Technique was the deciding factor in Liverpool this evening — the main difference between Anthony Crolla achieving his boyhood dream and John Watson being left crumpled on the canvas with an oxygen mask strapped to his face. In terms of effort, drive, heart and grit, neither man was left wanting in a high octane battle at Liverpool’s Olympia.
Crolla, sporting a “Treadstone Security” tee on his way into the ring, performed like a fictional assassin from the similarly named black ops organisation in those rollicking “Bourne” movies. A 6/4 outsider going in, he oozed poise and vitality as he hopped between the strands, cheered to the rafters by a travelling band of Mancunians who’d navigated 30 odd miles across the North West to stand behind him. Watson, meanwhile, appeared tense and brooding as he entered the fray, striding out under a dark cloud accompanied by the gravelled tones of Mr. Johnny Cash.
Crolla, who had taken a real gamble in accepting this fight at short notice away from his natural stomping ground at junior lightweight, showed few nerves in spite of it. With spar mate and lightweight champion of Europe John Murray in his corner, Crolla obviously felt confident in his ability to mix things up with his naturally larger foe at 135 pounds and his more positive start carried the 1st round.
The pace kicked on in the second session as Watson continued to give ground, yet the local fighter began pumping out his jab in a frantic bid to stake his claim. Crolla, though, began to find his range regardless, and he got home with a number of counter left hooks and crunching rib benders downstairs. The New Moston man crawled all over Watson in the 3rd. Smouldering now and full of rhythm, he painted a bemused expression across Watson’s face, which looked visibly pained at the speed and the variety of shots heading in his direction.
The older man made a huge push in round 4 — forcing Crolla to give ground in a frenetic act which featured any number of hectic exchanges. Whilst “Million Dollar” rolled, slipped and covered up tightly, Watson, whose technique can still appear quite amateurish at times, threw streams of straight-armed punches which lacked craft but no little force.
Crolla began the 5th strongly, yet was promptly slugged in the groin in a bid to slow his progress and once he had recovered, he discovered that Watson was reluctant to give ground for the second round in succession. The Scouser, showing true grit, drove out bunches of punches in a determined bid to haul himself back into the contest.
Trainer Joe Gallagher, perhaps sensing a change in momentum, sent Crolla out for the 6th with a flea in his ear and his young marauder responded in style. A beautiful right uppercut sickened Watson and as he listed slightly into his own corner, Crolla charged after the finish, battering his man unmercifully up unto the bell. Despite cornerman Dave Coldwell’s attempts to bolster him, Watson began falling short with his shots in round 7. Crolla — cleverly stepping back from his opponent’s laboured volleys — flashed some lovely movement, smoothly moving in and out of range before landing his patented left screw shot which shoved Watson backwards into the ropes.
Despite the fact that he was hopelessly outgunned in the style stakes, Watson continued to churn out piston-like straight lefts and rights with an admirable defiance. Although both fighters were exchanging punches tit for tat, Crolla always looked sturdy and comfortable, whereas Watson’s head had begun to jerk about on its swivel, fatigue clearly taking its toll.
Crolla, amazingly fit and brimming with purpose, accelerated again in the 9th and, although Watson was matching his output, his own swings had cruelly begun to catch fresh air. As Crolla savaged him again, Watson backed up into the ropes and, dishevelled and disorganised and with his feet and shoulders squared up, he fielded a huge right hand hurled by Crolla from the southpaw stance. Watson’s head snapped sharply to his right and he toppled instantly over onto his side, referee Richie Davies immediately waving his hand to conclude matters at 2:35 of the 9th.
Watson was quickly attended by paramedics as Joe Gallagher, unable to celebrate his stable’s 42nd consecutive victory as a result, waited pensively in mid ring with his hands up on his head. After a few agonising minutes, Watson managed to make it up onto his stool unaided which released Crolla to bask in this, the finest performance of his ever-improving career.
The new British lightweight champ rises to 20-2 (8) and can look ahead to yet another barnstorming affair against former incumbent Gavin Rees. Watson falls to 13-2 (5) after suffering heartbreaking “Groundhog Day” style defeats in back-to-back bouts.
The fans, meanwhile, went home happy.
