BRIAN Rose became the first British champion from the seaside town of Blackpool in half a century when he used textbook boxing skills to befuddle a shell shocked Prince Arron, taking his light middle weight belt by split decision in a pulsating atmosphere at Wigan’s Robin Park Arena on Saturday December 3.
Judges John Keane and Victor Laughlin scored the bout clearly for Rose, 117-113 and 116-113 respectively with Phil Edwards delivering the surprising 115-114 total for the champion.
Coming into the bout the 26-year-old English champion (10st 13lbs 8oz) was all but written off by a large majority who figured Arron’s height and reach would be the keys to victory for the 23-year-old from Droylsden, who was making the proud first defence of his title.
Instead, it was Rose who dictated the action from the outset as he timed the champion to perfection with his accurate jab before bringing his right hand into play over the low held left of Arron.
The champion was tentative from the start as he allowed Rose to work at his own pace and when he did throw he only did so with single shots that were continually countered by the razor sharp challenger. Only later in the contest when well behind did he double up on his punches.
Arron, looking out of sorts throughout the contest, showed none of the skill and determination that dethroned Sam Webb for this very title in May. He was the aggressor in the main but landed hardly any telling punches as Rose, fighting behind a high held guard, was a picture of concentration landing an over hand right inside 10 seconds. Arron was falling short with his punches continually and was punished with some tidy counter punching by the challenger who had a noticeable edge in speed over his lanky opponent.
The fifth round saw Arron take a step closer to Rose and at last land several of his trademark jabs in one of only two rounds I scored for the champion.
Rose got back behind his jab in round six, snapping the head back of the champion on several occasions. His sizeable travelling support at ringside were now beginning to believe their man could upset the odds as Arron had an anguished look on his face, one of a fighter who knew the contest wasn’t going to plan.
Round seven saw a more determined champion forcing the action as Rose was conservative in his punch output but still the more accurate as a small half step back again made the Prince fall short. Arron failed to stop the Rose band wagon in round eight as he found the precise jab of the challenger almost impossible to slip. Rose was noticeably gaining in confidence as he began to wing in right hands over the lazy Arron jab.
Arron, after head hunting for most of the evening, turned his attention to the body of Rose in the ninth but the Blackpool mans composure never wavered as he landed some nice right hands down the middle of Arron’s guard.
Into the championship rounds and well down on my card, Arron upped the tempo, but was frustrated by his inability to land more than one punch at a time as once again Rose proved elusive. Nothing the champion tried was working and it became apparent it wasn’t to be his night.
The penultimate round again saw Rose working overtime on the jab as Arron floundered seemingly unable to get to grips with a now out of sight challenger. Only a fight changing punch could save the Droylsden mans title now.
Desperation was the word I jotted down in my notes as Arron predictably went for it in the final session as a tiring challenger tucked up behind his guard. Rose even landed a nice left hook right hand combination that sent Arron stumbling to the delight of his raucous crowd. Arron will be justifiably angry with himself when he and trainer Bob Shannon review the fight tape as he simply neglected to be busy enough to make life uncomfortable for Rose, who celebrated wildly at the sound of the final bell with trainer and good friend Bobby Rimmer. Rose, now 18-1-1 (5) became the first British champion from Blackpool since heavyweight Brian London some 50 years ago and will be looking to move his career onwards and upwards from here.
The chief support of a packed undercard saw Manchester prospect Karl Place 15-1 (8) lose his unbeaten record in shocking fashion at the hands of Steve Williams 13-1 (5) in two rounds, in a British light welterweight eliminator. Place, known as “Bulb head”, and with noisy support in the arena, started the contest as a big favourite over a man who had already fought a losing effort for the British title against Lenny Daws.
Place (10st) started the opener on the back foot as he looked to pick off a forward thinking Williams (9st 13lbs 8oz) from range. Williams however had no problems getting in range and was making life uncomfortable for the unbeaten prospect as he concentrated on a body attack. A big right cross from Williams brought a smile and a shake of the head from Place, a telling sign that a fighter felt the effects of a punch. The challenger wasn’t falling for any tricks and continued to work away inside.
Round two saw Williams again force the youngster to the ropes as he looked much the stronger more comfortable man on the inside whereas Place needed room to work his jab and combinations, something the man from Wallasey on Merseyside wouldn’t allow.
With his man trapped along the ropes Williams stunned Place and opened up with a barrage of punches. Showing his lack of experience Place opted to stay there and trade shots with the marauding Scouser instead of holding on. Another succession of punches forced Place across the ring before a big left hook detonated on the chin of the man from Ancoats and referee Victor Laughlin jumped in to stop the contest to the delight of Williams and the despair of Place and the hundreds of fans who had voiced their support throughout.
Having been matched carefully on his way up this was to be the fight when 23-year-old Place pushed on but defeat here proved he is far from the finished article and not ready for the best domestically. Williams will fight the winner of Ashley Theophane and Nigel Wright sometime in the New Year.
The rest of the undercard results:
Nick Quigley WPTS Dee Mitchell 6 x 3 Middleweight 60-54
Rick Gooding WPTS Vinny Woolford 6 X 3 Welterweight 60-55
Ryan Hasten WKO1 Joe Jones 4 X 3 Middleweight
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