Tony Dodson added the IBO International light-heavyweight title to his collection of belts before setting his sights on a British title fight next year.
Another great fight night took place on Saturday 8th October, all courtesy of Vaughan Boxing Promotions, as Dodson led the charge on a cracking night of boxing. Three other Liverpool fighters - Joe Tonks, Phil Smith and Andy Colquhoun - also bagged wins to the delight of the home crowd. Yet it was Dodson's thrilling performance against Oldham's Darren Stubbs that really stood out.
At 39 years of age. Stubbs showed incredible fitness and bravery to survive seven rounds against the revitalised former British champion. But ultimately it was the class of Dodson's boxing which proved decisive. Dodson entered the ring on Saturday with - after 34 contests - a record of 27 wins, of which 13 have come by knockout, six losses and one technical draw.
He commented in the programme for the event that moving to light-heavyweight was the best thing to ever happen to him. And it was easy to agree with him after a performance which proved he's back to his phenomenal best.
Ahead of the headliner, the animosity within the crowd was fever pitch, with both sets of fans from opposing ends of the M62 giving one another all kinds of stick - which made for a good atmosphere.
In the first round, as soon as that bell went, Dodson outlined his intentions and landed a few telling punches, letting Stubbs that he was in for a tough night.
Sitting ringside with the cream of Merseyside's fight writers, including Chris Walker, Nick Peet and the ECHO's Phil Kirkbride, the debate centred around exactly which Tony Dodson was going to come out to fight. Would it be the new and improved Dodson keen to display his boxing ability, or the all too familiar Dodo that likes to get into a war and a scrap - thereby playing to the level of his opponent.
But as early as the second round it was easy to see that the boxer was in the house, as Dodson began to stamp his authority. He unleashed a barrage of punches on Stubbs. Though Dodson knew he was hurting Stubbs, the man from Oldham withstood everything that the man from Garston gave to him and he even gave him a few punches back. But as the fight flowed, you could tell that the pressure was getting to the veteran. In the third, Dodson continued the pressure with unrelenting jabs and uppercuts. At one point, the referee jumped in and it appeared the contest would be stopped, as Dodson had literally punched Stubbs through the ropes. In my opinion, the ref should've stopped the fight there and then, but bizarrely, he stood him up and let the fight continue.
Unbelievably, after almost being carried out, the fourth and fifth rounds both belonged to Darren Stubbs for me. Dodson took his foot off the gas and allowed Stubbs to work his way back into the action. By now Stubbs' right eye was bleeding badly and he was growing increasingly tired while 'The Warrior' stood off, protecting himself, and clearly biding his time.
With Stubbs now shattered Dodson took over again and the sixth and seventh rounds were solely his. He continued to dominate with combinations and, I think by that stage, Stubbs knew his fate - he knew there was no way he could win this fight. In the corners at the end of the sixth, Stubbs looked like he couldn't take any more. And the end came pretty soon after, Dodson winning by TKO following the unleashing of another strong barrage of punches to finish it off.
Stubbs is a brave kid with a lot of heart - anyone that's able to withstand what he did on Saturday must be fit and tough. It was a brave effort, but Dodson was in a different league and topped a polished performance with the stoppage he deserved.
The undercard as equally as enthralling, with Scotland's Sean Watson defeating Dai Davies of Merthyr in Wales by a unanimous points decision in the opening bout. The referee's scorecard read a final score of 59-56, after a blood and guts fight with both boxers going hell for leather trying to find the knockout punch to end the fight. Luckily for the paying spectators, the bout went the distance of six two-minute rounds. After the first fight caught the attention of the large crowd, the charge of the Scouse brigade began. Joe Tonks was up against Graham Fearn from York in only his fifth paid contest. Joe, along with
And Stockbridge Village flyweight Phil Smith and former Sefton ABC junior star Andy Colquhoun both won against their respective opponents. Smith, who moved to 2-0. faced the aptly nicknamed 'Egyptian Mummy', Anwar Alfadi from Sheffield; while Colquhoun made his pro debut against another Scotsman in Glasgow's Ryan McNicol. Both lads bagged points victories to top another great night of smal hall boxing on Merseyside.
