Wright claims English title in style by Ben Carey Mar 12th 2005

In a hugely impressive display, former two-time ABA champion Nigel Wright dismantled the previously unbeaten Dean Hickman in seven rounds to capture the vacant English light-welterwight title at the Doncaster Dome. With only one defeat between them in 25 fights, on paper this looked like being a competitive match-up. However, in truth Wright looked a class above against his willing but raw opponent. Entering the ring to a rapturous reception, Wright greeted Hickman with an icy stare and immediately forced the West Brom fighter onto the back foot in the opener. Despite maintaining a highly held guard, Wright's straight left delivered from the southpaw stance bypassed Hickman's defence in round two. Dean, showing he wasn't intimidated, lunged in with a left hook that momentarily knocked Wright off balance as they continued to jostle for supremacy. Hickman's hand speed is one of his best assets but it was being bested here by Wright's superior footwork, who took one step back to avoid his opponent's attacks. Towards the end of the round, Wright made Hickman pay. A cuffing left hand that landed on the back of the head sent Hickman to the mat where referee Phil Edwards picked up the count. It was an untidy knockdown, but for all Hickman's protests a punch did connect. This was already proving to be a tough assignment for Hickman who was marked underneath his left eye. At the beginning of the third, Wright sportingly gestured to the referee that a blob of Vaseline had fallen onto his glove prompting Phil Edwards to lead Nigel back to his corner to get him cleaned up. The action had become messy at times as the pair's contrasting styles clashed on the inside that forcing Edwards to tell them to tidy it up. Wright continued to register the telling blows though. A cracking left nailed Hickman as he waded forward, but as Wright looked to capitalise by chasing Dean around the ring he was nailed himself with a counter left hook off the ropes. Sensing the fight was already slipping away from him, Hickman had decided to throw caution to the wind in round four. Gambling to get inside past Wright's longer reach, he was promptly drilled by two straight lefts that snapped his head back. Undeterred, Hickman admirably stuck to his task and a looping right hand caught Wright who was content to hold at close quarters. Both men were having their moments now but this was undoubtedly Hickman's best spell. Looking strong on the inside, he furiously tried to work away as Wright, showing concern for the first time, looked to Phil Edwards to separate them. Feeling the need to re-establish himself, Wright claimed the centre of the ring at the outset of the fifth and unleashed a ramrod jab that was noticeably delivered with more snap. When kept at distance Hickman was proving to be easy prey for the accomplished Wright who was landing more frequently. Sensing he had emphatically regained control, the North-East man eyeballed Hickman as he returned to his corner at the end of the round. Dean was becoming frustrated at his inability to slip the jab and was now being punished for his mistakes. A triple jab and a hard right to the body thudded home as Wright gradually started to turn the screw in the sixth. One sensed that Hickman looked ready to go, and so did Wright, who upped the pace to wrap up proceedings in round seven. Opening the round by delivering five consecutive jabs without reply Wright unleashed a left that made Hickman momentarily sag against the ropes. The writing was on the wall now. A right hook counter and a stinging jab was textbook from Wright as Hickman bore the look of a beaten fighter. Targeting Hickman's body, Wright was systematically breaking the Midlands Area champion down and a crunching left downstairs dropped Hickman for the full count at the 2.36 mark. The perfect finish to a perfect night's work. With victory Wright has established himself as a boxer with considerable promise. A crack at the British title beckons, which is likely to be vacated by long-time holder Junior Witter. He improves to 13-1 (6).

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