Selson Common: The men selected to battle for the maiden RBC lightweight had vastly different career trajectories. Dutch Sam came into the fight with an 8/2/0 record. The two stumbles came while he was still wet as a prizefighter and after winning six on the trot, Sam was widely considered to be one of most dangerous wee lads around. Pardo Wilson was another matter all together. Just a few months past, Wilson claimed a 2/8/1 record but he stunned the formerly undefeated Caleb Baldwin in taking the English belt with a solid fifteen round decision. On the basis of that one win, Wilson was pitted against Sam for the REC Lightweight honors but was given little hope.
The mill was far more entertaining than could have been expected. Despite the fact that Dutch Sam landed nearly three times as many blows and knocked the English champ down twice, Wilson demonstrated great pluck in keeping the rounds close enough to actually win six of the fifteen. Though Sam had Wilson down bloody and exhausted, he could never get inside to properly finish the job. Wilson employed a lightning-quick uppercut in close quarters that backed Sam off and wobbled the superior man on occasion. Wilson may indeed be the stiff that his record suggests he is but he will need to be taken seriously hence forth.
Other Doings:
Current English and former World Middleweight champ Jem Belcher blistered Isaac Bittoon (7/3/1) in a bloody battle that saw Bittoon down twice and Belcher once before the challenger bowed in the twelfth. Belcher is eager for another crack at Bill Richmond.
English Heavyweight title holder Tom Cribb continued to impress with a four round destruction of veteran Jack Firby (19/8/0). Six of the young man's seven victories have been bloody and brutal submissions making Cribb a rising force to be reckoned with.
FIRST LIGHTWEIGHT KING