'Bomber' Bellotti defeats Dodge to win Southern Area belt
On Friday, April 22, Watford's Reece Bellotti (15-5, 13KOs) stopped Yeovil's Dean Dodge (9-2-1, 3KOs) in round seven of their Southern Area super-featherweight championship clash at the York Hall in London.
It was a chopping short left hook from the former Commonwealth champion that sent Dodge reeling into the ropes in the seventh stanza, followed up quickly by a relentless assault chasing his foe around the ring with a crippling cascade of short left and right hooks to the head, until referee Lee Every rightfully stepped in to end the unending punishment.
It's heartbreak for Dodge, now losing back to back challenges for the Southern Area super-featherweight strap. He fought Sidcup's Dan Carr 14 months ago for the same title, losing widely on points.
For Bellotti, it's elation and hope, after losing three fights on the trot, not winning a contest for almost three years. It was June 2019 when he last had his hand raised, against jouneyman Josue Bendana, once again at the York Hall, winning via fourth-round KO, live on Sky Sports. That was a comeback fight after defeat to Ryan Walsh for the British featherweight title, but he went on to lose fights 17, 18 and 19.
Now aged 31, still ranked in the top 10 in the UK, Bellotti can mount a challenge for bigger and better belts. Already above English level, it's doubtful he'll have much interest in Liam Dillon, who is set to defend against Levi Giles around June time anyway, so a clash with the British super-feather champion, Anthony Cacace, would be a sensible and fun fight, as both boxers have heavy hands and a knockout would be almost guaranteed.
Despite enjoying three wins on the spin, British and European title contender Ashley Sexton (17-3-2, 5KOs) was defeated for a third time in his career. Cape Town's Sabelo Ngebinyana (15-5, 11KOs) dropped 'Flash Ash' in the fourth and finished the fight in the fifth. The South African flies home with the IBF International bantamweight title.
Nathan Mizon (5-0); Billy Underwood (5-0); Chris Onwuegbusi (2-0) all continued their unbeaten runs. Debutants Beau Reynolds (1-0) and Luke Liddiard (1-0) kicked off theor pro careers with wins each.
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