Cheeseman / Williamson & Conway / Metcalf

Two brilliant fights on the undercard of Smith v Fowler, the 154 division is absolutely buzzing.

I think Cheeseman will beat Williamson - Williamson has shown he is good and classy but doesn’t like it when he’s been pushed harder than he’d like and Cheeseman is the one man that will do that, certainly take him to hell and back.

Kieran Conway is a comfortable favourite over Metcalf and I’m not sure why. Metcalf gave Cheeseman a hell of a fight last time out, and was only let down towards the end because he’d never been in that sort of war before. I’ve never really rated Conway, he’s a neat & tidy boxer but doesn’t really cut the mustard at the best level for me. I thought he was very fortunate to get a draw vs Cheeseman and whilst he did better than expected last time, the split decision was laughable.

A treble of Fowler, Metcalf and Cheeseman pays 10/1 with Sky Bet which will probably be my action for the weekend.

 

Well that didn’t go well.

 

I’d followed Williamson since he turned over, but I saw him box against local lad Jack Flatley and draw after having Flatley down twice in the first (they had boxed in the ABA final a few years before too with Troy winning) but Flatley out worked him as it went on. I thought he was a bit fortunate against Harry Scarff and wasn’t looking great against Smith before a big finish.

That said, he showed true bottle which I suppose you don’t see in someone until they are put under the cosh - he looked at time to be spent but would rally back with a class combination.

You see it with certain fighters, some you’ll expect it some you won’t. For example, when Victor Ortiz was up and coming, he looked like a proper blood and guts warrior that could go really far, but the first time he was put under the cosh vs Maidana, he didn’t want it despite it being a winnable fight for him.

I’ve not actually watched JJ Metcalf vs Conway, seen some highlights though. Report says it was close but from what I saw Conway was landing cleaner shots?

 

The first time someone truly has their back to wall you see who they are, and Troy passed his test with flying colours.