Newell wins with first round KO
It took Firewalker’s ISKA world champion Michelle Newell less than two minutes to stop former European Champion Bridie Murphy at the Light Bar last Saturday night.
In a non-title fight, ultra-cool Newell nonchalantly brushed aside Murphy’s early attacks, dominating the centre of the ring before launching into a full-on assault with her knees that left her opponent in a painful heap.
As with her world title win back in March, this was a ferocious yet highly controlled and professional performance by Newell in just one minute forty eight seconds.
“I’ve finished my last two fights by using my knees but there’s much more to me as a fighter than that,” she emphasised.
“The first round is usually more of a warm up for me,” she added, “but the opportunity was there and I took it. I’m glad I won but I’m disappointed it didn’t go on longer because I’d trained for the full five rounds”.
In his challenge for the British Welterweight Thai Boxing title against Luton’s Paul Douglas, Firewalker’s Kerrith Bhella lost by a majority points decision, but only after he had been hit by no fewer than four low blows.
20-year-old Bhella was also restricted by a trapped nerve sustained in training, which limited his ability to kick, but his excellent footwork and punches won him the opening round in what was a truly gripping contest. In rounds two and three Douglas came back into the fight but Bhella shaded the fourth, in which the Luton fighter was very fortunate not to have a point deducted after hurting the home favourite with yet another low blow. The fifth and final round was heart-stirring stuff, but overall the judges scored it in favour of Douglas 49-47, 48-47 and 48-48.
“I thought I just edged it,” said Bhella, “but with this being my first fight over five three-minute rounds, I was perhaps holding back a little too much. I’ll be back though, maybe at a lower weight. It was a great learning experience”.
Firewalker’s Pav Aujla recorded his second win with a fast and furious majority points decision over Mike Bacon from Cambridge.
Stafford’s Edward Lyons won an excellent contest over Matt Fitch from Cambridge, whilst Tristan Tate from Storm Gym, Luton gained a majority points verdict over Jersey Daniels (Team Tsunami, Cambridge). From the same Tsunami camp, Ashley Scott Petit lost on points (unanimous) to Tom Aspinal (Kaobon, Liverpool).
Jason Dutton (Impact, Walsall) weathered a torrid final round to record a majority points verdict over Ibar Malik from Storm Gym, Luton.
14 September 2009
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