MIZON ON A MISSION: REPORT

Nathan Mizon headlined Friday night’s Fightzone card at the Tower Hotel, by London’s iconic Tower Bridge. The Surrey man looked aggressive and explosive in his first three career victories and has already netted himself a first round stoppage. Mizon was eager to make another statement in his fourth, and first six round, bout, facing Jakub Laskowski.

The 21 year old Surrey fighter was light on his feet and well balanced, moving in and out of range and making Laskowski miss. The few shots that did land mainly caught gloves, shoulders and forearms. Mizon’s quick feet and effective lateral movement saw him take control of the fight from start to finish. In the fifth round, Mizon made a real dent in his opponent and almost pressed the stoppage, but Laskowski used all the tricks in the book – and plenty of holding – to navigate the closing stages of the fight.

Mizon soon realised he could dictate the pace of the fight but showed maturity in his work, picking off his man patiently, rather than diving in as so many three fight novices would have. 

Manager, Sam Kynoch, heralded his charges' maturity in the bout and said the fighter will be targeting titles come 2023. He said: “It’s been a really good learning fight for Nathan. Get this year out of the road and we’ll be up there. We’ll see who’s got the titles.”

The main supporting contest saw Harry Mullins edge Stephen Jackson with accurate sharp-shooting. Jackson offered plenty though and won the second round on our card. The judges didn’t agree, giving Mullins the 40-36 decision. 

Earlier on the undercard, there were professional debuts for Louise Orton and Dee Allen. Orton beat Flora Machela over the distance, winning all but one round against the 33-year-old Tanzanian.

Allen found herself in the fight of the night, floored in the opening seconds, she regained her feet and knocked down Berlin-based Bulgarian, Milena Koleva. Koleva stumbled badly as she came to her feet and the referee waved the fight off. Kynoch said of it,

“Dee Allen’s fight, one of the best fights in terms of excitement I’ve seen live. Heavily knocked down and to come back and brutally knock her opponent out… it doesn’t really happen in female boxing. Certainly not in one round. It’s the kind of thing where you thought she might steady the ship, come back and get the win. I was massively impressed.”

French bantamweight champion, who is "special" with the "X factor" according to Kynoch, Johanna Wonyou, made an explosive appearance too, stopping her opponent within a round. She held her hands low and caught Tanazania’s Sarafina Bela with accurate hooks from the off. A flurry saw Bela’s legs go completely and the referee called a halt just 55 seconds in. 

Alfie Winter looked fairly impressive against Russia’s Rustem Fatkhulin, who was booed as he entered the ring. Winter couldn’t force the stoppage but dominated the bout from start to finish, keeping a tight defence and marching forward with effective aggression.

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