Symmetry my dear Watson

Photo: Picture by Mark Robinson

TAKE THAT . . . Lee Purdy catches Oldham challenger Craig Watson with a stinging left hand in the British welterweight showdown at Oldham Sports Centre.

BOXING: 
 
No fairytale homecoming for Oldhamer
ON the night professional boxing returned to Oldham, Craig Watson’s bid to regain the British welterweigh title went up in smoke.

More than 1,000 supporters flocked to Oldham Sports Centre for the Hatton Promotions show hoping Watson would use the rematch to avenge the fifth-round stoppage by Lee Purdy at the Manchester Arena in April.

But five was the magic number once again for the man from Essex and this time his demolition job was even more brutal.

A vicious left to the torso half-way through the round had Watson on his knees and shaking his head.

He survived an eight-count, but a stinging right to the side of the head 30 seconds later sent him crashing on to the canvas in front of his own corner.

His training team implored their man to battle on but he refused, provoking a joyous reaction from his opponent — and a mass exodous from the venue.

It all started so well for Watson. Entering the ring to MC Hammer's ‘U Can’t Touch This’ and donning Athletic’s new away shirt, the 28-year-old was greeted by an ear-splitting reception.

Anyone who witnessed the first bout between these two men, in which Purdy triumphed courtesy of a blistering right, knew the hometown fighter would have to hit the ground running if he was to make inroads.

And that is exactly what he did. An excellent left hook barely half-a-minute into proceedings saw the atmosphere reach fever pitch.

He was on the front foot until the final seconds of the first round, when Purdy produced a handy flurry on the ropes, although Watson appeared unfazed.

The following two rounds belonged to the challenger too. A minute in to the second he broke through Purdy's defences and managed to keep his opponent on the back foot.

And the fans were on their feet in the third when a clear statement of intent saw Watson make his cleanest connection yet with a left to the temple — a move he replicated almost immediately to ramp up the noise.

But then came the turning point. Just when all the momentum seemed to be with the hometown lad, a hammerblow less than a minute from the end of the round brought Purdy right back into the contest and earned him what would turn out to be a vital psychological advantage before the bell.

Watson seemed deflated by the realisation that he had come out on top in all three rounds but ultimately failed to truly shake the man on the receiving end.

The effect was clear from the start of the fourth. Watson had spent the previous exchanges hopping and dummying — but now the movement was severely limited. His static demeanour left him alarmingly open to attacks from the left and the early shine was rapidly waring off.

A couple of decent body shots kept his eye in, but a blow to the side of the jaw caused him to wobble and only the bell rescued him.

Fans tried to rally Watson as the fifth round began, but by now the minority of Purdy followers were the loudest and the writing was on the wall.

The belt-holder could smell blood and pegged back Watson with three flurries in quick succession.

“Get off the ropes Craig” was the cry from his corner, but then came the two final blows that ruined Watson’s homecoming as his dream bout turned into another fifth-round nightmare.

He was still afforded generous applause from those remaining in Oldham Sports Centre — despite falling short it was clear he had given his all in a bid to make it a memorable night for the town.

Purdy’s devestating display after early pressure also earned respect from the home faithful.