Namibia: Ushona Loses to Vassell

28 March 2011

Tyson Ushona failed in his bid to win the Commonwealth welterweight title when Denton Vassell of England beat him on a unanimous points decision on Saturday night.

Ushona put up a good challenge and there was not much separating the boxers at the end of 12 rounds of boxing. The three judges all scored the fight in Vassell’s favour – 118-111, 117-113, 117-112 – although Ushona gave as good as he got and the fight seemed to be closer than the scoring suggested.

Ushona was clearly disappointed with the score as he walked away in disbelief when the result was announced.

Ushona was fit and in good shape and moved around freely around the ring.

Vassell pressurised more but as usual, Ushona fought on the counter-attack and connected with some good punches. He caught Vassell with a straight right to the face in the second round and then with a sharp hook in the third round.

But although he regularly found the target, his blows did not have much of an effect and Vassell kept on coming forward and applying the pressure.

By the halfway stage nothing separated the two, and by the end of the eighth round, Vassell had landed 55 punches to Ushona’s 49 punches.

Vassell landed a few sharp body shots in the ninth round and in the final rounds continued to come forward while Ushona waited for the counter attack. But both boxers also clinched a lot and few shots landed cleanly in the final rounds.

After the fight Vassell acknowledged that Ushona had been a tough opponent.

“There was a lot of grappling going on. He was awkward, he moved and grabbed a lot,” he said.

Vassell’s trainer Bob Shannon said it was a good performance by his boxer.

“Denton has been out of action for a long time and his timing was out tonight. He beat a good and tricky fighter (in Ushona). I’m very proud of him,” he said.

It was Ushona’s first defeat in 23 pro fights, while Vassell is now undefeated after 16 pro fights.

AllAfrica – All the Time