Podmore so unlucky in brutal Thai thriller

Dan Podmore…so close before injury scuppered his chances

DAN Podmore could be set for a rematch of 2023’s first great fight, writes Matt Bozeat.

Bareknuckle boxing bosses say they want to see Podmore face Akhmed Baguzhed in a rematch after injury ruled the Brummie out of their fight in Thailand last month– and so does every fight fan after a crazy scrap that had everything.

Podmore decked the Russian twice, was down himself and cut over his left eye and there were chaotic scenes in the third when the corners entered the ring after Baguzhed threw an illegal punch.

The drama came to an end after Podmore suffered an injury to his right bicep that ruled him out after four rounds.

Podmore faced an opponent who towered over him by around five inches, but had no trouble getting to him in the first and a lightning left hook dropped Baguzhed in a neutral corner.

He stayed on his knees until the count reached 15 and when Podmore went looking for the finish on the resumption, he ran onto shots that sliced open a cut on his left eyebrow.

Early in the second, Podmore was dropped by a long left-right, but picked himself up to have the Russian hanging on with a crunching short right hand. Out of frustration, Podmore pushed him to the floor and was told off when another referee might have counted over Baguzhed.

Podmore shows the scars of battle

There was more mayhem in the third after Baguzhed was penalised for aiming what is known as a “Superman” punch at Podmore, an illegal blow in BKB TM.

Podmore threw him over his shoulder and the referee battled to keep the rival camps apart for a few seconds after they entered the ring.

Podmore finished the round by smashing a clean right hook off the Russian’s jaw to drop him in a heap.

The bell saved Baguzhed and Podmore had him wobbling again in the fourth when he whipped a fast right onto his chin.

Podmore was in a wide lead on the judges’ scorecards, but there were signs he had hurt his bicep in the fourth and at the end of the round, he was pulled out after the doctor examined him.