What a way to win your 10th professional fight.
Tom Hill is today celebrating his greatest victory yet with a unanimous points victory over Rohan Date in Dubai.
‘One Bomb’ (pictured left) dropped Ireland’s number one welterweight in the sixth round on the way to a tight, but deserved, victory at the outdoor Probellum event at the Duty Free Tennis Stadium.
Olena Pobyvailo and Gary Kitanoski both scored the eight-round battle 77-75 with Edwin Aliona marking it 76-75 for the Redcar star.
As befits two ambitious boxers with very impressive records – Date had been unbeaten in 14 bouts with nine of his 13 wins by stoppage with Hill boasting a 9-2 log – this proved a gripping and predictably close affair.
But THE moment of the fight arrived early in round six when ‘One Bomb’ exploded into action when a straight left through the middle sent Date to the canvas.
It is a clip which seems to have gone viral on social media.
The 28-year-old Dubai-based Irishman looked in trouble but beat the count and fought on with great spirit.
However, he could not prevent Hill from clinching this breakthrough win.
“What a shot that was,” declared coach David Binns of the punch which felled Rohan.
“I’d just been saying to Tom ‘you need these rounds, don’t let him nick them’ and then he did that.
“Date was a very good opponent but he didn’t throw in clusters and that was where Tom was more effective.
“When Tom let his hands go he was absolutely awesome.
“It was a close call and one of the lads out here with us had Tom one round up.
“But I have to say I think it was a good decision, the three people doing the scoring judged the fight right.”
Click here to see the moment Tom Hill put down Rohan Date.
Given Hill did not box at all in 2021, that will have made the victory even sweeter for the Phil Jeffries-managed boxer.
Following on from one of the best performances of his career in his previous outing, a points defeat to Jack Rafferty after eight belting rounds, this should give the East Durham College-based fighter another significant boost.
Hill v Date was part of a big night of boxing, the main section of it being screened by Probellum’s new broadcast partner, Eurosport.
The main event created history as Estelle Mossely defended her IBO lightweight title with a split decision victory over Argentina’s Yanina del Carmen Lescano in the first-ever female world championship fight to be held in the Middle East.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Probellum
