Rogan is the First Ever Prizefighter Winner

By Wayne Bartlett: Martin Rogan defeated Sunderland’s David Dolan in the final to become the first heavyweight ’Prizefighter’ winner at the York Hall in London on Friday night.

Below is a brief report on how Rogan’s road to the final and how the tounament unfolded.

QUARTER FINALS
David Ferguson ground out a hard fought three round points win over Billy Bessey despite flooring Bessey in round one.

Martin Rogan looked the part in his opening fight with Alex Ibbs. Dominant from the first bell, Ibbs’ youth and courage wasn’t enough as he succumbed to Rogan’s power for a second round stoppage.

In an upset of sorts, Colin Kenna was eliminated from the tournament at the first hurdle by Paul Butlin. After dropping the first round Butlin stormed back to stop his Irish counterpart in round two.

The last of the quarter finals saw tournament favourite David Dolan in all sorts of trouble en route to his three round points win over game Welshman Darren Morgan. After scoring a knockdown come slip in round one, Dolan was out on his feet in the dying seconds of round two after shipping a huge left hook. The bell only reason for Dolan’s survival, an exhausted Morgan couldn’t follow up in round three as Dolan claimed the decision.

SEMI FINALS

In a clash of the unbeaten, Northern Ireland’s Martin Rogan booked his place in the final after grinding out a points win over David Ferguson after three tough rounds. A weary looking Ferguson after his earlier battle with Billy Bessey just couldn’t match the work rate of his rival as Rogan smashed his way to the decision.

David Dolan sealed his passage to the final with a comfortable three round points victory over Paul Butlin. Boxing his way to margins of 30-27 on all three judges scorecards only emphasised the most one sided fight of the night.

FINAL

With the first ever Prizefighter trophy at stake - as well as a winners cheque of £25,000, the final was always destined to bring fireworks, and boy did it deliver.

Both men unbeaten in the paid ranks, a classic clash of boxer versus brawler saw former commonwealth games gold medallist Dolan square off against the raw aggression of another former amateur champion in Rogan.

Within seconds of the opening bell, one of them was already on the deck.

An expected fast start from the Belfast man was truly delivered, with the only man who didn’t expect it seeming to be Dolan.

A few seconds and a messy exchange later saw a short right hook connecting bang to the side of Dolan’s head sending the Sunderland man falling sideways to the canvas.

Looking ok getting to his feet to continue, a clash of heads instantly upon the restart sliced opened a nasty looking vertical cut from Rogan’s right forehead across his eyebrow but the first round action continued.

After receiving a dressing drown by his corner men for mixing it with his shorter, stockier foe, Dolan won round two with his boxing ability despite still being under constant pressure from Rogan in what was now a barnstorming final. Dolan looked as though he’d need a baseball bat to put a dent in his adversary.

There was no doubting the younger fighter was the better technical boxer but it looked as though Rogan purely wanted it more. By the final round, the earlier knockdown had seen Rogan a point up.

Dolan’s task of taming Rogan in the third and final round was the equivalent of a man charged with stopping a bull from breaking anything in a china shop. It proved impossible.

Punches smashing back and forth for the entirety of the round, a second knockdown of the 28 year old Dolan cemented Rogan’s victory to cap a terrific final and ensure finishing the Prizefighter tournament as the last man standing.

A gracious Rogan said of his landmark victory afterwards “It means the world to me. Money comes and goes, but this title will be with me for life”.

The Prizefighter Series - Heavyweights
Results
Quarter-finals – losing quarter-finalists get £3,500
1. David Ferguson (Wallsend) bt Billy Bessey (Portsmouth).
Points - 29-28, 29-27 and 28-27.

2. Martin Rogan (Belfast) bt Alex Ibbs (Stoke-on-Trent).
Referee stopped fight in round 2.

3. Paul Butlin (Melton Mowbray, Leics) bt Colin Kenna (Southampton).
Referee stopped fight in round 2.

4. David Dolan (Sunderland) bt Darren Morgan (Swansea).
Points - 30-26, 30-27, 30-27

Semi-finals – losing semi-finalists get £7,000
1. Martin Rogan (Belfast) bt David Ferguson (Wallsend)
Points - 30-27, 30-27, 30-27

2. David Dolan (Sunderland) bt Paul Butlin (Melton Mowbray, Leics).
Points - 30-27, 30-27, 30-27

Final – winner gets £25,000, runner-up £10,000
Martin Rogan (Belfast) bt David Dolan (Sunderland).
Points - 29-25, 29-27, 28-27.