By Ezio Prapotnich: You can only fight what is in front of you. The level of opposition can determine a fighter performance and either expose him or bring out all his gifts. Luke Tyson Fury and John O’Donnell American debuts were symmetrical in that sense.
Tyson’s heavyweight contest was slightly disappointing, not because of his performance but due to the fact that his designated opponent Gavern and his first replacement Holmes pulled out at very short notice. Previously undefeated Rich Power, although well conditioned and very game, did not have much time to study Fury and unlikely had a game plan coming into the fight. Tyson is the living proof that, in boxing at least, size does matter. At this point of his career, height, reach, and power are his main assets and keys to victory. It was impossible for Power to get past his jab and, in the few occasions where he managed to get inside, the Irish colossus would clinch him immediately neutralizing his offence.
After a cagey first round, Fury established the pattern of the fight by using the jab to drive his opponent on the ropes where he would proceed to unload straight right hands, hooks, and powerful body shots.. In the 5th, the American touched the canvas, although from something that looked like a push and was not ruled a knock-down, and he only saw the end of the 6th because Fury accidentally lost his gum shield. Blood started pouring from a cut above his right eye in the 7th and he was basically out on his feet in the 8th, where Tyson knocked him all over the ring. To his credit, Power stood up to every shot, gave everything he had, and received a warm and much deserved round of applause from the crowd. Tyson won an 80-72 decision in a mismatch from which he did not learn or showed anything new, never mind answering questions about stamina and chin, due to the one sided nature of the affair. But, neither him nor Power can be blamed for this. Tyson is now 12(9)-0-0 and Rich falls to 12(9)-1-0.
On the other end, Terrance Cauthen came to fight. He had all the time he needed to prepare and perfectly served his purpose providing a good test for O’Donnell. The first round of this Welterweight battle started at a fast pace, with the American circling around the ring and John stalking and doing most of the scoring with body shots. In the second, the pattern was the same, with neither man landing cleanly, but O’Donnell put it in the bank by being the aggressor all the way. In the third, experience tricked youth. There was some design in Cauthen constant retreat and it showed as he started letting John in to counter with long right hooks. The same tactics worked in the 4th, where the two had also some toe to toe exchanges in which the American veteran seemed to have the upper hand. The tide turned again in O’Donnell’s favor in the 5th. Cauthen seemed to tire and slow gradually while John work rate and aggression remained constant through the second half of the fight, relentlessly jabbing his way in to land quick flurries of short punches. Terrance never offered an easy target and kept fighting back but by the 11th he was no longer able to run in circles and looked in survivor mode. The final score of 118-112 in favor of O’Donnell, now 24(11)-1(1)-0, was accurate and deserved. Cauthen, 35(9)-7(3)-0, proved to be a worthy and clever opponent and, although past his prime, a step up and a good learning experience for John.
It is worth mentioning Lee Purdy’s performance in the last non-televised bout of the evening. Controlling the action from the centre of the ring, he was able to outclass his opponent and fellow Welterweight Theophilus Tetteh, picking him with right hands and left hooks, buckling his legs on different occasions in the late rounds, and comfortably winning a 78-75 decision. Lee is now 14(7)-2-1, while Theophilus falls to 9(2)-5-0.
Other results of the evening:
Daniel Cadman bt Matty Hough tko 2:30 of rd 1. 6×3 Super Middleweight.
Phill Fury bt Andrew Patterson 40-36. 4×3 Light Middleweight.
Dale Hutchinson bt Tyler Goodwin tko 2:41 of rd 2. 4×3 Light Welterweight.
John Ryder bt Ben Deghani tko 1:30 of rd 1. 4×3 Middleweight.