Jamali can Master Anderton by Tom Podmore May 16th 2008

An intriguing-looking East versus West (Midlands, of course) International Masters title clash takes place at Burton's atmospheric Meadowside Leisure Centre on Friday –Nottingham's hard-hitting and exciting Rod Anderton, East Midlands, boxing for the vacant light-heavyweight crown against Birmingham-based Iranian Hamed Jamali, West Midlands. First Team (Paul (PJ) Rowson and Errol Johnson) promote. And whilst Anderton starts the ten-rounder as a narrow favourite, natural light-heavyweight, bigger puncher, Jamali isn't without chance. He's held his own in decent company (Cello Renda, the only man to legitimately stop him, Lee Blundell, Dan Guthrie, etc), scored a more convincing win over a common denominator and has looked a more measured and composed performer since linking-up with Len Woodhall last year. Still, Rod's bulk and bull-like strength could prove to be a significant and fight-winning factor. Sometimes his aggressive, two-fisted nature lacks a bit of refinery, but you can't argue with his record so far (only two losses and a draw in 13 professional outings). And he'll also be enjoying home (almost) advantage – Nottingham less than 25 miles away from Burton. Things look to be stacking up in the Shinfield-handled fighter's favour, don't they? In Jamali, however, he'll be meeting someone who is desperate to get his hands on professional honours. His one and only crack at a belt, a 2004 challenge for the British Masters super-middleweight strap, saw him lose a close ten-round decision to Ingle-trained Simeon Cover, going through a purple patch at the time, in Birmingham. The 34-year-old's confidence was high – he'd previously outpointed Cover in a six-rounder – but was left devastated when the Nottinghamshire-based boxer had his arm held aloft. The hardy Second City scrapper, then trained by Pat Cowdell and unbeaten in seven entering, conceded a razor-thin 96-95 vote from Terry O'Connor that raised more than a few eyebrows at a packed Holiday Inn. Anderton's only title opportunity also saw him come up short, albeit in less acrimonious circumstances. Taking on awkward Mick Monaghan, a stylish boxer who'd met the likes of Carl Froch, Wayne Elcock and Matthew Macklin, Rod started well, let a few of the middle rounds slip from his grasp and conceded a close 96-94 decision that handed the vacant Midland Area light-heavyweight belt to the Lincoln switcher. Perhaps more tellingly, the respective performances against Manchester's Mark Nielsen illustrate another story. The Sale banger couldn't land a glove on the circling Brummie when they met at the Holiday Inn in January, being outboxed for a 39-37 loss. Anderton, meanwhile, was deemed lucky to escape with a 39-37 win at the Harvey Hadden Leisure Centre in March. Formlines mean little, however, and everyone is allowed an off night. And Jamali, 9-5 (1), who recently sparred with Dudley's Darren McDermott, is probably the better boxer of the pair: a top-rated amateur who pushed another popular Nottingham puncher, Carl Froch, to his limits. That is countered with Anderton, 29, being the stronger, the fresher, the harder puncher (a misleading three early nights in 10 doesn't paint the true picture of his power). But Jamali is the tougher, and that's where I think this contest tips in the Persian veteran's favour. The Nottingham Forest supporter's insistence on marching in and having a war with his opponents makes for good fights but has seen him struggle against better men. He tried that against dangerous and underrated Richard Turba, being halted in two (albeit a tad too early). His face-first boxing against Leeds' winless but decent Phil Callaghan, who he'd halted at the same venue, Nottingham Arena, only four months previously, saw him escape with a draw. But then he has moments when he boxes really well. Against durable Dean Walker, a former two-time Central Area title challenger, the Bilborough fighter picked his shots well, dropping the Sheffield survivor heavily late on to secure a landslide 60-53 victory at the venue he fights at this week. He'd done the same against another Yorkshireman, heavier Sheffield-based Carl Wild, winning 40-37. And he will have had plenty of information on Jamali from his stablemate, undefeated Alfreton banger Adie Whitmore. The 20-year-old Derbyshire puncher recently signed a promotional deal with Frank Maloney and won a 40-36 decision over Hamed in March, although many were under the impression that the Brummie deserved a share in a level fight. This is also destined to be a close bout, a 50/50 affair in which a case could be made for either man. But I believe it will boil down to who can suck it up in the hard moments, fight back and then get back to their original gameplan (there is bound to be moments of toe-to-toe action that will probably divert from their, Hamed's at least, pre-fight instructions). That man, I think, will be Jamali. Burton's favourite fighting son, super-middleweight Jonjo Finnegan, makes his comeback from a near career-ending car crash – he smashed head-on with a pensioner who was going the wrong way up a dual carriageway – against soldier Dave Pearson, Middlesbrough, who he has beaten three times before. The Errol Johnson-trained former Midland Area and British Masters title challenger, 10-3-3, was told he'd never box again but returns over four and could meet the winner of the main event. The card also sees the professional debuts of two 26-year-old former amateur stars, Coventry light-welterweight James Flinn and Burton light-middleweight Lee Parker. Woodville light-middleweight Duane Parker, 2-0 and younger brother of Lee, Tamworth's Matt Seawright, 1-6, who takes on 28-fight Worcester banger Steve Cooper, Derby's Luke Gallear, winless in two, and Ripley debutant Simon Ivekich, the latter pair trained by Jason Shinfield, complete the bill.

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