Johnny Nelson thinks Barry Hearn's inaugural Prizefighter delivered everything it promised - and more!
Prizefighter pilot was a triumph for British boxing
With all that was going on in the ring during the very first Prizefighter, the most entertaining thing was to see Barry Hearn's face sat by the side of it.
The promoter had a big Cheshire Cat grin on his face that got wider and wider with every bout that took place because he knew he'd struck boxing gold.
He knew he had produced something that provided entertainment and had a start, a story and a final result all in one night.
Even if you weren't a boxing fan you were able to see the whole journey. You could also pick a fighter who you could support - it gave everyone a chance to enjoy it.
I have to say there are not many times I have been to a boxing show when it's 12.30 at night and the place is still packed to the rafters.
At ringside the atmosphere was unbelievable. All I could think was 'this is domestic stuff, yet it feels like a championship atmosphere!'
The night as a whole gave everything it promised and has now injected boxing at a domestic level with something new. It was basically a show for the undercards, but what a show it was!
A lot of the heavyweights were going up to Barry afterwards and asking to be in the next one, though the talk is it could be with the middleweights or light-heavies next.
I think at lighter weights there is the possibility that all bouts may go the distance because they lack the same kind of power as heavyweights. It would be three rounds of complete entertainment though, because they have the energy to do it.
Great carrot
Whatever weight it is at, what a great carrot to hang in front of a boxer's nose - how often do you see fighters at that level box to that kind of exposure and with that kind of purse up for grabs?
With it being just three rounds the fighters were working hard for it. The only worry beforehand was that some fighters would cruise through, tip-tapping their way through fights just so they could have stamina in reserve for the final.
Fortunately, that didn't happen. The boys were hungry and they were thinking that the best way to conserve energy is to knock their opponent out as quickly as possible.
Initially I thought that the night was there to fire David Dolan to the next level, yet he ended up losing in the final to Martin Rogan.
However, I don't think that is the end of the man from Sunderland. He's a good fighter with fast hands and dealt well with all different kinds of shapes and sizes who were put in front of him.
All that went wrong was that he tripped over at the final hurdle, though I still personally think we'll see him again on
Sky Sports.
The overall success of the inaugural Prizefighter will also encourage more people to take part in it, perhaps with the competition taking into account the different levels.
It would be rather unfair if you had someone like Herbie Hide fighting those guys, because he's been to the top tier of the sport.
It worked so well because the levels were right and it made it ultra competitive - they were 50-50 bouts with every boxer believing they could win.
The only thing I think that could be improved is letting the people taking part, those at ringside and those watching on television just how the scoring system works. At least then everyone knows exactly what is going on.
Fallen Woods
I watched on at the weekend as Clinton Woods' reign as IBF light-heavyweight champion came to a disappointing end against Antonio Tarver in Tampa.
Clinton is an honest pro, a good strong fighter who will push his opponent on every level. But if you have got something a little bit special about you, you can beat him.
Although Woods made Tarver work, his plan B wasn't good enough. I thought he seemed to under perform, and as a world champion you can't afford to have bad days.
Afterwards he talked about retirement and when you talk about that it normally means you've given it your best and have done all you can.
I think it's the right thing to do for Clinton. I don't know if he'll follow through with his words, he will have obviously been a bit down when he said them, but the time is right.
He's boxed for the world title, won it and also been in some great fights against some big names, the likes of Roy Jones Jnr, Glen Johnson and Tarver.
If he feels he gave it his all, prepared in the right manner and yet still couldn't beat Tarver, where else is there to go?
There was a lucrative match against Joe Calzaghe in the pipeline but that has slipped through his fingers now.
He has always been an underrated fighter but you just have to look what he achieved and look at the types of fights he's been in to understand how good he has been.
