Thomas Essomba faces another climb back up boxing’s ladder after surrendering his English bantamweight title.
The 30-year-old had challenger Kyle Williams on his backside in the first round of his maiden defence in Wolverhampton, only for the home fighter to get up and come back strongly to win via a split decision.
Essomba has returned previously with a vengeance from a title set-back, recovering from a defeat to Jay Harris in the Commonwealth championship and a year out to KO Louis Norman for the English bantamweight belt.
After only 11 bouts (eight wins and just three defeats) the Sunderland boxer, now fighting out of Stockton, has plenty of miles left on the clock and, as proven by that win over Norman in March at the King Power Stadium there is plenty of firepower too.
That was in evidence as well at the Willows Banqueting Suite in Willenhall on Saturday evening as he knocked Williams down in the first round.
However, it is testament to the resilience and fitness of Williams that the unbeaten Wolves man recovered and got on the front foot to set the tone.
The rounds were tight with Williams coming forward and Essomba countering nicely on the back foot with sharp shots.
A turning point came in round seven when he went down from a slip, though referee Mark Lyson ruled it a knockdown.
The former Cameroon international captain came n strong in the eighth, ninth and 10th rounds and was left hoping the judges would see it his way.
Shaun Messer did, indeed, do that, scoring him a 96-94 winner but his fellow officials, Howard Foster and Bob Williams, both marked it 96-93 for Williams to send the home crowd wild.
“Thomas had him out on his feet in the first,” said Essomba’s manager, Kieran Farrell.
“Fair play to Williams, he got back up and got back to pressing the fight on the front foot.
“Each round was fought close but Thomas was on back foot countering when, in my opinion, he needed to do more against the home kid.
“Then he slipped in thew seventh and the ref called it an knockdown when I think everyone agreed it was a slip.
“Thomas was told to push him back and he did that in the last three rounds, I just felt the earlier rounds he maybe let it slip away from him.”
Congratulations to Williams for his spirit and commiserations to Essomba who still has much to offer.
Words: Roy Kelly
