So after two excellent points-winning bouts, Bangla went for a rematch with Joe 'Bully Boy' Craig. Craig had knocked out JJ in the first round of their bout 16 months earlier. Perhaps now Jowls had grown in ring savvy just enough to take his revenge. The bout took place in Manchester. Not quite what Bangla intended when he tried to get Craig up to Newcastle, but the purse was decent and the experience invaluable.
Round 1. As expected, Craig came out looking to put Jowls away as quickly as he'd done last time. Although Jowls was looking fresh and alert, Craig quickly took control and was the one who made his mark. An early Jowls attack was brushed aside and Craig landed a right swing counter of his own. Then he followed up with a left hook. Through the middle part of the round Craig seemed content to jab with Jowls powerless. The a right uppercut from Craig and a right cross and Jowls was could offer very little in response. The round to Craig by a mile.
Round 2. With Jowls almost running from Craig, the black country boy was looking for the kill. Jowls was able to pick off Craig as he cam forward, but the sheer volume of Craig's aggressive attacks was enough. A stunning right hook caught Jowls below the heart and Craig fiished the round working inside to Jowls's body. Another clear round to Craig. The only question was whether the ref had scored both rounds 10-9 or 10-9½.
Round 3. A better round for Jowls. Craig looked like he needed a rest after those two exhausting rounds but he kept pressing forward. Most of his attacks missed though and Jowls was able to pick him off with a wonderful 2-fisted attack inside. Not much else happened as the two seemed more like they were sparring. Perhaps a slight advantage to Jowls, but he still had a lot of ground to make up.
Round 4. Craig continued to press, Jowls defended and backed away. But it was Jowls who caught Craig with a beautiful left hook. Carig was hurt be he clung on. That blow slowed him up a bit and both seemed content to stay out of any more trouble. Round to Jowls.
Round 5. With clear instructions from Bangla in the corner to take the fight to Craig, Jowls went after Craig all round. For sheer number of punches landed, Jowls won the round easily but he never looked like putting Craig down. And so Jowls was going the distance for the fourth fight in a row. I had them pretty much even after Jowls's comeback.
Round 6. Both men drummed up whatever strength they had left for an all out round. Jowls struck early with right and left hooks to Craig's body. A right cross caught Craig on the head but then he landed a left uppercut right on Jowls's jaw. Craig then began to dominate, especially inside. He scored with a right hook and then a jab to the body after the ref had pulled them apart. A left uppercut to the chin hurt Jowls and the Brawler needed something in the final minute as the fight was slipping away from him. Jowls summoned a left hook which did hurt, but Craig clinched and stayed upright. Late on a Craig left swung was low and he was warned by the referee. A fairly even round overall with Jowls starting and finishing well but with Craig dominating the middle stages, and a lot would depend on whather that low blow influenced the referee at all.
Decision time. It couldn't have been closer. The ref scored it 58-57½ Craig. He also had them dead even going into the last round, but Craig's superior work rate probably won it in the end. A second defeat to Craig for Jowls. Where would he go next?
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