30.10.06 – Deptford swaggerer Anthony Small continued his surge up the light middleweight ranks last weekend, crushing previously unbeaten Mancunian Prince Arron in two pulsating rounds to clear the path for a November 13 return to the ring. Small, 25, improved his unblemished record to 13-0 (8) at the small hall show in Elephant & Castle, London, and will be back in action before the year is out against an undetermined opponent on the undercard of European Cruiserweight Champion David Haye’s highly anticipated WBC world title eliminator against Italian Giacobbe Fragomeni on a Maloney Promotions bill at York Hall in London on November 17..
By ripping through yet another sturdy foe, the hard-hitting Londoner further demonstrated on Saturday night why so many are tipping him for great things. Loquacious, charismatic, and immensely talented, Small is a natural-born entertainer who puts on a show each and every time he performs.
Though Arron, a lanky, well-schooled fighter, made a commendable effort in the opening round to keep Small at the end of his quick jab, he was noticeably stung more than once by long-range missiles. As unpredictable as he is accurate, Small perplexed his opponent with an array of lead right hands and corkscrew uppercuts, displaying shades of Naseem Hamed as he landed dazzling shots from both flanks.
Having riled up the crowd with a customarily audacious ring-entrance, Small elicited thunderous applause early in the second when a sweeping left hook floored Arron heavily.
Up quickly but clearly hurt, Arron did all he could to make it through the round but a follow-up barrage dropped him for a second time about minute or so later. Though he once again staggered to his feet, the referee had seen enough and rightly called a halt to the massacre.
Small now has his sights set on the big names of the UK fight scene, and may only be a fight or two away from challenging for the British honours. The likes of Jamie Moore, Wayne Alexander and Bradley Pryce are at the top of his wish-list, as he prepares to prove that he is the premier 154-pounder in the country. Though still relatively inexperienced, having only turned pro in 2004, Small is supremely confident that he can best any of the aforementioned names.
His rivals, however, may have reservations about throwing hands with the dangerous switch-hitter. It remains to be seen, then, who will step up to the plate first.