BoxRec

Nice to see two legends of the terrace sat together ringside - Birmingham City fans Wayne Elcock and Rob McCraken.

Are there a tougher pair of football fans anywhere in the country??

Maybe Foster Snr and Farnell would give em a run for there money (I doubt it though..)

Fourth round starts more even again, big lunging right hook from Pickering drops Hughes. Up at 8. Badly hurt dropped again with a counter right hand as the bell rings and he's up at 8 and back to his corner on shaky legs.

Fifth round, Pickering comes out looking for the finish. Landing some meaty blows. Hughes is fighting back though fair play to him. Second half of the round Hughes comes blazing back but is stunned again with a straight right on the button. Some good bodyshots from Pickering in this round. Pickering pouring it on looking to finish it Hughes throwing back though despite looking near finished. What a round!

Sixth round, Pickering using the ring more again. Getting the better of it slightly early. Second half of the round Hughes bothers Pickering with a shot, Hughes coming forward now. Hurts Pickering again. Quiet last minute. Very close round. Pickering looks like he might have blown his wad a bit.

Seventh round, Hughes starts well Pickering looking less elusive again. Right hand from Pickering bang on the button. Hughes comes back though. Scrappy round. Very close, edge towards Pickering. He was really having to force it out that round.

Sounds like a cracker, cheers for updates.

It's a great fight.

Eigth, Pickering gets the better of it early not much in it though. Pickering using the ring more. Pickering's round. Believe it or not Pickering looks better here when he closes the distance and fights on the inside.

Ninth round, Pickering coming forward throwing leather. Two right hands on the button with a little left hook in between and the ref jumps in and stops it. That was an early stoppage for me. Hughes was stunned there but had already come back from worse.

*sounds* like a quick stoppage, but seems Pickering was going to get the decison anyway.. one more fight between them?

Pickering needs to think about calling it a day I think, no disrespect to Hughes but he'd have walked through him at his best. He might be able to get a few wins at domestic level but anything more looks well beyond him to me.

Thanks for that Nick, nice one. Pickering sounds like he's regressed a bit though - maybe he should consider moving upto feather if he's tight at the weight - he's boxed as high as lightweight I think.

Thanks 4 keeping us posted nickd. Howard Fosters the top british ref imo so can imagine there not 2 be many complaints with stoppage?

I don't think it's the weight. He's got a lot of miles on the clock, they were just saying he's been a pro for 12 years.

Thanks for the round by round.
I thought Hughes can handel old man, but looks like I was wrong.

That fifth round will already be a contender for round of the year IMO.

Unfortunately Pickering is talking like he has years left in those legs.

From the last couple of showings it doesnt seem to be the case. Pickering didnt brilliantly to overcome Hughes tonight but I would like to see him try and capture the Lonsdale outright and then maybe turn it in.

He isnt the force he once was

Can't argue with that, he said he needs 1 more win to get the Lonsdale belt outright I think he should do that and call it a day. Doesn't sound like he will though. They're always the last to know when to turn it in!!

Really enjoyed this fight as a neutral although I was gunning for Hughes when I heard he put in an 8am-4pm shift where he works on the day he last fought Pickering and then had a long drive to the fight (now thats either dedication or stupidity and im not sure which, sounds like a right tight bstardin employer hes workin 4!!)

I couldnt believe how bad Pickering was in the first 2-3 rounds, its like he forgot how to box??? and hughes had him rocked in the 1st and 5th i think it was and he just cant see it and doesnt push forward...I couldnt believe it, no surprise the lad only has 1 KO, he just doesnt have a killer instinct to push on at a sign of weakness, he had his chance and blew it, its like he was thinkin right I nailed him there so wot next!!!

To be fair to pickering he got his act together but hughes was hangin his chin out like a cheap hooker hanging her (cough) out, fair played to hughes for showin good spirit to drag himself off the canvas after 2 big knockdowns, I initially taught the ref was premature but on reflection the replay showed he was spot on! A great fight even if it was technically very poor but 2 closely matched boxers

I had Pickering four up when the stoppage came. Great fight as well.

great fight and Pickering did well to turn it round after such a poor first round, but he's clearly a shadow of his former self and shouldn't entertain thoughts about operating at the top level any more. His punch resistance looks suspect and his legs stiffened alarmingly when he was tagged on a couple of occasions.
I think Munroe will wear him down for a late stoppage if they fight later this year.

Not a fight I was looking forward to because I was pretty sure it would be a repeat of their last fight - Rounds one and two suggested it would be - Then Pickering got a right royal bollocking from his corner and after that he started to take control - After two big KDs by Pickering in round four Hughes did well to come back and make a fight of it - The stoppage came in round nine with Hughes head taking a hammering - Ref Howard Foster was spot on saving Hughes from more punishment - A great fight by both men but can Pickering move on from here to more wins or will he go off the boil again.

[quote="FightingIrish"]Really enjoyed this fight as a neutral although I was gunning for Hughes when I heard he put in an 8am-4pm shift where he works on the day he last fought Pickering and then had a long drive to the fight (now thats either dedication or stupidity and im not sure which, sounds like a right tight bstardin employer hes workin 4!!)


Well he is from Yorkshire

That news left me astouded frankly. I've stuck a day's holiday at work for a lot less.

That can't be right or if so he must have taken a kip in the afternoon although not much of one by sounds of it if he had to drive. That makes the achievement even more special.

All credit to Hughes I dont know how he got past the 4th and 5th rounds, the stoppage was a bit debatable for me as Hughes was in more trouble in the 5th round imo, I hope he gets anouther shot at a title because he deserves it after this fight. Pickering looks to be on the wane though, not to take anything away from hughes, but it was worrying the way Pickering was so easily hurt by shots and at times his legs and reflexes seemed totally shot... I really think he should consider getting out if he cant improve on this showing as he's starting to shift too many punches....

i was ringside last night, it really was one hell of a scrap and hughes brings a big following with him.