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SportsTranscript
00:00 I spot you both in the dressing room, you both are I expect to be in great straight away when told.
00:05 Both of you got your heads in clothes, but not your bones, touch bones, none of that.
00:08 Here we go then, James been waiting for this title shot for a while.
00:11 There were plans for him to get it for the WBA European Super Lightweight title 30 months ago,
00:17 but they couldn't find an opponent then.
00:19 He's moved up in weight after that struggle with Keenan Wainwright,
00:23 but Moorcroft coming in after one of the best wins of his career,
00:27 a two round win over Nathan Bennett in March.
00:31 Interesting contrast in styles here, as we know, James stopped nobody,
00:36 Moorcroft on his day can stop people.
00:39 Yeah, it's a really interesting fight.
00:41 I think that Ethan James at Leight Welterweight certainly didn't punch in 11 fights,
00:49 didn't really put a dent in anybody,
00:51 but he's hoping his power improves as he comes up to the division,
00:55 and he's a solid looking, he's quite a tall Welterweight.
00:58 He's got a difficult fight here in the stand against Moorcroft,
01:01 and speaking to Moorcroft and Anthony Kroll on Thursday,
01:06 they're very, very confident they can win this fight.
01:08 Well, he's talking about himself, James being a scientific boxer,
01:15 good mover, fast hands, he's got it even here.
01:19 Maybe he's going to be picking up his first belt.
01:22 Moorcroft being around a little bit more,
01:25 certainly more used to this weight division than his opponent here.
01:29 James has started really well.
01:34 Great job.
01:36 Yeah, his job's been great, and when he switches as well,
01:40 he changes stance and it's difficult for his opponent,
01:44 but yeah, it's a nice start from James.
01:49 Yeah, a difficult skill to operate against,
01:53 if the one that is switch hitting is standing in front of you
01:57 and is good at it, and this is a smart start from James so far.
02:02 I don't think that Moorcroft and his team,
02:05 I don't think they're going to be overly concerned with the start goal.
02:08 I don't imagine they thought they would be in front after round one.
02:12 Ethan James, you know, good amateur pedigree,
02:16 real silky skills, nice mover,
02:19 and they'll be hoping, Moorcroft certainly will be hoping,
02:22 as the fight goes on a bit, he'll be able to get a little bit closer.
02:25 Good support in for Ethan James as well, Moorcroft was saying,
02:31 that he's watched everything he could get his hands on,
02:35 he's devoured every bit of tape and every YouTube clip of his opponent.
02:40 Here he feels he knows him inside out.
02:42 There won't be anything that he can bring to the party here that he hasn't seen,
02:46 but it's how he can cope with it,
02:48 because the big stages of this round, this jab has looked really impressive,
02:52 and again, the hand speed and the combinations that he just unloaded there,
02:56 again, that's something that Moorcroft maybe hasn't seen in recent times.
03:02 Yeah, he landed a couple of nice fast shots,
03:04 it was interesting actually, one shot had landed,
03:07 and a second shot had landed before the first hand was even back in the guard position,
03:11 so he's clearly got fast hands, that's an example of Moorcroft.
03:16 He knows if he kicks this at the distance that he's fighting at there in the middle of the ring,
03:25 then he's going to be comfortable, great round for James.
03:28 He's now switching off here.
03:33 Look, if it's a boxing match, he ain't got a fucking open elbow,
03:37 just keep moving, keep boxing, do not switch off.
03:40 You can make this an easy fucking night's work if you concentrate.
03:44 Keep popping that jab, keep adjusting the angles,
03:47 it takes ages to adjust his feet on different angles, alright?
03:50 And you got there, he's just so open there.
03:53 Alright, feeling good?
03:54 Stick to the plan.
04:05 Stick to the plan, and this could be an easy night's work.
04:09 That is the message from Ethan James' corner.
04:12 That is extreme confidence.
04:14 Anthony Kroll is still in there, right to the last seconds before getting out,
04:19 getting the message across to Moorcroft about what he needs to do.
04:24 Yeah, I think it was sound judgment and sound advice from the corner,
04:28 but early on that's going to be easy to do.
04:32 If you want it to be a boxing match and just box this guy's head off,
04:35 clearly Ethan James is a more skillful fighter.
04:39 A lot of times in this pro game it's about much more than skill,
04:43 and as the fight progresses, I think that Moorcroft and his team,
04:47 the longer he's in there anyway, the more confidence they'll get.
04:50 I might not be the strongest puncher in terms of power,
04:54 but I'm confident that my skills will slow you down.
04:59 My punches count.
05:02 And you can't argue with that from James so far.
05:06 Again, following a similar rhythm to the first round,
05:11 the jab finding its way, hand-keeping,
05:15 Moorcroft at distance every time he comes in, he gets picked off.
05:19 It's really smart, clever boxing from Ethan James.
05:28 Really dictating things here from the outside,
05:31 but he's moving a lot.
05:33 I think his team probably expects a long fight.
05:37 They probably prefer he does things from the center of the ring more
05:40 and not have to use his legs as much and not have to waste as much energy.
05:44 But he's looking really good so far.
05:47 Two fabulous jabs again, just snapping the head back of Moorcroft.
05:56 With each punch thrown, the confidence builds and builds.
06:01 You can see Moorcroft trying to get close,
06:06 but I think he needs to maybe up his head movement a little bit more.
06:09 He's just sitting duck-at-times here and just walking on the shots.
06:13 Just cannot work it out at the moment,
06:18 but as he said, it's a ten-round fight for this WBO European title.
06:24 There is a long way to go in this yet.
06:26 Things will... There will be twists, there will be turns along the way,
06:30 but again, one punch round by Moorcroft,
06:32 a three-punch combination comes back the other way.
06:35 Yeah, as I said, Moorcroft just needs to get a little bit closer with his shots.
06:42 He's throwing them from slightly too far out.
06:51 Moorcroft is in no doubt about what is in front of him.
06:55 He said, "It is huge. This is massive for me."
06:58 Talking about he and Anthony Crono have been working non-stop in the gym
07:05 after the loss to John Miguez in Spain
07:09 to get ourselves in this position
07:11 where we are challenging for belts and championships.
07:16 [crowd cheering]
07:19 Took a smart short left back there, did James for the first time.
07:26 Shook it off with a smile.
07:28 And the end of the round.
07:31 Late exchange.
07:32 Again, another good round.
07:35 Don't start switching off yet, all right?
07:40 I know you're enjoying yourself, but just keep on adjusting the feet
07:44 because while he's turning, he's turning like a fucking bus.
07:47 While he's turning, that's your opportunity.
07:50 And don't neglect that body.
07:51 When you've landed a couple on the gloves or touched the head,
07:54 your hands are coming up.
07:55 You can have the last shot to the body, then change the angle.
07:58 Good work.
08:00 Put your right hand downstairs, then.
08:02 If you've got to find a home finish, write up,
08:04 "Please don't come back to this corner next round."
08:06 And I'm saying you not let your right hook go, yeah?
08:08 But you've got to react after you've threw it on your counter.
08:11 Okay? Good.
08:13 There, there.
08:14 Deep breaths.
08:16 How do you feel?
08:17 No offence. Keep your shoulders up.
08:19 Keep your knees a little bit still, my mate.
08:22 Back into the round.
08:27 Yeah, it's good. Both rounds, Ethan James.
08:30 He looks in control so far, but this isn't a surprise.
08:34 This is what we expected.
08:36 And I imagine Team Muricroft expected the same.
08:41 It's interesting, listening to the conversation
08:44 at the interval there at the end of the round,
08:47 that they're saying, "Listen, I know you're enjoying yourself out there,
08:51 but remember what the plan is."
08:54 The conversation with the other, a bit more subdued,
08:57 Anthony Cronner, talking about the use and the lack of use
09:01 of Muricroft's right hand,
09:03 and he doesn't want him coming back into the corner
09:05 without some usage of it at the end of this round.
09:08 Yeah. He was particularly talking about the right hook.
09:11 Especially when he's in this so-called stance,
09:13 but he needs to get close to the landed throw.
09:16 Good stopper here in the early concerns.
09:39 Can't prove him to be such an elusive target.
09:43 And again, the speed of that left hand is like
09:45 just this razor-sharp precision instrument
09:48 that finds its way home again.
09:50 And the longer it goes on, the more demoralizing it gets
09:56 for Muricroft.
09:59 But in the back of his mind, he'll know that he does carry power
10:04 with that right hand, and he's done something
10:07 that his opponent has never done,
10:09 and that has stopped an opponent.
10:11 Yeah, we can see what they want to do
10:13 and what they have to do, James Muricroft and his team.
10:16 More so him, he's the guy that's in there.
10:18 But he's not, at this stage anyway,
10:21 making Ethan James work at a high enough pace.
10:24 Muricroft there at close quarters,
10:32 getting him to try and do some work to the body,
10:34 but James once again quickly tying him up
10:37 so he couldn't get any shots off.
10:40 Trying to go in for the body again,
10:46 another instruction from Anthony Crommett
10:49 during the last couple of his rounds.
10:51 And again, lovely left hand, lovely jab.
10:54 A one-two there landed pretty flush from a southpaw stance.
10:57 Nice orthodox again.
10:59 He's got all the skills, Ethan James, he really does.
11:03 But my only concern with him going forward
11:06 would be that lack of punching power.
11:09 Ten seconds at the end of round three again.
11:21 Largely controlled by James.
11:24 And again, right hand there raises the chin of Muricroft
11:28 as he tries to get low to the body at the end of another good round.
11:31 Now, Joe Ankus with Liam Davies, let's see what he's got to say.
11:35 Liam, third time headlining at home.
11:40 What are you looking forward to when you walk out there?
11:43 Another packed night in the arena of Telford International.
11:48 So, like I said, my third time here.
11:51 This is my home, I've got used to it
11:54 and looking to do this one in style.
11:58 And it's been a very tense build-up for this one.
12:01 How different does this one feel?
12:03 Yeah, it's given me the fire in the belly, between my teeth, as they say.
12:07 I've talked a lot and I'm here, ready to back it all up tonight.
12:11 What's going to give you the edge?
12:13 I just believe this is my time.
12:16 Born, bred, built and raised to do this.
12:19 Everything's in my favour and I'm coming to do and prove a number on him
12:25 and prove that I am the best super bantamweight in Britain.
12:28 Best for Latvian.
12:29 Thank you.
12:30 I've given everything to Ethan James so far.
12:42 He did say, he promised that we're going to see his best performance yet.
12:47 Ethan James to win that and so far he is delivering on the pre-fight publicity.
12:54 And they are very happy with it in this corner
12:58 because at the moment they don't see any other outcome
13:01 than what they feel is their man giving the opposition a bit of a boxing lesson.
13:06 Yeah, look at what's happened so far.
13:08 We're in the round four now.
13:11 Moorcroft just landed one there but he's just got to do more.
13:15 He's got to make it a little bit more uncomfortable.
13:18 Set a more uncomfortable pace for Ethan James
13:22 or he will be able to do this all night.
13:25 Yeah, it is again the speed of James' fists
13:32 that are causing Moorcroft so much of a problem.
13:34 Every time he tries to get in close, get in to try and work to James' body
13:40 he's getting picked off with combination, two, three, four punch combinations sometimes
13:45 and the punches are coming from everywhere.
13:47 There you saw the hook, right hand, again grazing Moorcroft's chin once more.
14:00 We have seen a bit more of Moorcroft's right hand as well.
14:04 Not enough yet.
14:05 That's a good jab as well. He landed there. He just needs to get closer.
14:08 But Ethan James has been really disciplined.
14:11 Anytime his back touches a rope, he hasn't stayed there too long.
14:14 He's moving off the side again and not allowing Moorcroft to get close
14:18 and to land anything of note.
14:21 I'm not worried about the extra weights that I've seen Ethan take big shots.
14:29 He can train off bigger guys.
14:31 I'm not worried about his durability and his ability to take a punch.
14:36 Anthony Crawler up off his feet, screaming instructions to Moorcroft but again
14:44 the boxing lesson at the moment is continuing.
14:49 Yeah, Moorcroft corner still calling for the pressure.
14:55 He just needs to be coming forward a little bit more.
14:57 Hands glued to the top of his head.
14:59 Head moving as he moves forward.
15:02 Yeah, it's a question of how you see it and how you don't.
15:09 Again, two jabs finding their way through a very loose defense there.
15:13 At the moment, Moorcroft's punches lack in power, lack in conviction.
15:22 Again, the jab snaps that head back again.
15:25 [crowd noise]
15:28 [bell rings]
15:30 No argument, another round for James.
15:34 [crowd noise]
15:40 He needs strength, believe that.
15:42 Feel the jab.
15:44 [crowd noise]
15:47 When you got him right inside, you've got to drive that right up.
15:53 Okay, listen. Just listen to Ben.
15:57 He wasn't going to be winning after four hours. He never was.
16:00 Deep breath.
16:02 You've got to start coming into this now.
16:04 You've got to be sensible. You can't be reckless.
16:07 You've got to make it work at a pace.
16:09 Okay, listen.
16:11 When he's time to drive, I hope you pull up.
16:13 Back the message as we watch Tia.
16:18 Some of the action from that round.
16:20 From Anthony Croller again to Moorcroft is very plain, very simple.
16:26 You've got to get that right uppercut.
16:29 You've got to drive it in. You've got to drive it home.
16:32 Yeah, when you get close, it's the right thing to do.
16:36 When he's here, he needs to rub James up.
16:39 He needs to let his hands go.
16:42 And if you can be dirty and get away with it, you do that as well.
16:45 Into round five.
16:47 Before previous rounds, you've given everything still to James.
16:50 Yeah, everything to James so far.
16:52 It was interesting Anthony Croller to check the corner.
16:54 It wasn't about winning rounds early on.
16:56 I imagine they expected to be behind going into the second half of the fight anyway.
17:02 But it's about applying the pressure.
17:05 And what he's doing now is good.
17:07 Once he has Zaragoza, we need to get a transfer.
17:09 He needs to work.
17:11 Yeah.
17:13 He's going to have a word.
17:16 He let in with his head then.
17:19 But maybe not quite the tight turning, but just a reminder to James about who he's up against.
17:30 But the advantage is that he has, that James does not.
17:48 Again, crisp, clean, precise.
17:52 But this time, Warcroft's doing better work here.
17:56 He landed two good shots.
17:58 James just held on there a little bit.
18:00 Not a concern or anything, but he smartly tied him up.
18:03 But Warcroft needs to do more to get his hands free.
18:08 First signs that he is beginning to unleash some of the power that he possesses.
18:14 The jab not maybe having quite as much snap about it there.
18:19 Warcroft eluding it then. A little bit of a come on from Warcroft.
18:29 Good right hand.
18:31 James was just pulling away, so it kind of took the force out of him a little bit.
18:35 But this is much better from Warcroft.
18:37 Tries to work with the uppercut.
18:38 Now he's going to try and get to work and drive those punches.
18:42 As Kroger asked for the right hand.
18:44 It was a straight right hand from Warcroft.
18:47 James trying to keep him off with the jab.
18:53 Game Warcroft gets him onto the ropes, but it is James tying this man up again.
18:59 Half a minute of the fifth round still to go here.
19:07 Good stab to the body there from Warcroft as well.
19:10 Two left hands that just have no opposition to finding the target.
19:18 He just doesn't see them coming.
19:20 Then switches uses a right uppercut.
19:30 Well, he had a few moments in the early part of this round, but he is finishing stronger again.
19:34 It's been better from Warcroft, but I don't think it's enough to give him the round.
19:38 That was a good shot, but there's good stuff.
19:43 Joe is with Jason Cullihan.
19:47 Jason, the hard work is behind you and it's all ahead of you.
19:51 Chance to become European champion again.
19:53 How are you feeling?
19:54 Two-time British champion, two-time European champion, four belts.
19:57 I'm feeling good, like I say.
19:58 Everything's stacked against me.
20:00 The underdog again going into this.
20:01 I'm there. I'm just ready.
20:03 We've seen the fireworks between you in the build-up.
20:05 What will be key to focus on?
20:08 All that's irrelevant.
20:09 It's all talking to his weapons in that ring.
20:11 So I'm fully focused on the game plan, the job in hand.
20:14 And we're very confident.
20:16 How are you going to handle the crowd against you being that underdog?
20:19 Stay on my head. Take it in.
20:21 Embrace it if you like.
20:22 I'm there to enjoy myself.
20:24 Excellent. Best of luck, Jason.
20:26 [CROWD CHEERING]
20:29 Here we are, past the midway point of this fight.
20:34 And Ethan James is in absolute control.
20:38 He's won every round so far, but we've begun to see Warcroft coming more into it.
20:43 Yeah, look, that last round, they made just a bit of a switch and a tater a little bit.
20:49 It wasn't enough for Warcroft to win the round for me anyway,
20:52 but it's what his team want.
20:55 They want him to come forward. They want to make it a bit of a rougher fight.
20:59 Just make it that James had to fight at a difficult pace.
21:04 Ethan James, eight years, the junior of Warcroft.
21:10 Oh, good shot. Good right hand.
21:12 [CROWD CHEERING]
21:15 Back onto the ropes.
21:29 Warcroft trying to measure his stance, trying to get in,
21:32 drive that right uppercut again, drive that right hand into the body
21:36 just to slow James down a bit.
21:39 That's what he needs to do because he's still as fluid,
21:42 he's still as alive as he was in the opening round.
21:46 That's a right uppercut.
21:50 That was the right uppercut that the corner were calling for,
21:53 but Ethan James was able to counter with his own shot as well.
21:56 We can see what he's trying, Warcroft. He just needs to get a bit closer.
22:03 And when he does, as I've said, the hand, look, in this position here,
22:07 instead of looking at the referee, ask him to break,
22:10 you need to be trying to get your hands free yourself.
22:12 As he said, James, nobody thinks I'm a big puncher,
22:17 but they get fed up with me making the miss and then capturing as I do.
22:22 I suppose that's fairly accurate,
22:27 and the fact that he's a fighter who can really frustrate people,
22:31 and it's important not to get frustrated.
22:33 Especially if you're a fighter like Warcroft,
22:35 knowing that you're going to be the end in the fight,
22:38 and the second half is when you hope to come on strong.
22:41 But Ethan James is boxing beautifully this round.
22:43 And again, we're going to be finding out just how good his fitness levels are,
22:48 because to do what James is doing for 10 rounds,
22:51 you have to be an absolute athlete.
22:53 Yeah, you have to be very, very fit.
22:55 Sometimes, and people don't really believe it,
22:58 but the standard lap horns in the middle of the ring,
23:02 you know, head-on head and just have a fight,
23:05 it's actually more energy consuming to do what Ethan James is doing here.
23:08 He's using a lot of the ring,
23:11 he's moving quite a lot,
23:14 and it's quite a difficult thing to do.
23:16 You have to be pretty fit to be able to do it and sustain it for 10 rounds.
23:19 All right, so we're coming up to the end of round six.
23:25 He's had a little bit more joy in the last two rounds,
23:28 but it isn't enough, do you think, to celebrate winning a round?
23:33 He again uses the right upper gut into the body, but not enough.
23:39 At the end of the sixth round,
23:43 we're going to listen to the comments of Anthony Cromer.
23:45 That wasn't good enough. It was not good enough, yeah?
23:48 You need to start putting a second and third shot on,
23:51 but don't come up high when you're doing it.
23:53 You've got to stay low. James, this fight's still very winnable, yeah?
23:56 I'm going to get a good round for you now.
23:58 Listen, we're going to go in twos and threes, yeah?
24:00 We're not going to leave our feet behind,
24:02 and our chin is not going to come up with it.
24:04 After a fight, you can go straight on or go downstairs, yeah?
24:07 Okay? Have a good meal.
24:10 So it's pretty much all set.
24:20 How do you got it at the end of the sixth round?
24:22 I've given James everything.
24:24 The last couple of rounds, you've just seen Moorcroft
24:26 start to come back into the fight a little bit more.
24:29 The last two rounds have been a little bit more competitive,
24:32 but it's not enough for me to get the round, yeah?
24:34 He's raring to go.
24:38 The message from Cromer to Moorcroft,
24:41 "It isn't good enough."
24:43 You've got to get your second and third shot in.
24:46 No sign at the moment
24:51 that the pace is having any effect on James whatsoever.
24:55 Still moving as cleanly, as fluidly
24:58 as he has done throughout the course of the fight so far.
25:01 But things can change quickly,
25:03 and if Moorcroft can land,
25:05 and he can just stun James momentarily
25:08 with this punch that Cromer is asking for,
25:12 it could be...
25:15 a turning, tight-turning moment.
25:18 Yeah, it's some nice stuff here,
25:21 but it's...
25:22 Ethan James has been allowed to do this by Moorcroft.
25:24 He's not moving his head enough.
25:26 He's not forcing the pace enough.
25:28 There may be just signs that he is becoming a little bit frustrated.
25:32 That's a bit better in the clinch.
25:36 He was trying to get his hands free, and he was landing shots.
25:39 That's what he needs to do.
25:40 He can't be looking at the referee,
25:41 looking for him to break up the action.
25:43 James then to get, you know, back into the middle of the ring.
25:47 He's got to turn this into a roughhouse fight.
25:50 You know, he's got to be tough.
25:52 Easier said than done, isn't it?
25:53 Because every time that he goes in,
25:55 his face is stinging from the jab that lands in quick succession.
26:00 It's not just one either.
26:02 Yeah, you can see he's starting to mark off around his eyes.
26:05 Ethan James' face looks almost untouched.
26:11 But Moorcroft just has to do a little bit more.
26:15 There's just not enough happening here.
26:17 That was a lovely, beautiful layup topper
26:20 that landed there from Ethan James.
26:22 Boyd with every second of the performance that he is putting in
26:30 after the problems that he's had.
26:33 The late pull-outs for the previous title fights.
26:36 This, he believes, is his moment.
26:40 There's going to be no fluffing of his lines.
26:42 And so far, he hasn't put a foot wrong in any round yet.
26:47 But still, round 7 of 10,
26:49 this is presumably the area of the fight
26:53 where Kraler and his team think that
26:56 they are going to get the most joy
26:59 when things start to slow down.
27:01 But he's got to land something.
27:03 Yeah, he's got to do it.
27:04 And at this stage, anyway,
27:06 I imagine Moorcroft's corner, Anthony Kraler and the team
27:10 would be hoping it would be a little bit closer,
27:13 hoping that it was a little bit more uncomfortable
27:16 for Ethan James.
27:18 But so far, I mean, it's almost punch perfect.
27:22 He's boxing very well.
27:24 Despite the number of punches that he's taken,
27:31 he's still standing in front of him.
27:34 He's still moving forward, trying to close his man down.
27:37 There again, it's right at the end of the round
27:40 that that right uppercut comes in.
27:43 All right.
27:48 That was our one every round from now on, yeah?
27:50 He never landed a fucking shot.
27:52 That definitely--
27:54 Give him something a bit different to look at every now and again.
27:57 Maybe stab one into the body,
27:58 then bang the body, come over that back end.
28:00 -Yeah. -Over the back end, though.
28:02 -That's all right. -You happy with that?
28:04 Yeah, yeah.
28:06 -You happy with that? -Yeah.
28:08 -Olivier, this is-- -Yeah?
28:10 I'm not hurting you.
28:11 You know, right?
28:12 You're getting hit by a swathing, and I'm not liking it.
28:15 Yeah? So let me see you next time.
28:17 Go.
28:19 Listen.
28:20 Show the level as well with it, yeah?
28:23 Okay? Deep breaths.
28:25 You tired? No?
28:27 Come on.
28:28 -Go on, man. -Yeah?
28:29 Come on, man.
28:31 Go on, listen.
28:32 It is difficult, is it, to impart instructions
28:36 to a fighter who literally has been on the receiving end
28:40 for every single round.
28:41 I'm presuming you gave that round again to James.
28:44 I give James every round, but...
28:47 Um...
28:49 Yeah, I can see, I suppose, Moorecroft's getting a little bit frustrated.
28:52 Um...
28:53 James is boxing beautifully at the time.
28:55 He's switch hitting.
28:56 He's never really standing still
28:58 and allowing Moorecroft to fight the type of fight that he wants.
29:01 He's got to make it rough.
29:02 He's got to get close.
29:03 He's got to throw him around and pull his strength.
29:06 But he hasn't been able to do it yet.
29:09 It is tough, isn't it,
29:11 to make yourself believe,
29:13 after being in the position that he is in,
29:16 that he has got what it takes to turn it around.
29:18 Yeah, I think so.
29:19 And again, like we mentioned earlier on,
29:21 I think that Ethan James is someone who could frustrate you.
29:24 That was a lovely shot, beautiful shot.
29:27 But he's someone who's got to be able to turn it around.
29:30 But he's someone who could frustrate you.
29:32 You can't allow that to happen.
29:34 And you've got to just kind of keep your own game plan in your head.
29:37 Persistence, the quality of winners,
29:41 the successful, never, ever give up.
29:44 Oh, good right uppercut.
29:50 But there's nothing else.
29:55 You know what I mean?
29:56 That was a lovely shot.
29:57 A little bit of success,
29:58 and then there's a pause in the action.
30:00 And Muricroft doesn't do enough,
30:02 or couldn't do anything after that.
30:04 And again, he goes back to what Anthony Crollin was saying.
30:07 It isn't good enough.
30:08 I need from you more than one shot.
30:11 You need the second and the third to follow the first.
30:14 It seems as if he's looking
30:20 to try and squeeze that right uppercut
30:23 into a well-guarded body.
30:25 He's got a good shot as well.
30:27 He's landed a few there, Muricroft.
30:33 Yeah, that is better.
30:34 Left hook goes into the body as well, James.
30:37 The corner bellowing at the instructions.
30:41 They were happy.
30:42 He said that was an almost perfect round,
30:44 the previous one.
30:45 But Muricroft did not land anything,
30:47 but he's landed a few here.
30:49 Yeah, but what was this earlier on?
30:51 You know what I mean?
30:52 This should have happened a few rounds ago.
30:54 The idea is to get close to James,
30:56 march across the ring,
30:57 because he had a little bit of success,
30:59 but we needed this a little bit earlier
31:01 in the fight from Muricroft.
31:03 Yeah, round eight of the scheduled ten.
31:07 Again, just look at the way he flicks that jab.
31:19 And then again, switches stance.
31:22 Right hand again, just probes away,
31:25 keeping Moorcroft at a distance.
31:27 Yeah, he's one of these fighters who
31:31 is at ease in both the arms,
31:34 that's in southpaw stance.
31:35 You know, with switch hitters,
31:36 you are clearly have a side you prefer,
31:39 but Muricroft is good in the southpaw stance,
31:41 he has the northpaw.
31:42 Sorry, James, not Muricroft.
31:45 Okay, another round for you, James.
31:48 Another round for Ethan James, yeah.
31:50 A shutout here.
31:52 What do you say about the...
31:54 Actually, let's listen to the...
31:57 We were going to listen to Cole,
31:59 that was the right hand that landed.
32:02 He got a two-three punch combination going there.
32:04 Yeah, there was a little bit of success,
32:06 and that's when you want to
32:07 apply a little bit more pressure,
32:09 but there wasn't anything after that.
32:11 And I suppose, I imagine the corner
32:14 a little bit frustrated,
32:15 because they know what he had to do.
32:17 Muricroft probably knows what he had to do as well,
32:19 but Ethan James is just frustrating them,
32:21 and that will allow them to carry on the game plan.
32:24 I know we talked about that,
32:25 about they said of his lack of power,
32:27 but I've got the skills,
32:28 so I can...
32:29 I can slip punches, I can do everything,
32:32 I've got great hand speed,
32:33 but is that going to be...
32:35 Is that going to be an issue as he moves on and upwards?
32:38 I think it's going to be a massive issue for him.
32:40 He's got all the skills in the world.
32:42 Imagine this kid, the way he boxes as he can,
32:45 imagine if he had a punch,
32:47 imagine if he could switch her legs off in an instant.
32:50 He would be, you know, a very, very good fighter,
32:53 but it's going to be an issue going forward.
32:56 Good one there.
32:57 Having a good right hand.
32:58 And a left hook to follow it.
33:00 Knows the time is running out.
33:06 Muricroft knows his time is on the way here.
33:09 That belt looks as if it's going to be heading
33:12 to Northampton,
33:14 unless he can do something spectacular here.
33:18 It's not out of the question, as we know.
33:22 11 KOs on his record.
33:25 He does have punch power.
33:30 He's starting to land a little bit more here now.
33:33 Oh, lovely shot.
33:34 And a great right hand.
33:36 James, for once, has to duck and move swiftly around that ring
33:40 to get out of the way of the follow-up.
33:42 I think he definitely felt that a little bit, Ethan James.
33:44 There's another left hook.
33:46 This is much better for Muricroft.
33:48 Yeah, hooks to the body and to the chin.
33:52 James deciding to go toe-to-toe.
33:55 Maybe not such a good idea.
33:58 Trying to use his jab to keep him away.
34:01 Muricroft's got him in close now.
34:04 Minute and a half still left in this round.
34:06 Still takes a couple of good shots, though, coming in.
34:10 This is the fight that Muricroft wanted,
34:12 but as it came too late,
34:14 he certainly needs a stoppage at this stage.
34:17 Ethan James, Vance getting vocal behind Muricroft again.
34:26 Sixth left hook into the body,
34:28 finds the right uppercut again.
34:30 Couple of good shots.
34:31 He's landed more shots in this round
34:33 than any other round he's fought so far.
34:36 Yeah, that's a good round so far.
34:37 We're still a minute to go.
34:40 Ethan James maybe just starting to feel the pace a little bit.
34:43 This is the type of fight that Muricroft wants.
34:51 Yeah, and this is not the fight that I'm sure
34:54 Ethan James wants, and I'm sure his team in the corner,
34:58 but you can see in the background,
35:01 they're leaning.
35:02 That's a great shot.
35:04 Good uppercut there from Muricroft.
35:06 For the first time, the head of James went back,
35:10 and he's there at close quarters
35:12 to follow in with the follow-up shots.
35:14 Again, right hand finds the chin of James.
35:19 He is giving everything,
35:23 because this time it's James' turn to sink those hooks
35:27 into Muricroft's body to try and slow him down,
35:30 but he really is giving everything here at Muricroft.
35:34 [BELL RINGING]
35:39 End of his best round.
35:40 Yeah, I think I'm going to give that round to Muricroft.
35:43 I think it was good work.
35:44 We've got a few more minutes like that.
35:46 Ethan James started well,
35:47 but he's starting to show signs of fatigue a little bit,
35:50 as you would expect,
35:51 because it's been a pretty high-paced fight.
35:53 He's been doing a lot of moving.
35:55 There we go.
35:58 That was one of the best punches he's thrown,
36:01 and the follow-up there was equally as good.
36:05 That left uppercut was a lovely shot as well.
36:08 He's got to come hard now.
36:12 Muricroft had to fade hard in three minutes.
36:16 He can't win this fight unless he knocks this guy out.
36:19 He needs to push on.
36:21 James urging his supporters to get behind him.
36:30 It's been a brilliant display.
36:32 You've got to admit,
36:33 for the first nine rounds here,
36:36 it's been another great card
36:39 on what is promising to be a fantastic night of boxing.
36:43 Now, James, can he reassume the control that he had
36:49 in the first eight rounds
36:51 before Muricroft managed to close it down
36:54 in that ninth and land the best shots of his fight so far?
36:58 He's got to get it close.
37:00 He's got nothing to lose.
37:01 There must be no fear now from him.
37:03 That was a good right hand.
37:04 He landed there as well.
37:06 We're in the situation where...
37:08 Nice shot from Ethan James.
37:10 But Ethan James now,
37:11 he may have had a bit of a round off.
37:12 He can see the home straight.
37:14 He can empty the tank
37:15 and hopefully try to win this round.
37:17 But you've got to have...
37:19 The guy on the other hand,
37:20 Muricroft,
37:21 does want to push forward and fade on,
37:23 but he's got to make him fade at a really difficult pace.
37:26 There's two minutes left in this fight
37:28 and there's still...
37:29 There's just not enough coming.
37:30 That's brilliant display from James again,
37:33 keeping his man at distance,
37:35 picking up the jabs,
37:37 the hooks to the body again,
37:39 and as Muricroft comes in,
37:41 he just picks him off at will.
37:43 And his nickname's "Jermy."
37:51 There isn't anything "Jermy" about this performance.
37:55 Once again,
37:56 the right hand makes an appearance from Muricroft,
38:00 but it's the single punch on his own again.
38:04 Again, the speed and the precision that James
38:08 unloads those punches.
38:10 Very accurate.
38:11 Very accurate as well.
38:12 That was a lovely shot again from James.
38:14 He's pretty clever as well, James,
38:20 when he can box well from distance,
38:22 but when Muricroft gets close,
38:24 he lands these kind of short,
38:26 really short uppercuts,
38:27 pretty fast shots.
38:29 Obviously not a lot of power in them,
38:31 but they're frustrating.
38:33 And if he can hit with them enough,
38:35 they're going to start to hurt at some stage.
38:37 Minute left of the ten rounds here.
38:43 On the right side,
38:47 takes a short left,
38:48 hooked down to the chin does James.
38:53 The power, the energy that has been
38:56 sacked out of Muricroft in this fight
38:58 means anything that he's not landing at the moment
39:01 is unlikely to have the power needed
39:04 to do what he needs,
39:06 which is to stop him.
39:08 Yeah, after a bit of a bad round for James
39:15 in the last round, I thought,
39:17 he's come out here and
39:19 he's got back into control.
39:21 He's boxed him well at the end of this round.
39:24 He has hardly put a foot wrong
39:34 for ten rounds here
39:37 in this fight for the vacant
39:39 WBO European One-Away Championship.
39:41 And he raises his arms,
39:43 and he knows that he is a clear, clear winner here.
39:47 Yeah, he boxed beautifully at the end of that fight.
39:50 I think that Muricroft needed to do more
39:53 from the halfway stage,
39:54 but it's easier said than done.
39:56 When you've got someone as skillful as Ethan James
39:58 kicking you off every time you try to get close,
40:01 it's not an easy task.
40:03 But I give Ethan James every right foot bump.
40:07 Well, James said that we're going to see
40:10 his best performance yet.
40:13 And I think he's delivered.
40:16 Yeah, I think so.
40:17 I think he's got to be very happy that
40:19 he's got to be very happy
40:20 that he's got to be very happy
40:21 that he's got to be very happy
40:22 that he's got to be very happy
40:23 that he's got to be very happy
40:24 that he's got to be very happy
40:25 that he's got to be very happy
40:26 that he's got to be very happy
40:27 that he's got to be very happy
40:28 that he's got to be very happy
40:29 that he's got to be very happy
40:30 that he's got to be very happy
40:31 that he's got to be very happy
40:32 that he's got to be very happy
40:33 that he's got to be very happy
40:34 that he's got to be very happy
40:35 that he's got to be very happy
40:36 that he's got to be very happy
40:37 that he's got to be very happy
40:38 that he's got to be very happy
40:39 that he's got to be very happy
40:40 that he's got to be very happy
40:41 that he's got to be very happy
40:42 that he's got to be very happy
40:43 that he's got to be very happy
40:44 that he's got to be very happy
40:45 that he's got to be very happy
40:46 that he's got to be very happy
40:47 that he's got to be very happy
40:48 that he's got to be very happy
40:49 that he's got to be very happy
40:50 that he's got to be very happy
40:51 that he's got to be very happy
40:52 that he's got to be very happy
40:53 that he's got to be very happy
40:54 that he's got to be very happy
40:55 that he's got to be very happy
40:56 that he's got to be very happy
40:57 that he's got to be very happy
40:58 that he's got to be very happy
40:59 that he's got to be very happy
41:00 that he's got to be very happy
41:01 that he's got to be very happy
41:02 that he's got to be very happy
41:03 that he's got to be very happy
41:04 that he's got to be very happy
41:05 that he's got to be very happy
41:06 that he's got to be very happy
41:07 that he's got to be very happy
41:08 that he's got to be very happy
41:09 that he's got to be very happy
41:10 that he's got to be very happy
41:11 that he's got to be very happy
41:12 that he's got to be very happy
41:13 that he's got to be very happy
41:14 that he's got to be very happy
41:15 that he's got to be very happy
41:16 that he's got to be very happy
41:17 that he's got to be very happy
41:18 that he's got to be very happy
41:19 that he's got to be very happy
41:20 that he's got to be very happy
41:21 that he's got to be very happy
41:22 that he's got to be very happy
41:23 that he's got to be very happy
41:24 that he's got to be very happy
41:25 that he's got to be very happy
41:26 that he's got to be very happy
41:27 that he's got to be very happy
41:28 that he's got to be very happy
41:29 that he's got to be very happy
41:30 that he's got to be very happy
41:31 that he's got to be very happy
41:32 that he's got to be very happy
41:33 that he's got to be very happy
41:34 that he's got to be very happy
41:35 that he's got to be very happy
41:36 that he's got to be very happy
41:37 that he's got to be very happy
41:38 that he's got to be very happy
41:39 that he's got to be very happy
41:40 that he's got to be very happy
41:41 that he's got to be very happy
41:42 that he's got to be very happy
41:43 that he's got to be very happy
41:44 that he's got to be very happy
41:45 that he's got to be very happy
41:46 that he's got to be very happy
41:47 He's dished out a bit of a boxing lesson tonight
41:52 Now with the scorecard series
41:55 Thomas Treiber
41:57 Ladies and gentlemen
42:03 After 10 rounds of boxing
42:05 We go to the judges' scorecards
42:08 Both judges Marco Moscadeli
42:12 and Giostino Di Giovanni
42:15 are in agreement
42:16 They scored the same 98-92
42:20 And Judge Terry O'Connor
42:22 scores it 97-94
42:26 All in favor of your winner
42:28 by unanimous decision
42:31 And now the WBO European Welterweight Champion
42:38 Ethan "Chun-Li" Chang
42:43 And he gets the belt handed to him
42:50 And he'll go back home
42:52 He'll stick this on
42:53 And he'll watch it
42:54 And he'll love every single minute
42:56 of watching this back
42:57 Yeah, look it was almost punch perfect
42:59 I give him
43:01 I give Murcroft one round
43:03 Terry O'Connor give him three rounds
43:05 I'm not quite sure I did that
43:07 But he did
43:09 Yeah, great performance