Namus’s corner were also poised with the towel. Jonas put Namus down again with a left in the second, staggering backwards and down, to be counted out by referee Howard Foster. Mobility and elusiveness from the opening salvos was always going to be key against the naturally bigger woman, but in the opening round Jonas knocked Namus flat on her back with a perfectly timed one-two, which left her rival on unsteady legs by the end of the first stanza. Natasha Jonas moved up three weight classes and made it third time lucky with a spectacular second-round stoppage of Uruguayan Chris Namus as the 37-year-old from Liverpool became a world champion by lifting the vacant WBO light middleweight crown. And Brook can now call himself Khan’s nemesis. Now they have settled the score once and for all. The pair first sparred as schoolboys in 2002, creating a rivalry that over the years turned into a sour hatred of the other. There have been other significant grudge fights in British boxing history - such as the pairings of Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis and David Haye and Dereck Chisora at heavyweight, and the protagonists have later become friends. For the record, they both received million of pounds for doing it, but the money will just ease the pain a little for the loser. It was still compelling as a match-up, as Khan and Brook indulged in a score-settling contest, in a bragging rights brawl of the highest order, two prize fighters not interested in titles but full of desire for the championship of each other.įor both, it was a legacy fight, a chance to put to bed a long, long rivalry. It should have taken place six years ago yet the Manchester Arena was sold out for this ‘car crash’ fight, with both fighters well past their best. The Sheffield man had to change gloves and have new ones, the brand ‘Grant’, re-taped in the ring. But there was controversy before the fight.Įven to the last moments, minutes before the walk-ins to the sold-out, raucous Manchester Arena, there was a dispute over gloves, with Khan’s team complaining about the horse-hair gloves being worn by Brook in his dressing room. ![]() The bad blood evaporated afterwards, as Brook went to Khan’s corner, to check on him. Brook kept his focus, picked his shots brilliantly, landing the heavier blows and covered up skilfully. It was always Khan’s speed against Brook’s timing. Khan endured a brutal fifth round from his rival, and was under even more pressure in the sixth and hurt and, rightly, referee Laughlin stepped in to halt the contest. Khan was hurt again at the end of the third round, a round he was winning, and although downed by Brook’s bodyweight, referee Loughlin ruled it a push. They grinned at each other at the end of the round. Khan’s spirit was undaunted from the second round onwards but Brook patiently rebuffed his flurries of fast hands. Then the Bolton fighter came out aggressively in the second round, as Brook stalked forward, picking his punches. ![]() Khan was in trouble twice in the opening round on wobbly legs, but fought on to survive a torrid first stanza. ![]() It was the right decision from the official.įormer world champions Khan and Brook collided in a fight which was well overdue, but the two 35-year-olds kept to their styles and it was Brook’s that was clearly the superior. Bragging rights to Kell Brook who produced a one-sided beatdown of Amir Khan over six rounds before referee Victor Loughlin stopped the contest.
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