By Ben Carey
A disciplined performance from Kevin Anderson saw him retain his British welterweight title with a lopsided points victory over veteran Eamonn Magee in Motherwell (119-110, 118-111 and 117-110).
The 24-year-old Scot, beaten narrowly on points for the first time by Ali Nuumbembe in February, had spoken of retirement had he suffered back-to-back defeats against a challenger who was 11 years his senior. But having rededicated himself to his profession, and drafted in respected trainer Bob Shannon to head his corner (who ironically also trains Nuumbembe), Anderson produced a mature display to sweep a unanimous points decision on the cards and became the first man to floor Magee with a right hand in the eleventh.
Referee Howard Foster had very little to do in a contest largely devoid of memorable incidents. The action in the majority of the rounds was the same, Anderson patiently stalking and enjoying success with lead rights with Magee looking to counter off the back foot but generally connecting with fresh air.
The pattern of the fight can best be described by rounds 6 and 11. In both these sessions southpaw Magee tried to come out of his shell and exert his authority only to be promptly put back in his place. Eamonn began the sixth well, commanding the centre of the ring and getting off with three successive straight lefts which forced the British champion to retreat. However Anderson, refusing to allow Magee a firm foothold in the fight, raised his game and clipped Magee with right hands and a left hook which nailed the Belfast man high on the temple.
Realising the fight was running away from him, Magee made a concerted effort in the eleventh but generally his work lacked urgency(a fundamental flaw throughout his career which arguably cost him a famous victory over Ricky Hatton five years ago). Keen to remain in control, Anderson upped his workrate and his greater speed ultimately proved to be decisive. This was typified when Magee, looking to wind up a hook in close, was beaten to the punch and dumped on his backside after being nailed flush by an Anderson right hand with 50 seconds remaining.
Eamonn smiled ruefully, tapped his gloves to acknowledge a good shot, and rose at nine. The challenger didn’t appear hurt but looked weary for the first time and had to withstand a determined follow-up attack from Anderson who was eager to finish things. Magee got on his bike and managed to evade the Anderson’s determined swings. The challenger tried to rally in the final round but never looked like registering the knockout he needed as Anderson stayed out of harms way to make victory a formality.
With his charge’s career now back on track, manager Tommy Gilmour spoke afterwards of trying to deliver Anderson a European title crack. In contrast this looks like being the end of a hard road for Magee. Restricted to only three outings since suffering a violent street attack which left him with multiple injuries in 2004, the Belfast man’s poor accuracy was a constant hindrance.
The mean and moody Magee will forever be remembered as the man who came perilously close to derailing a young Ricky Hatton, after decking the onrushing ‘Hitman’ and having him in desperate trouble for the remainder of the second round. What might have been.
