SARA DAVIS v ANGEL McKENZIE

“Dateline, Fusion Leisure Centre, Elephant & Castle, London, England, Saturday night 21st October 2006"

The two women’s bouts featured on Williams World Productions promotion and scheduled as the first and last bouts came in like a whirlwind and went out like a whimper!

At the weigh in shortly before the tournament it was discovered that SARA DAVIS (Derby) despite fasting and loosing 7 lbs that day, weighed 10 stones 11 pounds; 14 lbs more than her younger opponent ANGEL McKenzie (London) 9 stones 11 pounds. (Davis only had had three days notice of the fight.)

The Stewards rightly decided that the weight difference was too great and rescheduled the proposed 4 x 2 minute round contest as a 3 x 2 minute round “Exhibition!“ Exhibition it most certainly was! Of glamour, showmanship, courage and blood. The fans loved it.

McKenzie (33) is Russian by birth, but naturalized British. She runs a boxing and fitness gym in South London with her adopted father Clinton McKenzie a former British and European light welterweight champion. McKenzie is also a female Bodybuilder – in September 2006 being the Runner Up in the U.K. B.F.F. North East Championship Fitness Division.

Since turning pro last year she has had two professional fights, one in England and one in Germany, both of which she won on points. Style : Southpaw.

This was Davis’s first appearance since gaining her licence as a professional boxer from the British Boxing Board of Control in April 2006.

A pretty 35 year old Mother with a young daughter she is a matrimonial divorce lawyer by profession and a keen amateur Bodybuilder. She has had 4 amateur fights, the last in May 2005 when she was the Runner Up in the Middleweight class at the Amateur Boxing Association of England’s Women’s National Championships in Huddersfield. Style: Orthodox.

Striding purposefully into the ring with her light auburn hair tightly platted and clad in a tight black sports bra and pink shorts her bulging muscles were clear to see.

There was then a long delay!

Finally McKenzie’s entourage entered the hall! A large black and white flag advertising her family’s gym was carried by a Second. Mc Kenzie, her light brown hair tightly braided with coloured ribbons was clad in a high necked figure enveloping white rabbit’s fur gown trimmed with red fur to the sleeves and hem. It had a very large bright red “A” on the front and a very large Christian style bright red cross on the back. At the center of this was a red neon sign which flashed “Angel” ! In the 30 years which you humble corresponded has been associated with boxing – he has seen nothing like it! This was Show Business!

McKenzie broke loose from her Seconds and ran through the crowd in a 360 degree circuit of the outside of the ring. She danced and waved before entering the ring. Disrobing she displayed a dark red velvet sports bra and matching velvet shorts.


Round 1

From the bell it was obvious that the term “Exhibition” was the biggest misuse of the English language since Adam and Eve. Both women were here to fight!

McKenzie, a southpaw, tore at Davis in her crouching bobbing style jabbing with her right and then throwing heavy left hooks mainly aimed at the body. Some connected –some did not. Davis retaliated by straight lefts and rights. Shortly into the round McKenzie lost her footing and fell down; but was quickly up – the referee not bothering to give a count, but wiping McKenzie’s gloves. The round continued in similar fashion with Davis tending to hold the centre of the ring whilst both danced around each other throwing heavy punches – which did not always connect.

The crowed applauded at the bell.

Round 2

McKenzie briefly “bated” a section of spectators. Davis launched an attack constantly throwing straight left jabs. The tempo increased. McKenzie continued to try and get inside and threw some very heavy left hooks to Davis’s face. Davis hit back with short double combinations. The referee temporarily stopped the round to speak to Davis’s corner about shouting tactics to their fighter. The round continued with a number of violent clashes. McKenzie threw some big punches but Davis – showing her greater weight and strength absorbed them, and fought back with her own heavy punching. They crowd were very excited and roared at the sight of very heavy punches landing on both women.

Round 3

The pace and ferocity continued unabated . Davis took the fight more to her opponent. McKenzie circled and snarled like a tiger hunting its prey ! Davis got McKenzie's head trapped in a clinch and the referee temporarily stopped the boxing to separate them and to remove a loose ribbon from McKenzie’s hair. Another series of violent clashes ensued which resulted in McKenzie giving Davis a bleeding nose and Davis giving McKenzie a big blood filled bruise under her left eye ! The ferocity continued up to the bell with a series of clinches and violent exchanges of heavy punches. After the final bell, McKenzie jumped into the air and briefly resumed bating the crowd who were roaring enthusiastically.

The M.C. concluded formalities and both women left the ring after hearty applause and whistles from the spectators.

Since her last fight as an amateur, Davis, whilst still lacking technique and timing, has improved her capabilities and shows the strength which her bodybuilding has given her. Speaking after the event she confided to your correspondent that she is now hungry for more contests.

McKenzie also needs to improve her technique and timing

Both women enhanced their reputations AS FIGHTERS, and rightly earned the applause of the crowd.


TATIANA PUCHKOVA v SHANEE MARTIN

This scheduled 6 x 2 min. rounds women’s Flyweight contest was billed as the final and top bout of the tournament.

SHANEE MARTIN (24) from Colchester, England. had a record up till tonight’s fight of 6 professional fights of which she had won 5 (4 by knockouts) and lost 1, She is 5ft 4inches tall and weighed 8 stone 3 lbs. Style : Orthodox.

TATIANA PUCHKOVA (29) from Minsk, Belarus. According to Puchkova’s trainer, Gleb Dubouski (she speaks no English) She is a factory worker who was born in Uzbekistan, and has been boxing for 10 years, 8 as an amateur . She has had 14 amateur bouts, and 6 professional of which she had won 4. At the Weigh In she weighed 7 stone 5 lbs. and is 1.56 metres tall with short black hair. Style : Orthodox.

Round 1

After a few seconds feinting from each woman, Puchkova rushed at Martin with both hands raised in front of her in what can only be described as a form of ram. She proceeded to “push” Martin against the ropes and into first one corner and then another whilst she rained down a series of weak overarm right and left crude clubbing blows to the head and upper torso. Martin skillfully slipped out and countered with crisp combinations including a right hook to the upper body which crumpled Puchkova to the canvas. She got up fairly quickly but after another series of crisp combinations from Martin she went down again. Getting up the referee started a mandatory count, but Puchkova was literally saved by the bell and walked to her corner.

Round 2

Coming out for the second round Puchkova tried the same technique of pushing Martin into a corner and then out again. She delivered a series of fast weak right hand clubbing blows to the right side of Martin’s head. Martin expertly responded with a number of right hooks to the stomach which put Puchkova down again on the canvas. Although she was up fairly quickly, this time the referee effectively counted her out and Martin was declared the winner. The whole fight had not last more than 3 minutes!

A disappointment for the fans! Puchkova’s performance was awful ! A British Boxing Board of Control steward commented after the fight in the presence of your correspondent, that he would not have granted Puchkova a professional licence had she been a British girl.

Martin also expressed her frustration at the lack of competition.

Speaking later Gleb blamed an Indian curry – causing an upset stomach, for his fighter’s poor showing!

Martin now advances to 6 wins and 1 loss.”


Copyright by John E.G.Wilson
N.U.J.      Words = 1410