The “Assassin's” third title belt by Tom Walker May 27th 2007

Aberdeen's Lee McAllister picked up his 3rd title belt of his career when he won the WBF Intercontinental Lightweight title in the Beach Ballroom in Aberdeen on Saturday the 26th May with a fairly straightforward points win over Ghanaian Ben Odumattay. Ostensibly this should have been a sterner test for McAllister than his management team had thus far given him, Odamattay having fought at a higher level during his career with his last three outings against Michael Hunter, John Murray and Michael Gomez albeit losing all of them. Despite a slight scare at the weigh-in on Friday lunchtime when Odamattey was ¾ of a pound over and almost dropped his briefs in front of the attendant TV cameras which would certainly have aroused interest on “North Tonight” the Grampian news programme, especially amongst the female viewers, he (Odamattay) made the weight comfortably at the second time of asking with the aid of an “Aberdeen Assassin” tee shirt discreetly positioned in front of him. As always when the local boy is boxing, the venue was packed to capacity and raucous, not to say intimidating in atmosphere. Odamattay was impervious to the bedlam surrounding him when McAllister made his entrance while M.C. Mike Goodall and the BBBoC officials looked on bemused by the noise and obvious fanaticism of the home man's support. McAllister 9st 8lb opened up the bout with a brisk pace using his jab effectively as he circled his opponent in the opener picking up scoring shots with regularity. One of his right hooks did catch Odamattay, 9st 8lb, cleanly to the side of the head and only the ropes kept the Ghanaian from touching down in the opener. He was though, very quick to regain his balance and composure with a tight defence from the onslaught which followed. Odamattay's left hook is fast and accurate, but used only sparingly! Both boxers are reasonably heavy handed surprisingly enough as I hadn't anticipated this aspect to their match. In the 3rd round McAllister almost unlocked the Ghanaian's defence by piling on the pressure leaving him (Odamattay) looking bemused by the volume and speed of the shots. McAllister it was hoped would be getting the sort of test his management should have provided him with some time ago, yet this is not proving to be the case as he's picking off Odamattay almost at will and frankly taking nothing much back. Only in the 7th round could you say that the diminutive African was capable of punishing McAllister, but even then he would only have had a share of this particular round from my perspective. The rest of the bout was frankly one way traffic, with McAllister never in any doubt as the ultimate victor with referee Paul Graham sealing the victory with a points win of 100 – 91. It was probably a stiffer test than the Ingle's have provided McAllister with in the past, insofar that the naturally lighter Ghanaian is durable, but in truth, against the natural lightweight (and with a height advantage to boot), it only showed that McAllister has the movement and stamina to go ten rounds with ease.  Mike Reid, 10st 6lb, tried to regain his lost momentum against Leonard Lothian also 10st 6lb over 6 x 2min rounds with Paul Graham again in charge of the action. Alas it was not to be, as he dropped a 58 – 57 points decision to the Northampton boxer. Mike has now got the redoubtable Steve McGuire senior in his corner, but even this can't do much to aid him when the bell goes, as despite impassioned pleas from his corner to keep his hands up and cut off the ring from the lateral movement of an Ingle fighter with flurries of shots rather than single ones. Mike ended up chasing a bout which he should have won early doors, and though it saddens me to say it, I have to question whether he needs this or not. It will be a very long road back from the run of defeats he's had against opponents who are not special by any means, and he's a good looking, articulate young man who doesn't really need setbacks such as this. James Ancliff, 9st 1lb came up against Jon Baguley, 9st 4lb in the precursor to the main bout over 6 x 2mins with Paul Graham as referee. These two had fought on the last Beach Ballroom show, and whilst it wasn't silky in that one it had the crowd on its feet with the action. This turned out to be a re-run with the clash of styles adding to a potent mixture of stamina and determination from both. To use a fencing analogy, it was a rapier versus a broad-sword, Baguley being the rapier, and Ancliff the broad sword. Ancliff tried to bludgeon Baguley with his every shot. A good right from Ancliff in the opener got a swift riposte, with a standing count from a right hook from Baguley. The Sheffield man is deceptive both in looks and skill, being quick handed and with movement to match. Ancliff does have the red mist descending over him as his guard goes down and the venom gets ratcheted up in the 4th. This is a trait that the Fettercairn boxer had as an amateur and I don't think he'll ever lose it. Still it is all action, however rough and ready, and it is exciting to watch if not for the purists. In the end Ancliff gets the nod on a 58 – 55 points win which is slightly better than the 58 – 57 score of the previous bout between them. I'd have gone for the closer version but enjoyed the bout nonetheless. At the end of the night the fans poured out to the clubs and pubs of the Granite City content that Lee McAllister had brought home another belt and title. For those of us whose eyes weren't blinkered by alcohol, when will the management team in Sheffield get the “Aberdeen Assassin” the real title shots his record deserves? When he won the Scottish title against Stuart Green, it was stated categorically by both the Ingle boys that they could get him a British title shot! His record on paper is worthy of it, with 24 wins from 25 outings, so what's the problem? He's not a cash cow that is here for the milking and deserves better as he's completed his side of the bargain by selling the place out when at home, he takes a big crowd whenever he travels, and has racked up the wins to justify a shot at something more meaningful.

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