Sometimes boxing can be brilliant and gets us out of our seats, just like Lewis Ritson’s Titanic tussle with Robbie Davies.
Unfortunately, it can also leave us feeling absolutely baffled and that was the case in point as Lawrence Osueke and Ricky Summers met in a British light-heavyweight eliminator in Newcastle.
Point, or rather points, was the key word here as the pair ended up playing out a bore draw in Newcastle.
All three judges went in different directions.
Marcus McDonnell scored it 100-92 to Osueke, Michael Alexander marked it 96-95 to Summers while Howard Foster had them level at 95-95. Your punch-lines reporter had Osueke four points up with a tally of 98-94.
It had many people either scratching their heads or cross. Or both.
To say this was a hard fight to score would be an understatement.
Boxing evokes different opinions and in my opinion, only four of the 10 rounds looked remotely clear, the first, sixth, ninth and 10th. The rest were very much open to interpretation.
Judges are encouraged not to score rounds as draws, but the second and third sessions had so much holding it was hard to side either way and I marked both 10-10.
Mr McDonnell had two drawn rounds, Mr Alexander one and Mr Foster none. So much of the bout was dominated by grapple.
It took until the sixth for Lawrence to show a bit of oomph and the ninth to put together the sort of stuff those who watch him on a regular basis know he can do.
Better was to follow in the last as the jab worked nicely and a head volley prompted “Toon, Toon” chants from the Utilita Arena crowd. The Steve Wraith-managed, Nik Gitus-trained looked a worthy winner only for the announcement from MC David Diamante.
It’s not the result the Wallsend Boxing Academy fighter deserved or wanted but it’s no disaster AND his unbeaten record remains intact.
Those of us of a certain vintage will remember Johnny Nelson being involved in a draw with Carlos de Leon for the WBC world title and the Sheffield cruiserweight went on to be one of Britain’s longest-reigning world champions.
Lawrence has a lot of class and he’ll be back winning again very soon.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jennifer Charlton
