Gavin Rees wins by knockout to defend his lightweight gold against Anthony Mezaache - Boxing news
Gavin Rees, the former WBA world lightweight champion, successfully defended his EBU (European) lightweight gold, in a 12-round bout against Anthony Mezaache, the current WBA Inter-Continental lightweight and IBF International lightweight champion, by halting
the French in the seventh round via knockout.
The event was organised and promoted by Bernard Roos of R2 Image & Events and was televised on Friday March 23, 2012.
The above skirmish headlined the event and the ring for the extravaganza was stretched at Gymnase Georges Racine situated at Clichy la Garenne, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
Rees was entering in his career’s 38th bout and emerged as a victor in 36. The Briton collected 16 of his wins by knockout and lost just one bout in his whole career to Andriy Kotelnyk. The 31-year-old orthodox recently nailed Andy Murray to grab the vacant
EBU (European) lightweight gold and since then successfully defended it against Derry Mathews.
Gavin’s Friday night brawl against Anthony was his second European title defence bout. Anthony, the French number two slightly lagged behind Gavin ‘The Rock’ in experience. The 33-year-old has been in a total 30 bouts and came out victorious in 21. He has
collected just six of his total wins by knockout.
The two aspects that motivated Gavin to put up a great show were Anthony’s ignorable knockout ability and brawls with low cadre pugilists. The only aspect that might have sky-rocketed Anthony’s determination was his win against Aristides Perez, a bout in
which he impressively grabbed two titles.
Rees was undoubtedly the favourite and had odds as well as stats in his favour which helped him emphatically to nail his Friday night opponent. From the very beginning, Gavin placed well targeted jabs that connected Anthony’s face and kept on inflicting
maximum damage.
In the second round a head collision between the two pugilists busted Anthony’s forehead which was later on sealed by his corner men otherwise the whole bout would have ended earlier most probably via retired hurt.
The bout continued and Rees moved here and there in the ring taking Anthony every now and then to the ropes battering him with his powerful jabs that not only connected the Frenchman’s face but also damaged his body.
In the seventh round, Rees leashed his final wave of jabs and vehemently obliterated Anthony after flattening him down on the ring floor, leaving Fabian Guggenheim, the bout-referee, no other choice but halt the bout.
The bout ended with just 45 seconds remaining in the seventh round to end and Gavin successfully came out with the apex European gold shinning round his waist and a 36th victory, 17th by knockout, adding worth to his resume.
Anthony now has seven loses in his career and collected second via knockout. The event was co-headlined by the skirmish between Daouda Sow and Mickey Coveney.
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