Marsh takes Pickering's British Title by Kevin Taylor Jul 1st 2008

Matthew Marsh became British super-bantamweight champion last Friday at the York Hall in Bethnal Green and in doing so may well have hammered the last nail into the career of Newark's Esham Pickering. The former two-time ABA champion from West Ham started quickly and the fight was all-action from the opening bell. Coming out full of energy, Marsh attacked the champion with an all-out attack which Pickering didn't seem to be able to cope with. It looked like the younger man wanted it more and his right hand was catching the Newark man time and time again. Pickering looked disorganised and didn't seem to have a plan B as Marsh swept the early rounds on my card. Pickering who had vowed to knock out Marsh to show he wasn't a shopworn boxer certainly didn't look like he would as a twelve year career seems to be catching up with the former Ingle trained star. The pace of the fight seemed to get to Marsh around the seventh and it looked liked lack of stamina may play into the hands of the champion, but Marsh came back strongly in the tenth just as it looked like Pickering was getting on top and had the champion in serious trouble only for referee Mickey Vann to call a halt to the action after seeing a loose lace on the challenger's glove, giving Pickering a few extra seconds to regroup himself. The last two rounds saw Marsh sealing his victory by giving it everything he had left. Pickering tried to trade with him, but this was the younger fighter's night. The difference in the two camps at the final bell told the full story with Marsh's corner of Eames and Swinney carrying their charge around the ring and lapping up the ovation from Marsh's fans while Pickering looked dejected in his corner alongside trainer Carl Greaves. When the cards were read out they were all in favour of the West Ham man, Dave Parris scoring it 115-113, John Keane 116-113 and Ian John-Lewis scoring it 117-111. I agreed with the margin of Ian John-Lewis giving it by six rounds to Marsh. Photos and full undercard report to follow.

Go back Comment on this article | Send to a friend | Print

Please login before posting comments.

There are no comments. Click here to be the first who comment on this article.