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DRISCOLL OVERCOMES STECCA
IN CARDIFF DEBUT
Saturday 28 September 2002
Former amateur standout Jim Driscoll had to call on all his abilities to defeat Italy's Loris Stecca in his professional boxing debut tonight, the Welshman taking a slim unanimous decision verdict in the main event at the Cardiff International Arena (58-57 on all three cards). If not for his defensive brilliance Driscoll could have found himself on the other side of the result, Stecca producing an aggressive performance to cause him all kinds of trouble.
Both men came out all guns blazing in the 1st, Driscoll stunning Stecca with a flurry of shots midway through the frame before the Italian replied strongly in its final minute, a punishing combination and a hard right hand backing Driscoll up. The local-born hero had Stecca looking foolish in round two, using fleet footwork and head movement to avoid a series of offensive raids. Driscoll maintained control in the 3rd before Stecca upped his aggression in round four, perhaps frustrated by his inability to land a clean shot. He threw a bunch of them during the round, landing enough to bring him back into the contest. But while Stecca was relying on volume Driscoll employed precision and economy. He was fantastic in the 5th, peppering his man with trios of jabs and left-right salvos before what was a grandstand finish in the 6th, the two combatants teeing off at will and bringing the appreciative crowd to their feet.
Driscoll wore an expression of relief when the verdict was revealed, congratulating Stecca on a great performance.
Punch totals
Driscoll: 156/296 (.527)
Stecca: 106/680 (.156)
"His workrate was just incredible," Driscoll said. "I feel pretty lucky that I stayed on my feet for the whole fight because some of those haymakers he was loading up with missed by a whisker. If he can produce that type of effort through the rest of the tournament he should go far."
***
In the Co-Feature England's Naseem Hamed came up with an unconvincing effort but was the beneficiary of some questionable judging, able to escape with a unanimous decision win against Nigeria's Hogan Bassey (59-57 on all three cards). Hamed was regarded as an exciting prospect at the league's Manchester selection trials, lauded for his "stunning power, excellent hand speed, and slick defense" but there was pecious little of that in evidence during the first two rounds, Bassey not only outhustling Hamed but also outlanding him. The Nigerian took a 63-19 punches landed edge into round three but all three judges showed scorecards of 19-19.
Hamed became more aggressive in the 3rd and while the quickness of his punches was something to behold he wasn't landing many of them, Bassey showing a great elusive ability. Round three was an edge-of-your-seat three minutes, both men working hard before the action slowed somewhat in the 4th. The judges were unable to split them in either of those two rounds, which they all scored 10-10. When Hamed produced his best work of the bout in round five the tide appeared to have turned in his favour and despite landing less punches than Bassey in the 6th he was much busier than the Nigerian, swaying the judges to award him the round and, as a result, the fight.
A brash, loud and extroverted individual, Hamed was smiling at Bassey through much of the contest, saying afterwards that he was simply "enjoying himself" and that he meant no disrespect by it.
"I've been waiting a long time for this moment," Hamed said. "So there's no way I wasn't going to enjoy it. Just being in the ring and competing, putting myself in this testing position ... it was one of the biggest rushes I've ever felt in my life. I can't wait to do it again."
As the punch totals show, Hamed's activity clearly won him the fight:
Hamed: 75/501 (.156)
Bassey: 129/447 (.289)
The Nigerian was incredulous afterwards, disgusted with the verdict and Hamed's attitude.
"He spent the whole night missing me!" Bassey exclaimed. "How the hell can they say he won that fight? It's ridiculous! He thought it was some kind of joke but it really looks like I'm the one that the joke was played on. I really can't believe this."
Hamed didn't seem at all concerned by Bassey's comments as he left the ring, talking in an animated fashion with his corner crew and the crowd. Even so, it's obvious that he'll need to improve in his next outing. If he produces more of the same with judges who aren't so easily won over, he'll surely pay dearly for it...
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