Francis vs Oakey Spoiler and discussion.

[stujones]

Wow - Francis won via 9th round KO.

What a fight, after the 1st round I thought Francis was going to toy with him - but Oakey came back and it looked like the lack of competitive rounds was going to get to Francis... he just couldn't keep him away.

But around the 6th it seemed like Francis started to get to gear and was matching Oakey for pace, although was still getting pushed backed.

But then bang around the 2 minute mark of the 9th - Francis hit him with a beauty and Oakey was basically out of it.... got to his feet, but Francis came in and finished it off.

Francis' right hand seems to be okay - landed enough to convince me... just a shame we have been robbed of his prime years.

He'll be a better fighter after this fight.... he needed a HARD one, and Oakey provided it...... well done Oakey - he is one hard man, and I am sure will be back.

[Coco]

Wow - Francis won via 9th round KO.

What a fight, after the 1st round I thought Francis was going to toy with him - but Oakey came back and it looked like the lack of competitive rounds was going to get to Francis... he just couldn't keep him away.

But around the 6th it seemed like Francis started to get to gear and was matching Oakey for pace, although was still getting pushed backed.

But then bang around the 2 minute mark of the 9th - Francis hit him with a beauty and Oakey was basically out of it.... got to his feet, but Francis came in and finished it off.

Francis' right hand seems to be okay - landed enough to convince me... just a shame we have been robbed of his prime years.

He'll be a better fighter after this fight.... he needed a HARD one, and Oakey provided it...... well done Oakey - he is one hard man, and I am sure will be back.

Francis has always been a banger, but doing Oakey is an achievement

[mikewl]

Awsome comeback from Francis, around the 7th it started to look like he was getting back into it so I popped a bit on him on Betfair at 8.60 odds :)

Good entertaining fight, Francis showed his heart tonight.

[DG.]

Boom!

Smashed him!

Oakey looked to be winning - but Francis crawled his way back and that was a great win!

[nufc16]

gah, only got odds of 2/1 on francis before the fight. see some people have made a killing on it. shame i missed the fight otherwise i'd have been able to lump a bit more on myself inplay.

[jameswilson]

Does it look like Francis can push onto European level?

[The_Don1]

Oakey roared like a steam train til round 6, it did look like oakey would stop him, then francis came strong, great finish from francis, next stop euro title shot for him i think. Woods-Francis is looking like a good match up at this stage too.

[stujones]

I'd like Francis to beat Woods - Woods couldn't fight at that pace.

[Autobarn]

It took Deano time to get used to the pace. But even the rds he lost, he used solid defence, good sidestepping, knew when to clinch, when to push Oakey off. And always jabbed and targeted the body. The man has a lot of variety and knows all the tricks.

It's worth noting they were in Oakey's turf and were in a small looking ring, so Oakey was always going to be able to reach him over the 1st half.

Oakey couldn't keep the pace up and when Francis had the room and the extra split second to get the shots off, there was only going to be one winner. Once Francis followed the straight right with that left hook, Oakey was in the deep end.

Terrific fight. It was also a bit of a masterclass in how to take the steam out of an opponent and break an aggressive guy down.

A masterful boxer with good power and a MASSIVE heart. Dean would have been one of our better world champions had he not been injured in his prime. But it's fantastic to still see him boxing so well.

If the shoulder is ok after that hard fight, I'm sure he'll have a lot of confidence in it.

Anyone who wants to see prime Francis - similar to last night but much faster, with better reflexes and more powerful punching (down at super middle) should check out Francis vs Cornelius Carr and David Starie. Also, for a similar fight to the Oakey one, his battle with Mark Baker (a guy who'd been jobbed vs Clinton Woods) is one to watch.

Who's the European champ at light heavyweight?

[stujones]

EBU title could be vacant soon.

A guy called Yuri Barashian is the champion - but he is fighting Garay for the WBA title soon.

[Autobarn]

Francis was #10 in the EBU and Oakey was a few notches up. With the TKO win he could move up fairly far. I doubt he'd want to fight #1 Stipe Drews, in Germany, however. Drews being a 6' 5 southpaw, etc.

However, it would be good if he became an EBU champ at 2 weights.

Perhaps Magee for the British? Briggs for the Commonwealth? Revenge over Barney? Woods, for the British and Commonwealth?

Good job they kept Francis away from Cleverly. Cleverly seems like typical SN fare (meaning recent SN fare), lots of flash & enthusiasm, little real polish.

[Max Molyneux]

Shame Francis has the shoulder problem, could see he can't use the right too much or he could do better. Thought Oakey was going to outwork him then Dean eventually adjusts and uses his superior skills.

Good boxer still with power though.

[Max Molyneux]

Dean should change his ring name from star to something cooler.

Maybe something like Deanorsaurus Rex.

[hitman_hatton1]

i'd like to see woods vs francis.

[Deserter]

I think Francis Vs Woods is a good call actually in the wake of both their latest performances. I think Clinton would win on points but it would be a good scrap.

[black panther]

Helluva fight! Fantastic pce for lightheavies - i thought Dean's cut could spell the end for him but his corner did an excellent job. Great finish by Deano as well - it takes some doing to stop Oakey. But you could tell he still want freely letting the right go with full force - one can only wonder what he could have achieved without that hindrance. Still, the european title will be vacant soon as Barashian fights for the vacant WBA title left by Danny Green so that would a good route to take for Dean if he can get it.

[Goz]

I missed the start of the fight and only picked it up from the 5th.

I thought by the 7th it was clear Francis was picking Oakey off with some meaty looking shots. The commentary team kept asking 'how is Francis doing it?' and saying 'Francis is hanging in there' when it looked to me like he was beating Oakey up - I wasn't surprised to see Oakey go when he did.

Good fight though, I've always liked Dean Francis, with his talent I think he should be financially secure from boxing, I think he was that good but the injuries and out-of-the-ring trouble obviously cost him.

Hope he goes on to achieve something now though....

[Autobarn]

Would Woods come down to domestic level though? He said that's something he'd never do. This would be a great fight.

[Chambers2]

Another fight of the year contender for Oakey, what a fight!!

Oakey was his usual relentless self, but Francis kept his composure and got better as the fight went on. The KD shot was an absolute beauty.

What a performance from both boxers, but esp Francis

[Autobarn]

Another fight of the year contender for Oakey, what a fight!!

Oakey was his usual relentless self, but Francis kept his composure and got better as the fight went on. The KD shot was an absolute beauty.

What a performance from both boxers, but esp Francis

What's the other one - Oakey v Magee?

[Chambers2]

Another fight of the year contender for Oakey, what a fight!!

Oakey was his usual relentless self, but Francis kept his composure and got better as the fight went on. The KD shot was an absolute beauty.

What a performance from both boxers, but esp Francis

What's the other one - Oakey v Magee?

I was thinking of the Haymer fight, I missed Oakey-Magee

[Autobarn]

Was just having a laugh. It was a terrible fight where little seemed to happen. I'm glad that Oakey got the draw now, because of how the Francis fight turned out.

[funso banjo baby]

dont know much about the non heavies but it seems Francis is a kind of cinderellla

plagued by injury

some people say he could have been one of the all time greats

ive actually only seem his fight with Barney where both only used ONE hand (im telling u) dont know what Barneys excuse was

[Dirk Kelly]

Good fight report from Emerson on Britishboxing.net. Please all read it, it as is first go and he was very nervous but I think he's done a very good job and hopefully he'll do some more.

[THEBUTCH]

What a fight and what a good show. Definite fight of the year contender for the BBBofC.

I can't heap too much praise on either Francis or Oakey, but it was Dean who showed he had that extra something, so with all Francis has been through over the years you have to give him 11 out of 10 for his performance. He wanted it so badly and had to dig really deep to match Oakey's phenominal workrate and then secure a sensational stoppage over hard as nails Tony. Cracking fight that had it all. Oakey fought his heart out and I'm sure a rematch would be another cracker. Good luck to both of these two in their next fights. When you give as much as they did, you deserve all the luck you get back.

Superb show from Maloney, all the fights they showed on TV were cracking battles. The best British show i've seen in 2008. Keep up the good work

Excellent show from Sky too, screened every round (i think).