A little bit me: a little bit you
By East Leeds Magazine Editorial Staff, July 2010
June 6 saw Crossgates WMC stage the first boxing bout in Leeds 15 since time began.
East Leeds lads Marcus Rowe and Peter Kerrigan and female boxer Sam Smith had her 3rd fight in 4 months, a defence of her British Lightweight championship and a challenge for the Commonwealth Belt. As usual, the preparation for the fight wasn't without problems. Sam picked up a chest infection which laid her up for nearly a week, and then had pains in her left hand thumb. Then, surprise surprise, her opponent pulled out citing a knee injury, although the replacement Cornish girl Mandy Tredinnick was probably a more dangerous opponent, with an excellent record in both boxing and Thai boxing. However, Sam seemed relaxed before the fight as she watched Peter Kerrigan win his first fight in the 3rd round by technical knockout after a bruising encounter and Marcus Rowe score an impressive win to take home EBF Northern Area Heavyweight belt.
With eight fights on the bill, the wait for Sam must has seemed like an eternity, but it was worth it. As usual with Sam’s fights it was worth the admission money alone. Sam was on top during the first two rounds although she didn’t have it all her own way, anyone expecting her to finish her opponent off in the 3rd was mistaken. The third was scored even as Mandy showed guts & determination to get back into the fight and finished stronger in the 4th.
Sam won the fight on points and only revealed after she was fighting with one hand as she had damaged ligaments in her thumb, and only intensive physio made the fight possible: "The pain went right through me, after that my left was just for show, obviously this affected me and I really began to tire in the later rounds."
Sam's trainer, Lee Murtagh, was pleased with the result but feels she has work to do: "I don't like to see Sam in a brawl. I want to see her relying more on her skills than brute force. The ability is there to box her opponents - not get involved in brawls with them. If you rely on going for the 'big hit' you are easier to fathom and if it doesn't work you're out of ideas. It’s something we’ll have to work on and improve together, training is a two way street."
Originally Sam was hoping to fight again in early August, but Lee is reluctant to put her up for it so soon: "She's had three titanic fights, which in fairness is what she wanted, but now, she needs to give her body time to recover. It's great she's so keen to keep fighting but I have a responsibility. She will fight again soon but I think it's time to take a step back, have a rest and get back to basics really, I’m only on about a month or so, I don’t think Sam would allow me to impose a longer rest. I’ve never met anyone like her, she’s always wanting to test herself, improve, get quality opponents, she’ll never look at an opponent's record and say: ’maybe next year’. She wants it straight away. We were approached by a twelve times world kick boxing champion who's making a real name for herself as a boxer, Sam saw her record and said 'get me her...NOW!'”
But first up for Sam a rest, then the European Championship rematch with Anissa Haddaoui who just can’t wait to come back to Leeds. Such was the reception she recieved last time.
Share
