McCracken: Sol had an off night, but I thought he nicked it

Solomon Dacres…still on course for big fights next year

MAX McCracken, honest and upfront when talking to the press, is reflecting on a weekend when two of his fighters failed to shine as they can do under the TV lights.

On Frank Warren’s huge Manchester bill, Solomon Dacres scraped a majority decision victory over Michael Webster in defence of his English heavyweight title. There were those who felt Webster had done enough, particularly after Solomon had a point deducted in the last round.

In Birmingham on the same night Tion Gibbs laboured to a six round draw with Greek Stathis Antonas. After a bright start, he stood and traded with the strong lightweight. Again, there were those who felt Tion should’ve lost.

Neither flat performances represent a disaster, both men won on the night. But neither covered themselves in glory, McCracken admitted. They can do much better.

Warley’s Dacres, having his first fight under Warren’s Queensberry promotional banner, wanted to make a statement and didn’t. It’s a harsh assessment, but true.

The bout was messy and untidy.

In fairness, he took the bout at very short notice, but he’d been training with Tyson Fury in the weeks before. In the run-up, his work with McCracken had been limited.

Max said: “You learn. I thought Sol just got it, but I panicked a bit at the time when the point was taken off. He was doing the cleaner work.

“It was a patch-up camp, he was only with me for 10 days for that camp, he had one six rounds spar. In hindsight, maybe we shouldn’t have taken it, but it was a big opportunity we couldn’t really let go.

“He could’ve been sharper and he knows he had an off night. It is what it is, it’s part of the learning curve.”

McCracken stressed that one off night has not derailed the grand plans for Dacres who is closing in on a British title.

And he warned fans to be primed for a big fight announcement early next year.

Of Gibbs’ lacklustre display, he said: “Tion had heavy flu before the fight. He’s much better than that.”