Gruesome end to a thrilling title clash

Melvin proudly displays the belt that was so hard won

BIRMINGHAM boxing bragging rights have been decided, with Scott Melvin claiming the Midlands lightweight title in circumstances too gruesome to be described bizarre.

In 50 years as a fight writer I have never witnessed an ending like the stoppage of Mykey Lee-Broughton at Solihull’s Planet Ice last night.

With only one minute 37 seconds of the 10th and final round, unbeaten Broughton, who, on my card, was heading for the vacant crown, took two body shot and was violently ill in a neutral corner, the red contents of his final meal splattered on the canvas.

He was led by referee Chris Deans to the ringside doctor and was ill again during the course of that examination. It was a disturbing end to an enthralling, thrilling derby.

Broughton’s manager Anthony Manning raged in the immediate aftermath, but will, today, understand the decision to end matters was correct. It was the only decision.

That was underlined by the fact Mykey continued to be ill in his dressing room and, as a precaution, was taken to hospital, I was later informed.

And Manning will be proud of his boxer’s performance on the night. Broughton fought with a skill, aggression and desire above anything he’d shown in his previous seven contest. He gave everything and I - even Melvin’s team - had him ahead going into the last.

In defeat, the 22-year-old came of age, his stock rose.

As ghastly as the ending was to witness, the true nature of the stoppage came as a relief to this ringside observer.

Initially, I thought Broughton, who had been relentlessly punished to the body in the 10th, had suffered horrific injury. I first believed blood was spilling from his mouth.

The reason for his reaction is a matter of conjecture. Had he eaten too late in the day? Had he pushed his body beyond breaking point? Did Melvin deliver the perfect body shot?

One thing that cannot be denied is he and 23-year-old Melvin served-up a classic.

It capped a superb show staged by promoter Tommy Owens. The war that followed between DJ Tollerton and Danny Williams was one of the best battles I’ve witnessed. I don’t know if the Boxing Board of Control present their annual “fight of the year” trophy to four rounders, but that was the fight of the year.

It will not be bettered.

In his dressing room following the title fight carnage, Melvin, the belt hanging from his shoulder, said: “I invested in the body (shots) from the start and felt him weakening. In the 10th, I knew I’d got him.”

Trainer Paul “Soggy” Counihan admitted: “I had Scott one round down (I had a wider deficit) going into the last and told him he had to go all out.

“It was a great fight and Scott was landing some great body shots.”

It was not Melvin at his best and I felt the Chelmsley Wood boxer’s near one year away from the ring showed in a contest fought at a frantic pace, a bout that was the first 10 rounder for both men. That pace may have been Broughton’s downfall: he attempted to sprint a marathon and came so close to the finishing line.

Yet Scott, hands low, plugged away, sinking in those body shots and rights to the head.

Broughton was expected to box cagily, yet burned with bad intent. His fists blazed and that industry was rewarded by a dominant fifth round which saw Melvin caught by a succession of right.

I felt the tide began to turn in the sixth, when a big right sent Broughton’s gumshield flying, and by the eighth Mykey was feeling the pace. Scott had now found the target and his shots carried more authority.

He bossed the action in the ninth and, knowing a grandstand finish was needed, hurled body shots in the last. Those body shots caused the conclusion.

Afterwards, Anthony Manning said: “I just saw so much difference in levels in Mykey. I saw him punching through Scott, landing some big, accurate shots, setting the tempo.

“Scott struggled to cope and the reason why Mykey wasn’t crowned the winner is because of the last minutes in the 10th and final round, which affected his hand being raised. I think you have to say Mykey last night was just too good.”

Those at Planet Ice witnessed a title fight that will be talked about for years to come.

It’ll probably also be a permanent question in the sports round of Birmingham pub quizzes.