Knockdown's Galore as Rogan wins Prizefighter by Kevin Taylor Apr 11th 2008

Belfast's Martin Rogan is the first ever Prizefighter winner. Rogan defeated Sunderland's David Dolan in an amazing final that earned a standing ovation from a sell-out York Hall crowd to pick up the trophy and a cheque for £25,000. After three action-packed rounds, Rogan, who knocked the previously unbeaten Dolan down twice, secured a unanimous points victory. It was a fitting finale to a fantastic night's entertainment. Quarter-Final Results David Ferguson bt Billy Bessey Ferguson floored Bessey with a counter right hand in the opening 90 seconds but the smaller Bessey came back well in rounds 2 and 3 as Ferguson tired and most at ringside thought it was a draw, but no-one knew what would happen if it was declared a draw, in the end it didn't matter as the judges all gave it to Ferguson, to end the Portsmouth man's night. Bessey entered the ring wearing a BritishBoxing.net t-shirt unfortunately it wasn't seen for long! Martin Rogan bt Alex Ibbs Rogan made short work of Ibbs, knocking him down at the end of the first round with a right and cutting Ibbs' right eye. Most at ringside thought Ibbs should have been pulled as he wouldn't have been allowed to continue in the contest anyway but he was sent out again and two more right hands which staggered Ibbs at the start of the second round prompted referee Phil Edwards' to stop the contest after just 47 seconds. Paul Butlin bt Colin Kenna Kenna was the favourite in this fight but he also was sent home like his teammate and friend Billy Bessey in the first round when he stopped in the second round by Melton Mowbray's Paul Butlin. After an even first round the better boxer Kenna seemed to lack fitness and he was caught with a right hand towards the end of the round and when he was staggered again referee Marcus McDonnell jumped in to stop the fight. David Dolan bt Darren Morgan Despite conceding over four stones in weight, Dolan managed to drop the nineteen and a half stone Morgan in the first few seconds although from ringside it looked more like a shove. The tournament favourite was out on his feet after a big left hook from Morgan landed flush at the end of the second round but just as Morgan went in for the kill the bell rang to save Dolan, who staggered back to his corner. The former Commonwealth Games gold medalist Dolan managed to keep out of the reach of Morgan, who had Enzo Maccarinelli supporting him from ringside, in the final round to win comfortably on points. Semi-Finals Martin Rogan vs. David Ferguson Rogan never looked into trouble against the taller Ferguson and he jumped on the North-East man at the first bell and landed some big swinging hooks. Ferguson looked tired after his hard first round win against Bessey. At the end of the contest Ferguson was almost out on his feet as Rogan made it nine wins out of nine as a pro. David Dolan vs. Paul Butlin Dave Dolan showed all his amateur pedigree as he outpointed Butlin effortlessly over three rounds, I could almost count the number of times Butlin landed on one hand as he just couldn't get to grips with the former three-time ABA champion. Butlin smiled every time DOlan landed but he was getting caught time and time again as Dolan made the final in a canter with excellent movement and workrate. The Final In the end it came down to the bookies favourites to make the final, both coming to the ring as unbeaten pros and both with 9-0 records. Many at ringside felt Rogan would be to strong for the pre-tournament favourite and that is how it turned out, Rogan started like a Bull and landed an overhand right which put Dolan down inside the first thirty seconds, as Rogan went in for the kill it all got a bit messy Dolan seemed to land with the head and Rogan was cut even though he was the one warned by the referee. Once again the referee had to bring the fighters together and tell them to clean it up. Rogan seemed to want it a bit more and he went looking for the big punch. Dolan landed two punches after the bell and was once again warned by the referee. The pace of the fight like the atmosphere was breathless and Dolan came back in the second with the better quality punches as both men continued to go toe-to-toe in a scintillating clash. Dolan went down again right at the start of the third round as another overhand right put the former England international down and although Dolan gave it everything and landed some peach of punches on Rogan the Belfast man stood firm and in the end ran out a winner on all three judges cards, and when it was announced he sunk to his knees in happiness. The show was a great success and Barry Hearn and Matchroom certainly gave the public their money's worth with the pre-fight entertainment. I'm already looking forward to the next one, but they will have to go some to match the entertainment served up in this one. Photos Bernard Miller

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Prizefighter Competition Apr 13th 2008, 07:27:40 by hyperion Barry Hearns, who I admire very much, is claiming a lot of credit for the idea of a Prizefighter Competition which was very popular in the fifties and early sixties. Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Jack Solomons stage these matches to try to find a promising heavyweight. Well done to Barry Hearns for bringing the idea back to the sport, but give a quick mention to the man who thought of it first.