By Matt Bozeat
UPON turning professional, Reece Bellotti stated he needed to be remembered for having fights akin to Diego Corrales-Jose Luis Castillo and Arturo Gatti-Micky Ward.
He could also be remembered for his struggle with Liam Dillon on the Indigo at O2 Enviornment on Saturday evening. The 33-year-old from Watford places his Commonwealth super-featherweight title on the road towards British champion Dillon (Chingford) on a present promoted by Matchroom and screened on DAZN.
It has the makings of a home struggle of the 12 months contender between aggressive, front-foot boxers.
Bellotti has beforehand held Commonwealth honours at 126lbs in his close to nine-year profession, dropping the belt in his second defence to Ryan Doyle in June, 2018, the primary of 5 losses in seven fights.
The defeats to Ryan Walsh and Francesco Grandelli have been on credible break up factors selections, however Bellotti may need walked away after American Raymond Ford stopped him in three in August 2021, a 3rd straight loss.
Bellotti was 30 years outdated and had – and nonetheless has – a very good job as an electrician engaged on movie units.
The easy fact is, he likes combating and, supplied the possibility to struggle Yeovil’s Dean Dodge for the vacant Southern Space super-featherweight title at two and a half weeks’ discover he took it and compelled a seventh-round stoppage.
Bellotti went on to burst the bubble of Jamie Moore-trained Aqib Fiaz for the vacant Commonwealth title final October on the Jack Catterall-Jorge Linares undercard in Liverpool.
Moore threw within the towel within the dying seconds of the eighth with Fiaz beneath heavy hearth having been dropped earlier within the spherical by a left hook. That was a 14th stoppage win on his 17-5 file for Bellotti. He’s sturdy and there’s weight behind his left hook.
Dillon makes the primary defence of the British title he received by outpointing Leeds southpaw Qais Ashfaq, the 2016 Olympian.
Dillon scored knockdowns within the fourth and ninth – neither was heavy – and held off Ashfaq’s late cost within the championship rounds to seize a deserved break up choice final July.
The 28-year-old fought from the center rounds with a minimize over his left eye and there might be blood spilled once more on Saturday.
Dillon has labored his manner up the degrees since turning over in 2017 after serving an novice apprenticeship with Waltham Forest. He’s received Southern Space, English and now British honours.
The blemish on his 14-fight professional file is a 10-round draw with Youssef Khoumari in November 2019, a outcome that gives a attainable kind line. Bellotti unanimously outpointed Khoumari three and a half years later.
Educated by Jim McDonnell from the beginning of his profession, Bellotti seems to be to have the sting in ability. He received ABA titles at bantamweight (2012) and featherweight (2013) after having his first novice bout at 17 and he will even fancy he can match Dillon for workrate.
Bellotti’s chin has let him down, being stopped by Doyle and Ford. Defensively, he’s been careless at occasions. Bellotti has had some disappointing nights and he can’t afford one other on Saturday as a result of Dillon is match, sturdy, recent and stuffed with confidence. This might go both manner however the choose, simply, is Dillon on factors.
On a giant evening for Watford boxing, Shannon Ryan, signed to Anthony Joshua’s administration firm, is one other Watford boxer bidding to win British and Commonwealth honours.
The 27-year-old challenges Commonwealth super-flyweight champion Emma Dolan, 6-0 (1) and the vacant British belt can be at stake.
Dolan makes her second defence of the Commonwealth title. She is skilled by Carl Greaves in Newark after leaving home-town Norwich to pursue boxing.
Greaves has invested in her, bringing over Halima Vunjabel from Tanzania to contest the vacant Commonwealth belt in Newark final March. Dolan received on factors and outpointed Nicola Hopewell in her first defence, selecting her off down the stretch.
Ryan, additionally 6-0 however with none early finishes, has fast palms, a very good jab and appears sturdy at 115lbs. She had a dominant eight-round factors win over then-European flyweight champion Martina Bernile final June, leaving the Italian bloodied and nicely overwhelmed.
That’s probably one of the best outcome on each fighters’ mixed information. Ryan, who adopted that with a shut-out factors win over seasoned Romanian southpaw Xenia Jorneac, seems to be to have an excessive amount of for Dolan and may win on factors.
The Verdict – One other excellently matched scrap for home belts.
