Cyrus Pattinson (5-0) and Chris Jenkins (23-6-3) produced an early contender for the British fight of the year at the Newcastle Arena, Newcastle, in a thrilling all-action welterweight affair. The contest and event were promoted by Matchroom Boxing, forming part of their long-running #NXTGEN series broadcast on DAZN. Cyrus silenced critics that faced a fighter of Jenkin’s calibre so soon in his career with an impressive yet abrasive victory due to the all-action affair.
Cyrus started the contest on the front foot to grab the centre ring and was able to lead effectively; however, Jenkins was quick to respond after every jab and lead, mainly targeting the body with right hooks and pivoting out of trouble. Cyrus was throwing the more eye-catching shots, though.
Round two saw Jenkins take the lead on the front foot with several combinations to the body and targeted throwing the supercuts on several occasions with success as Pattinson tried to trap Jenkins onto the ropes.
The third through to six was effectively a fight in a phone booth with both fighters unwilling to take a back seat and, to coin a phrase take no step back. Both traded with each other, with both boxers showing no signs of unravelling, no signs of each other shots leaving a dent in each other.
However, that could not last forever as at the start of the seventh round, Pattinson landed a long looping left on the temple of Jenkins, who, for the first time in the contest, showed the first sign of him being wobbled. Cyrus was to then take control of the round, finally creating the space to land the more telling shots and was able to catch Jenkins trying to close the gap on the inside. Jenkins could still target the body and throw with Pattinson, but the sting of his shots had left the former British champion.
The eighth was an indication of Jenkins being told in the corner to get back to his boxing, and the round was a lot more competitive than the previous round. Returning to the close-up nature of fighting. Pattinson was now to push Jenkins back as Jenkins started to tire and slow down. As Jenkins returned to his stool between rounds, Gary Lockett (trainer of Jenkins) asked if Chris had two rounds left in him.
Round nine saw Cyrus really up the pace back up following a slower round eight in tempo as Pattinson started to land clean on heavily. A one-two combination went unanswered, landing on Jenkins, which saw trainer Gary Lockett withdraw Jenkins after one minute and thirty-four seconds of the ninth round.
Applause to both men came from the spectators in one of the most entertaining fights of the year in British boxing so far in 2023.
Pattinson claimed the vacant WBA international welterweight title in victory and improved his record to an unbeaten six wins.
Two-time Olympian Pat McCormack (3-0) continued his impressive start to professional life with an impressive performance over Dario Socci, claiming a stoppage in the co-main event in the final minute of round eight. The contest was scheduled for eight rounds, with McCormack showing a vast gulf of class between himself and Socci. Socci showed his displeasure at being stopped.
Solomon Dacres (5-0) halted Robert Ismay (11-0) emphatically to claim the English heavyweight title in two rounds. Dacres was a level above a brave Ismay, who had started the contest on the front foot, looking to take the contest to Dacres. Solomon remained composed and ultimately got to work in the second round, a left hook-right hand dismantled Ismay. Ismay following the combination, was defenceless on the ropes with Dacres letting his hands go freely, with the referee stepping in to halt the contest after 2:04 of the round.
Hopey Price (9-0)marked his return to the ring after a disrupted 2022 campaign with a comfortable points victory over Thomas Masson (20-5-1) to claim the WBA continental super-bantamweight title in the process. Injuries had frustrated Price’s progress who had suffered a back injury last year and boxing the full scheduled ten-rounds would have added confidence to the Leeds native fighter who boxes out of Dave Coldwell’s stable.
Price claimed a unanimous points win with 100-90, 99-91 & 98-92, respectively.
Previously before Price’s successful contest against Masson, middleweight Mark Dickinson (4-0) defeated Ben Ridings over eight rounds. Former team GB Olympian Calum French defeated Jordan Ellison via points over eight rounds at lightweight.
Adam Reichard (1-0) defeated Jahfieus Faure over four rounds at lightweight, while Kevin Mitchell trained Maisey Rose Courtney and extended her slate to 2-0 against Buchra El Quaissi.
