Last weekend in Norwich, European lightweight champion Jonathan Thaxton of England slugged it out with French challenger, Anthony Mezaache in one of the best bouts so far this year.
Photographer Justin McKie was ringside to capture all the bruising action.
Photos © Justin McKie
Click on the photos to enlarge.At stake: Jonathan Thaxton's European Lightweight Title. Thaxton claimed the championship with a one punch 3rd round knockout of Juan Carlos Diaz Melero in October of 2008. Preparing for battle - Thaxton looking calm and focused, as he has his hands wrapped before the contest. After spitting out his mouth guard to buy some time, the challenger managed to survive the round, although found himself down 3 points on the scorecards. Mezaache connects with his left jab as referee Massimo Barrovecchio looks on. Mezaache lunges in with a right hand, as Thaxton tries to pull away from it. The challenger connects with a right hand that snaps the champion's head back. More from Mezaache as the resiliant challenger works his way back into the fight. The action was sometimes awkward as is often the case when a soupthaw battles it out with a right handed fighter. Thaxton successfully times the challengers awkward ducking movements, and lands a hard left uppercut. Tired, but desperate to hang onto his crown, the champion digs hard with a right hand as he attempts to swing the momentum back in his favour. The challenger is relentless, and doesn't stop coming. Here he elicits a grimace out of the champion, as he lands a right hand to the body. There was no let up to the action, as the determined challenger kept pressing, while the champion, his eye badly swollen battled gamely on as the fight moved into the later stages. Both fighters are sporting the wounds of battle as the grueling contest reaches its final moments. Thaxton ducks under a left, as he attempts to go to the body with a hook. The exhausted fighters keep throwing until the final bell. The scores were unanimous...
115-112
115-111
114-113
For the winner and new European Lightweight Champion, Anthony Mezaache.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Photo Gallery: Jon Thaxton vs Anthony Mezaache
The challenger making good use of his jab.
More leather being traded, as neither fighter was prepared to give an inch.
The fighters take turns landing jabs in the middle of the ring.
The new champ has his wounds tended to.
Posted by Andy at 8:35 AM
Labels: anthony mezaache, boxing bulletin photo gallery, european lightweight title, jon thaxton
2 comments:
Good stuff. I have to grab video of this. Looks like they went to war.
Great pics
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