Prizefigher - Welterweights, Tuesday June 7th - Quarter Finals

Kevin McIntyre UD3 John Wayne Hibbert

McIntyre came into this fight the significant favourite and showed why by comfortably controlling the first two rounds. Hibbert was always coming forward but was too ragged an unable to make his mark against the southpaw McIntyre, who found it easy to move and counter. In the third Hibbert knew he needed a knock down so came out swinging but though he caught McIntyre with a few shots there was no great power behind them. McIntyre was able to take it fairly easy and progress with plenty left in the tank.


Junior Witter UD3 Nathan Graham

This was every bit as one-sided as you'd expect from a fight between a former world champion and a man who until a year ago was centre-forward for Aylesbury. Witter was too quick to be caught and too smart to put a lot of effort in. He stayed at distance and countered, then held and spoilt whenever Graham managed to get within range. All the quality shots came from Witter and Graham didn't have the nous or experience to work out how to make his mark.


Colin Lynes UD3 Bobby Gladman

Another one-sided bout but Lynes put in the performance of the night so far. He moved well from the beginning, putting together decent combinations and rocking Gladman early on. Lynes was unable to get close to Lynes and was regularly beaten to the punch, often taking shots in batches. Lynes worked hard and looked good, whilst taking very little in return.


Yassine el Maachi UD3 Peter McDonagh

el Maachi fights in a style that I'm obliged to call Hamed-esque, no defence but his reactions and big single punches from all angles, and it made for a good contrast against the orthodox McDonagh. This was the most keenly fought quarter final bout, with McDonagh a game fighter who kept coming despite taking a number of big punches but he couldn't pin el Maachi down. When he did managed to get him on the ropes el Maachi was still able to work well inside and land punches, whilst also taking a few. He used the most energy of all the first round fighters and that may come back to haunt him.