By Elliot Foster
TOMMY COYLE sensationally stopped Sean Dodd to win the Commonwealth lightweight title.
The former challenger for the title, who was knocked out by Liverpool’s Derry Mathews for the same honour nearly five years ago, finally has it around his waist, thanks to a brilliant boxing display.
Coyle was the better man on the night at the ECHO Arena, as part of the undercard to Amir Khan’s return against Phil Lo Greco, exclusively live on the night.
There were two knockdowns –– one in round four and one in round six –– before the referee Bob Williams was forced to step in between them and call a halt to the action.
However, Dodd’s corner team of Danny Kelly and Sean Trodden threw the towel in and the time was recorded at two minutes and 19 seconds as the fight was stopped.
“I can’t put it into words honestly. I can’t say it’s a shock because what I’ve put my body through for weeks is crazy. I’ve come full circle from the Derry fight.
“I just remembered the game plan which was set by my trainer Jamie Moore, who wasn’t at my fight because of Carl Frampton’s fight in Belfast, and got the win.
Before the fight, both Coyle and Dodd had shown mounds of respect to each other and that sentiment continued after the pair had shared the ring.
“I have followed this guy and his story resonates,” Coyle said. “He’s a beautiful man.”
For Dodd, who will now have to rebuild, it’s a bitter pill to swallow having been on such a good run of late.
“You know I’m an emotional man,” he said. “I wasn’t so much beaten by the better man, but by an outstanding man.
“He beat me fair and square and just got it right on the night. But I feel like I’m a winner because my old man has just got the all clear from cancer. He’s beat it.”
