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By Mark Baldwin
THERE is something rather charming about small hall boxing. That might sound a little insulting or condescending. It’s not. It just has a different feel from being ringside at a big arena. Akin to seeing your favourite indie band evolve from Rock City or The Leadmill to playing their songs to a much larger audience. The same songs now feel different.
Watching boxing in a smaller setting is more intimate and a more personal experience. You notice the little things and are more likely to stumble into someone you haven’t seen or spoken to in years.
Saturday night brought a new venue. Skate Central in Sheffield. A fair-sized room above a casino, that presumably is home to roller-skating when it is not converted into a pugilistic theatre for the evening. It had a tuck shop. A first for me. The toilets produced an aroma of a fruity vape or six, tobacco, and other less legal smells. The queue extended the pain. It was a one-and-done visit. I never returned. My lungs are too precious to me. At least at the Rock City, there is someone selling splashes of aftershave.
I found an isolated chair. Carried it and found a position of comfort at ringside. There was no official media section. Just a case of sit where you can. Or more accurately, where you want. I was happy with what I found.
A four-fight card. A show ravaged by fights falling through at the last minute. One fighter pulled out on his way to the venue. A bump in his car ended his night prematurely. Another fighter went home without reward. The woes of a promoter trying to put on a show and trying to keep a show on.
Promoter Dennis Hobson has been around for a long time. He has seen it all before. A seat at the top table was once his. He’s still going, still grinding. His passion for the sport never dies and his latest signing has got the old juices flowing again. She could be everything he needs.
Nicola Hopewell was the final fight of the four. A headline status for the first defence of her Commonwealth flyweight title. Her opposition was the tough Nigerian Mary Aina Abbey. A fight that had a ring of danger attached to it. Twelve wins in thirteen fights. Ten of those victories inside the distance. Voices of concern could be heard at ringside. Whispers of an upset. Hopewell didn’t hear them, however, knowing a tough fight lay ahead. Fighters might say differently, but inside, they know the truth. They can’t hide from themselves.
Hopewell had signed a three-fight promotional deal with Hobson during Fight Week. Three years after they had first met and discussed terms, they had finally aligned.
Georgia Klein was first up, however. An interesting Dave Allen prospect to keep an eye on. Klein moved to 2-0 with a 40-36 points victory over Katherine Quintana. A Colombian fighter who has now failed to win in 33 fights. In December, she goes again. Her losing streak is unlikely to end. Harli Whitwell is another fighter who will look to advance her career with the name of Quintana on her record when they fight on December 7 in Essex. Whitwell could be something special.
Hopewell closed the show. It wasn’t easy. The open wounds on her face testify to that. For the second fight in a row, the head of her opponent had connected with her features and drew enough blood for stitches to be needed.
Three close rounds started the fight. The Worksop fighter was ahead but not by much. The fourth round was the turning of the tide. Abbey was fading. Hopewell had found her range. The challenger was holding on. Literally. A point was deducted the mouthguard came out. It was a fight for survival but a losing one. Abbey was brave, nobody can deny her that.
Hopewell dropped Abbey with less than 20 seconds to go. A straight right down the middle found the mark. The Nigerian was on the floor but the bell came to her rescue. Hopewell had her hand raised. A wide, unanimous decision justified her dominance. It was a sink-or-swim moment against a dangerous challenger. Abbey goes home empty-handed. All the pre-fight confidence was for nothing. As were the impending voices of doom for Hopewell.
Hopewell and Hobson could be the perfect partnership. In different ways, they need each other. Hobson always wanted to work with Hopewell. He saw something. He told me post-fight that he now sees something more and now thinks he has a little more to work with.
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