PICKERING WINS IN 10
Posted: 09 Jun 2005, 21:36
Esham Pickering put on an impressive display to out box and then KO undeafeated Spanish challenger Miguel Mallon in Madrid tonight.
Even though Pickering boxed cleverly through the early rounds picking through the guard of the challenger up until the 6th round the judges had it even.After the sixth round the Spaniard began to come undone as his work bacome ragged and more desperate. He resorted to rough house tactics, shouldering Pickering in the clinches and complaining of use of the head by Pickering. It was at this point that Pickering started to move ahead on all the judges score cards. Mallon started to tire in the 8th and only forced the pace when the crowd got behind him. Pickering responded by upping the tempo and pressurising Mallon at every opportunity. By the 9th Mallon was in uncharted territory and it began to tell as Pickering connected with three and four punch combinations sending Mallon reeling around the ring. The referee intervened and a stoppage was expected only for him to warn Mallon not to turn his back on Pickering. Clearly this was to give Mallon some respite as the partisan crowd jeered Pickering as he started to take control. The 9th round saw Mallon start strongly for the first 30 seconds only for Pickering to take control once again as Mallon tired. In the 10th round, Pickering sidestepped an advancing Mallon which left Mallon hanging between the ropes. The referee deducted one point and claimed Pickering had pushed
him through. Esham, although not happy with the deduction, nodded his head at the referee and as the bout was waived on, Pickering strode into Mallon and connected with a devasting overhand right, which dropped Mallon heavily on his back. Esham walked to the neutral corner as the referee picked up the count. The referee hesitated at the count of four and signalled for Pickering to keep in the corner before taking up the count again whilst the dazed and exhausted Mallon struggled to his feet at 8. Even with the delayed count, Mallon was in no position to continue and the contest was waived off. The crowd jeered and booed, throwing coins, water filled plastic bottles and various other missiles into the ring. Mallon kicked his ice bag across the ring in disgust and refused to acknowledge Pickering his victory. Only after intervention by an EBU official and a few words from BBB of C representative, Geoff Boulter, did Mallon stand in the centre of the ring for the decision, still reluctant to shake the champion´s hand. Pickering said afterwards, he was a tough fighter. They gave him every opportunity to take my title in his home town but I am the champion and have proved once again that I have what it takes to operate at an elite level. It´s been a hard 12 months but I have come through once again. Hopefully, I can now move on for a world title.
Even though Pickering boxed cleverly through the early rounds picking through the guard of the challenger up until the 6th round the judges had it even.After the sixth round the Spaniard began to come undone as his work bacome ragged and more desperate. He resorted to rough house tactics, shouldering Pickering in the clinches and complaining of use of the head by Pickering. It was at this point that Pickering started to move ahead on all the judges score cards. Mallon started to tire in the 8th and only forced the pace when the crowd got behind him. Pickering responded by upping the tempo and pressurising Mallon at every opportunity. By the 9th Mallon was in uncharted territory and it began to tell as Pickering connected with three and four punch combinations sending Mallon reeling around the ring. The referee intervened and a stoppage was expected only for him to warn Mallon not to turn his back on Pickering. Clearly this was to give Mallon some respite as the partisan crowd jeered Pickering as he started to take control. The 9th round saw Mallon start strongly for the first 30 seconds only for Pickering to take control once again as Mallon tired. In the 10th round, Pickering sidestepped an advancing Mallon which left Mallon hanging between the ropes. The referee deducted one point and claimed Pickering had pushed
him through. Esham, although not happy with the deduction, nodded his head at the referee and as the bout was waived on, Pickering strode into Mallon and connected with a devasting overhand right, which dropped Mallon heavily on his back. Esham walked to the neutral corner as the referee picked up the count. The referee hesitated at the count of four and signalled for Pickering to keep in the corner before taking up the count again whilst the dazed and exhausted Mallon struggled to his feet at 8. Even with the delayed count, Mallon was in no position to continue and the contest was waived off. The crowd jeered and booed, throwing coins, water filled plastic bottles and various other missiles into the ring. Mallon kicked his ice bag across the ring in disgust and refused to acknowledge Pickering his victory. Only after intervention by an EBU official and a few words from BBB of C representative, Geoff Boulter, did Mallon stand in the centre of the ring for the decision, still reluctant to shake the champion´s hand. Pickering said afterwards, he was a tough fighter. They gave him every opportunity to take my title in his home town but I am the champion and have proved once again that I have what it takes to operate at an elite level. It´s been a hard 12 months but I have come through once again. Hopefully, I can now move on for a world title.
Anyway cheers for the fight report Guru, your a budding reporter