Buckland vs Truscott fight preview
Gary Buckland defends his BBBofC British super featherweight title against Paul Truscott in the headline fight at Ponds Forge Arena, Sheffield, Yorkshire this Saturday 24th May, 2012.
Cardiffian Buckland is making the first defence of the crown he won against Gary Sykes, over twelve rounds, last September. Both fighters are 25 years old and have good experience at British level. Middlesbrough’s Truscott is the taller man, by 2 inches, at 5 foot 9 to Buckland’s 5 foot 7; he also has the reach advantage.
Buckland has seen his stock rocket after a tough loss to John Murray in the Lightweight division. Since then he has given explosive performances in the super featherweight division and won the Prizefighter Tournament, at the weight, in 2010. He lived up to his nickname of ‘Dynamo’ with early stoppage wins of Derry Matthews and Gary Sykes. He followed that up with a few more wins and then the highpoint of his career, so far, by winning the British title against former opponent Gary Sykes. Buckland’s record currently stands at 24-2, 8 KOs.
The challenger, Truscott has won five in a row since moving up from Featherweight, against moderate opposition. This will be his first real test in the higher weight class. He has held the Commonwealth title in the past (at Featherweight) when beating Ghana’s Osumanu Akaba on a 12 round points decision. He lost the belt to John Simpson and failed to regain it against the same man. Cuts hampering him in both fights that ended in stoppage defeats. Truscott’s record currently stands at 18-2, 3 KOs.
This matchup on Hatton promotions Sheffield card is an intriguing contest and it looks a well matched fight. Truscott will try to use his excellent jab to keep the marauding Buckland at a safe distance, while the Welshman will be looking to get inside to unleash his hurtful hooks to body and head. I don’t feel Truscott has the power to keep Buckland from doing the damage on the inside and I can see the Welshman gaining a stoppage sometime from 6 to 8 rounds. Buckland has the edge in power and I feel it will be a successful first defence for him.
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