By Terence Dooley
Thomas McDonagh did not sulk or mope after failing to relive Anthony Small of his British and Commonwealth titles last month, the twenty-nine-year-old Mancunian headed back to the gym in order to stay sharp should a call come through for a fight early in the New Year.
Thomas and Small engaged in a technical battle, for want of a better word, that saw neither man give, or take, any truly decent shots. However, McDonagh believes that he made a mockery of the long pre-fight odds and that his performance bodes well for the coming year. “Obviously, I’m gutted but on a different day I could have got that, it was quite close,” declared McDonagh, who fell to 34-3-3 (7) after this latest points reverse.
“A lot of people thought I won, but it doesn’t matter what people say. It is all positive. To be fair it wasn’t a great fight to watch, which we all knew would be the case anyway, and that wasn’t his fault, his style didn’t gel with mine, but I thought I fought the right gameplan – I stuck to it and thought I won.”
Indeed, McDonagh’s late-round fade may well have cost him the contest. Thomas, however, believes that he rallied well in the final stanza. “To be fair, you can say he came on strong in nine, ten and eleven but I thought the last round was mine”, argued McDonagh, “I thought I did enough as there were rounds when he weren’t doing anything.”
He added: “I’m not going to get into a slagging match, he won and I’m not making excuses, he’s the champion and you have to take it from the champion – looking back I think I didn’t. I think he’s got it for being the champion and that is fair enough.”
Small annexed the British and Commonwealth belts by brushing aside Thomas’ close friend, and then-gym mate, Matthew Hall in July of this year. Small, as per usual, gave Hall hell during the pre-fight presser, and seemed to visibly get to Hall at the weigh in. Thomas told me that he had not fallen for Small’s act.
“No, one million percent no,” answered McDonagh when asked if Small’s trash talk had wound him up. “No one wants to hear it now because the fight is over and done with, and we’ll never fight again, but I think I got to him a bit. All his talk wasn’t working and in the end he wasn’t his normal, cocky self. I saw him at the press conferences and weigh in and he was putting that cocky show on but he couldn’t get to me.”
“If you go to Anthony Small and try to knock him out he’ll box you, hurt you, and do well. His gameplan is all about winding people up and if he can’t wind you up you’ll have a great chance. I’ve done it in the past myself, winding people up to make mistakes,” he confided.
McDonagh came into the fight off a loss to Sam Webb; consequently, the former WBU International title holder had not expected a dual title fight to fall into his lap. Thomas believes that the Small fight has vindicated his decision to join Hatton Promotions.
“Hundred percent thanks to those guys”, said Thomas, “they got me a Commonwealth title fight and have other plans for me. They are my guys and I really am pleased with how things have gone. I am 29, turned last week; I’ve had 40 fights and will fight anyone in the British top ten barring Matthew Hall, as he’s one of my best pals.
“Before the fight some bookies had me twelve-to-one, we were even by the last round, no one believed I could do it but I showed them that I am a good boxer. If he’s the best in Britain then right I’m up there, surely.”
McDonagh has always been a quick-witted and engaging character, perhaps too engaging, often seeming to joke and drift his way through fights. Now, though, Thomas is keen to prove that there is some steel behind the smile, and that his nickname of ‘Storm Boy’ is not a misnomer.
“To be fair I’ve knuckled down a bit anyway,” declared Thomas when asked about his lack of focus in the past. “All the laughing and joking is gone, it is a bit serious this sport and I’ve realised that. It is two weeks since the contest and I’m still in the gym, still got my fitness. My weight is still down and I’ll fight anyone - I’m ready. When I get the call I want to be ready and am giving myself the chance to do that, and get things going again.”
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