Michael Jennings Stops Ross Minter In Thriller!

by James Slater: Tonight, at The Excel Arena, London, defending WBU welterweight champ Michael Jennings and his challenger Ross “The Boss” Minter put on an excellently entertaining and thrilling fight. The contest, chief support to Amir Khan Vs. Gairy St Clair, saw both men marked up, shaken on occasion and the contest had more than its fair share of switching momentums. The end finally came right at the end of round number nine, as Minter’s corner threw in the towel seconds after the challenger had been decked heavily by a flush left hook to the head..

In the 1st, the 30-year-old Jennings, considered a non-puncher by many, surprised Minter with a cracking right hand upstairs. Minter’s knees dipped, but he managed to remain upright – a bright start to what turned out to be a cracking fight.

The 29-year-old Minter, the son of former middleweight king Alan Minter, came back well in rounds two and three. Bulling Jennings around the ring at times, his aggression won him his share of success.

By the fourth, Minter was showing signs of battle, cut as he was over his left eye. It was also in this session that Minter hit the floor for the first time in the action-packed fight. “The Boss” was caught again by a big right hand, and Jennings’ follow up with the same hand put the challenger down right at the end of the round. Minter beat the count, but he was lucky the bell was so close in coming.

In the fifth, Minter was bleeding from another cut, this one in his left ear. Pouring blood, the 29-year-old nevertheless continued to bore in at his man – scoring with a good right hand upstairs. Jennings was jabbing very well, however, catching Minter frequently. The champion was also sporting a cut of his own over the left eye now though.

By the 7th, Jennings was noticeably tired, as his low held hands showed. Minter came back to win this seventh round, and it was clear the argument was not over yet. Minter also scored with a sharp left hook to the jaw in round eight. Indeed, the 29-year-old was looking the stronger man now. But then, again at the end of the round, Jennings suddenly opened up with a burst of hard shots. A left hand, followed by a right, badly staggered Minter at the bell to end the 8th and a win for the 30-year-old now looked imminent.

Sure enough, the finish came in the next round. Jennings instantly opened up in the 9th, and went for the ending. His right eye now badly swollen, the WBU champ was soon tattooing his rival with both hands. Minter’s heart and courage were admirable, but Jennings would not be denied. A sweet left hook to the jaw scored a dramatic and quite spectacular knockdown, and Minter crashed heavily. Up at the count of eight, Minter was under pressure from both hands as Jennings refused to let him off the hook. With no chance of a win for their man now, Minter’s corner threw in the towel. The white flag fluttering in coincided with the very end of the round. Though he complained, the fight was over and Minter had been TKO’d in 9 electrifying rounds of boxing.

With the win, arguably his career best, Jennings improved to 32-1(15) The beaten Minter, who afterwards vowed to carry on fighting, fell to 17-3-1(8).