Coleman wins a TV title epic worthy of a Rocky movie script

Troy Coleman celebrates victory. Pictures: Lawrence Lustig/Boxxer

IT’S a well-worn fight term – “he punched himself out!”

It has seldom been so graphically or painfully illustrated as in the titanic, thrilling Midlands middleweight title battle between champion Troy Coleman and Coventry sensation Bradley Goldsmith. Their unremitting violence stole the show on Boxxer’s sell-out Sunday bill at Resorts World’s BP Pulse Live arena.

The pair produced a war best watched through a curtain of fingers, Burntwood’s Coleman – a heavy underdog – prevailing in the seventh.

It was, quite simply, the stuff of Rocky movies. Goldsmith, roared on by 500 fans, badly stunned Coleman in the sixth with a left slung from the southpaw stance.

From then on, he poured it on, powerful punch after powerful punch, and courageous Troy, one of the game’s true warriors, soaked up the punishment like blotting paper doused in ink.

He toughed out the storm until unbeaten Goldsmith energy levels began to dramatically drain and his arms became leaden. He had shot his bolt – and then “The Hawk” swooped.

There was controversy, an essential element in any truly great contest.

In the dying embers of that scintillating sixth session, Coleman, a man who uprooted to Thailand in search of titles, uncorked a right uppercut that dropped exhausted Goldsmith heavily.

Goldsmith lets the big punches go in the sixth round

That shot – the turning point in a pulsating battle – either landed on the bell or seconds after it. For this writer, it connected as the bell sounded and, if my understanding of the rules is correct, referee Chris Dean should’ve administered a count.

If it landed after the bell, then, with Goldsmith badly stunned, action should’ve been taken against the defending champion.

Instead, Goldsmith’s team guided their groggy fighter back to his corner.

The contest was effectively over. Goldsmith, limp and immersed in a mental fog, still tried to fight, but the strength and strategy had gone. Coleman drove him to the ropes at the start of seventh and unleashed a stream of unanswered shots until Mr Dean signalled the end at one minute 27 seconds.

Seldom, in nearly 50 years as a boxing writer, have I seen tables turned so dramatically. And that is testimony to 29-year-old Coleman’s grit and courage. He refused to buckle when many other would’ve melted under the heat of Goldsmith’s sixth round onslaught.

Troy showed a champion’s character to gain the greatest victory of his 19 bout career.

And no one can begrudge him this moment. Coleman has rebuilt his career after being poleaxed in a Midland title bid five years ago. He has fought in Thailand, Dubai and Australia.

If he gets a big fight on the back of this remarkable performance, he’s earned every penny.

I didn’t believe he’d win. Outside his Black Country Boxing team, not many believed he would win.

A swelling above his left eye, Coleman told me afterwards: “He hurt me in the sixth, but I was fine and the referee told me afterwards he knew I was fine.”

“Fine” may be an overstatement, but I noted Coleman’s legs were solid and eyes clear as Goldsmith threw everything bar the kitchen sink.

And that’s why I believe Bradley team bear some responsibility for the 26-year-old’s first setback in 13 outings.

There was a point during that hurricane of unanswered punches when it became apparent Coleman’s destruction was not imminent.

Someone needed to order Goldsmith to ease off the gas, step back, take a breather and assess the situation. If that command came, I didn’t hear it from ringside.

The tables have turned…Coleman begins to apply the pressure

Up until the drama, the Sky Blue prospect’s script had gone to plan. He opened by spearing Coleman with jabs and planting lefts to the body.

By the third, Bradley was prowling forward and working his shots up and down. Coleman smiled after taking two lefts in the fourth, then attempted to force the younger man back in the fifth. He connected with two solid shots, but shipped three lefts on the bell.

Then came that sixth round – and all hell broke loose.

Coleman said afterwards: “I’m on cloud nine. I said I had loads more to give and I still don’t think that’s my full potential. It was a hard fight, but I was never coming out of that ring losing.

“This is an example to every fighter. Everyone can write you off, everyone wrote me off before camp. Train hard, don’t let the losses bother you. There are just two people in that ring.”

He told fans on social media: “Big respect to my opponent, experience goes a long way in this game and, just like me, I know Brad will right the wrongs and bounce back stronger.

“(I’d like to thank) my doubters - I thank you the most. I sensed the energy in this camp that people thought I was going to be done easy…that just made them hard, dark mornings and tired sessions even easier.”

Goldsmith had predicted in the build-up that the scheduled 10 rounder could be fight of the night. He was correct.

He was understandably devastated by his first loss on his first televised stadium show, but can return better and wiser. I have described Goldsmith, trained in Sheffield by Dominic Ingle, as a terrific talent destined for titles.

Sunday has not altered that assessment.

On the morning after the night before, Goldsmith posted: “Tough one to take last night.  Up on the cards, enjoying the moment and feeling good in there.

“One mistake on my behalf cost me the fight. Last night was a lesson not a loss.”

He added: “I’m down but not out, I’ll be back.”