Last Saturday, 24th June, at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds, Aurora, Colorado, USA, the crowd witnessed a whirlwind in the ring.
In a female bantamweight contest, 27-year-old Tarrethia Dixon sensationally stopped favourite Natalie Gray, 37, in the first round of a scheduled four-round contest.
Dixon, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, was pumped walking to the ring and chomping at the bit, for the first bell. The two met head-on, with Dixon landing the right hand. The boxers traded furiously with Denver’s Gray being sent flying across the ring to the ropes. Referee Stephen Blea stepped in to issue a standing count. The over-enthusiastic Dixon seemed keen on continuing the fight.
When the action resumed, Dixon’s big right hand could not miss, and her power was forcing Gray back. The referee separated the pair and then Tarrethia sent in numerous right-hand shots, which had her opponent dazed and battered on the ropes. The referee, rightly, waved it off.
Ironically, Gray’s previous fight ended in a first-round victory but this time it was she that was outgunned. The former Golden Gloves amateur champion had no answer for the whirlwind in front of her.
Tarrethia Dixon is trained by Ben Williams Jr, at P.U.R.E Pressure Gym and has only boxed for three months, with no previous amateur experience. The power is certainly there and it is going to be an entertaining ride following Dixon’s career.
