Bragging Rights Preview

Boxing returns in Great Britain for another season and it begins with a three title contest between European bantamweight and Commonwealth title holder Jamie McDonnell against current British title holder Stuart Hall in the Doncaster Dome.

Chief support will see Tony Jefferies return against Paul Morby over eight rounds. The contest will be screened live on SKY Sports HD 1.  

McDonnell aiming to cash in on the recent bantamweight divisions recent publicity 

McDonnell has been on a wave of success since suffering a defeat back in 2008 first against Chris Edwards and Lee Haskins. After bouncing back with wins against Anthony Hanna, Alain Bonnel, Krastan Krastanov and James Ancliff, McDonnell captured the British and Commonwealth championship against Ian Napa in what was a very close fight.

McDonnell’s next fight , in what seemed to be mission impossible McDonnell travelled to Le Cannet in the south of France to challenge Jerome Arnould for the European bantamweight title. To the surprise of the British boxing fans McDonnell stopped the Frenchman in the tenth round, as Arnould succumb to the pressure of the Yorkshire man’s punches.

Next up for McDonnell was a homecoming against the Italian bantamweight champion Rodrigo Branco. McDonnell was ultimately to talented for the man from Florence coupled with height and reach advantage that McDonnell possesses was too great and stopped the challenger in the third round.

McDonnell then faced underrated and dangerous Belgian Stephane Jamoye. Jamoye did not begin the fight as he was fighting in McDonnell’s back yard. From the outset he pressured the Yorkshire man and a strong right hand in the second round rocked McDonnell.

The champion shook off the effects of the shot and gradually exerted his class on the fight fighting boxing at range and boxed his opponent but occasionally was dragged back into a tear up on the inside. McDonnell's accuracy and work rate saw him win a number of the middle rounds.

The contest was scored 114-113, 114-114, 115-113 in favour of McDonnell.

In McDonnell’s most recent bout he fought tough Kenyan Nick Otieno and comprehensively out boxing the African import winning comfortably on the scorecards 108-120, 108-120, 111-118.

McDonnell told Boxing is hoping to challenge for world honours in 2012 and see’s Abner Mares as a potential target down the line:

  

“I’d like to fight someone in the top five and maybe get an eliminator. Nonito Donaire is a bit special but like everyone else he’s got two arms and two legs. I’m a big bantamweight so there’s no reason why I can’t go out and cause an upset.” He told Boxing News online.

“I’ve been watching all the top bantamweights. I saw Abner Mares’ fight with Agbeko and he’s got a good work rate but I don’t think he’s that special. Donaire is the king. Everyone above me in the WBC rankings is top class and I’ve only got to beat one of them to get to be in with a shot at titles”.

Hall hoping this fairytale ascent to the top continues on Saturday night

Stuart Hall, who is currently unbeaten as a professional and has record of ten wins with six wins and no defeats. Hall turned professional relatively late when he was twenty eight.

Halls amateur career was quite successful becoming a finalist in the ABA 54kg in 2005 and was fast tracked in the professional ranks defeating unbeaten Dougie Walton (6-0-0) and once defeated Stuart McHayden, though Hall drew with the ‘Burnley Banger’ in his first few bouts. Hall also stopped former British title holder Martin Power in the eighth round of a gruelling contest in which Hall was cut in the first round by a clash of heads.

Hall won his British title against cagey and tough veteran Ian Napa in only his ninth fight back in June of 2010 at the Peterlee Leisure Centre.
Hall, who is a roofer by day, forced the 28 fight veteran to retire on his stool at the end of the eight round of the contest in what was a close fight. After the contest Napa blamed the heat in the arena and the strain on making the weight, but nothing could be taken away from Hall’s victory.
Subsequent defences of the title against former foe Martin Power and Gary Davies followed, stopping the challengers in the tenth and seven round respectively.
Hall who is quite tall for a bantamweight, stands at 5’8. He uses his height and reach well, making it difficult for fighters to penetrate through Hall's jab and guard, thus making fighters take more chances.

In his fight against Martin power he showed impressive ring general-ship, taking control of the centre of the ring pushing Power back with various headshots.
Hall also showed he has good stamina as he was moving round constantly and throwing punches from different angles targeting the head.
While Hall does not have one punch knockout power, he is on a four fight stoppage streak. In his last contest he stopped John Donnelly in his last contest in the fifth round.

Keys to Victory and Prediction

Both boxers are tall for the weight but I feel that Hall doesn't mix his shots up enough and he seems just target his opponents head, but as they say if it isn’t broke, don't change it.

McDonnell does mix his shots and relies on his skills than his power and he change his tactics as seen in the Jamoye fight. He opted to box midway through the fight and not try to slug it out on the inside as he did earlier in the contest.

It’s also worth noting that McDonnell has struggled with the weight and has needed two trips to the scales to make weight in his fight against Jamoye.

Hall has not been the full twelve round championship distance before but has often looked strong throughout a contest, as he paces his work. McDonnell has been the distance four times and the battle that he faced with Jamoye will serve him well for this contest.

Hall seems to have a bit of difficulty with opponent’s lateral movement. Against Gary Davies Hall struggled to catch the St Helens man for the first few rounds as he showed good head movement.

It is an intriguing matchup but I think it’s going to be a point’s win for McDonnell IF he doesn’t get involved in a tear up and shows a good verity of punches that hurt his opponent and catches the judge’s eye. I also think Hall has the power to stop McDonnell as he a style of boxing where he comes forward and has the power to do damage. Hall does not do anything flashy but he does the basics very well.

Hall and McDonnell both weighed in for the contest at 8st 6lbs.

Return of the Mighty Mackem!

Chief support will see Tony Jefferies makes his return when he takes on southpaw Paul Morby over eight rounds, after a long period of inactivity.

Tony has been sidelined with a terrible cut he suffered against Tommy Tolan, on route to a second round stoppage, back in December. Unfortunately it reopened again in February.

Tony has been out in LA with renowned trainer, Tommy Brooks for the best part of six months with the odd day off tweaking and making improvements to his style. Tony heaped praise on his trainer Brooks when he spoke to Andy Kerr on Tyne Tee’s region news:

“Tommy picks up on every little mistake, I didn't think I made so many mistakes before I started working with him (Brooks).”

“He has polished my work and my style has changed a little bit. Am impressed on how many different things I have improved on to make myself the full package.”

“I’m not the fully finished article but am getting there and I think you will see a big difference come Saturday compared to my last few fights.”

I can imagine Tony will be like a dog straining on its leach to get back in the ring after being out the ring for around nine months. He will want to put in a top display for the fans travelling down the A1 from Sunderland and show the boxing fans watching on Sky Sports HD1 it is going to be a big year for the Mighty Mackem.

Paul Morby does not have the best record (six wins and six losses), although he has been the ten round distance three times in his last three fights, challenging for the Southern Area Title.

Although Morby will not be there to make up the numbers and I can see him trying to rough Jefferies up.  For all the time Tony has been out the ring he will win this contest, his technical ability will be too much for Morby and the time he has spent out in LA will pay dividends.

I can see Tony going the distance and getting the eight rounds under his belt adding to his ring education and push himself towards his first professional title shot.

In a stacked undercard seasoned pro Carl Johanneson tackles Mark McKray as he tries to push himself back into domestic title contention at lightweight.

Youngsters Liam Cameron, Glen Foot, John Dixon, Scott Gladwin and John Hughes are all in four round contests.

Finally Mehrdud Takaloo and JJ Bird will be taking on Steve Spence and Chris Brophy respectively in preparation of Prizefighter Light Middleweights.