January 27, 1989. Basildon, Essex
JJ's first professional fight. Having just turned 20 two days earlier, he travelled south to the outskirts of the capital to face journeyman Merryton Lord on a wintry Friday in January. Lord had already had 19 fights, winning 11 but losing 8, but those 11 wins had all been inside the distance. He had a stunning left hook which Johnny would have to be wary of, but that was about all he had to offer. With a reasonable crowd, this would be a good entry to the professional ranks for Jowls. The bout was scheduled for 6 rounds only, but still represented a big jump from his amateur days of first round KO's.
Round 1, and no-one seemed to want to land the first punch. Jowls swung a couple of times and missed. Lord countered and missed as well. It was almost halfway through the first round before Jowls landed a decent right jab to the head. Lord still had nothing in return and then Jowls landed a left hook to the head. That was Jowls's favourite punch that won him most of his amateur bouts.Lord finally mounted an attack of his own, and what an attack! His left hook visibly shook Jowls and the novice hung on to the end of the round. Clearly Lord was just waiting for the opportunity to catch the unwary novice.I scored that one pretty even, with Lord clearly coming out the stronger as the round ended.
Round 2. That left hook in the first round seemed to have stunned Jowls and Lord really went for an early win. It was he who made all the running in round 2. The Brawler's superior skills kept him out of trouble but he was caught several times by Lord's left, especially when he threw the left cross. In the end, it was clear Lord had won the round, but JJ was still within well himself.
Round 3. Another round where Lord pressed continously. This time though the punches really flew. Lord was getting the better of things with Jowls countering whenever he could, but it was only time before Lord caught Jowls good. A left cross to the side of the head was followed by a left hook right on the cheek and Jowls went down on his haunches. No mandatory 8-count in operation, the inexperienced Geordie was back on his feet in 4, taunting his opponent, asking if that was his best shot. Lord caught Jowls at the end of the round and was clearly ahead at the halfway point.
Round 4. Despite the beating he'd taken in the previous round, JJ took the fight back to Lord. In the first half of the round Lord was caught several times but again finished strongly. Maybe just Jowls in that one, but he still needed something to pull this one out of the bag.
Round 5. Jowls was clearly tiring and seemed content to let Lord make the running. Just after the bell Lord walked onto a right hook and had to hang on. in the middle stages a Lord right to the head seemed to open up a cut under Jowls's left eye, but despite mounting attack after attack Lord kept leaving himself open and Jowls won the round by a mile.
Round 6. Final round. I had them scored even at this stage and both looked dead on their feet as they moved to the centre of the ring for the touch of gloves. Jowls stared the better and caught Lord with a right swing but then Lord's experience began to tell as he landed left and right combinations to Jowls's head and body. As the fight seemed to slow towards the end Lord summed up one last ounce of energy and put Jowls down for an 8-count right at the death. With that final blow the round was clearly Lord's.
A great comeback by The Byker Brawler but a loss to start his professional career. The ref scored it 58½-57½ Lord. I had it a little closer, but couldn't disagree with the final result. Two knock-downs and a bleeding cut under the left eye. Would Jowls learn from this humbling experience?
JJ's first professional fight. Having just turned 20 two days earlier, he travelled south to the outskirts of the capital to face journeyman Merryton Lord on a wintry Friday in January. Lord had already had 19 fights, winning 11 but losing 8, but those 11 wins had all been inside the distance. He had a stunning left hook which Johnny would have to be wary of, but that was about all he had to offer. With a reasonable crowd, this would be a good entry to the professional ranks for Jowls. The bout was scheduled for 6 rounds only, but still represented a big jump from his amateur days of first round KO's.
Round 1, and no-one seemed to want to land the first punch. Jowls swung a couple of times and missed. Lord countered and missed as well. It was almost halfway through the first round before Jowls landed a decent right jab to the head. Lord still had nothing in return and then Jowls landed a left hook to the head. That was Jowls's favourite punch that won him most of his amateur bouts.Lord finally mounted an attack of his own, and what an attack! His left hook visibly shook Jowls and the novice hung on to the end of the round. Clearly Lord was just waiting for the opportunity to catch the unwary novice.I scored that one pretty even, with Lord clearly coming out the stronger as the round ended.
Round 2. That left hook in the first round seemed to have stunned Jowls and Lord really went for an early win. It was he who made all the running in round 2. The Brawler's superior skills kept him out of trouble but he was caught several times by Lord's left, especially when he threw the left cross. In the end, it was clear Lord had won the round, but JJ was still within well himself.
Round 3. Another round where Lord pressed continously. This time though the punches really flew. Lord was getting the better of things with Jowls countering whenever he could, but it was only time before Lord caught Jowls good. A left cross to the side of the head was followed by a left hook right on the cheek and Jowls went down on his haunches. No mandatory 8-count in operation, the inexperienced Geordie was back on his feet in 4, taunting his opponent, asking if that was his best shot. Lord caught Jowls at the end of the round and was clearly ahead at the halfway point.
Round 4. Despite the beating he'd taken in the previous round, JJ took the fight back to Lord. In the first half of the round Lord was caught several times but again finished strongly. Maybe just Jowls in that one, but he still needed something to pull this one out of the bag.
Round 5. Jowls was clearly tiring and seemed content to let Lord make the running. Just after the bell Lord walked onto a right hook and had to hang on. in the middle stages a Lord right to the head seemed to open up a cut under Jowls's left eye, but despite mounting attack after attack Lord kept leaving himself open and Jowls won the round by a mile.
Round 6. Final round. I had them scored even at this stage and both looked dead on their feet as they moved to the centre of the ring for the touch of gloves. Jowls stared the better and caught Lord with a right swing but then Lord's experience began to tell as he landed left and right combinations to Jowls's head and body. As the fight seemed to slow towards the end Lord summed up one last ounce of energy and put Jowls down for an 8-count right at the death. With that final blow the round was clearly Lord's.
A great comeback by The Byker Brawler but a loss to start his professional career. The ref scored it 58½-57½ Lord. I had it a little closer, but couldn't disagree with the final result. Two knock-downs and a bleeding cut under the left eye. Would Jowls learn from this humbling experience?
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