Knockout punch settles Black Country rivalry
The rivalry between Wolverhampton fighters Nathan Massey and Ryan Meer was ended by one punch at a sold-out Hangar Events Centre, writes Matt Bozeat.
Massey and Meer had drawn two gloved boxing matches – but the judges weren’t needed when they traded bare fists in what both described as the decider between them.
Massey won by knockout in the third round and dedicated his win to his late brother, Leejay, who died earlier this year.
“I did this for my brother,” he said. “It was a hard fight and it was my brother who got me through it.”
Massey and Meer embraced after their three-round shoot out that swung on way, then the other before the finishing punch landed.
Massey made sure of winning the opening round with a long left-right in the dying moments before Meer got on his chest more in the second.
The fight looked to be up for grabs with three rounds left, but Massey appeared to have more left in the tank for the final nine minutes.
He found Meer’s chin in the third with a right uppercut – and Meer dropped to his knees.
He was counted out by the referee and Massey was quick to console him.
In the top of the bill fight, Lorawnt T ‘Smash’ Nelson stayed on top of the pound-for-pound lists by outpointing James Connelly over six rounds to keep his super-middleweight belt.
They had fought out a draw in 2023 and Connelly, who brought big support with him from Birmingham, had no complaints after the three judges all scored for the hard-as-nails American.
Connelly, down twice in the fourth, fought with a damaged hand from the second round.
