Video: Munroe outpoints gutsy Townend in English title eliminator

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Experience triumphed over youth when former European, British and Commonwealth super-bantamweight boss Rendall Munroe outpointed Wakefield's Andy Townend in their English super-featherweight eliminator showdown in Doncaster. The fight was chief support to Gavin McDonnell and Josh Wale's British super-bantamweight final eliminator battle - and the clash more than justified its chief support tag.

Former world title challenger Munroe has stepped up two weight divisions after returning from his brief retirement in May earlier this year. This fight on paper was a massive step up for Andy Townend who had only eight paid contests prior to the fight, but the Wakefield stylist started confidently and frustrated Munroe in the early rounds. Munroe and trainer Jason Shinfield seemed to have a few heated words before the start of the third and that seemed to spark the boxing bin man into life. Munroe didn't have it all his own way though - Townend was landing clean shots of his own. This fight was another great clash of styles with Munroe bombing forward constantly, planting his feet and unloading at will, and Townend boxing off the back foot, circulating the perimeter of the ring throwing excellent counters.

 

All of the ten rounds were action-packed but rounds seven and eight were absolute hum-dingers. Townend started the seventh like a man possessed and he had Munroe in all sorts of trouble after a heavy onslaught which stunned the crowd into life. For a minute or so, it looked like the stoppage upset was on the cards as Townend waded in with Munroe dazed, but then from nowhere the Leicester man regained his composure to mount some stinging attacks of his own before the end of the session.

The crowd now believed that the Wakefield man could pull off the unthinkable and they got behind him at the start of the eighth. Munroe got off his stool with intent and put his opponent down thanks to a stinging left to the body. Brave Townend, wincing in pain, bit on his gum shield and beat Michael Alexander's count but was clearly still in pain. Munroe then sniffed a stoppage victory and piled on more pressure and had his foe over again moments later thanks to another left to the body. Weaker men would have stayed down but Townend is clearly made of strong stuff, and he beat the count easier this time and the fantastic contest continued.

Munroe eased off a little in the last two rounds and Townend regained his composure, and rightly deserved to hear the final bell. Mr Alexander's scorecard was 98-92 which was about right, but that doesn't reflect Townend's efforts in each session, and it doesn't reflect how much bravery he showed in the eighth.

Although this was an English title eliminator, victorious Munroe should now go after Commonwealth champion Liam Walsh or wait for winner of Stephen Smith versus Gary Sykes, who clash for Smith's British title in Liverpool on December 7.

Gutsy Townend showed plenty of potential in this fight and he also proved that he had the one characteristic that you simply can't teach someone; 'bottle'. He will have learned from ten rounds against the former world title challenger and he is definitely one who deserves to be competing at title level.

Video courtesy of Andy Wake

 

 

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