bell to get proceedings underway, they both bolted out the blocks as if they had been under starters orders. Leading head first almost, they attempted to collide their knuckles into the faces one another, Rickard the successful party. Osho was knocked to the ground, the referee administered a count and the fight was back underway. The pair, both tall figures, oddly elected to spend most of the fight at very close quarters, despite the range of their arms. Having just seen Osho on the floor, it was then quite the shock to see Rickard caught unawares and also knocked down in the first round. Osho appeared then to hit Rickard when he was down which was met with boos from the crowd and a stern ticking off from the referee. An explosive first round ended with both fighters needing a breather.
The fight remained sloppy into the second as both fighters swung and missed throughout. The referee did well to keep the fight under control especially as at one moment Rickard has his forearm against the throat of Osho. Rickard had Osho stumbling right at the end of the round when he sweetly connected the final hit.
In the final round, Osho appeared to be running out of steam and would have gone down a second time after a jab from Rickard, but for a one handed grab on the ropes. The remainder of the round saw grab after grab with Rickard chipping away in between. The fight ended and it was clear how much the fight had taken out of Osho, who was being supported by both his corner men. Rickard was then announced the winner of what was a crazy contest.
Huessi vs. Zgaia
AT THE start of the first round Anna Huessi went for the first attempt, although it was Sophie Zgaia who landed the first real blow as Anna tripped over her feet. Sophie came in with four body shots but Anna took advantage of the space and pushed Sophie back to the corner of the ring. Anna landed a five combo attack on Sophie, who was unable to respond.
After a quick pause to re-evaluate, Sophie came back with a quick combination of jabs to Anna’s body. Anna did not start as strong in the first round, but used space and drove Sophie to a vulnerable position where she mounted an attack.In round 2, Sophie started well with a quick combo but Anna came in with a left right, left right, left, combo to her face. Sophie’s defence was open to Anna’s fast paced punches as she then came in with a strong punch to her head which knocked her back slightly. Anna focused on Sophie’s face and head and delivered punches to the side of her head and her nose, she was too slow to keep up with her calculated jabs. Sophie came in strong just before the end of the round with three strong punches to Anna’s side which was unexpected by her opponent. However, she faltered slightly in this round, not able to match Anna’s speed. Although she did land several counterattacks, they were not strong enough to force Anna to pause.
Heading into the final round it began with a quick exchange and Sophie coming in with a strong right jab to Anna’s face. Anna took a double jab from Sophie’s body to face which forced her to stumble, but she came back with five strong punches that Sophie was unable to defend, which caused her to fall against the ropes. Although bleeding heavily from the nose, Sophie’s defence was briefly strong, blocking Anna’s attempt to finish her.
Sophie eventually faltered and Anna took her opportunity and ended the match with three controlled punches. The fight was called, and Anna took the win, the ref confirmed Sophie had been technically knocked out, forcing Sophie to be carried back to her corner.
HUESSI: “In the first round I thought she had me; I felt nervous and didn’t know what to do. Then I got her with one hit to the nose and I knew then that she was hurt so I just kept going. I just kept going and going until I won.”
Karimov vs. Bell
THE PENULTIMATE fight of the evening saw Sardor Karimov, who originates from Uzbekistan, up against UYAFC’s 2nd team captain Euan Bell. Karimov who is noticeably shorter than Bell may have been feeling up against it as he entered the ring given the partisan chanting for his opponent.
As the fight began, Bell straight away landed the first serious punch but having done so left himself open to a heavy counter attack from Karimov. Karimov, who started with a high intensity, was too quick for Bell, who was unable to get his guard up in time. Following a hairy first exchange Bell soon established himself with a style that showed a clear differentiation between attack and defence.
Karimov continued his high work rate throughout the round but, as it progressed, Bell grew into the fight more and more. With the first round drawing to a close, Bell began to hold the centre of the ring and his defence, which had eluded him early, was now keeping the majority of Karimov’s head shots away limiting him to focus on the body. Karimov, however, had the last word in the first, with his final punch bloodying the nose of Bell.
The opening of the second round matched the closeness of the first, until a strong hook from Bell caused Karimov to stumble into a corner.Bell then followed up with four more with equal weight. Form that moment Bell kept Karimov in the corner, who was left to rely on the counter attack. As the second round ended, Bell was clearly on top and Karimov was beginning to show signs of tiredness, having been leaning on the ropes when Bell had backed off.
Clearly the energy in his first round had taken it out of Karimov and early in the third he used grabs to avoid Bell’s offensive. However, once Bell was able to land his punches, Karimov was back in the corner. There was still plenty of time left in the round when Bell landed a lengthy combo causing the referee to call a count and, subsequently, call the fight. Bell was victorious via a technical knock-out.