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SportsTranscript
00:00Oh my God!
00:03Boxers, listen to my instructions at all times. Watch your head, no low blows.
00:07When I say break, step back, OK? Protect yourselves at all times.
00:10Touch gloves.
00:15Amy Pugh is the referee and this is the professional debut of Frankie Wood.
00:20The 20-year-old from Benfleet.
00:26In against Angel Gomez of Nicaragua.
00:3146th professional fight for Gomez.
00:36Can't call him a winning pro, Richie, by any means.
00:40And the job tonight for Frankie Wood is to get the experience under his belt.
00:48And make a good impression. And that's a nice, sharp start by the southpaw, Wood.
00:52Yeah, he started very well, hasn't he, behind that lead hand?
00:56Look at that, these are nice shots going in.
00:58And again, against an opponent who's awkward.
01:01Swings from the rafters here and there.
01:04And will certainly want to tie in and drag Wood into holding his feet and trading.
01:10So at the moment, Wood started this very well indeed.
01:13That jab's nice, that straight one too.
01:16But Gomez, he will know that he's too far out and he'll have to get up closer to Wood.
01:21And that's why Wood again, starting sensibly behind that nice lead hand of his.
01:26Keep that jab going out and maintain that gap, basically.
01:30I'm not sure Gomez felt the first few, but he felt that left from Wood, definitely.
01:44That was a smart little move by Wood.
01:46That was the invitation there to step right into a little trap, which Gomez had set for him.
01:50But Wood took a tiny little step back to the side of the ring, got his boxing going again.
01:56Yeah, he's just settling down now, Wood, isn't he?
01:59And like I said before, Gomez realising that he's just too far out and he's a sitting duck.
02:04That's why he's trying to edge forward and get close to Wood.
02:08But Wood there, just using that jab and maintaining the gap.
02:11So moving backwards, defensive jabs, hitting them, moving backwards, moving to the side.
02:16Maintaining that gap, that's good stuff.
02:19Sensible boxing.
02:24Sharp boxing.
02:37As Dev Sane, our MC, mentioned, a very successful amateur career behind him.
02:41He reckons he won over 60 out of about 85 or so amateur contests
02:47of varying importance, of course, through his career.
02:532023 was his last year as an amateur and he lost the lightweight final national amateur championship
03:00to Cameron Vuong.
03:04That was the Ropes and Glory ABC versus Berkley Boys ABC.
03:10But also West Ham ABC has played a big part in schooling and developing Frankie Wood.
03:18And they've done a very good job tonight because he's boxing very well here.
03:22You can see he's well schooled and he's carrying that amateur pedigree through to his professional debut.
03:29Very good, very good start.
03:34I wonder, I wonder what you would do if you had the power to dream any dream you wanted to dream.
03:42You would, I suppose, start out by fulfilling all your wishes.
03:47Love affairs, banquets, wonderful journeys.
03:52And after you've done that for some time, you'd forget that you were dreaming.
04:03When he comes onto one step, you've got an incredible jab.
04:07But he sits a little bit low, so maybe just chuck that back up a little bit.
04:11Yeah, but when you go around to the side, look at the body.
04:13But don't keep showing him the same shot.
04:15The jab is outstanding.
04:19First good career decision by Frankie Wood and those who are managing him.
04:22Put him in with Alan Smith at the Ibox gym in South London.
04:26He and Eddie Lamb run a great school there for young fighters.
04:30They don't spare him, Richie, do they?
04:33No, they've got a good stable, haven't they?
04:35And they certainly know what they're doing.
04:37And here they have a talent on their hand here.
04:40And Alan Smith heard him in that corner saying how good his jab is.
04:44So just keep it going.
04:46And that's probably the main difference he will feel from his amateur days.
04:50He'll hit him with real good shots and the opponent will just keep coming.
04:54And that's what they're like in the professional game.
04:57People like Gomez.
04:59They just absorb these punches.
05:01Whereas in boxing, there's an amateur.
05:03Sometimes the amateurs, you hit him with some good shots and they'll go over.
05:08Or you'll stop them.
05:10But people like Gomez, they just walk through him.
05:12And then you've just got to keep your shape.
05:14And you don't panic.
05:15And you just rely on your fitness.
05:17And you just rely on your skills, basically.
05:19And it brings back memories of when I was a first-term professional.
05:23And you see these guys coming at you.
05:25Really, really strong guys.
05:26And you've just got to keep hitting them.
05:28And just rely on your fitness and enjoy it.
05:30It's a different kind of fish then.
05:32It's a different ball game.
05:33They're tough in the pros.
05:34They really are.
05:36You make it sound so attractive, Richard.
05:38Yeah.
05:39It is.
05:40I mean, when I was that age, I loved it.
05:41It was fantastic.
05:42As I'm sure he does.
05:46I can see what he's going through here against a tough, stubborn opponent.
05:50And you just have to keep boxing away and using your skills.
05:53Break them down with your skills.
05:55Don't get dragged into toe-to-toe battles.
05:58Show them how good you were as an amateur.
06:00And then bring that through and break them down with your skills.
06:03That's what the game's all about.
06:04Hitting and not getting hit.
06:16Tempo's dropped just a little bit in this second round.
06:20Gomez has a big target in his mind.
06:22And that is to hear the bell for the end of the fourth round.
06:29That's it.
06:30You're doing your job.
06:31If your opponent's getting frustrated, then there you go.
06:34And that's lovely boxing there, you see.
06:36Hitting the target and then staying on the outside.
06:39So you're just taking less risks.
06:42When you're in a bit short range, that's when it gets a little bit risky,
06:46Paul, against this type of opponent.
06:48Because they're tough.
06:49They absorb it.
06:50And they're waiting for that opportunity on the inside then.
06:53Just a swing and a miss.
06:55Waiting for that opportunity on the inside then.
06:57Just a swing, a punch home to try and catch him.
07:01Either a shot or an elbow.
07:03Yeah, anything.
07:04Anything goes in a football, I'm afraid.
07:08Oh, that's lovely again.
07:09Good boxing.
07:15There was that.
07:18And Wood was ready, waiting for it.
07:21Forewarned, his forearm about the elbows.
07:25I think Gomez thought about it and knew he'd be caught out by the referee.
07:28We're friends at the end of the round.
07:54I got no hat.
08:25Beside Sam.
08:29The focus at this moment is on Frankie Wood.
08:32On his professional debut.
08:34Made a good impression so far.
08:36That's super fed up.
08:42What's important for Wood, Paul, is especially with this jab of his,
08:46that he hits the target.
08:47Because what Gomez will hope for is if he gets a little bit complacent,
08:50a sloppy jab occasionally, then misses the target.
08:53That just gives Gomez then a chance.
08:55If he, say, over-reaching, over-stretching, just falls in, falls short.
08:59So he's got to hit the target with that jab, the way he's doing there.
09:02Because that maintains the gap also, you see.
09:04And that means, Gomez, he's got to get up close to him.
09:08But if he can't get up close, then he wants Wood to actually miss the target
09:13with that shot and fall in.
09:15And that will give Gomez a chance.
09:17But up to now, he's very accurate at this stage.
09:20He's boxing still cautiously on that back foot.
09:22And it's a sensible approach against a tough man.
09:27A tough man who's rather square on all the time.
09:29And that slows him down as well, Richie, doesn't it, Gomez?
09:32He just wants him to trade, you see, to hold the feet and trade
09:35and have a bit of a war.
09:36But very sensibly, Wood is just boxing, just keeping to his boxing skills.
09:43And there you go.
09:44So there's a little sign, you see, that Gomez has got the right hand there.
09:48And he'd much prefer if Wood holds his feet and trades with him.
09:52This has got to be night and day to anybody Wood has ever boxed before tonight, surely.
09:58Absolutely, Paul, yeah.
10:07But he's handling it extremely well.
10:09Yeah, he's doing okay.
10:13And like I say, with your pro debut, it's all about patience and learning.
10:18And you learn in these types of contests.
10:25It's to be nothing like Paul, like an amateur contest.
10:28Nothing at all.
10:30Very, very nice.
10:33From Wood.
10:34One, two and away.
10:38It's working. Don't change it.
10:41Gomez now, you can see he's frustrated, actually turning to save Paul now.
10:44But his feet are too square.
10:48So now Gomez, he knows he's just too far out, you see.
10:51So he's gone save Paul now to try and just cut the disadvantage down
10:58that he feels that he's got here.
11:03With Wood being the save Paul, you see.
11:05And Gomez, flat-footed, too slow with the feet.
11:08He just can't get near him, basically.
11:10Just cannot get near him at all.
11:12That's why he's turned to save Paul, just to try and change things.
11:19Rich, if all goes well with Wood, then the time will come
11:24will there be importing guys like Gomez to give him sparring
11:27in preparation for big fights.
11:29But at the moment, he's learning on the job and doing it rather well.
11:38So, this is the most important thing for me.
11:41He's going to come swinging at you.
11:43And you load it up a little bit that round.
11:45You've got 180 seconds left.
11:47Have a drink, have a drink. Concentrate, look at me.
11:52Have a spit.
11:54So look at me.
11:55That back hand.
11:57Just keep jabbing nice and sharp.
11:59And then have a little burst and go round.
12:01When you go round, that hand's got to be nice and high.
12:04You're loading up with your back hand now a little bit.
12:06It's a first fight, a little bit tired.
12:08Worked hard for it.
12:09You just keep going round him.
12:11Go round him again.
12:12Go round him once, go round him a second time.
12:15Put your hands up.
12:30Job well done so far by the corner and by the man
12:33in the black with the silver trunks.
12:35Frankie Wood from Benfleet.
12:38Here on his professional debut
12:40against Angel Gomez, who can be a lively customer.
12:45He subdued the fan coming the other way
12:47with some quality work so far.
12:49And Smith in the corner said,
12:51that is what I want from you now, Richie.
12:53Yeah, it was interesting what Smith said, Alan Smith.
12:55He said to keep the movement circular.
12:57So he doesn't want him going back in a straight line.
12:59He wants him to keep circling.
13:00But he says, when you're doing that,
13:02keep your hands nice and high.
13:03Because then, of course, if you're going circling,
13:05you're a little bit closer to him,
13:07then you might risk walking onto a hook.
13:09And that's why he wants that guard nice and high
13:11when he's moving around,
13:12especially to his right,
13:14which is then walking,
13:16you could walk onto a left hook from Gomez.
13:19So that's why Alan Smith said,
13:21just keep your hands nice and high.
13:26But he's fairly happy with what he's seen here,
13:28Alan Smith.
13:30You know, for me, it's a good performance.
13:33Lovely time there.
13:34That was a lovely shot there.
13:36I think overall, I think he's boxed pretty well here.
13:40Richie, tell me if I'm going off script here a little bit,
13:43but for a kid so inexperienced
13:45and only 20 turning professional,
13:47have we not seen many a youngster
13:50given a much easier task
13:52than the one they presented to Wood here?
13:55Well, yeah, I agree, Paul.
13:57I mean, he's in with someone who's had over 40 contests,
13:59so they must have a lot of faith in him.
14:01But obviously, they want him to get rounds under his belt.
14:05And he's learning here.
14:07Sometimes you've got to get the balance right.
14:10Yes, you've got to create excitement,
14:12and you want the crowd to be...
14:14You know, they want the boxers to be crowd-pleasers
14:16and produce the odd knockout here and there,
14:18but you also want them to learn in contest form.
14:21And this is one of those.
14:22And, you know, it's not been a dull contest.
14:24I think it's been pretty good for Wood
14:26in terms of his skills.
14:28He's got lots of skills with his jab,
14:30and I like the way he boxes.
14:31But at the same time, it's a learning process.
14:34And again, it's four rounds where we'll learn,
14:37and you'll get a great deal from this type of contest.
14:40So I think it's good matchmaking, to be quite honest.
14:43It's not easy, Paul, is it?
14:45You know, it's not an easy contest for him.
14:47Although he's winning it,
14:48this guy's still dangerous and poses a threat and a danger
14:52if you box to his style.
14:53Yes, exactly.
14:54If you get dragged in, then it's a different contest.
14:56And there's ways to be a so-called professional loser.
15:00And Gomez, I know he's been losing a lot recently.
15:03But he doesn't give an opponent an easy night.
15:06No, he doesn't.
15:07And he swings wildly. I mean, look at him here.
15:10So you have to stay disciplined.
15:12And it's as much a mental battle
15:14as it is a physical battle in these situations.
15:16And I think he's passed them both tonight.
15:24Gomez gets the legs going a little bit more
15:26to close the contest.
15:27But Wood was a master of that.
15:30Master of pretty much everything.
15:32A very accomplished first showing from Frankie Wood.
15:36And he gets a little smile in the corner from Alan Smith.
15:40Not necessarily from Eddie Lamb.
15:41That will wait for a higher grade, I guess.
15:44But for starters, surely that could really not have been bettered.
15:50Good start for him.
15:51And like I said, I think it's good matching.
15:55And he's given him a little bit of a test,
15:57a little bit of a taste of what pro boxing is all about.
16:00He's hit the target cleanly several times.
16:03And the kid just keeps coming back.
16:05And so he has to reset, regroup.
16:07And I think overall, I think Alan Smith will be pleased with that performance.
16:11It's a shutout.
16:12And he's boxed sensibly, boxed to instruction.
16:14And he's boxed well.
16:28Ladies and gentlemen, after four rounds of boxing,
16:33your scoring referee Mark Bates scores the contest 40-36
16:39to your winner, and successful on his professional debut.
16:53That was nice, wasn't it?
16:55And wherever the road takes him, that's a night he's always going to remember.
16:59But we'll remember it too, because there's a little bit of something.