By Boxing Bob Newman
The start of the DAZN televised portion of the Parker-Wardley card saw the more experienced Mitchell Smith take the “0” from the record of Arnie Dawson in a pivotal lightweight contest over ten rounds. Dawson was down in the first round, but battled the rest of the way against Smith. It wasn’t enough as Smith took a 96-93 and 98-91 twice, decision along with the vacant WBO European lightweight title, rising to 19-1, 9 KOs. Dawson drops his first at 8-1, 4 KOs.
Featherweights Hassan Ishaq and Jake Pollard had one thing in common- they each had one win apiece. The difference was that Pollard had 99 losses…100 pro fights of experience versus 1 fight’s worth of experience! Ishaq’s goal was to join the select few (5) men who’ve been able to stop Pollard. He did just that in the second, courtesy of a right uppercut that dropped Pollard for good at 2:14 of the round, Mark Bates waving it off. “Shooter” moves to 2-0, 2 KOs, while Pollard stunningly now sits at 1-100!
Elongated super fly Tony Curtis, trained by legend Roy Jones, Jr., fought a safety-first, jabbing clinic, dominating Mexican Lakshmy Zaragoza Contreras over six rounds. Referee Bernard Oyet tabbed it 60-54, for the now 12-1, 3 KOs Curtis, Jr. Contreras drops to 3-13-2, 1 KO.
Super Featherweight Zayn “Hurricane” Ahmed made his pro debut a successful one as he edged Nicaraguan import Engel Gomez, scoring a dubious knockdown in the fourth and final round, taking a 38-37 decision from referee Mark Bates to start out 1-0. Gomez continues on at 9-52-3, 4 KOs. The knockdown kept it from being a draw!
Light heavyweight George Crotty outworked and outskilled Bahadur Karami over four rounds in the light heavyweight division. Referee Bernard Oyet scored it! 40-36 the now 4-0, 1 KO Crotty. Karami slides to 4-39-4, 1 KO.
Former amateur standout Jimmydean Wood, Kent, England, used his amateur pedigree and Southpaw stance to neatly box Estonian Artjom Spatar over four middleweight rounds. Referee Mark Bates scored it 40-36 all for Wood, 4-0. Spatar stands at 5-18-1, 1 KO.
Opening the mega card at the O2 Arena in London were welterweights Anton Esson And perennial gatekeeper Jordan Ellison. Referee Bernard Oyet scored it 39-37 in favor of the now 5-0, 3 KOs Esson. Ellington plummets 15-59-5, 1 KO.
