Ted Cheeseman Outpoints Sam Eggington in a Backyard Beauty

If there had been fans in attendance, they would have undoubtedly accorded Ted Cheeseman and Sam Eggington a standing ovation at the conclusion of their 12-round match today (Saturday, Aug. 1). Both traded damaging shots in the furious final round of a contest with many twists and turns with a minor IBF 154-pound title at stake.

Cheeseman vs. Eggington headlined the first of four planned outdoor shows at the Matchroom Sport headquarters in Brentwood, Essex, a suburb of London. The bout was staged in a ring pitched under a canopy in the garden behind a mansion that once served as the Hearn family home.

Cheeseman, the favorite, started fast. He wobbled Eggington in the second round but Eggington, a saucy lad from Worcestershire, clawed his way back into the fight. Cheeseman hurt him again late in round eight, likely stealing the round when it appeared that Eggington had the momentum. When the smoke cleared, all three judges had it for Cheeseman. The scores were 115-114 and 116-113 twice.

A 24-year-old Londoner, Cheeseman improved to 16-2-1. Both of his losses were to currently undefeated fighters and both bouts could have gone the other way. Eggington, best known to American fight fans for sending Paulie Malignaggi off into retirement with an eighth-round stoppage, fell to 28-7.

Other Bouts

In the co-feature, Belfast banger James Tennyson (27-3, 23 KOs) won the British lightweight title with a sixth-round stoppage over Gavin Gwynne (12-2). Tennyson, ranked #9 by the WBO, is touted as the hardest puncher in the lightweight division. This was his fifth straight win inside the distance since being stopped by Tevin Farmer in a bid for Farmer’s IBF 130-pound title

Gwynne, a 30-year-old Welshman, was a willing mixer but his punches didn’t carry the same force. Tennyson landed often with short left hooks. In the sixth, a huge right hook forced Gwynne to take a knee. When he arose, Tennyson pursued him, landing a barrage of punches, and the referee called a halt.

In an intriguing heavyweight match slated for 10 rounds, Fabio Wardley (9-0, 8 KOs) made short work of Simon Vallily (17-3-1), taking him out in the third round. Wardley, whose hands were a lot faster, was in control from the get-go. He rocked Vallily with a big left hand and was pummeling him on the ropes when the referee intervened. The official time was 1:01

Managed by Dillian Whyte, the six-foot-five, 224-pound Wardley entered the pro ranks with no amateur experience whatsoever. He honed his game sparring with the likes of Oleksandr Usyk. Vallily, 34, was a solid prospect after winning gold at the 2010 Commonwealth games, but his career never took flight, having been interrupted twice by prison sentences.

Super lightweight Dalton Smith, a decorated amateur, scored his fifth knockout in six pro starts, blasting out Nathan Bennett with a vicious overhand right in the fifth frame. Smith (pictured on his ring walk) had Bennett in deep trouble in the opening round, but Bennett recovered nicely until Smith lowered the boom. Bennett entered the match with a 9-1 record but was making his first start against an opponent with a winning record.

Former British Commonwealth champions Jordan Gill and Reese Bellotti opened the show in a 10-round featherweight contest. Gill (25-1, 7 KOs) had a little too much class for the harder punching but less athletic Bellotti (14-4) and won a unanimous decision. The scores were 96-95 and 97-93 twice.

Thailand

Earlier today, at a TV studio in Bong Phun, Thailand, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, aka Wisaksil Wangek, scored a 10-round unanimous decision over countryman Amnat Ruenroeng. The bout was fought at the catch-weight of 120 pounds. The scores were 97-94, 96-93, and a far-too-wide 99-91.

Sor Rungvisai, 33, was making his first start since losing his WBC 115-pound world title in a rematch with Juan Francisco Estrada in April of last year. He started sluggishly, but took charge in the middle rounds as Ruenroeng, a two-time Olympian and former IBF 115-pound champion, but now 40 years old, ran out of steam.

Sor Rungvisai, who hopes to nail down a rubber match with Estrada, improved to 48-5-1 (41). Ruenroeng, who opened his career 16-0, has lost four of his last six.

Photo credit: Mark Robinson / Matchroom

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