Local prospect Anthony Fowler handed Harry Scarff his first career defeat, taking a landslide decision in a largely ugly 10-round junior middleweight affair Saturday evening at Echo Arena in Liverpool, England.
Scores were 98-91 in favor of Liverpool’s Fowler, whose natural aggression and late round knockdown sealed the win.
Fowler spent the early rounds charging forward, fighting behind a tight guard and showing little regard for Scarff’s pawing jab and meager punching power. The local boxer took advantage of his opponent’s apparent reluctance, keeping the unbeaten Derby product within punching range while shooting off quick right hands.
Scarff landed an occasional left hand upstairs, but his key moments coming few and far between as he spent much of the night fighting in reverse. Fowler’s steady pressure had Scarff stuck between styles, opening rounds three and four out of a conventional stance, though having little effect.
A slow-moving first half finally saw two-way action in round six. There was still more clinching than hitting, but enough punches thrown to force each boxer out of their comfort zone. Fowler continued to remain in the pocket while Scarff planted his feet long enough to initiate exchanges in hopes of swinging the fight back in his favor.
Scarff enjoyed success in round eight, flipping back and forth between conventional and southpaw with more positive results. Fowler was able to adjust, absorbing whatever purposeful punches were offered by Scarff to score with right hands to push his opponent back on the outside.
The bout’s lone knockdown came in round nine, sealing the deal for Fowler as he connected on a hookercut on the inside. Scarff was well within the Liverpudlian’s punching range, leaving his chin exposed and forced to a knee. Scarff beat the count, but was on unsteady legs and fortunate that the sequence came shortly before the bell to end the round.
Fowler remained calm, of the belief that the fight was in the bag but still fighting the 10th and final round with the hopes of getting his opponent to commit to two way action. It was the manner in which Scarff should have spent the final three minutes, instead spending the frame intent to fight another day.
Scarff falls to 8-1 (1KO) with the defeat. Fowler picks up his second straight win after suffering his own first defeat earlier this year, with Saturday’s victory running his record to 11-0 (8KOs).
The bout aired live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and streamed live on DAZN, in supporting capacity to unbeaten local hero Callum Smith’s super middleweight title defense versus mandatory challenger John Ryder.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox