Gibbs labours under TV lights at Wolves

Gibbs spears Antonas with a jab. Images: Lawrence Lustig/Boxxer

TION Gibbs will reflect ruefully on what was a thoroughly bad day at the office during Boxxer’s major title bill in Wolverhampton.

Last night, at the former Civic Hall, now rebranded The Halls, Gibbs had his rise up the domestic rankings stalled by a six round draw with Greek tank Efstathios Antonas, referee Ron Kearney scoring 57 apiece.

It was a scare for the Birmingham 28-year-old, but Antonas was not the victim of a hometown decision. My card tallied with that of the referee.

It was a scare, it was desperately close, yet it did not have to be.

Gibbs, brother of fellow talented pro Cori, got sucked into a close quarters slugging match and paid the price.

It was a scare, it was desperately close, yet it did not have to be. When Gibbs boxed and moved, he looked a notch above his rugged opponent.

Yet from the third, he elected to tough it out with Antonas, he ditched left leads and the pair swapped hooks. That suited the underdog, it didn’t suit Gibbs.

Why he elected to fight Antonas’ fight is open to debate. The visitor, who is no slouch, having lost only two of nine (two draws), was either contemptuous of Gibbs power and thought he could wade through shots coming his way.

Or Gibbs (9st 13lb 5oz) couldn’t, as the fight wore on, use the sublime footwork that has become his trademark.

A cornerman told me afterwards Tion complained during the action his legs were leaden.

That’s a concern. Legs should not “go” in a six rounder.

Gibbs (9st 13lbs 5oz) has talent, he strings punches together in blistering bunches, he has already claimed the Midlands lightweight title in a 12 fight career. The only loss on his slate is fairly meaningless: a split decision defeat over three rounds in a knockout tournament.

Antonas enjoyed too much success with hooks

He has a lot going for him. Tion is blessed with good looks and has textbook moves.

The stage was set for the fighter to make a statement last night and he failed to grasp the opportunity. It’s that simple.

Yet is started so brightly for Gibbs. He speared Antonas (9st 13lbs 5oz) with jabs to head and body in the first and in the second I scribbled in my notebook: “Gibbs too sharp.”

Things began to unravel in the third. Antonas, bleeding from the nose, landed a clumping right to the body and continued to target Gibbs’ midriff in the fourth.

Tion got his jab working in the fifth, only to ship a right in the sixth and end the bout nicked in the corner of the right eye.

Hopefully, last night will serve as a wake-up call. It was a blip.

Tion has talent to burn, but became embroiled in trench warfare against Antonas. That is not his game, that’s not the Gibbs I’ve seen dazzle in previous contest.

He’s a lot, lot better than the fighter who laboured last night. He needs the opportunity to show it and show it quickly: In this cut-throat business, a boxer is only as good as his last bout.

That’s the one fans remember.