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Hall back with a vengeance

3/ 4/2008

LIGHT-middleweight Matthew Hall scored a wonderful victory at the Welsh National Arena in Cardiff.

The 23-year-old boxer from Langley received many accolades after his bout, including one from commentator John Rawlings who said: "This was the best, most exciting fight seen in Great Britain, or anywhere for that matter, in a long, long time."

He faced the previously unbeaten Kerry Hope from the Joe Calzaghe stable.

The action was fast and furious from the first bell.

Fight fans were on their feet within the first few seconds and never sat down again until the eighth round when the referee stopped the bout in Hall’s favour with Hope helpless and wobbling on rubbery legs.

Hall fought like a man possessed, waves of punches washing all over his opponent.

Hope fought a completely different fight than what the Collyhurst and Moston camp had visualised.

In his previous bouts he had boxed on his front foot, using his reach and height advantage. But this time he fought as if he thought, or had been been told, that the only way to win was to stop Hall in his tracks.

The courageous fighters stood toe-to-toe and slugged it out. Hall dug power-packed body punches into the Welsh lad’s body then switched to the head.

In the third round, after connecting with a thunderous left hook, he dropped the Welsh fighter for a count of nine. Only bravery saw Hope beat the count.

In each round Hall was the aggressor, and some of his moves and combination punching was simply world class. He slipped the taller fighter’s leads and countered superbly.

Calzaghe and Enzo Maccarinelli were stood inches from the ropes banging on the canvas and shouting instructions to their stablemate.

There were no warnings from BBBC officials to these two champions, but when coach Brian Hughes shouted to his man "Turn him Matthew, turn him," he was warned several times.

The fighters never slackened their pace, and heads collided.

Hall received a cut over his right eye, and in round six he received another under his left eye in an awkward place.

But he never eased off. He was intent and his determination was unbelievable.

Many were shouting to the referee to stop the fight, not because of Hall’s cuts, but because of the punches he was raining down on the game and brave Welsh fighter.

After putting Hope down in the eighth, Hall never stopped punching. The referee gave Hope every chance, but finally halted the fight with Hall a blooded winner.

Coach Hughes said: "Matthew was tipped to become a big star in British boxing, but certain influential people seemed to have lost faith in him after last year’s surprise defeat to Martin Conception. He seemed out of favour for future promotions.

"His message in this fight was loud and clear - ‘I’m back with a vengeance.’

"This was a fight Matthew was so determined to win. Both of us felt we were up against it. But he overcame all the obstacles and fought like a young Jock McAvoy, and I don’t say that lightly.

"He was absolutely brilliant, and I was proud to be in his corner.

"This was one of those fights that will live in the memory for ever."