Fanthome scores his first win by stoppage
Leo Fanthome….all smiles following fourth round victory
POPULAR Leo Fanthome celebrated as if he’d collected a major title after registering the first stoppage of his fledgling pro career.
At the Holiday Inn, Birmingham Airport, yesterday, the Redditch “Lionheart” beamed, mingled and basked in the moment.
His scheduled four rounder with Ryan Broten was halted with just eight seconds left, referee Peter McCormack stepping in as the Fleetwood fighter took a stream of unanswered punches.
There was initial mild protest from Broten, but Mr McCormack’s intervention was correct. Fanthome simply couldn’t miss with rights down the pipe, had repeatedly rocked his opponent and bloodied his nose.
I’d seen enough, Mr McCormack had seen enough. The time remaining is irrelevant.
Fanthome deserved to enjoy his moment. In his second pro outing, he suffered shock inside distance defeat to journeyman Naheem Ali.
In this, his fourth outing, the rehabilitation following that setback seems complete. Lee Spare is doing good things with Leo at his Nuneaton gym.
But without in any way raining on the 26-year-old’s parade, Broten looked very limited. He had the legend Rocky Bal Broten on his dressing gown, but was decidedly rickety in the ring. You didn’t need to be a lionheart to beat him.
Journeymen know how to tuck-up, smother and ride shots. Broten, still searching for a win after eight outings, didn’t. He had an unhealthy habit of moving back with chin in the air and paid the price.
Fanthome (10st 9lbs) looked very sharp, however, and surprisingly heavy handed. Broten (11st) shipped a big right in the first and by the end of the session his features were flushed.
Things got worse for the visitor. He was repeatedly nailed in the second and absorbed three big lefts – one after the other – before the bell.
He tried to rally in the third, but was now bleeding heavily from the nose. Fanthome turned on the heat in the last and with Broten taking power shot after power shot, the beat down was brought to an end.
In a recent interview, Fanthome told me: “We need adversities in order to grow.”
He’s had his ring adversity, he certainly walked taller following yesterday’s display.