Haskins Wins British Title

Posted on | November 11, 2008 | No Comments

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On Friday night at Robin Park Centre in Wigan, England, Lee Haskins, 18-2 (9), overcame stiff resistance to take the British super flyweight title from reigning champ Andy Bell, 11-4 (3), by decision after twelve rounds of combat on a Frank Maloney promotion.

The early rounds were disjointed as cagey southpaw Haskins proved to be an elusive target for Bell and the frequent clinches led to several instances of the two men tumbling to the canvas in locked embrace. Haskins was the first to find his rhythm as the Bristol man zeroed in a sharp right jab while Bell continued to wait for an opening.

After the midway point, Bell began to close distance and landed with increasing frequency but the footwork and harrying offense of Haskins didn’t allow the champion to mount anything resembling a sustained attack and soon the clinches and wrestling falls to the canvas began again in earnest.

The last couple of rounds saw each man score with hard single shots but the end of the 12th frame brought closure to an awkward affair as Haskins took all three cards by scores of 116-113 twice and 115-114, winning the British title at 115 pounds.

On the undercard, featherweight Akaash Bhatia, 13-0 (4), crushed Marc Callaghan, 19-15-1 (4), via second round KO to win the vacant Southern Area belt. The London prospect was simply too fresh for former title challenger Callaghan, who was dropped in the first from a lightning left hook to the temple.

Bhatia launched a brutal body assault in the second and brought the tight guard of Callaghan down enough to score with another big left hook that forced the veteran to a knee and he was counted out.

Welter Mark Thompson, 18-1 (11), stopped Craig Dickson, 15-6-1 (8), in the seventh round after a fiery battle of wills. The prospect dropped Dickson in the second but the gritty Scot came back to give Thompson difficulty in the sixth frame.

Dickson’s brave effort was put down in the seventh when Thompson strung together a sustained shelling that brought an end to the thrilling two way contest.

Light middle Thomas McDonagh, 33-1-3 (6), outpointed Michael Monaghan, 17-24 (2), after six rounds and English Super Bantam titlist Mark Moran, 11-0-1 (3), picked up a good win against spoiler Youssef Al Hamidi, 4-12-1 (1), after a six round non-title clash at super feather.

Light heavy Tony Quigley, 12-1 (5), showed superb boxing skills while producing a fifth round cuts stoppage of opponent Nathan King, 12-12 (1). Promising featherweight Scott Quigg, 10-0 (6), stopped Sumaila Badu, 4-13 (1), in the first round.

Bantamweight Paul Edwards, 2-0 (0), posted a four round verdict over Delroy Spencer, 10-75-3 (1), and Peter Jones, 1-0 (0), came away with the win after four against Johnny Greaves, 1-19 (1), at light welter.

Cruiserweight John Lewis Dickinson, 1-0 (0), defeated Paul Bonson, 20-103-8 (1), on points after four rounds as did light welter Karl Place, 2-0 (1), against Carl Allen, 18-73-7 (5).