Ringside Report from the Odyssey Arena Belfast: Takaloo Crushes The Rock


Photo: Takaloo.com

By Chris Curry

02.02 - Billed as "Rockin" the Belfast fight fans were treated to the debut of professional Boxing in the new one hundred million pound Odyssey arena in the heart of the capital on Saturday night. Belfast was renowned for its Boxing tradition, in venues such as the Ulster Hall and Kings Hall, with memorable battles with Barry McGuigan, Dave "Boy" McAuley, Wayne McCullough and Chris Eubank being taken to the wire by Ray Close during his reign as WBO Super Middleweight World Champion. November of 2002, saw the return of "The Pocket Rocket" Wayne McCullough to his home city and Neil Sinclair returning as the British Welterweight Champion. With Northern Ireland being starved of professional Boxing events in recent years, the horizon is looking brighter for local fans, who were given the chance to leave their television set's and enjoy a live event in their own back yard. This can only be good for the sport, with many young faces in the crowd. This is opening new doors to younger fans, many of whom, may have never attended a live Boxing event and to the older generation, it is bringing back the day's when a Saturday night Boxing card was a regular in the city of Belfast.

With the atmosphere building and the undercard fights underway, local prospects from Breen's Gym in Belfast were being rallied on by their army of supporters. Twenty one year old, Kevin O' Hara, retained his wining form with two fights and two knockouts at Featherweight. Twenty four year old, Mickey Quinn continued his unbeaten run at Middleweight with a points win over four rounds, bringing his record to three wins, one knockout. Former British Light Welterweight Champion, Mark Winters also kept his comeback hopes alive from his defeat to Ricky Hatton with a second round knockout win at lightweight. Two in a row for Winters.

WBU Light Middleweight Championship: Takaloo Vs Jim Rock

Former WBU title holder Takaloo squared off against Irish fan favourite, Jim "The Pink Panther" Rock in a cross roads fight for the two 154 pound fighters. Takaloo vacated the WBU title he won against Anthony Farnell in one round after two defences, to challenge WBO Light Middleweight World Champion, Daniel Santos at Cardiff Castle, Wales. Takaloo put on a brave performance that night after being cut in the first round and managed to drop Santos in the fourth. Takaloo never looked quite like winning the fight as Santos ground out a points victory against the challenger who fought a more defensively minded match than usual, claiming the cut ruined his game plan. This fight to Takaloo was to resurrect his career and claim back his old WBU title.

Jim Rock, is a tough all round Boxer from Dublin, Ireland. Nicknamed the "Pink Panther" Jim delights his fan's with his classic theme on his way to the ring. Rock is a tough club fighter with a big following so don't let the pink shorts and the Pink Panther music full you. For Jim comes to "Rock". The Former Irish Light Middleweight and Super Middleweight Champion rose to the challenge like a true professional, this was his chance to break into the spotlight against Takaloo.

First to enter the arena to a thunderous reception was Jim Rock, led by trainer John Breen. Rock raised the atmosphere with his Pink Panther music and not a face in the arena was without a smile. Bouncing on his feet on the way to the ring, Rock looked focused and punched out with both hands as he climbed through the ropes.

Next was Takaloo, hooded and full of confidence, he was greeted to the boo's of local fans. Not quite the lions den of Manchester where he fought Farnell, the Belfast fans were a little more forgiving. As Takaloo entered the ring to Rap music, he banged fists with the World's number one Super Middleweight, Joe Calzaghe at ringside.

Round one, both fighters met centre ring. Rock throws the jab and Takaloo throws jabs to the body. Rock doubles up a left and right and settles into a rhythm first. Takaloo gets good success with the jab and works Rock back. Jim uses the ring and is light on his feet, Takaloo lands his first solid body punch. Rock keeps working his jab and returns the favour with his own body shot. The last minute and a half, Rock is most effective with his jab and dances out of range of Takaloos shots. Both fighters had some success and Rock finish's the round with a double left hook to the head.

In round two, Jim Rock throws the more eye catching work. He has success with the right hand, getting his timing down nicely. Jim is off to a good start in the contest, while Takaloo looks off time in his work. Rock wins the first two rounds. The second round his work looked sharp and he was standing his ground with Takaloo. Rock certainly came to fight. Rounds there and four were more evenly matched with each fighter holding their own. Takaloo was looking more in the fight now, than he did in the first two rounds.

Round five, Rock keeps his jab pumping. Takaloo crouch's low and comes up with a double left catching Rock. Jim settles into rhythm again landing the right hand that he found Takaloo open too. Takaloo also found success with the right. Takaloo opens up an assault on Rock and Jim ducks and dives, moving well in the corner to avoid the attack and gets back in centre ring. Rock works Takaloo to the ropes and lands two more right hands. Both fighter's work their best when they are coming forward. So the key was to dictate the pace and make gains when the other fighter was on the back foot. Takaloo press's forward getting Rock on the ropes. He lands a short left. Rock backs Takaloo off with a double left and Takaloo gets sucess to the body. Both Boxers snap jabs and Takaloo lands a right upper cut, left hook and clinch's Rock. Back in open ring, Jim fires his right hand and Takaloo gets close and hits repeated body shots. Rock gets more success with the right hand and Takaloo is paying for keeping his left hand low. The crowd erupts every time Rock lands, cheering the "Pink Panther" on in Gladiator style chants. Rock wins the round with the cleaner punch's and Takaloo makes a last effort to steal it, with nothing landing cleanly.

Round six and Takaloo is warned by Mickey Vann for a borderline low blow. A left uppercut, turned hook. Both touch gloves and get back at it. They trade lefts and rights, with their own success. Looking very evenly matched, Rock is doing himself proud throughout the contest. From an Irish club fighter who thought he was in retirement with a fourteenth month lay off, here he is giving Takaloo all he can handle. Last minute of the sixth and Takaloo is finding a rhythm, circling his hands fast, and throwing jabs out of it. Rock mirrors the jabs and keeps to his own timing and rhythm. Takaloo miss's a sweeping over hand right, one that he's tried throughout the fight and Jim "Rocks" Takaloo onto the back foot with a solid left, turn left hook. Both fighters end the round with exchanges and Takaloo finish's with the edge winning the round. At the half way stage its either man's fight.

The seventh was the round in which Takaloo started to take over. It was the most clearly won round of the contest so far. Takaloo landed a clear right to Rocks head and up close he came out of a low bob and weave starting a left, right body combo and a short left, right to the head and left uppercut. Rock battled away behind his jab and held his own in the middle of the seventh. Takaloo started to dominate the pace and landed his best shots so far, showing more of his repertoire.

Ninth round, both work jabs, finding range. Takaloo starts to advance forward. Rock keeps out of a straight line, flurry's jabs as he circles away from Takaloo. Jim sets himself to throw a punch. Takaloo's stance is wide and his right hand is held in a way so he can snap away jabs. His left is wide out from his body and comes up for a lining up shot. As soon as Jim Rock throws his right hand, Takaloo quickly evades it, by leaning over far to his left and crash's a fast, hard right to the point of Rocks chin. It was a tremendous punch, one that would relieve many world class 154 pound fighters of their legs. Rock bravely climbed to his feet with his gum shield half out. He was clearly in no condition to continue and the corner threw in the towel to save their gallant fighter. Mickey Vann closed the show, a decision he would have clearly made anyway and Takaloo regained his old WBU Championship. Jim McDonald, Takaloo's trainer and John Breen, Jim Rocks trainer seen to the fallen challenger and Rock was brought back to his corner.

A clean cut finish for Takaloo taking him back to winning ways. The brave challenger Jim Rock did himself and his team proud, with an excellent performance. Talking to him after the fight, Rock said to me, he can settle into Boxing retirement knowing he gave it his very best and concentrate on his family and business. The fight fans of Belfast were treated to a competitive and entertaining bout and Takaloo received a deserving sporting applause.

British Welterweight Championship: Neil Sinclair Vs Bradley Pryce

Neil Sinclair's dream was to win the Lonsdale belt outright. Sinclair resurrected his career after his lose to Daniel Santos for the WBO Welterweight World Championship. A chance that may have came to early for him. Neil has become a dominating fighter in the British 147 pound division winning the British title against Harry Dhami in round five back in November 2001. To win against Bradley Pryce, Neil secures the Lonsdale belt outright. To lose, Neil would be in Boxings wilderness. Two fights in a row as British Champion in front of his home crowd must be good. But to win the Lonsdale belt out right in front of them, is a dream come true. Respected Belfast Boxing coach, John Breen is delighted his fighter has that chance. Talking to me, you can see the enthusiasm on John's face as Neil set's records in Northern Ireland's sporting history. First Boxer from Northern Ireland to win the British Welterweight title and the first to win the Lonsdale belt out right, with three defences, fourth in history. The Belfast crowd got behind "Sinky" in song, as Sinclair set out to beat Pryce down.

Bradley Pryce of Newbridge, Wales is trained by Enzo Calzaghe, father and trainer of WBO Super Middleweight World Champion, Joe Calzaghe. Pryce started his career at lightweight and claimed the WBO intercontinental title and the IBF intercontinental title at Light Welterweight. Pryce likes to bang a little and he won the WBO intercontinental title in an up and down contest against Jason Hall. With one lost in seventeen fights against Teb Bami, Pryce was stopped seconds before the final bell. This was Pryces second fight from his defeat, his last he weighted in more than eleven stone. This was a chance to win the British Championship at Welterweight and with his weight going up and down with each fight, a fight against a puncher like Sinclair was a risky assignment. Pryce was full of confidence and with two punchers in the ring, this had the makings of a crowd pleasing fight.

Pryce enters the arena first, draped in white towelling. Enzo Calzaghe leads him and Joe Calzaghe is behind him. Pyrce Keeps on his toes while the music plays around the arena. This is deep waters for Pryce and he looks like his head is above it.

British Champion, Neil Sinclair enters the arena led by John Breen to the reception of a roaring home crowd. Neil with his hood up, makes his way quickly to the ring, and looks like he's ready for business.

Round one, Sinclair opens up first with the jab. Pryce jabs, both range finders. They clinch and Neil miss's a looping shot, Bradley holds him. Then they open up in clusters finding themselves on the ropes. Pryce is the more open of the two. When punching with both hands, he's leaves himself most open to counters. Neil is more controlled and is keeping to his boxing, pushing Bradley onto the back foot. At the end the round, Sinclair is catching Pryce with left hooks and keeps the jab going. He's knocking Pryce's rhythm off. Sinclair clearly wins the opening round.

The second round, Neil keeps boxing well and forces the fight. Pryce moves back and counters with his jab. He throws quick shots and follows up a right hand. Bradley tags Neil with a left hook counter, Neil is moved by the shot, off balance a little, but gains composure. Pryce jumps in and is tagged himself by a left hook. Bradley lands a decent right with nearly a minute to go and they both jab at one another. Pryce ends the round more warmed up and lands home more telling shots. Neil is just falling short of them at the moment.

With a quite even third round, both meet again in the fourth, Neil fires a left. Pryce moves around throwing rights and Neil looks for an opening and lands a right of his own. Pryce is moved with the punch and back peddles. Neil's settling down, getting closer and crash's another one home. The crowd erupts and "Sinky" sustains the attack, letting the leather flow attacking Pryce with various shots. Pryce holds on, to avoid the blows and moves back to the middle of the ring. Lands a left hook. Neil is controlling the fight, ending the round with good work on the inside and a nice body shot.

Round five and Pryce feels the Champions power. Bradley was shook under the attacks of Sinclair, dancing an untimely dance after Neil hits him hard with hooks. Sinclair keeps the pressure on and hurts Pryce. Bradley calls him in for more, clearly hurt, he gives out the macho signs of "I can take it". To Bradley's credit, he took the shots that many would have crumbled from and kept his own attacks up best he could.

Round eight, both fighter jab at each other, while using the ring. Neil moves in with double jabs backing Pryce off. Pyrce lands his own jab trying to unsettle Neil. Bradley shoots out a right hand, Sinclair cracks out a fast, countering left hook over the top of his right and dumps Pryce on the spot. With Pryce on the canvas the crowd goes wild. Bradley gets up to find "Sinky" moving in for the finish. Sinclair doubles up the same shot, lets the leather fly and lands lefts and rights, sending Bradley's head "Rockin". Pryce is plummeted against the ropes, he gets out and Neil keeps the pressure of the attack on. Landing heavy accurate shots, buckling his legs. The final attack comes when Sinclair lands a left, right twice, stretching Pyrce over the ropes. The towel is thrown in with the referee not seeing it. Pryce receives more hard rights as Sinclair looks loose and fast on the attack. Enzo Calzaghe throws the towel in again and rightly save's his fighter, who was receiving a heavy handed beating.

Sinclair wins the Lonsdale belt outright and the crowd loved it. John Breen braced Bradley Pryce in his effort and Joe Calzaghe congratulated Neil Sinclair on his win. Neil was full of phrase for Pryces effort and stated it was the best challenge to him in a long time. The crowd warmed to the fight.

Questions or Comments to chris_esboxing@hotmail.com