by James Slater – It’s fair to say, without being disrespectful, that the names Paul Samuels and Cello Renda will not be all that familiar to a good number of fight fans; especially American boxing fans. However, anyone who saw the two middleweights in action this past November 13th will surely know the two fighters in question. Because, quite simply put, the two warriors put on a quite unforgettable mini-classic..
The two met on the under-card of the Matthew Hatton-Lovemore N’Dou welterweight title fight in Stoke, and the action was incredible right from the opening bell. Both guys came out smoking and the bombs were exploding all over the place – with 36-year-old Welshman Samuels getting the worst of it, being sent to the mat in the 1st. Then, in round number two of the slugfest, both guys hit the deck – at the same time!
Throwing and landing simultaneous left hooks to the head, Renda and Williams both took a tumble – just like in the famous scene from the movie Rocky II. The action resumed as both men beat the count, and in the end, in the 3rd-round of a mouth-opener of a rumble, Samuels stopped his 24-year-old rival at the 37-second mark. (in all honesty, if you haven’t yet checked out this fight, do so now via You Tube).
Now, according to BoxRec.com, the two will meet again on the under-card of the January 15th British and Commonwealth cruiserweight title match between Rob Norton and David Dolan (also a rematch) in Altrincham, Cheshire. Can the return fight possibly match the action and the intensity, not to mention the bizarre quality, of the first bout?
The 18-8-1(11) Renda, nicknamed “Dangerous” and from Peterborough, was the betting favourite going into the first fight, only to get cut and then stopped by the 20-7-2(12) slugger from Wales. Samuels tore up the formbook in November, but can he do it again? Whoever wins – and it really is great how the two have been matched together so quickly, a sign of how clearly the promoters noticed how much attention the first fight deservedly received – it is to be hoped both guys get a nice payday from the fight.
Again, neither fighter is a big name, nor are they ever likely to be, but the type of fight Samuels and Renda put on last month is indicative of how truly wonderfully entertaining and thrilling the great sport of boxing can be. As was the case in Stoke, Samuels Vs. Renda will very possibly overshadow the main event when it comes to raw action!